[HCARC] Fwd: West Gulf Division November Newsletter

[W4wj at aol.com]

For those of you who do not get the mailing from  ARRL...
 
 
73,
Don
W4WJ
 
 
  
____________________________________
 From: memberlist at www.arrl.org
To: w4wj at aol.com
Sent: 11/28/2011 5:33:49  P.M. Central Standard Time
Subj: West Gulf Division November  Newsletter


West Gulf Division November Newsletter 

---  ARRLWGD.org – The New WGD Website & Social Media
---  ARRL Foundation Announces Grant to KF5CRF
---  FCC Releases New Rules for 60 Meters
---  WG5L  Gary Lewis, Appointed Assistant Director
---  ARRL  Foundation Scholarship Season
---  Webinar Training  Soars to New Heights
---  Recent Hamfest  Reports
---  Planned ARRL Events for K5RAV and  N5AUS
---  Upcoming Hamfests/Conventions     

News from David Woolweaver, K5RAV your West Gulf Division  Director

--- ARRLWGD.org – The New WGD Website & Social  Media

”This will be the year of communication improvements in the West  Gulf
Division,” said Director Woolweaver in January of 2011 and one  example
of improvement is the introduction of the ARRL West Gulf  Division
Facebook page which was followed up over the summer with the  ARRL_WGD
Twitter account.   Enhancing these efforts to spread  information across
the division, on November 1st, the new WGD website was  launched bringing
a new look, new opportunities, and fresh information to  our internet
presence.   Check out the new site  at

www.arrlwgd.org.

Mark Mireles, AD5CA, developed the original  West Gulf Division internet
site several years ago.  Recently, Frank  Krizan, KR1ZAN, has been
maintaining it and will continue to assist on the  new site.  Wanting to
provide a fresh look and utilize the new mediums  available on the net,
it was decided to start anew and develop a website  from scratch.   

After talking to WGD members and seeking  their thoughts on what they
would like to see in a website, Director  Woolweaver put our new website
designer, Gary Lewis, WG5L,  to work  pulling all of the information
together to develop a progressive and  informative platform.   We have
added more educational  information, linked to all of the Section
websites (check out their new  websites as well!), and will continue to
build on the “Links” page so that  you can easily find information
pertaining to the Amateur service and  especially the WGD.   With the
new website, we are also  introducing the ARRL WGD Channel on YouTube
where we hope to publicize  videos that promote the best of the Amateur
Community in all areas –  educational and informational.        

Please  bookmark the new WGD website and check it frequently for  new
information.  We added a new calendar feature and will be listing  all
of the ARRL sanctioned events as soon as they are approved by  Director
Woolweaver and HQ.  Over the next few months, we will  introduce you to
some of our content contributors and will be seeking your  input on
questions that pertain to the WGD.  Remember to also join us  on
Facebook at ARRL West Gulf Division and follow us on Twitter  at
ARRL_WGD.  

Contributions to our mass media endeavors are  important to the success
of the web site.  If you have something you  (or your club) would like
to share with the WGD membership on our website,  Facebook, monthly
newsletter or Twitter, please let us know, so we can  consider it. 
Additionally, we would enjoy hearing your feedback on how you  think we
are doing in our communication efforts.  Please email  Director
Woolweaver at K5RAV at arrl.org with your thoughts or news  contributions. 


--- ARRL Foundation Announces Grant to  KF5CRF

Director Woolweaver is a member of the ARRL Foundation Board  of
Directors and it was his privilege to announce at the West  Gulf
Division convention at Ardmore, OK the approval of an equipment  grant
of $2,018 to the Viking Radio Club of Lawton, OK.  The grant  was
approved for the purchase of a Kenwood 590 radio, a Hustler  5-BTV
antenna and for coaxial cable and connectors.   “The  grant
application received Board approval in the fastest time that I  have
seen since being elected to the Foundation Board”, reported  Director
Woolweaver.   

As outlined in Viking’s grant  application, this grant will provide
funding for resources to strengthen  the club and provide for a pilot
program at the Eisenhower Middle School in  Lawton.  The ARRL Foundation
Directors shared the hope that the  program will expand to encompass the
entire school district of 18,000  students applauding their two-fold
plan to encourage Amateur Radio and  educate students in accord with
state standards.  The West Gulf  Leadership joins the Foundation
Directors in applauding the Viking Amateur  Radio Club’s goal of being
a model for other schools.

You may learn  more about the Viking ARC by visiting their websites  at
http://www.qrz.com/db/kf5crf and http://www.qrz.com/db/k5usa.  

