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The ARRL Letter

January 21, 2016
Editor: Rick Lindquist, WW1ME

 *  Changing of the Guard : Rick Roderick, K5UR, Elected as ARRL's 16th
    President
 *  ARRL's New President to Make First Official Convention Visit in Puerto
    Rico
 *  Outgoing ARRL CEO David Sumner, K1ZZ, Honored with ARRL President's
    Award
 *  ARRL President Bestows President's Award on AMSAT's Tom Clark, K3IO
 *  National Parks on the Air Update
 *  There's Still Time -- But Not Much -- to Make Plans for the ARRL
    National Convention and Banquet
 *  Bart Jahnke, W9JJ, Named as ARRL Contest Branch Manager
 *  Dayton Amateur Radio Association Surprises ARRL CEO David Sumner, K1ZZ
 *  Winter Field Day Set for January 30-31
 *  Midwinter 630 Meter Activity Weekend Set for Early February
 *  NASA Control Terminates Spacewalk by Two-Ham Astronaut Team
 *  In Brief...
 *  The K7RA Solar Update
 *  Just Ahead in Radiosport
 *  Upcoming ARRL Section, State, and Division Conventions and Events


Changing of the Guard: Rick Roderick, K5UR, Elected as ARRL's 16th President

The ARRL Board of Directors has elected ARRL First Vice President Rick
Roderick, K5UR, of Little Rock, Arkansas, as ARRL President. The Board took
the action as it convened for its 2016 Annual Meeting January 15-16 in
Windsor, Connecticut. Roderick, 63, officially assumed office for a 2-year
term at the conclusion of the Annual Meeting. He is the ARRL's 16th president,
succeeding Kay Craigie, N3KN, of Blacksburg, Virginia, who had served for
three terms since being elected in 2010.

A ham for 48 years, Roderick is an attorney. He has served on the ARRL Board
of Directors for 24 years and is an enthusiastic Amateur Radio operator and
DXer on HF and VHF/UHF. He and his wife Holly have two adult children.

The Board also chose other officers, electing Dakota Division Director Greg
Widin, K0GW, of Stillwater, Minnesota, as First Vice President, succeeding
Roderick, and Rocky Mountain Division Director Brian Mileshosky, N5ZGT, of
Albuquerque, New Mexico, as Vice President, succeeding Jim Fenstermaker, K9JF.
Roderick, Widin, and Mileshosky all are ARRL Life Members. Fenstermaker was
later named by the Board as an ARRL Honorary Vice President.

As a result of the Vice President election, Rocky Mountain Division Vice
Director Dwayne Allen, WY7FD, of Sundance, Wyoming, has become the new
Division Director, succeeding Mileshosky, while Dakota Division Vice Director
Kent Olson, KA0LDG, of Horace, North Dakota, has become the new Division
Director, succeeding Widin. President Roderick will fill the Vice Director
vacancies.

In other action, the Board re-elected International Affairs Vice President Jay
Bellows, K0QB, Chief Financial Officer Barry Shelley, N1VXY, and Chief
Technology Officer Brennan Price, N4QX.

The Board also elected one new member to the Executive Committee, which can
act on the behalf of the Board between its two yearly meetings in January and
July. Delta Division Director David Norris, K5UZ, will replace New England
Division Director Tom Frenaye, K1KI, on the panel. The other Director members
are Hudson Division Director Mike Lisenco, N2YBB; West Gulf Division Director
Dr David Woolweaver, K5RAV; Pacific Division Director Bob Vallio, W6RGG, and
Great Lakes Division Director Dale Williams, WA8EFK.

ARRL Chief Operating Officer Harold Kramer, WJ1B, also was attending his final
meeting in an official capacity. He will retire on March 1 after about 11
years at ARRL Headquarters.

The Board considered the recommendations of the CEO Search Committee and
selected a candidate to succeed ARRL Chief Executive Officer David Sumner,
K1ZZ, who is retiring this spring after 44 years on the ARRL Headquarters
staff. A formal announcement is pending.

