[MIham] Monthly Michigan Section News Summary

[Tom VanderMel]

 You have doubtlessly heard that the FCC has released the R&O eliminating 
Morse
 code as a requirement for obtaining a General Class or Amateur Extra Class
 license.  The debate is now ended and we must take advantage of this
 opportunity to advise those who found code to be an impenetrable obstacle 
to
 becoming a ham, that they now have no excuse!  We can also rest confident
 that these new hams will find that the skills of CW operating will continue
 to bind radio amateurs together, not only through tradition, but as a
 valuable communications asset.

  As SM, I have the opportunity to visit many clubs and hamfests in the 
Great
 Lakes State.  Very often I find myself in a discussion about the state of
 this hobby and growth within our ranks.  In those areas where I see high
 levels of activity, I find one or two constants: 1) A Sparkplug -- an
 individual who has the ability to organize and follow through with results,
 and 2) Mentoring by a team of people who are attached at the hip with new
 licensees and assist them is becoming familiar with every aspect of the
 hobby.  It is true that there are several other factors that can came into
 play, but these two were the most frequent items that had a significant
 impact in insuring an active group in any given area.  Most of us have seen
 many clubs wax and wane in energy over the years and no one is going to
 guarantee that the mentors and sparkplugs will be in place in every club
 forever.  Therefore it becomes important to us all that we strive to mentor
 every new ham into the hobby and work together to support the 
"sparkplugs" in
 our organizations.  By doing this, we mentor one another, share the burdens
 of leadership and reduce the tendency to have our leaders burn out.  This
 message is not just to encourage support for a few leaders, this targets
 support for everyone.

  In the following paragraph I have the pleasure of reporting a good number 
of
 newly elected club officers.  I consider it very important to honor those 
who
 accept positions of leadership in all of our organizations.  These are the
 folks who have a very distinct impact upon amateur radio and how we are
 perceived by prospective hams.  They deserve our very direct support and
 assistance.  Radio clubs are in the critical position of being an entry 
point
 for most new licensees and as such, the newcomer's perception of ham
 operators comes from what they see in us club members.  Are we as friendly 
as
 we can be? Are we greeting every individual who attends the club's 
meetings?
 Are we offering to assist newcomers with their questions?  Are we giving
 hands-on experience to the newcomers?  If you cannot answer yes to all of
 these, I suggest that you join me in thinking about what we are going to do
 better at the next meeting. That is you and ME, because I could not answer
 yes to all four questions.

  New officers took the helm in several Michigan clubs within the past 
month.
 For the Clinton County ARA the following officers were elected: Pres 
KC8LRM,
 VP N8TSK, Sec/Treas KB8QZX, and Directors WD8OVL, KC8BFK, WA8RZJ and N8SUA.
 In the Lowell ARC these officers were elected: Pres WW8WW, VP KC8EGM, Treas
 KC8YTC Sec AA8JR, Tech Advisor N8UVI and PIO NY8D.  Oakland County ARS
 elected these officers: Pres KC8IJF, Sec KB8POD and Treas K8ZZU.  The
 Michigan Amateur Radio Alliance elected these officers: Pres K8JX, VP 
KB8VOZ,
 Sec WD8LGN, and Treas W8MSK. We should also express our thanks to those 
whose
 terms are closing.  Their tireless efforts are appreciated.

  Station Activity Reports for November, 2006: N8FPN 269, KC8WSE 212, K8CQF
 200, KC8MLD 153, K8LJG 149, K8AE 110, K8AMR 68, AB8WF 50, KD8BGQ 49, W8RNQ
 44, N8XX 42, WB8RCR 39, WD8USA 33, K8YB 26, KC8BYI 24, KC8YVF 17, K8ZJU 14,
 WA8OOH 10, KC8BDQ 8, N8UN 5, AB8CB 4, KD8BMV 2, KC8ZGB 2, WD8RIK 2.

  Public Service Honor Roll reports for November, 2006: KD8BGQ 155, N8FPN 
110,
 WB8RCR 109, K8AE 105, K8CQF 93, K8AMR 90, K8ZJU 77, KC8BDQ 53, KC8YVF 52,
 KC8BYI 49, WD8RIK 22.

  November Official Emergency Station reports came in from K8COP, KC8ULE, 
and
 N8HA.  PSHRs and SARs should be filed monthly with WB8RCR and your OES
 reports with WA8EFK.

 And from Judy and me, the very best wishes for this season.
 Dale WA8EFK


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 ARRL Michigan Section
 Section Manager: Dale R. Williams, WA8EFK
 wa8efk at arrl.org
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