[CVRC] The ARRL Letter for February 3, 2011

Thu Feb 3 19:00:09 EST 2011

If you are having trouble reading this message, you can see the original at:
<http://www.arrl.org/arrlletter/?issue=2011-02-03>http://www.arrl.org/arrlletter/?issue=2011-02-03

February 3, 2011
Editor: <mailto:k1sfa at arrl.org>S. Khrystyne Keane, K1SFA
<http://www.arrl.org/>ARRL Home 
Page<http://www.arrl.org/arrlletter/>ARRL 
Letter<http://www.arrl.org/arrlletter/> 
Archive<http://www.arrl.org/arrlletter/audio/>Audio 
News<http://www.arrl.org/nladclick.php?n=al&i=2011-02-03&t=t>

    * Scouting: Boy Scouts of America and ARRL 
Team Up to Help Scouts Learn Communications Skills
    * Board of Directors : President Craigie 
Appoints Former SM William Hudzik as Hudson Division Vice Director
    * Legislative Matters: Amateur Radio Bill Introduced in the US Senate
    * ARRL Field Day: 2011 Field Day Packet Available
    * Vote for your Favorite Article in the February Issue of QST
    * Solar Update
    * This Week on the Radio

Scouting: Boy Scouts of America and ARRL Team Up 
to Help Scouts Learn Communications Skills

After working together for nearly a century to 
provide Scouts with the ability to learn radio 
communication skills, Boy Scouts of America and 
the ARRL have officially teamed up by signing a 
memorandum of understanding. This MOU designates 
the ARRL as a key resource for K2BSA and Radio 
Merit Badge training at the BSA National Scout 
Jamboree and establishes the ARRL as the go-to 
source for Scouts interested in learning about 
and becoming involved in radio communication.

The ARRL and the Boy Scouts of America signed a 
Memorandum of Understanding on January 31.

BSA Chief Scout Executive Bob Mazzuca and ARRL 
President Kay Craigie, N3KN, launched the 
partnership January 31 by holding a unique 
communications meeting. Mazzuca joined Craigie 
virtually during an Internet video conference and 
document-signing ceremony. From separate 
locations, the pair took the opportunity to talk 
about the importance of each organization to the 
ongoing development of the other.

"Throughout the years, going all the way back to 
the Wireless Merit Badge in 1918, the ARRL has 
worked hand-in-hand with Boy Scouts of America to 
help teach Scouts the skills and joys of radio 
communication," said Chief Scout Executive Bob 
Mazzuca. "Today, we are making official a 
relationship that has been beneficial for both of 
our organizations for nearly a century." [Read 
more 
<http://www.arrl.org/news/boy-scouts-of-america-and-arrl-team-up-to-help-scouts-learn-communications-skills>here]

Board of Directors: President Craigie Appoints 
Former SM William Hudzik as Hudson Division Vice Director

After review of eligibility by the ARRL Ethics 
and Elections Committee, President Kay Craigie, 
N3KN, has appointed William W. Hudzik, W2UDT, of 
Gillette, New Jersey, to serve as Vice Director 
of the ARRL's Hudson Division for the remainder 
of the current term that expires January 1, 2013. 
Hudzik fills the vacancy created when Frank 
Fallon, N2FF, retired from the ARRL Board of 
Directors after more than 14 years of service and 
his Vice Director, Joyce Birmingham, KA2ANF, 
assumed the Director position. Read more 
<http://www.arrl.org/news/former-northern-new-jersey-section-manager-appointed-hudson-division-vice-director>here. 