In other action, the Board approved an annual budget that contains an
operating surplus this year, in the wake of a deficit last year. The overall
budget was $15.3 million, approximately the same as the previous year's
spending plan.


ARRL's New President to Make First Official Convention Visit in Puerto Rico

Newly elected ARRL President Rick Roderick, K5UR, will make his first official
convention visit as he heads a League contingent at the ARRL Puerto Rico State
Convention later this month in Hatillo, Puerto Rico.

"The Organizing Committee of the convention is pleased to know that President
Roderick will be attending and has chosen to participate with us," said
Convention Chair Jos‚ Vic‚ns, NP4G. Other League officials expected to attend
include Southeastern Division Director Doug Rehman, K4AC, and General Counsel
Chris Imlay, W3KD.

"I am looking forward to seeing everyone at the ARRL Puerto Rico State
Convention," President Roderick told the Organizing Committee.

The January 30-31 event, the 4th Puerto Rico State Convention, will be
dedicated to emergency communication. The Caribbean Amateur Radio Group, the
Puerto Rico Amateur Radio Group, and the city of Hatillo are co-sponsoring the
gathering in the Francisco "Pancho" Deida Coliseum. More than 1200 are
expected to attend the largest Amateur Radio event of the Caribbean. Admission
is free.

In addition to forums, exhibits, and Amateur Radio examinations, special event
station KP4AW will be on the air from inside the coliseum. An Amateur of the
Year Award will also be presented, and the Coquifest 2016 get-together will be
held on el Gran Parque de Hatillo on Saturday evening.


Outgoing ARRL CEO David Sumner, K1ZZ, Honored with ARRL President's Award

As both were on the threshold of departing their official positions with the
League, then-ARRL President Kay Craigie, N3KN, presented ARRL CEO David
Sumner, K1ZZ, with the ARRL President's Award. The presentation came during
the ARRL Board of Directors' Annual Meeting January 15-16 in Windsor,
Connecticut. She also recognized two Board members for their 50 years of
League membership.

The legend on the ARRL President's Award plaque recognizes Sumner "for
lifetime dedication to advancing the art, science, and enjoyment of Amateur
Radio." Sumner announced last year that he would be stepping down at the end
of May after 44 years on the ARRL Headquarters staff.

Licensed in 1962, Sumner has been engaged in Amateur Radio in the domestic and
international arenas for most of the years since. Sumner is an active
contester and DXer and renowned for the breadth and depth of his knowledge and
expertise in Amateur Radio.


ARRL President Bestows President's Award on AMSAT's Tom Clark, K3IO

The ARRL has honored veteran AMSAT personality and Amateur Radio digital
pioneer Tom Clark, K3IO (ex-W3IWI), with its President's Award. Then-ARRL
President Kay Craigie, N3KN, presented the award plaque to Clark at a January
10 meeting of the Potomac Valley Radio Club in Blacksburg, Virginia. The
plaque, which bears a likeness of ARRL Co-Founder Hiram Percy Maxim, W1AW,
recognizes Clark's 60 years of advancing Amateur Radio technology.

"In addition to his work with AMSAT, Tom was a leader in the development of
the AX.25 packet radio network in the 1980s, when he was W3IWI. Anyone who was
on packet in the 1980s knew that call sign," President Craigie said. "I recall
attending a forum he gave on packet radio at a hamfest in Baltimore in the
1980s, when people on the East Coast were just getting interested in the mode
and its possibilities." Clark was a TAPR director during the heyday of packet
radio forwarding, and TAPR's significance was huge, she said.

Former AMSAT President and current AMSAT Director Bob McGwier, N4HY, was more
direct. "There would be no AMSAT to inspire all of this work without Tom
Clark," he said, noting that the organization had been in serious trouble
after the Phase 3A satellite launch failure.

"Tom took over as president of AMSAT, and he saved the organization and
inspired all of us to look to the future and aim for the stars," McGwier said.
"All that has followed, including PACSAT and microsats, CubeSats, AO-13, all
the way through AO-85, are a direct result of Tom Clark saving AMSAT and
providing it leadership as president from 1980 to 1987 and continuous
leadership on the Board of Directors of AMSAT from 1976 until today." Read
more.