--- FCC Releases New Rules for 60 Meters

On November 18, the  FCC released a Report and Order (R&O), defining new
rules for the 60  meter (5 MHz) band. These rules are in response to a
Petition for  Rulemaking (PRM) filed by the ARRL more than five years
ago and a June 2010  Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM).  In the R&O,
the FCC  replaced one of the channels in the band, increased the maximum
authorized  power amateur stations may transmit in this band, and
authorized amateur  stations to transmit three additional emission
designators in the five  channels in the 5330.6-5406.4 kHz band (60
meters).

The Amateur  Radio Service in the United States has a secondary
allocation on 60  meters.  Only those amateurs who hold General,
Advanced, or Amateur  Extra class licenses may operate on this band. 
Amateur stations must not  cause harmful interference to -- and must
accept interference from --  stations authorized by any administration
in the fixed service, as well as  mobile (except aeronautical mobile)
stations authorized by the  administrations of other countries.

For a complete reading of the rule,  please refer  to
http://www.arrl.org/news/fcc-releases-new-rules-for-60-meters.   Please
note that these changes have not yet taken effect. These new rules  will
take effect 30 days after they are published in the Federal  Register.
The ARRL will announce on its website when the rules are  published.

--- WG5L Gary Lewis, Appointed Assistant  Director

Director Woolweaver is pleased to announce the appointment of  Gary
Lewis, WG5L, as an Assistant Director for Internet Services.   Gary has
been involved in electronics and communications since his Navy  days in
the 1970's, where he was an electronics technician working on  shipboard
communications equipment.  After leaving the Navy, Gary  obtained his
degree in Management Information Systems.  He first  worked in the oil
industry and he has spent the last 23 years working for  IBM.  He also
holds an MBA from LeTourneau University.

It  wasn't until the year 2000, that Gary returned to his electronics
and  communications roots, spurred on by his son who showed an interest
in ham  radio.  After almost 30 years of being largely absent from  the
communications scene, all of that past background came flooding back.  
However, it was not until he returned to Texas in 2002, that he  really
became active in pursuing various aspects of the Amateur Radio  service.


Gary has held various positions within his local ham radio  club,
Longview East Texas Amateur Radio Club (LETARC). He started that  club's
current VE team and has become very involved in  emergency
communications, bringing ARES to his county and revitalizing the  local
EmComm program.  He currently holds the following positions  within the
North Texas Section:

•Gregg County EC and RACES ALT  CLO
•North Texas District 8 DEC
•North Texas Section ASEC

In  addition, Gary is a registered ARRL Volunteer Instructor and
Volunteer  Examiner.  Beyond being the primary developer of the new WGD
website,  he is also the webmaster for both the LETARC and North Texas
Section  websites.  Recently, in a return to his Navy roots, Gary has
become  involved with Navy-Marine Corps MARS.  An avid user of both
voice and  digital modes, you can usually find him on most of the 40 and
80 meter  southwest traffic nets, as well as PSK31 on 20 meters.

--- ARRL  Foundation Scholarship Season

The ARRL Foundation is now receiving  scholarship applications for the
2012 scholarship season.   Each  year the ARRL Foundation awards more
than 70 scholarships that are funded  entirely by the generosity of
radio amateurs and friends to young hams that  are pursuing higher
education.  The awards range from $500 to  $5000.  

All applicants must submit a full application and  transcript to be
considered (other rules may apply to specific  scholarships).  The
application period for ARRL Foundation  Scholarships opened on October
1, 2011, and will close promptly on February  1, 2012.   Awards are
usually announced to the winners by letter  in mid-May.   Applicants
should review the scholarship  descriptions as some awards have specific
geographic criteria or  requirements as to course of study.  

Governed by a nine member  volunteer Board of Directors, the ARRL
Foundation is devoted to providing  valuable programs to serve the
Amateur Radio community.  To learn more  about the ARRL Foundation or
its scholarship program please visit their  website at
http://www.arrl.org/the-arrl-foundation-overview.    

--- Webinar Training Soars to New Heights

ARRL Atlantic  Division Director Bill Edgar, N3LLR, has been extremely
proactive in the  promotion of Amateur Radio education in his division
by incorporating  internet webinars for everyone’s benefit – at zero
cost to the ARRL or to  his Division.  Topics such as Winlink 2000 Intro,
Amateur Radio Kit  Building, and D-Star and EmComm are a few of the
Atlantic webinars that  have been hosted.  With Bill’s encouragement,
the WGD has joined him  in supporting this endeavor by hosting Antenna
CC&R’s, You and the  ARRL, Antenna Ordinances, You and the ARRL
webinars as well as Hurricane  Preparedness webinars.  

The next webinar, scheduled for December  5th, is Amateur Radio in the
Next 25 Years, a conversation with former FCC  Special Counsel Riley
Hollingsworth, K4ZDH; ARRL General Counsel, Chris  Imlay, W3KD; and Ed
Hare, W1RFI, ARRL Laboratory Manager.  To join  this webinar, visit  

https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/154043400.  

