[BCVHFA] Fwd: WEAVER'S WORDS -- Summertime and the hamming is great!

[Carl Morgan]

>Subject: WEAVER'S WORDS -- Summertime and the hamming is great!
>Date: Mon, 30 Jun 2008 16:11:47 -0400 (EDT)
>
>[As always, reply only to k8je at arrl.org.]
>
>- More Webinars.
>- What is Amateur Radio?
>- You asked -- follow-up.
>- Another member helps vs. Part 15 device interference.
>- DXCC turnaround time way down.
>- Congratulation, SMs, PIOs and PICs.
>- New look coming.
>- ARRL Board meeting.
>
>+++ Webinar:  Update on Red Cross Background Checks +++
>
>This is a reminder the webinar "Update on Red Cross Background Checks"
>will be July 1 at 9 PM.  To register for the Webinar go to:
>https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/839406365.
>
>A new feature is that voice coverage of the Webinar is available to
>members who do not have the capability to view it online.  To do this,
>log in to the Webinar site to get the telephone number and call into
>the teleconference.
>
>Another new feature is that voice coverage is now available through
>VOIP.
>
>System Requirements for Internet coverage:
>
>PC-based attendees -
>Required: Windows® 2000, XP Home, XP Pro, 2003 Server, and Vista.
>
>Macintosh®-based attendees -
>Required: Mac OS® X 10.4 (Tiger®) or newer.
>
>
>+++ More Webinars +++
>
>Atlantic Division Director Bill Edgar, N3LLR, has arranged four
>successive Webinars on different aspects of APRS.  If you know nothing
>or little about APRS and want to learn more, here is your opportunity.
>Bob Bruninga WB4APR, the developer of APRS Automated Packet Reporting
>System has graciously offered to do the series.  The topics, dates and
>times are as follows:
>
>APRS, it's not what you think -- Tuesday, July 8th from 8pm to 9pm
>APRS for your mobile -- Tuesday, July 15th from 8pm to 9pm
>APRS for special events -- Tuesday, July 22nd from 8pm to 9pm
>APRS for Satellites -- Tuesday, July 29th from 8pm to 9pm
>
>To sign up for any or all of these webinars, go to:
>www.atldiv.org/training and click on the register button for each one
>you are interested in.  Once you have registered, you should receive an
>e-mail with the information needed to connect to any Webinar for which
>you registered.
>
>Registration for this APRS series may fill up quickly.  If you are
>interested in any or all of these, I suggest you sign up as soon.
>
>+++ What is Amateur Radio? +++
>
>At the risk of boring you to tears, let's start at the very beginning
>(this ought to make a good song title).
>
>Ama-ture -- from the Latin, amo.  Loosely means love.  An amateur does
>something for the love of doing it.  An amateur may be paid well,
>poorly or not at all.  The key is that the task is done for the love of
>doing it.
>
>Ra-dio -- from radiate.  In Amateur Radio, this refers to radiating an
>electronic signal from what has become known as a station.  There is
>commercial radio, military radio, government radio, public radio and,
>best of all, Amateur Radio -- i.e. radio for the love of doing it.
>
>Let's clear up a great misimpression.  This is that all workers are
>either "professional" or "non-professional," and that Amateur Radio
>operators are non-professional.  This misconception resulted from the
>corruption of the English language largely during the last half or so
>of the 20th century.  The confusion and corruption has not cleared
>since the enlightened days of the early 21st century.
>
>It has been said that the French don't care what they say so long as it
>sounds good (the French language is beautiful).  It can also be said
>that we Americans don't care what we say so long as we know what we
>(the speaker) intends to say.  Neither position helps ensure accuracy
>of communication.
>
>In times past, calling a person a "professional" had nothing or at
>most, little to do with money.  For example, even though we call paid
>baseball, football and other athletes "professional," none of them are
>"professional" in the true sense of the word.  They are paid, skilled
>commercial athletes.
>
>Although we now call highly skilled craftsmen professional, this use of
>the word also differs from its true meaning.  Craftsmen can be referred
>to as Master, Journeyman or Apprentice plumbers, carpenters, etc.  Each
>term is a legitimate and appropriately complimentary title.
>
>Back in my rural, northwestern Indiana community, we didn't have Master
>or Journeymen craftsman.  In our simplicity, we referred to
>appropriately-skilled people as being highly skilled, did good work or
>hire-"him"-if you needed something thrown together.  The worker's skill
>level was well know, appreciated and rewarded.  But, he was not a
>professional.
>
>One could also add the term "artisan" to our list of categories.