____________________________________________________________________________


National Parks on the Air Update

Great pileups were reported from many National Parks on the Air (NPOTA)
activators over the January 16-17 weekend. We're getting more and more
comments from participants who are catching "NPOTA Fever" and beginning the
chase.

At three weeks into the year-long event, we've seen nearly 200 of the 483
NPOTA units activated -- an amazing level of participation! Several Chasers
are taking the event seriously as well; 11 Chasers have more than 100 NPOTA
units confirmed, and 84 have 50 or more units in the bag. And it's still
mighty cold in a large part of the county...just think what activity will be
like when it warms up a bit.

NPOTA Managers Sean Kutzko, KX9X, and Norm Fusaro, W3IZ, are talking NPOTA,
ham radio, and RVing on this week's RoadTreking.com podcast, "Reliable
Communications for the RVer," hosted by Mike Wendland, K8ZRH, an NPOTA
Activator.

More than 20 Activations are scheduled for the week of January 21-27; check
the NPOTA Activations calendar for details. Follow NPOTA on Facebook and
Twitter, too! -- Thanks to ARRL Media and Public Relations Manager Sean
Kutzko, KX9X

____________________________________________________________________________


There's Still Time -- But Not Much -- to Make Plans for the ARRL National
Convention and Banquet

Time is tight to order ARRL National Convention Banquet tickets and to make
your plans to attend the Convention February 12-14, hosted by the popular
Orlando HamCation(R), which celebrates its 70th anniversary this year. The
banquet will take place on Saturday, February 13, at 6:30 PM, with ARRL CEO
David Sumner, K1ZZ, as the keynote speaker. Guests also will hear from and get
to meet the League's new President, Rick Roderick, K5UR. Master of Ceremonies
will be ARRL Southeastern Division Director Doug Rehman, K4AC. Banquet tickets
will be available until January 31. The ARRL cannot guarantee that any tickets
will be available for sale during the convention.

The Convention and HamCation have plenty of activities to offer, and, of
course, it's a great place to meet with friends you haven't seen for a while.
ARRL's exhibit area will highlight the various aspects of League services,
including the ARRL Education & Technology Program (ETP), Public Service,
Radiosport and DXCC card checking, and The Amateur Radio Parity Act. Visitors
not only will be able to peruse the many and varied ARRL publications and
gear, but ARRL staff will be on hand to help generate and send letters to
Members of Congress to urge their support of The Amateur Radio Parity Act.
ARRL Laboratory representatives will test your handheld radio. It's also an
opportunity to learn more about the ARRL National Parks on the Air (NPOTA)
event, which continues through the end of the year. On Saturday afternoon,
younger visitors -- licensed or not -- can participate in a hidden-transmitter
hunt -- a foxhunt -- using a receiver and directional antenna.

Download the entire ARRL National Convention Exhibit & Activities Guide (PDF)
so you won't miss anything. More information is available on the ARRL National
Convention web page. Read more.


Bart Jahnke, W9JJ, Named as ARRL Contest Branch Manager

Former ARRL staffer Bart Jahnke, W9JJ, is the League's new ARRL Contest Branch
manager. Jahnke returned to ARRL Headquarters on January 4 after a decade
away, working in the customer service, manufacturing sales and support, and
information technology fields in the Midwest and on the East Coast. He
succeeds Matt Wilhelm, W1MSW, who resigned last year.

"It is great to be back at ARRL and to see the faces of many friends still
here -- and still dedicated to serving Amateur Radio -- as well as new faces,
new friends, to join in the journey," said Jahnke, who previously spent nearly
20 years at Headquarters. "With continued strong activity comes our obligation
to produce and release results as rapidly as possible."

Jahnke said he hopes -- with the help of Headquarters staff and volunteer data
processers and log checkers outside Headquarters -- to make things happen more
rapidly and efficiently, processing logs and publishing contest results
without compromising the integrity of the current system.

"We need to continue to work smarter, not harder, to serve the contest
community," he said.