Legislative Matters: Amateur Radio Bill Introduced in the US Senate

On January 26, Senator Joe Lieberman (ID-CT), 
along with Senator Susan Collins (R-ME), 
introduced Senate Bill 191, The Amateur Radio Emergency

Communications Enhancement Act of 2011. Similar 
to 
<http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/BILLS-112hr81ih/pdf/BILLS-112hr81ih.pdf>HR 
81, 
<http://www.arrl.org/news/new-amateur-radio-bill-introduced-in-congress>introduced 
in the US House by Representative Sheila Jackson 
Lee (D-TX-18) on January 5, the bill, if passed, 
would direct the Department of Homeland Security 
(<http://www.dhs.gov/index.shtm>DHS) to undertake 
a study on emergency communications. S 191 has 
been referred to the 
<http://hsgac.senate.gov/public/>Committee on 
Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. 
Lieberman is the Chairman of the committee, while 
Collins is the Ranking Member. Read more 
<http://www.arrl.org/news/senate-version-of-amateur-radio-legislation-introduced>here. 

ARRL Field Day: 2011 Field Day Packet Available

It's that time of year again -- time to start 
gearing up for ARRL Field Day, June 25-26, 2011! 
ARRL's flagship operating event -- always held 
the fourth full weekend in June -- brings 
together new and experienced hams for 24 hours of operating fun.

Field Day packets are now 
<http://www.arrl.org/files/file/Field-Day/2011/2011_FD_Packet.pdf>available 
for download and include the complete rules 
(including a change for 2011), as well as other 
reference items such as forms, ARRL Section 
abbreviation list, entry submission instructions, 
a Frequently Asked Questions section, guidelines 
for getting bonus points, instructions for GOTA 
stations and a kit to publicize your event with the local press.

There is one rule change for 2011. Starting this 
year, all stations operating in Class A may use a 
free VHF station without increasing their 
operating category. This is designed to encourage 
more activity on the VHF bands, especially 6 and 
2 meters, during the best sporadic-E season of the year.

We have also included in the FD packet a brief 
one-page flier with basic "What is Field Day" 
information that may be reproduced as a handout for your information table.

ARRL Audio News to Resume February 10

There will be no Audio News this week. It will 
resume next Thursday, February 10.

Take a (Video) Tour of W1AW

Click <http://www.arrl.org/multimedia>here to 
watch a video tour of W1AW, conducted by Station 
Manager Joe Carcia, NJ1Q. Scroll down the page until you come to VIDEO: W1AW.

Vote for your Favorite Article in the February Issue of QST

Now's the time to cast your vote for your 
favorite article in the February 2011 issue of 
<http://www.arrl.org/qst/>QST. Just head to the 
<http://www.arrl.org/cover-plaque-poll>Cover 
Plaque Award page and click on the article of 
your choice. The winner of the QST Cover Plaque 
Award for January is Jim Koehler, VE5FP, for his 
article "Reflow Soldering for the Radio Amateur." Congratulations Jim!

Solar Update

Tad Cook, K7RA, reports: The past week had a 
single zero sunspot day, on Thursday, January 27. 
Activity came right back, but the average daily 
sunspot number for the week fell over 12 points 
to 20.1, and average daily solar flux declined 2.7 points to 80.8.

The Sun, as seen on February 3, 2011 from NASA's 
SOHO Extreme Ultraviolet Imaging Telescope. This 
image was taken at 304 Angstrom; the bright 
material is at 60,000 to 80,000 kelvins.

Predicted solar flux values for the next week are 
below the average for the previous seven days. 
Values forecast by NOAA/USAF for solar flux are 
78 on February 3-8, 76 on February 9-10, then 80, 80 and 82 on February 11-13.

Predicted A index on February 3-5 is 15, 8 and 8, 
followed by 5 for February 6-28.

Look for more information on the ARRL website on 
Friday, February 4. For more information 
concerning radio propagation, visit the 
<http://www.arrl.org/propagation-of-rf-signals>ARRL 
Technical Information Service Propagation page.