>Artisans include good sculptors, real life or abstract art painters and
>musicians.  They aren't professional.  You know the people to whom I
>refer.
>
>The term "Professional" was limited to people who obtained special
>education that permitted them to perform at a different plane from
>those in the trades or crafts.  Professionals included teachers,
>physicians, dentists, scientists, attorneys, ministers.  This does not
>at all mean that highly skilled or trained non-professionals are
>slouches.  They deserve great respect also.
>
>Where does this take me?  Right back to Amateur Radio (hams).
>
>In my book, a radio amateur is a person who recognizes the value of the
>Amateur Service to the public as a voluntary noncommercial
>communication service.  This especially includes providing emergency
>communication for no charge to the public or served agencies.
>
>As a body, Amateur Radio operators strive to continue and extend their
>proven ability to contribute to the advancement of the radio art and
>science.  They encourage and improve the Amateur Radio Service through
>programs that facilitate advancing skills in both the communications
>and technical phases of the art.  Their effort to expand the existing
>reservoir of trained operators, technicians, and electronics experts is
>a continuation and extension of their unique ability to foster
>international goodwill.
>
>All this is what makes Amateur Radio operators true professionals.
>
>Fabled newscaster and commentator Walter Cronkite, who narrates the CD
>"Amateur Radio Today," also states that hams are professionals.  This
>statement is accurate in the true meaning of the word.  We are
>professionals not because we are paid, but because of the education and
>training we have put ourselves through.  Just as physicians, teachers
>and others I refer to as true professionals, every ham operator who
>holds an FCC license has what might be called a Bachelor of Science or
>Bachelor of Arts in Amateur Radio.
>
>Many amateurs have Ph.D.s in Amateur Radio not merely because they are
>licensed, but because they have become self-educated to the degree at
>which they can out-perform a number of college-educated engineers.
>
>Amateur Radio -- a hobby?  Yes, it is this and much more.  It is a
>service; a service to the public, thanks to the discoveries, innovation
>and disaster relief activities we have performed and continue to
>perform.
>
>This line of thinking leads me to believe you and I are Professional
>Amateur Radio Operators in the Amateur Radio Service.  We are not
>merely amateur radio operators.  Many Professional Amateur Radio
>Operators have sub-training in Morse code, Digital Communication,
>Emergency Communication, Systems Design and Development and other
>facets of the degree.  All of us are Professional, regardless of which,
>if any, sub-specialties we pursued or continue to pursue.
>
>Don't let anyone try to tell you otherwise.  To borrow a phrase, we are
>the proud, the few, the Professional Amateur Radio Operators.
>
>+++ You asked -- follow-up +++
>
>After reading my earlier comments about D-Star, JARL and ICOM . . . and
>marketing strategies . . . Steve Sowder, N5SDZ of Niles, MI brought me
>up-to-date.  He gave a brief report on details of a forum at the
>Hamvention(r) that I had missed.
>
>The forum included discussion of "a product called DV Dongle
>http://www.dvdongle.com/."  He said the developer engineered the
>product based on D-Star specifications that are freely available.
>
>Steve continued that the product allows a user to access the D-Star
>network without having a D-Star radio or even a D-Star gateway repeater
>in the area.
>
>He also understands that Kenwood makes a D-Star radio which is only
>available in Japan to this time.  With the recent Kenwood merger, can
>we expect to see their "D-Star" rig in the US?
>
>Thanks, Steve.
>
>+++ Another member helps vs. Part 15 device interference +++
>
>Another Great Lakes Division amateur has reported excessive radiation
>from a Part 15 battery charger.  This is another step taken by a Great
>Lakes Division member to clean-up interference by an unlicensed
>device.
>
>In helping a neighbor resolve a case of interference, Lambertville,
>Michigan amateur Denny Hilbert, K8KAS traced the problem to a pulse
>battery charger in the home.  He obtained the charger and sent it to Ed
>Hare, W8RFI at the ARRL testing lab.  Ed and his staff tested the
>charger and found it was emitting signals at 27 dB above the maximum
>level allowed by FCC rules.
>
>With Denny's agreement, the charger was forwarded along with the lab
>report to Chief Counsel Chris Imlay, W3KD.  Chris included the charger
>and data in an official complaint to the FCC.
>
>This is another great example of how the initiative and action of an
>individual amateur played a major role in enabling ARRL to fight
>interference.  It is also another great example of how individual
>amateurs can take action to protect the Amateur Radio service we enjoy
>so much and that is so valuable in our assistance to our communities.
>
>Thanks Denny.