Jahnke served as ARRL Volunteer Examiner Coordinator (VEC) Manager from 1989
until 2005. He initially joined the ARRL Headquarters staff in 1985, starting
out as editor of the ARRL Repeater Directory.

Jahnke said that while his primary interest during his 36 years in ham radio
has been volunteer activities and "weak-signal" VHF, UHF, and microwave
contesting, meteor scatter, and EME work, he has also enjoyed casually
operating in HF contests. He concedes, however, that it may be time to "add
some forte to my low bands!"


Dayton Amateur Radio Association Surprises ARRL CEO David Sumner, K1ZZ

As he nears retirement, ARRL CEO David Sumner has been honored by the Dayton
Amateur Radio Association (DARA), which sponsors Dayton Hamvention(R). Sumner
had been invited to speak at DARA's January 8 meeting, purportedly to recount
his many years with ARRL. While such out-of-town speaking engagements are not
out of the ordinary for him, something he wasn't anticipating awaited him at
this event.

"Dave provided a great insight into the mission of the ARRL, but our club had
some surprises," said DARA President Don Dubon, N6JRL.

The Dayton Amateur Radio Association honored Sumner with a plaque noting his
"Outstanding Career and Service to Amateur Radio." The club also made him a
"Gold Card" lifetime member of DARA, an honor bestowed on very few, Dubon
said. In addition, the ARRL Ohio Section presented him with a Special
Recognition Award.

"I am very pleased that the relationship between DARA and the ARRL has
blossomed into one of the outstanding partnerships in organized Amateur
Radio," Sumner said.

A reception attended by some 160 DARA members followed the meeting.


Winter Field Day Set for January 30-31

There really is a Winter Field Day, and this year, it takes place over the
January 30-31 weekend, sponsored by the Winter Field Day Association (WFDA).
The annual event's stated purpose is to encourage emergency operating
preparedness in the winter, but it's also a great opportunity to operate in
the great outdoors. The WFDA describes itself as a dedicated group of Amateur
Radio operators who believe that getting ready for emergency communication in
a winter environment is just as important as the preparations and practice
that take place at ARRL Field Day each June, all while taking some additional
unique operational concerns into account. The WFDA points out that disasters
are unpredictable, and its goal is to help enhance operators' skills and
prepare for all environmental conditions typically found in the US and Canada
throughout the entire year.

"We believe...that maintaining your operational skills should not be limited
to fair weather scenarios," the group says. "The addition of a Winter Field
Day will enhance those already important skills of those who generously
volunteer their time and equipment to these organizations."

The event is not restricted to North America. All Amateur Radio operators
around the world are invited to participate. Operation will be on all HF bands
except 12, 17, 30, and 60 meters. The event runs 24 hours. US and Canadian
stations exchange call sign, operating category, and ARRL or RAC section. The
rules are similar to those for the ARRL Field Day, held in June.

Last year, WR5J, W7KXB, KG7NJQ, and K7ZFO braved the conditions to operate as
NC7G near North Bend, Washington. Curt Black, WR5J, recounts, "We had a
fantastic team -- young, new hams, and some amazing octogenarian hams. All
contributed to the effort and the triumph. We had fantastic operating
conditions." Black said the weather was great too, with balmy temperatures.

"We had a blast -- worked all night long -- bounced from band to band and mode
to mode. We had no idea it was going to be as warm as it was," he said. --
Thanks to The ARRL Contest Update


Midwinter 630 Meter Activity Weekend Set for Early February

US and Canadian radio amateurs and experimenters will join forces in February
for the first Midwinter 630 Meter Activity Weekend. The event will get under
way at 0000 UTC on February 6 (Friday, February 5, in US time zones) and runs
through 2359 UTC on February 7.

"This event is being undertaken because of the new and quickly growing
interest in present 630 meter activities, both in the US and Canada," said
ARRL 600 Meter Experimental Group (WD2XSH) Experiment Coordinator Fritz Raab,
W1FR. "Much of the interest is in response to the strong likelihood of US
amateurs receiving access to the band in the near future, while Canadian hams
are eager to learn more about the present level of Amateur Radio activity on
their newest ham band." The activity weekend comes on the heels of a special
event operation over the November 13-14 weekend that included participation by
US and Canadian radio amateurs, and the Maritime Radio Historical Society
(MRHS).

