Greetings, welcome to "Dale's Tales" for December, 2023.
60 Meter update. ARRL filed additional Comments to the FCC's ET Docket No. 23-120 relating primarily to the power levels proposed for the 60 meter band earlier this week. These supported our original position and the 3450 comments filed by you. (Thanks for doing that). Reply comments will be due on this item on Dec. 28 and will included responses to the previously filed comments. It is a long and perhaps arduous process, but it does provide input from all sides of the issue and an opportunity to respond and hear from both sides.
Thanks everyone who participated in the recent ARRL Director Election. It was nice to see a fairly good turn-out. These elections typically result in about 30% of the members participating - never the desired number, but we should always work towards improving that participation.
Winding it down. After serving 9+ years as your ARRL Director and three as Vice Director, I am preparing to get back to playing radio. The technical side of this great hobby has always been my passion and I am really looking forward to resuming some projects that have been shelved for quite a while. Actually, just to clear the workbench will be a major accomplishment.
My thanks go out to all of you for your support for these recent years in my serving the League. It has been a worthwhile experience for me and I hope that my contributions over these years prove beneficial to the League and amateur radio. The ARRL has faced some serious challenges and your Board has worked diligently to improve services to our members, reduce operating expenses and insure the longevity of the organization.
This last term for me ends at midnight December 31. On January 1, Director-elect Scott Yonally N8SY will take the helm of the Great Lakes Division. I'll be able squeeze out one more edition of Dale's Tales before things close. As time will have it, that will fall part way through this holiday season, so let me take this opportunity right now for Judy and me to wish you all the very best for this wonderful time of the year.
SCOTT'S STUFF: Comments from your ARRL Vice-Director Scott, N8SY. - December Edition
Merry Christmas; Mele Kalikimaka; Joyeux Noël; Frohe Weinachten; Feliz Navidad; Buon Natale; Feliz Natal; Vrolijk kerstfeest; Craciun fericit; Wesolych swiat Bozego Narodzenia; God Jul; Veselé Vánoce or however you may pronounce it, Christmas is just 24 days away! I also want to express my joy to all religions. May we have peace and goodwill to all. Have you been good little girls and boys? I sure hope so, and I hope that you get everything on your list as well!
Did you survive turkey day? You know... that one day above all others that you eat everything in sight, including the dishes, tablecloth and if you’re really hungry, you’ll even go after the dog's food bowl and then sit back with your pants unbuttoned in your recliner chair complaining that there's no leftovers and you'll have to make a run to the store for some snacks! Anyway, I hope that you and yours had a wonderful Thanksgiving and that you remembered to give a very special thanks to those in uniform that keep us safe all year long.
Shifting up a gear... I want to thank everyone who took the time to vote in the Great Lakes Division election. Whether you voted electronically or with a paper ballot, your voice has been heard loud and clear and I promise to do my very best to represent YOUR voice at every Board meeting.
Shifting up another gear... It is really busy right now with the holidays and getting things ready for the upcoming Board of Directors meeting in January. Dale and I are working hard at completing a number of projects before the end of the year.
Coming down the back straightaway... Our good friend Jack Shirley, N8DX who is our QSL card sorter manager for the 8th call area is asking for some help. He needs an " I " card sorter. This is a really fun job to do, but it does take some dedication. You just need to be aware that you are sorting QSL cards for everyone that has the suffix of " I " in their call sign and they would like to have their cards sent to them in a timely fashion, just like you would want them to be sent to you. If you have an interest in doing something like this, send Jack an email at: w8buro@gmail.com I'm sure he'd like to hear from you. It would be a help if you are in Southwest Ohio, but I'm sure he won't be picky if you aren't. Oh, and to have a club pick this up as a club project would be great as well. Give it some thought, this gives you a good project that everyone in your club can help do.
Coming into that final turn before the finish line... I am happy to inform you that the scholarship application process is now open. There is a link on the ARRL homepage in addition to the link on the scholarship page. More than 100 scholarships ranging from $500 to $25,000 will be awarded in 2024. Hey, this is FREE money for your kids to go to college on! How many kids do you know that couldn't use a helping hand with their college tuition? All applicants must be active, FCC-licensed amateur radio operators and all applicants must submit a completed online application no later than January 10, 2024, at 12pm. Go to: http://www.arrl.org/scholarship-program
The ARRL Foundation will be utilizing the same Scholarship Management Platform for the 2024 Scholarships that has been used for the past several years. Transcripts and additional required documents must be submitted WITH the application and not emailed separately. A number of scholarships require additional documents, such as a letter of recommendation from a sitting Officer of an ARRL-affiliated club.
Applications without accompanying transcripts and additional required documents (if applicable) will not be considered. The ARRL Foundation Scholarship Committee will review all applicants for eligibility and award decisions. Awards are mailed directly to recipients' schools.
OK, shifting down to come into the pits... This month we have the 160-meter, 10-meter and Rookie Roundup (CW) contests coming up, not to mention that there are a few hundred more contests that you could get involved with as well. Here's the link to see them all... https://www.contestcalendar.com/
Okay, that is going to do it from here this month. Stay safe and "Catch Me On The Air, at a meeting or hamfest!!!" But most of all... Have FUN!!!!
73,
Scott
Scott Yonally N8SY
Vice Director
Great Lakes Division
N8SY@ARRL.ORG
HAMFEST AND EVENT LISTING:
Here is the current listing of Great Lakes Division ARRL Sanctioned hamfests and Special Events through January of 2024.
12/03/23 - Fulton County Winterfest, Archbold, OH
12/03/23 - L'Anse Creuse, Troy, MI
01/05/24 - SCARF Hamfest, Shade, OH
Please post this listing in your club's newsletter and announce the swaps on your local nets. Talk them up. Let's fully support all of our hamfests in every way possible. It means success for everyone.
Be sure to invite your ARRL Officials as soon as your date is set.
If your ARRL Affiliated club plans to request Hamfest Sanctioning, you should make that request well in advance of the scheduled Hamfest date, as this allows adequate time for QST Listings. QST announcements require a 3 month lead time. To be fair to our Division's clubs, the Great Lakes Division policy is to offer a club ARRL Sanctioning for a limit of two hamfests/swaps in any given calendar year, and they must be four months apart. If your swap is cancelled or the date is going to change, please notify ARRL HQ.
For the latest detail on regional hamfests, check the ARRL web page at:
http://www.arrl.org/hamfests-and-conventions-calendar.
73,
Dale Williams WA8EFK
Director
Great Lakes Division
wa8efk@arrl.org