>
>+++ DXCC turnaround time way down +++
>
>Several members have reported the long turnaround times for DXCC card
>processing is over.  Times are down to about six weeks at this time.
>The gang at the DX Desk has been working feverously to get things back
>on track . . . and they have succeeded.
>
>Some of the important changes to which I referred a couple of issues
>back remain to be implemented.  Bill Moore, NC1L is reported to be
>shooting for a turnaround time of about four weeks by the end of the
>year.
>
>+++ Status of SOU with Red Cross +++
>
>This can best be stated as, there is none.  In spite of the pleasing
>words National Red Cross wrote to President Harrison, W5ZN, we still
>need a clarification of several points Red Cross included in the letter
>before signing a new SOU.
>
>Please understand that neither ARRL nor I are attempting to tell you
>what you can or cannot do.  If you choose to agree to the RC open-ended
>background check agreement this is OK.  We are merely telling the
>situation like it is so you can have the facts before reaching your
>decision.
>
>Please understand, too, that I want a new SOU (formerly called MOU) as
>much as anyone else.  An equal fact is that I believe firmly against
>signing a contract that continues to be ambiguous.  Until I see what RC
>is actually saying.
>
>+++ Congratulation, SMs, PIOs and PICs +++
>
>The name of the game related to getting Amateur Radio better known to
>the public is location, location, location.  Sound weird?  I'm
>referring to the location of publicity.  What I mean is that publicity
>that is repeatedly put in front of the eyes or in the ears of the
>public is the first criterion of information to be favorable to Amateur
>Radio.
>
>The second criterion for effective information is that it catches the
>public awareness.  The third criterion is that the publicity needs to
>draw a favorable response.
>
>Surround the public with eye- and ear-catching information that tells
>it Amateur Radio is worthwhile and interesting -- Amateur Radio will
>continue to grow.
>
>With this background, I am very happy to congratulate the SMs, PIOs and
>PICs of Kentucky, Michigan and Ohio who achieved excellent publicity
>related to Field Day.
>
>+++ New look coming +++
>
>It won't be long until the Great Lakes Division web site has a totally
>new look.  This will be through the work of our new Webmeister, Gary
>Osborne, W8XS.  Gary previously maintained a major portion of the web
>site for the City of Cincinnati.  Gary O. officially becomes Webmeister
>July 1.
>
>I thank him for taking on the rebuild.
>
>Thanks to former GLD Director George Race, WB8BGY for developing the
>current site many years ago and to Vice Director Gary Johnston, KI4LA
>for maintaining it the past several years.
>
>+++ ARRL Board meeting +++
>
>The midyear ARRL Board of Directors meeting is July 18-19 in Newington,
>CT.  If you have any special issues you would like to suggest, please
>let me know no later than July 16 at k8je at arrl.org.
>
>+++ Tentative Schedule +++
>
>10 Jul:  Mahoning Valley ARA, Youngstown - Jim, John
>17 Jul:  A&F Meeting, Newington - Jim
>18-19 Jul:  Board Meeting, Newington - Jim, Gary
>22 Jul:  Quarterly GLD Teleconference
>1  Aug:  Massillon (OH) RC - Jim
>Noon 8 Aug:  Nominations close for Director/Vice Director election
>10 Aug:  Central Kentucky Hamfest, Lawrenceburg - Jim, John
>15 Aug:  Genesee County RC, 75th Anniversary, Flint, MI - Jim
>13 Sep:  OH Section Conf, Columbus - Jim, Gary
>21 Sep:  Cincinnati Hamfest - Jim, Gary, John
>23 Sep-1 Oct:  Director/Vice Director ballots mailed
>7  Oct:  OH-KY-IN ARS (Cincinnati) ARRL Night - Jim, John
>12 Oct:  Michigan State Convention, Kalamazoo - Jim
>28 Oct:  Quarterly GLD Teleconference
>21 Nov:  (Noon) Deadline for return of ballots; ballots counted
>22 Nov:  (By end of day) Candidates notified of election results
>
>2009
>
>1 Jan:  (Noon) Newly elected/re-elected Director and Vice Director
>replace the present Director and Vice Director.
>
>73,
>
>Jim Weaver, K8JE, Director
>ARRL Great Lakes Division
>5065 Bethany Rd.
>Mason, OH 45040
>E-mail:  k8je at arrl.org; Tel.: 513-459-0142
>ARRL - The Reason Amateur Radio Is!
>Members - The Reason ARRL Is!
>
>--------------------------------------------------------------------
>ARRL Great Lakes Division
>Director: James Weaver, K8JE
>k8je at arrl.org
>--------------------------------------------------------------------
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