[OFARC] FW: West Gulf Division Newsletter June 2018

Fri Jun 1 14:40:56 EDT 2018

-----Original Message-----
From: ARRL Members Only Web site [mailto:memberlist at www.arrl.org] 
Sent: Thursday, May 31, 2018 21:55
To: ke5hdf at sbcglobal.net
Subject: West Gulf Division Newsletter June 2018

West Gulf Division Newsletter June 2018

---Amateur Radio Operator Week June 18-24th ---Field Day June 23-24th ---HamCom Celebrates 40th!
---Planned Events for K5RAV and N5AUS
---Upcoming Hamfests and Conventions

---Amateur Radio Operator Week

Governor Greg Abbott, Governor of Texas, was asked to proclaim June 18-24, 2017 as Amateur Radio Operator Week.  His office quickly responded with the proclamation listed below.  Due to the restrictions of the ARRL Newsletter system, I can only provide a text copy.  If you want to see the original go to:

www.arrlwgd.org

Click on Governor Abbott Declares AR Proclamation

                       STATE OF TEXAS
                     OFFICE OF GOVERNOR

Since the invention of the medium in the late 19th century, radio has captured the popular imagination.  Amateur radio operators, often called "hams," enthusiastically embraced this form of communication from its earliest days, connecting to others across the world for the purposes of recreation, experimentation and, most importantly, public service. 
Along the way, they have greatly improved the technology of amateur radio. 

In times of natural disaster, terrorist attacks and strife, when other forms of communication may be unavailable or unreliable, amateur radio operators have stepped into the void to relay critical emergency information. Texas saw this dedication on full display during the response to Hurricane Harvey.

At this time, I encourage all Texans to learn more about amateur radio and to recognize the many contributions amateur radio operators make to our great state.  During moments of crisis and periods of calm, ham radio operators' commitment to community remains steadfast.

Therefore, I, Greg Abbott, Governor of Texas, do hereby proclaim June 18
 - 24, 2018, to be

Amateur Radio Operator Week

in Texas, and urge the appropriate recognition whereof.

In official recognition whereof, I hereby affix my signature this the 24th day of May, 2018.

                                                     Signed:   Greg
Abbott, Governor of Texas

---Field day June 23-24th

Field Day is ham radio's open house. Every June, more than 40,000 hams throughout North America set up temporary transmitting stations in public places to demonstrate ham radio's science, skill and service to our communities and our nation. It combines public service, emergency preparedness, community outreach, and technical skills all in a single event. Field Day has been an annual event since 1933, and remains the most popular event in ham radio.  Field Day is a picnic, a campout, practice for emergencies, an informal contest and, most of all, FUN!

It is a time where many aspects of Amateur Radio come together to highlight our many roles. While some will treat it as a contest, other groups use the opportunity to practice their emergency response capabilities. It is an excellent opportunity to demonstrate Amateur Radio to the organizations that Amateur Radio might serve in an emergency, as well as the general public. For many clubs, ARRL Field Day is one of the highlights of their annual calendar.

The contest part is simply to contact as many other stations as possible and to learn to operate our radio gear in abnormal situations and less than optimal conditions.
We use these same skills when we help with events such as marathons and bike-a-thons; fund-raisers such as walk-a-thons; celebrations such as parades; and exhibits at fairs, malls and museums — these are all large, preplanned, non-emergency activities.

But despite the development of very complex, modern communications systems — or maybe because they ARE so complex —ham radio has been called into action again and again to provide communications in crises when it really matters. Amateur Radio Operators are well known for our communications support in real disaster and post-disaster situations.

Don’t forget to register your Field Day station on the ARRL’s Field Day site locator webpage.  This page is intended to show public Field
Day sites that members of the public and media can visit.   

Go to:  http://www.arrl.org/field-day-locator

---HamCom celebrates 40th anniversary

HamCom, this year’s West Gulf Division Convention, is celebrating its 40th anniversary.  It dates me, but I have to reveal that I attended the very first HamCom, which was held at the Red Coach Inn near Love Field in Dallas.  What an event it was!  Later the Red Coach Inn was destroyed in a fire and HamCom moved around to various locations until it was held at the Arlington Convention Center for several years.  From Arlington, HamCom moved to Plano and then to Irving and now back to Plano.  

One of the major changes to HamCom this year is the return of the Outdoor Flea Market.  The lack of an Outdoor Flea Market was one of the major complaints about the Irving Convention Center.  The other complain most often heard was the lack of parking.  Those issues are resolved by the return to Plano.  

This year, the ARRL Forum will be held on Saturday at 12:00 Noon with the feature speaker being Steve Ford, WB8IMY.  Steve is the Editor of QST and this is his first trip to HamCom.  Steve’s presentation will be about his experience with the new mode FT8.  Please attend the forum and learn the latest from HQ’s.  

---Planned Events for K5RAV and N5AUS

K5RAV
---West Gulf Division Convention (HamCom), Plano June 8-10 ---ARRL July Board Meeting, Hartford, CT July 19-20 ---Oklahoma Section Convention (Ham Holiday), OKC, July 27-28 ---Texas State Convention (Austin Summerfest) Aug 3-4

N5AUS
---West Gulf Division Convention (HamCom), Irving, TX June 8-10 ---ARRL July Board Meeting, Hartford, CT July 19-20 ---Oklahoma Section Convention (Ham Holiday), OKC, July 27-28 ---Texas State Convention (Austin Summerfest) Aug 3-4

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

---Upcoming Hamfests and Conventions

06/08/2018 | West Gulf Division Convention (Ham-Com 2018)	
Location: Plano, TX
Type: ARRL Convention
Sponsor: Ham-Com, Inc.
Website: http://www.hamcom.org

07/07/2018 | Texas City Hamfest	
Location: Texas City, TX
Type: ARRL Hamfest
Sponsor: Tidelands Amateur Radio Society
Website: http://www.tidelands.org

07/27/2018 | Oklahoma Section Convention (Ham Holiday 2018)	
Location: Oklahoma City, OK
Type: ARRL Convention
Sponsor: Central Oklahoma Radio Amateurs
Website: http://www.hamholiday.org

08/02/2018 | YLRL 2018 Convention	
Location: Oklahoma City, OK
Type: ARRL Convention
Sponsor: Young Ladies Radio League
Website: http://ylrlconvention.org

08/03/2018 | Texas State Convention (Austin Summerfest 2018)	
Location: Austin, TX
Type: ARRL Convention
Sponsor: Austin ARC & Texas VHF-FM Society
Website: http://www.austinsummerfest.org

10/26/2018 | Texoma Hamarama	
Location: Ardmore, OK
Type: ARRL Hamfest
Sponsor: Texoma Hamarama, Inc. (Local ARCs)
Website: http://www.texomahamarama.org

11/03/2018 | Enid Hamfest	
Location: Enid, OK
Type: ARRL Hamfest
Sponsor: Enid Amateur Radio Club
Website: http://www.enidarc.org/ENIDHAMFEST

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