[SFDXA] A Message from Jeff

Wed Sep 2 15:16:18 EDT 2015

> Greetings to all,
> Erika- It appears that we have dodged another tropical system
> “bullet”  Just goes to show that even during a “quiet season”,
> it can just take one storm to upset our tranquil lifestyle here in SFL.
> On the plus side, Erika provided a good drill for our ARES teams. My
> thanks to all who answered the call and were prepared for Erika should
> she have come our way.
> 
> 
> 
> I know that I’m beginning to sound like a broken record, however, we
> cannot lose our momentum with going forward with our support of the
> Amateur Radio Parity Act ( HR 1301 & S 1685 ) If you have not already
> done so, please reach out to your Representative and Senators. Write
> letters of support and forward to ARRL HQ for distribution. A useful
> tool has been developed to assist you. Visit www.rescue-radio.com  This
> site will provide sample letters with your respective legislators
> printed thereon. Bring your laptop and printer to your next club
> meeting so everyone can sign up. I cannot over emphasize how important
> it is for everyone to sign on with this effort.
> For more info, please visit
> http://www.arrl.org/amateur-radio-parity-act
> 
> 
> 
> Congratulations to the members of the Kennedy Space Center ARC upon
> their approval as an ARRL Affiliated Club. Welcome to the ARRL club
> family !
> 
> The Affiliated Club Update mechanism has been upgraded.  Now when a
> club updates the information on the ARRL club pages the changes are
> displayed as soon as the information is submitted.  The tutorial on the
> club page www.arrl.org/clubs has been updated to reflect the changes in
> the updating procedure.  Here is the direct link to the pdf tutorial.
> http://www.arrl.org/files/file/Clubs/Club%20Update%20Online_20150806.pdf
> 
> For more info on ARRL club affiliation or the Special Service Club
> program, just let me know.
> 
> 
> 
> Mark your calendars for October 9-10 for the Florida State
> Convention at Melbourne. Held in conjunction with the 50th Melbourne
> Hamfest at the Melbourne Auditorium, this show has become a major
> event
> in the SFL Section. Meet with your Division Director/Vice Director and
> the SFL Section staff at the ARRL booth. Our special guest from ARRL
> HQ
> will be Emergency Preparedness & Response Manager Mike Corey, KI1U. .
> For more info, please visit
> http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/florida-state-convention-50th-anniversary-melbourne-hamfest
> 
> 
> The annual Simulated Emergency Test will be held in the SFL Section on
> the weekend of October 3 & 4. For most ARES groups, the SET is a part
> of their ongoing training program. Details about the SET can be found
> on page 88 in the September QST. For more info on how you can
> participate in the SET, contact your local EC or the DEC in your
> District. SFL SEC Larry Zimmer, W4LWZ will provide support and
> suggested scenarios for our ARES leadership.
> 
> 
> A Reminder - FCC Universal Licensing System Down for
> Maintenance September 2-8
> 
> The FCC Universal Licensing System (ULS) and other FCC website
> public applications are down for maintenance and will be unavailable
> from 2200 UTC on Wednesday, September 2, until 1200 UTC on Tuesday,
> September 8. The outage also will affect the Electronic Comment
> Filing System (ECFS) and the Electronic Document Management System
> (EDOCS).
> 
> During the ULS outage, it will not be possible to file any Amateur
> Radio applications, including examination session documents, or
> conduct any license or application searches. Also, while the
> requirement to pay a regulatory fee for Amateur Radio vanity call
> sign applications will end on September 3, prospective vanity
> applicants now will have to wait until after 1200 UTC on September 8
> to file an application for an available call sign.
> 
> The FCC has told ARRL that the approximately 18-day vanity call sign
> waiting period will remain in place "for now."
> 
> The FCC's August 20 Public Notice has complete details on the
> planned maintenance outage. It can be found on the web at,
> https://www.fcc.gov/document/fcc-databases-unavailable-filing-deadline-extensions-early-september
> 
> 
> 
> ARISS Issues Invitation to Schools, Educational Organizations, Groups
> 
> Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) is inviting
> proposals from schools, educational organizations, and groups that are
> willing and able to host an Amateur Radio contact with an International
> Space Station crew member. The window for formal and informal proposals
> will be open from September 1 until November 1, 2015. ARISS anticipates
> that the contacts will be scheduled between July 1 and December 31,
> 2016. Crew schedules and ISS orbits determine exact contact dates. 