Raab said the two activity nights will offer interested amateurs in both
countries an opportunity to experience the 630 meter band and, through
crossband activity with Canadian amateurs, to take part in activity in the MF
spectrum. "Our hope is to see this activity become an annual operating event,
to be held every winter on the 630 meter band," Raab said. "For those who may
be building for future 630 meter operation, this event will provide an
opportunity to test your 'receive' capabilities on MF."

Operation will be from 472 kHz to 479 kHz in various modes. Several Canadian
stations will undertake two-way crossband work, all on CW. Submit reception
reports via e-mail to the respective operators or via the ARRL 600 Meter
Experiment website. Read more.


NASA Control Terminates Spacewalk by Two-Ham Astronaut Team

NASA prematurely terminated a January 15 extra-vehicular excursion (EVA) - or
spacewalk - that Astronauts Tim Peake, KG5BVI, and Tim Kopra, KE5UDN, had been
undertaking since early that morning. The two were replacing a voltage
regulator near the solar arrays that had failed in November outside the
International Space Station (ISS) when Kopra reported what NASA Control called
"a small amount of water" inside his space helmet. NASA cut the spacewalk
short at about 1700 UTC.

The incident recalled the 2013 problem suffered by Astronaut Luca Parmitano,
KF5KDP, when his helmet inexplicably began filling with water. The situation
became urgent by the time Parmitano and fellow spacewalker Chris Cassidy,
KF5KDR, were ordered back into the ISS. NASA subsequently blamed the water
buildup on unexplained cooling system issues.

The January 15 spacewalk was the first for Peake, and the third for Kopra.
Peake, the first UK astronaut, and Kopra arrived at the ISS in December.

All Amateur Radio equipment on the ISS is routinely shut down during EVAs,
effectively postponing planned commemorative slow-scan TV transmissions.

____________________________________________________________________________


In Brief...

Time Running Out to Order ARRL 2015 November Sweepstakes Pins and Mugs: Orders
for 2015 ARRL November Sweepstakes participation pins and mugs must be placed
by month's end. Those submitting logs with more than 100 contacts qualify for
a Sweepstakes Participation Pin. Anyone managing a "Clean Sweep" by working
all 83 ARRL/RAC sections qualifies for a Clean Sweep coffee mug. All pin/mug
orders need to be postmarked by January 31, 2016. To order a Sweepstakes pin
or mug, send either a copy of your Sweepstakes summary sheet or a copy of the
first page of your Cabrillo file along with your check payable to ARRL.
Sweepstakes Participation Pins are $8; Clean Sweep Mugs are $15 this year,
including shipping. Send orders to ARRL November Sweepstakes Pins/Mugs, 225
Main St, Newington, CT 06111. These items are not stocked. The ARRL places its
order once it's known how many have requested pins and mugs. Items will be
shipped after all contest entries and all pin/mug orders have been processed
and verified, which should happen by April.


Foundation for Amateur Radio Invites Scholarship Applications: The Foundation
for Amateur Radio Inc (FAR) invites applications for the 2016-2017 academic
year for the 46 scholarships it administers. Applicants must hold a valid
Amateur Radio license and be enrolled or accepted for enrollment at an
accredited university, college, or technical school. Applicants attending
schools outside the US must provide a brochure describing the school. Students
do not apply for specific scholarships; each application will be considered
for all of the scholarships for which the applicant is qualified. In order to
be considered for the Chichester and QCWA scholarships, applicants must obtain
the appropriate recommendations. Applications must be submitted by April 15,
although applicants may edit their applications until May 7. Data entered onto
the application goes directly into an encrypted, password-protected PDF file
that is available only to the review committee. No part of the application is
stored online. Contact FAR for more information.


