[Alexandria Radio Club Reflector] FW: To all ARRL Members of Virginia’s 8th Congressional District:

[Don Lewis (KI4D)]

He will certainly hear from me because I need this.

Don, KI4D

-----Original Message-----
From: ARRL Members Only Web site [mailto:memberlist at www.arrl.org] 
Sent: Saturday, March 28, 2015 5:16 PM
To: donovan.lewis.sr at gmail.com
Subject: To all ARRL Members of Virginia’s 8th Congressional District:

I just received a communication from our ARRL President, Kay Craigie, N3KN.

This is in regards to HR-1301, The Amateur Radio Parity Act of 2015. 
If enacted, this bill would direct the FCC to extend reasonable accommodation for Amateur Radio antenna systems as ordered in PRB-1 to those amateur radio operators encumbered by private land use restrictions.

Last week, Kay visited the Washington, DC, office of Congressman Donald Beyer, VA-8 to encourage co-sponsorship of H.R. 1301, The Amateur Radio Parity Act of 2015.  She met with a staff member rather than the Congressman himself. The meeting was very cordial. 

However friendly the reception Kay was given, she does not live in the district.

Mr. Beyer will listen best (and perhaps ONLY) to his constituents. Kay and the full leadership of the ARRL ask that everyone receiving this communication in VA-8 to reach out to Congressman Beyer, supporting this legislation.

This can be done in several ways. One is to telephone a local office and simply ask for the Congressman to co-sponsor H.R. 1301. Mentioning the bill number is essential. The Alexandria office phone number is
(703) 658-5403. 

Other local office numbers are posted on the Congressman's web page at:
www.beyer.house.gov . 
 
Also on that web page is a direct way to e-mail the Congressman. This is a great resource, and takes minutes to do.  You do not need to write a long message. Just say something like "Please co-sponsor H.R. 1301, the Amateur Radio Parity Act of 2015. As your constituent and an Amateur Radio operator, I know how our service in providing emergency communications during the times of disaster can serve the public.  Our ability to do so would be strengthened by the passage of this bill."
You certainly can put this in your own words -- in fact it's a good idea to do that -- as long as you mention the bill number (HR-1301) correctly.

Finally, Congress will soon go on its Easter Recess, lasting from March
27 to April 12. Congressmen typically give constituents opportunities to visit them or their staff during such recesses. 

Information about the bill is on the ARRL web site at
http://www.arrl.org/hr-1301 . Also posted there is information about how to send postal mail to Congressmen most efficiently.

I know there has been much discussion about last year’s bill, which has now been reborn as this year’s HR-1301. This is important stuff.
Last session we had only one Virginia Congressman as a co-sponsor of our previous bill on the same subject.  Kay, as a resident of Virginia, knows we can do better.

As your ARRL Director, and Bill Morine N2COP, as your Vice Director, we ask that you take a few minutes and contact Don Beyer's office, and solicit his co-sponsorship of this bill.  If you are not currently affected by private land use regulation, please do so for other hams that are.  Our success around the Roanoke Division, as well as around the country, will rest on the number of individuals taking a few minutes to contact their US Representative's office!

Thank you!

'73 de JIM N2ZZ
ARRL Director
Roanoke Division

--------------------------------------------------------------------
ARRL Roanoke Division
Director: James F Boehner, N2ZZ
n2zz at arrl.org
--------------------------------------------------------------------

To unsubscribe from messages, go to:
http://p1k.arrl.org/oo/5a728e620e2060fd58facbc45239c79a