[South Florida DX Association] The ARRL Letter for February 3, 2011

Thu Feb 3 19:50:52 EST 2011

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             The  ARRL Letter

Published by the American Radio Relay League
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February 3, 2011

Editor: S. Khrystyne Keane, K1SFA<k1sfa at arrl.org>

ARRL Home Page<http://www.arrl.org/>ARRL Letter Archive
<http://www.arrl.org/arrlletter/>Audio News
<http://www.arrl.org/arrlletter/audio/>  IN THIS ISSUE

- 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.

    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 here
<http://www.arrl.org/news/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

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 here
<http://www.arrl.org/news/former-northern-new-jersey-section-manager-appointed-hudson-division-vice-director>.

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

==>  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  available for download
<http://www.arrl.org/files/file/Field-Day/2011/2011_FD_Packet.pdf>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 here<http://www.arrl.org/multimedia>  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 QST<http://www.arrl.org/qst/>. Just head to the
Cover Plaque Award page<http://www.arrl.org/cover-plaque-poll>  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.

    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 ARRL
Technical Information Service Propagation page
<http://www.arrl.org/propagation-of-rf-signals>.

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

==>  UPCOMING ARRL SECTION, STATE AND DIVISION CONVENTIONS AND EVENTS

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

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

==>  ARRL -- YOUR ONE-STOP RESOURCE FOR AMATEUR RADIO NEWS AND
INFORMATION

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<http://www.arrl.org/ncj>  . Published bi-monthly, features articles by
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Parties.
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