Past  webinars have included notable presenters such as Laura Smith, FCC
Special  Counsel; ARRL Chief Legal Counsel, Chris Imlay, W3KD; noted
antenna zoning  lawyer, Fred Hopengarten, K1VR; and the developers of
the NBEMS system,  Harry Bloomberg W3YJ and Dave Kleber, KB3FXI.  We
invite you to  bookmark the Atlantic Division Training  website
http://www.atldiv.org/training, for future reference.  You may  also
purchase DVDs of previous presentations at a nominal cost,  which
supports the hosting expense only and does not benefit the  ARRL
Atlantic Division.  

--- Recent Hamfest Reports   

Texoma Hamarama

The West Gulf Division Convention was  held in Ardmore, hosted by the
good folks of Texoma Hamarama the weekend of  October 21 and 22. 
Visitors from the Midwest and Delta Divisions also  joined in the fun
this year, checking out the many bargains that were  available.  
Joining Director Woolweaver at the ARRL Forum was ARRL  Emergency
Preparedness and Response Manger, Mike Corey, W5MPC.   Mike  announced
the placement of an ARRL HF “Go Kit” in the Oklahoma  Section.  This
brings the total number of “Go Kit’s” deployed in the  West Gulf
Division to nine.  Each has been placed strategically in the  Division
to meet communication needs in the event of an emergency.  
Prepositioning “Go Kits” in the West Gulf places the kits in a
central  location in the nation should the kits be required elsewhere
for EmComm  purposes.   Under an agreement with Southwest Airlines  that
Director Woolweaver negotiated, an ARRL “Go Kit” could  be
transported free of charge to any destination that Southwest  serves.
This translates to one day delivery to most parts of the United  States.


During the forum, Director Woolweaver recognized the  astounding efforts
of the Viking Radio Club and its mentors, Clifton  Harper, KE5YZB, and
Paul Goulet, KC5CYY.  (See also ARRL Foundation  Announces Grant to
KF5CRF)  

Also at Hamarama, it was announced  that Megan McClellan, K5MEM, was the
recipient of the Texoma Hamarama  Scholarship Award for 2011. 
Congratulations, Megan! 

The WGD  Leadership thanks and appreciates all of the hard work of
Henry, W5TYD,  Tina Allen and the entire Hamarama Board of Directors for
their hard work  in putting together the 2011 WGD Convention!  

NCTech  Hamfest

The NCTech Hamfest, sponsored by the Tri-County & DiRECT  Amateur Radio
Clubs in Azle had a good turn out this year.   Presentations by AMSAT,
CERT, ARRL West Gulf, and ARRL NTX were well  attended.   Director
Woolweaver and NTX SM Walt Mayfield, KE5SOO  had an opportunity to visit
with the attendees and they acquired several  new memberships.  As the
final sanctioned event for 2011, it was a  great way to end the year,
and we will look forward to another successful  event at NCTech in 2012.


--- Planned ARRL Events for K5RAV and  N5AUS

Director Woolweaver, K5RAV, and Vice Director Stratton, N5AUS,  will
attend the following events:

K5RAV and N5AUS – 2012 ARRL Annual  Board Meeting, Windsor, CT,
January 12-14, 2012

K5RAV – Cowtown  Hamfest, North Texas Section Convention (Pending
Executive Committee  approval), sponsored by the Lockheed Martin ARC,
Ft. Worth, TX, January  20-21, 2012

N5AUS – Williamson County ARC Hamfest, sponsored by the  Williamson
County ARC, Georgetown, TX, February 25, 2012

ARRL  Convention and Hamfest events are a great place to visit with the
Division  and Section Leadership! Each event will also include an ARRL
forum where  you can receive additional insight into Division and
Section matters.   

At anytime that you have a concern or just want to say hello,  contact
Director Woolweaver at K5RAV at arrl.org.


-- Upcoming  Hamfests and Conventions

01/14/2012 | San Antonio Amateur Radio  Fiesta
Location: Schertz, TX
Type: ARRL Hamfest
Sponsor: San Antonio  Radio Club
Website: http://w5sc.org

01/20/2012 | North Texas Section  Convention (Cowtown Hamfest)
Location: Fort Worth, TX
Type: ARRL  Convention pending Executive Committee approval
Sponsor: Lockheed Martin  Amateur Radio Club
Website: http://www.cowtownhamfest.com

02/25/2012  | Williamson County ARC Hamfest
Location: Georgetown, TX
Type: ARRL  Hamfest
Sponsor: Williamson County Amateur Radio Club
Website:  http://wcarc.com

--------------------------------------------------------------------
ARRL  West Gulf Division
Director: David A Woolweaver,  K5RAV
k5rav at arrl.org
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