> To maximize these radio contact opportunities, ARISS is looking for
> organizations that will a draw large number of participants and
> integrate the contact into a well-developed education plan. Because of
> the nature of human spaceflight and the complexity of scheduling
> activities aboard the ISS, organizations must demonstrate flexibility
> to accommodate changes in contact dates and times.
> 
> Full information on hosting an ARISS contact is available on the ARRL
> website.
> To help organizations in preparing their proposals, the ARISS Program
> Coordinator will offer hour-long online information sessions. These are
> designed to provide more information regarding US ARISS contacts and the
> proposal process and offer an opportunity to ask questions. While
> attending an online information session is not required, it is strongly
> encouraged.
> These will be offered Thursday, September 17, at 2000 UTC; Tuesday,
> September 22, at 2000 UTC, and Wednesday, September 30, at 2300 UTC.
> Advance registration is necessary. E-mail ARISS to sign up for an
> information session.
> 
> ISS crew members will participate in scheduled Amateur Radio contacts,
> which last about 10 minutes, and allow students and educators to
> interact with the astronauts in a question-and-answer format. An ARISS
> contact is a voice-only communication opportunity via Amateur Radio
> between astronauts and cosmonauts aboard the space station and
> classrooms and communities. ARISS contacts afford education audiences
> the opportunity to learn firsthand from astronauts what it is like to
> live and work in space and to learn about space research conducted on
> the ISS. Students also will have an opportunity to learn about
> satellite communication, wireless technology, and radio science. 
> Amateur Radio organizations around the world, NASA, and space agencies
> in Russia, Canada, Japan, and Europe sponsor this educational
> opportunity by providing the equipment and operational support to
> enable direct communication between crew on the ISS and students around
> the world via Amateur Radio. In the US, the program is managed by ARRL
> and AMSAT in partnership with NASA.
> 
> Visit the ARISS website for more information. Contact ARISS with any
> questions
> 
> 
> 
> 
> July ARES report from Larry, W4LWZ SFL SEC
> 
> 
> Total number of ARES members: 368
> 
> Change since last month (+, -, same): +8
> 
> Number of DECs/ECs reporting this month: 10
> 
> Number of ARES nets active: 10
> 
> Number of nets with NTS liaison: 3
> 
> Calls of DECs/ECs reporting: WW4RX, K1UQE, KJ4FJD, N4ZIQ, AD4RZ,
> WA4ASJ, WA4PAM, KK4ENJ, W9GPI, KB1PA
> 
> Number of drills, tests and training sessions this month: 32
> Person hours: 300.5
> 
> Number of public service events this month: 1
> 
> Person hours: 5
> 
> Number of emergency operations this month: 0
> 
> Person Hours: 0
> 
> Total number of ARES operations this month: 33
> 
> Total Person hours: 305.5
> 
> 
> 
> 
> July Traffic report from Mike, KM2V SFL STM
> 
> 
> 
> SAR - July 2015
> 
> CALL    TOTAL
> 
> WA4BAM     150
> W9GPI    008
> K9GZT     008
> K4KFF    091
> W4LWZ    004
> KA3PYO    011
> KR4ST    044
> NT4TS    018
> KM2V     108
> W4ZE    021
> 
> 
> 
> PSHR - July 2015
> 
> Callsign    Total
> WA4BAM    120
> K4KFF    110
> KM2V    130
> 
> 
> 
> NETS - July 2015
> 
> NET    ABB.    QNI    QTC    QND    SESS    MGR
> All Florida CW Traffic Net    QFN    229    52    334    31    WA4BAM
> Florida Medium Speed Net    FMSN    214    51    411    31    AG4RJ/AB4XK
> Southeast Florida Traffic Net    SEFTN    545    62    874    31    KM2V
> Southwest Florida Traffic Net    SWFTN    366    49    84    31    KE4CB/N9WS
> Broward County Emer Prep Net    BCEPN    25    3    97    5    K2MOL
> Jupiter-Tequesta Repeater Group    W4JUP    19    0    40    4    K4VMS
> 
> 
> Silent Keys- It is with deep regret that we report the passing of the
> following SFL members:
> 
> Frank R. Hammond, KC4GKY of Palm Bay. Frank was a member of the Harris
> Intersil ARC
> 
> 
> 
> Well, I guess that’s about it for now. My thanks for all that you do
> for Amateur Radio. Get on the air, Elmer a new ham, support your local
> club and ARES group but most of all, have fun.
> 
> Vy 73,
> 
> Jeff, WA4AW
> 
> --------------------------------------------------------------------
> ARRL Southern Florida Section
> Section Manager: Jeff Beals, WA4AW
> wa4aw at arrl.org
> -------------------------------------