Central States VHF Society Issues Call for Conference Papers: The Central
States VHF Society (CVHFS) is soliciting papers, presentations, and poster
displays about any aspect of weak-signal VHF and above operating for the 50th
annual CSVHFS Conference to be held in Rochester, Minnesota July 28-31.
Authors do not need to attend the conference nor present their papers in order
to have them published in the Proceedings. Posters will be displayed at the
conference. The deadline for submissions is May 22. Further information is
available at the CVHFS website.

____________________________________________________________________________


The K7RA Solar Update

Tad Cook, K7RA, Seattle, reports: Over the past week we saw solar activity
decline somewhat. The average daily sunspot number dipped from 55.7 during the
January 7-13 reporting period to 46 during the current January 14-20 reporting
period.

Over the same periods average daily solar flux declined from 106.5 to 100.7.
Average daily planetary A index went from 11.1 to 9, and average daily
mid-latitude A index drooped from 8.4 to 5.6.

Predicted solar flux is 95 on January 21; 100 on January 22-23; 105 on January
24-29; 100 on January 30; 105 on January 31; 110 on February 1-4; 105 on
February 5-11; 100 on February 12-14; 95 on February 15-19, and 105 on
February 20-25.

We saw one new sunspot on January 14, another on January 17, and two more on
January 19 and 20.

Sunspot numbers for January 14 through 20 were 36, 38, 38, 48, 48, 55, and 59,
with a mean of 46. The 10.7 centimeter flux was 103.2, 103.5, 99.9, 100.6,
99.9, 97.5, and 100.4, with a mean of 100.7. Estimated planetary A indices
were 8, 6, 4, 4, 5, 11, and 25, with a mean of 9. Estimated mid-latitude A
indices were 6, 4, 3, 3, 4, 7, and 12, with a mean of 5.6.

Send me your reports and observations.

____________________________________________________________________________


Just Ahead in Radiosport

 *  January 23 -- WAB 1.8 MHz Phone
 *  January 23-24 -- YL-ISSB QSO Party (CW/SSB)
 *  January 23-24 -- BARTG RTTY Sprint
 *  January 23-24 -- Montana QSO Party
 *  January 24 -- QRP ARCI Fireside SSB Sprint
 *  January 27 -- SKCC Sprint
 *  January 27 -- UKEICC 80 Meter Contest (CW)

See the ARRL Contest Calendar for more information. For in-depth reporting on
Amateur Radio contesting, subscribe to The ARRL Contest Update via your ARRL
member profile e-mail preferences.

____________________________________________________________________________


Upcoming ARRL Section, State, and Division Conventions and Events

 *  January 17-23 -- Quartzfest, Quartzsite, Arizona
 *  January 29-30 -- Mississippi State Convention, Jackson, Mississippi
 *  January 29-31 -- Puerto Rico State Convention, Hatillo, Puerto Rico
 *  February 6 -- South Carolina State Convention, N. Charleston, South
    Carolina
 *  February 6 -- Virginia State Convention (Frostfest), Richmond, Virginia
 *  February 12-14 -- ARRL National Convention, Orlando, Florida
 *  February 13 -- Georgia ARES Convention, Forsyth, Georgia
 *  February 19-20 -- Southwestern Division Convention, Yuma, Arizona
 *  February 20 -- Arkansas State Convention, Hoxie, Arkansas
 *  February 27 -- WCF Section Technical Conference, Tampa, Florida
 *  February 27 -- New Mexico TechFest, Albuquerque, New Mexico
 *  February 27 -- Vermont State Convention, S. Burlington, Vermont
 *  March 4-5 -- Alabama Section Convention, Birmingham, Alabama
 *  March 11-12 -- Louisiana State Convention, Rayne, Louisiana
 *  March 18-19 -- South Texas Section Convention, Rosenburg, Texas
 *  March 19 -- West Texas Section Convention, Midland, Texas
 *  March 19 -- MicroHAMS Digital Conference, Redmond, Washington
 *  March 25-26 -- Maine State Convention, Lewiston, Maine

Find conventions and hamfests in your area.

____________________________________________________________________________


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____________________________________________________________________________


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... Let others praise ancient times; I am glad I was born in these.
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