This Week on the Radio

This week:
    * February 4 -- NCCC Sprint Ladder
    * February 5 -- Minnesota QSO Party; FYBO 
Winter QRP Sprint; AGCW Straight Key Party
    * February 5-6 -- Delaware QSO Party; 10-10 
International Winter Contest (SSB); British 
Columbia QSO Party; Mexico RTTY International 
Contest; YL-ISSB QSO Party (CW); EPC WW DX Contest
    * February 5-7 -- Vermont QSO Party
    * February 6 -- North American Sprint (CW)
    * February 8 -- ARS Spartan Sprint
    * February 9 -- NAQCC Straight Key/Bug Sprint
    * February 9-10 -- CWops Mini-CWT Test

Next week:
    * February 12 -- Asia-Pacific Spring Sprint
    * February 12 -- FISTS Winter Sprint
    * February 12-13 -- Dutch PACC Contest
    * February 12-13 -- New Hampshire QSO Party
    * February 12-13 -- CQ WW RTTY WPX Contest
    * February 12-13 -- SARL Field Day Contest
    * February 13 -- North American Sprint, SSB
    * February 14-18 -- School Club Roundup

All dates, unless otherwise stated, are UTC. See 
the <http://www.arrl.org/contests>ARRL Contest 
Branch page, the 
<http://www.arrl.org/The-ARRL-Contest-Update>ARRL 
Contest Update and the 
<http://www.hornucopia.com/contestcal/index.html>WA7BNM 
Contest Calendar for more info. Looking for a 
Special Event station? Be sure to check out the 
<http://www.arrl.org/special-event-stations>ARRL 
Special Event Stations Web page.

Upcoming ARRL Section, State and Division Conventions and Events
    * February 5 -- 
<http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/south-carolina-section-convention-1>ARRL 
South Carolina Section Convention, North 
Charleston, South Carolina; 
<http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/virginia-state-convention-frostfest-2011>ARRL 
Virginia State Convention, Richmond, Virginia
    * February 11-13 -- 
<http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/southeastern-division-convention-orlando-hamcation>ARRL 
Southeastern Division Convention, Orlando, Florida
    * February 18-19 -- 
<http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/arizona-state-convention-yuma-hamfest-emergency-preparedness-show>ARRL 
Arizona State Convention, Yuma, Arizona
    * February 26 -- 
<http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/vermont-state-convention-ham-con-1>ARRL 
Vermont State Convention, Colchester, Vermont

To find a convention or hamfest near you, click 
<http://www.arrl.org/hamfests>here.

ARRL -- Your One-Stop Resource for Amateur Radio News and Information
    * <http://www.arrl.org/join>Join or Renew 
Today! ARRL membership includes 
<http://www.arrl.org/qst>QST , Amateur Radio's 
most popular and informative journal, delivered to your mailbox each month.
    * Subscribe to 
<http://www.arrl.org/ncj>NCJ<http://www.arrl.org/ncj> 
-- the National Contest Journal . Published 
bi-monthly, features articles by top contesters, 
letters, hints, statistics, scores, NA Sprint and QSO Parties.
    * Subscribe to 
<http://www.arrl.org/qex>QEX<http://www.arrl.org/qex> 
-- A Forum for Communications Experimenters. 
Published bi-monthly, features technical 
articles, construction projects, columns and 
other items of interest to radio amateurs and communications professionals.
    * Free of charge to ARRL members: 
<http://www.arrl.org/myarrl-account-management#%21/edit-info-email_subscriptions>Subscribe 
to the ARES E-Letter (monthly public service and 
emergency communications news), the ARRL Contest 
Update (bi-weekly contest newsletter), Division 
and Section news alerts -- and much more!
    * Find us on <http://www.facebook.com/ARRL.org>Facebook!
    * ARRL offers a wide array of 
<http://www.arrl.org/arrl-store>products to 
enhance your enjoyment of Amateur Radio
    * 
<https://www.arrl.org/arrl-donation-form>Donate 
to the fund of your choice -- support programs not funded by member dues!

Click 
<mailto:ads at arrl.org>here<http://www.arrl.org/nladclick.php?n=al&i=2011-02-03&t=r&p=0> 
to advertise in this newsletter.

----------
The ARRL Letter is published Thursdays, 50 times 
each year. ARRL members and registered guests may 
subscribe at no cost or unsubscribe by editing 
their <http://www.arrl.org/Users/edit#!/edit-info-email_subscriptions>profile.