[MIham] WEAVER'S WORDS -- CW NETS, ETC.

Sun Dec 3 18:55:19 EST 2006

 [As always, send replies to k8je at arrl.org.  Do not click on REPLY.  The
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 -  CW Nets Moving
 -  80 Meter CW Traffic Nets Frequency & Time Matrix
 -  International ARRL Humanitarian Award Nominations
 -  Upgraded Instructors' Manual Available
 -  Tentative Travel Schedule

 CW NETS MOVING

 With the totally unexpected extension of the fone band on 80M clear
 down to 3600 kHz, it is necessary for many CW nets to move from
 longstanding net frequencies above 3600 to frequencies within the new
 subband.  To say the least, doing this is distasteful.  To say it more
 plainly, doing this is often painful and highly disruptive.  New,
 unwanted potential for creating inter-net QRM can be expected to
 result.

 I am very pleased that in nearly every instance, though, the Net
 Managers have taken the attitude that this is something that needs to
 be done.  They set about selecting new frequencies with the
 professionalism expected of Amateur Radio operators and leaders.  I
 applaud these forward-thinking leaders and net members for the courage
 and determination to continue to succeed that they have demonstrated.

 I want to reiterate that ARRL and I stand squarely with the NTS and
 nets in it -- whether these use CW, SSB, RTTY, high-speed digital or
 native drum.  It is difficult to conceive of a form of net in NTS that
 does not potentially enhance the standing of Amateur Radio within the
 community and does not increase and maintain Amateur Radio's ability to
 communicate during emergency and disaster situations.  As non-technical
 as CW is relative to high speed multimedia or even RTTY and SSB, CW
 continues to provide yeoman service in disasters when professional,
 highly-technical systems fail.  CW's low-tech (in this high-tech era)
 is actually a great plus in many instances.

 Keeping this in mind, I continue to urge all net operators to recognize
 that the great glory days of NTS are past.  Just as the typical
 automobile no long has a standard, shifter transmission, and just as
 the crank telephone connected by hard lines has given way to push
 button phones -- and for many people to cell phones, and just as
 hand-turning the propeller to start airplane engines has given way to
 electric starters and increasingly to jet engines, NTS must continue to
 evolve in a manner that makes it most useful.  The role NTS can find
 most useful in filling today is as an arm of ARES operation.

 This does not mean that NTS is dying or should die.  It does not mean
 that ARRL is attempting to cast NTS into the deepest part of the
 dungeon, never to be heard of again.  It only means that to maintain
 and even regain much of the luster it had in days past, NTS must adapt.
 Among others, I urge local, regional and national NTS leaders to look
 deeply into the situation the service faces today and to guide it to be
 able to perform still greater service in the future than it has ever
 performed in &quot;bygone year.&quot;  I, as well as others, are
 encouraging our F&ES leaders to help us in the field see where
 adaptation will be most valuable and how it can best be accomplished.

 80 METER CW TRAFFIC NETS FREQUENCY & OPERATING TIME COORDINATION
 MATRIX

 Net Managers may want to check the following site and make certain
 their nets are listed on it.

 Jack, W0UCE, has developed a Matrix Table to help coordinate relocation
 of NTS 80 meter CW nets.  This is not a frequency-assigning operation,
 but simply involves posting what Net Managers send to him.  This is
 intended to assist Net Managers select frequencies based upon
 frequencies that are being used by other nets.  Go to
 <http://4rnc4.homestead.com/80mCWNETMATRIX.html> to view the current
 matrix and to send information for Jack to add to it.

 Thanks to W8LLY for forwarding this information via the Miami Valley
 Amateur Radio Bulletin Board.  It is also being distributed by a
 variety of additional amateurs.

 INTERNATIONAL ARRL HUMANITARIAN AWARD NOMINATIONS

 From the ARRL Letter:  Nominations for the 2006 ARRL International
 Humanitarian Award close December 31.  The award is conferred upon an
 amateur or amateurs who demonstrate devotion to human welfare, peace
 and international understanding through Amateur Radio.  The League
 established the annual award to recognize radio amateurs who have used
 ham radio to provide extraordinary service to others in times of crisis
 or disaster.

 For additional information, go to www.arrl.org/FandES/field/awards/.

 UPGRADED INSTRUCTORS' MANUAL AVAILABLE

 The new ARRL "Instructor's Manual for Technician Class License Courses"
 is now available.  Mark Spencer wrote the book.  ARRL COO Harold
 Kramer, WJ1B introduced the new manual to the Board of Directors by
 saying,

 "We conducted an on-line survey asking them about their requirements
 and needs.  Over 800 instructors responded to this survey with valuable
 inputs and comments.

 "From the survey, we . . . heard loud and clear that our instructors
 want interactive and graphic materials included with the manual. 
 Therefore, the book comes with a CD that has complete PowerPoint Lesson
 Presentations for each section, ExamWin Software for practice tests,
 and files of the graphics in the HRLM.   To give you an idea of the
 type of material that we have included, I am attaching one of the
 sample Lesson Plans."

 I can't attach the sample lesson plan with this message, but it is
 really nice.  Harold also explained:

 "The Manual itself is divided into Sections that correlate with The
 Ham Radio License Manual (HRLM) so that instructors can use the HRLM
 together with the Instructor's Manual as an integrated instructional
 system.  Each Section contains detailed Lesson Plans including Learning
 Objectives, Study Materials, Equipment and Materials requirements,
 Recommended Instructional Strategies and Suggested Classroom
 Activities.  The new book also contains a guide on preparation to teach
 amateur radio written by Peter Kemp KZ1Z as well as practice exams and
 Lesson Plans for CW instruction."

 TENTATIVE TRAVEL SCHEDULE FOR K8JE

 Jan.  9:  20/9 Meeting, Canfield, OH.
 Jan. 13:  SW OH Digital Symposium, Middletown, OH.
 Jan. 18:  A&F Meeting, Newington, CT.
 Jan. 19-20:  Board of Directors Meeting, Newington, CT.
 Feb. 11:  Mansfield Hamfest, Mansfield, OH.
 Apr. 14: QCWA Meeting, Cleveland, OH.
 Apr. 20: KY Colonel ARC, Bowling Green, KY.
 Apr. 26: SUMCO ARES, Stow, OH.
 May  18-20:  Dayton Hamvention, Dayton, OH.
 Jul. 18-19:  Board of Directors Meeting, Newington, CT.
 Aug. 17-18: ARRL National Convention, Huntsville, AL.
 Sep   9:  Findlay Hamfest, Findlay, OH.
 Sep. 22:  Great Lakes Division Convention, Cleveland, OH.
 Sep. 23:  Cleveland Hamfest, Cleveland, OH.

 73,

 Jim, K8JE

 Jim Weaver, K8JE, Director
 ARRL Great Lakes Division
 5065 Bethany Rd.
 Mason, OH 45040
 E-mail:  k8je at arrl.org; Tel.: 513-459-0142

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 ARRL Great Lakes Division
 Director: James Weaver, K8JE
 k8je at arrl.org
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