[SFDXA] A Message from Jeff

[Bill]

Greetings to all,

  We’re off to a busy start to 2016 in the SFL Section. In addition to
club and ARES meetings, I attended the annual Festivus club picnic
sponsored by the North Broward RC and the SE FL Traffic Net and the
Southern Florida Section Convention at the Southwest Florida Hamfest
sponsored by the Ft. Myers ARC  A great time was had by all at these
events. My thanks to all these clubs for their dedication and hard
work.

Later this month, the ARRL National Convention held at the Orlando
Hamcation will take place on Feb.12-14. Many ARRL officials will be on
hand to meet you including new ARRL President Rick Roderick, K5UR and
CEO Dave Sumner, K1ZZ from HQ.  The ARRL Expo will greet you as you
enter the hamfest featuring representatives from many ARRL membership
services. Looking forward to seeing many of you at Hamcation this
year.

National Parks on the Air is off to a great start in our section. As 5
NPS units are in SFL, we have been visited by groups from around the
state. To get in on the fun, see the article below for more info on
NPOTA.

Mark your calendars for the upcoming Palm Beach County Free Flea on
March 12th and the Stuart Hamfest on March 19th. More info here next
month or visit http://www.palmbeachradiofest.com/  and
http://www.stuarthamfest.com

Kudos to Hendry County EC Frank Harris, WA4PAM and his staff for all
their hard work in reactivating ARES activity in the county. Regular
nets, ARES meetings and public service communications have been
established under Frank’s leadership.

Check out our social media presence on the web:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sflarrl

Twitter: https://twitter.com/arrl_SFL

Website: http://sflarrl.org/

Thanks to Bill, N4BKT and Barry, KB1PA for establishing and maintaining
these site for our section.




Long-Time ARRL Vice Director, Honorary Vice President Evelyn Gauzens,
W4WYR, SK


A beloved member of the extended ARRL family has passed on. Evelyn
Gauzens, W4WYR, of Dunedin, Florida, died on January 31. She would have
turned 87 this week. An ARRL Life Member, Gauzens served as the
Southeastern Division Vice Director for more than 20 years. The ARRL
Board of Directors elected her as an Honorary Vice President in 2002.
She may be best known in the wider Amateur Radio community for having
co-founded the Miami Tropical Hamboree and chairing it for 45 years.
Past ARRL President Kay Craigie, N3KN, said that when she became a Vice
Director in 1990, Gauzens was there for her as the “go-to” person
for newcomers to learn the ropes.

“When I was preparing the supporting materials for her nomination as
ARRL Honorary Vice President, I learned about her role with Amateur
Radio at the National Hurricane Center,” Craigie said. “She was a
leader, she had a sense of humor, and she was kind. She contributed to
Amateur Radio and her community. I am so glad that I could visit with
her again at Orlando, so her face remains fresh in my memory. She was
physically frail of course, but her mind was as sharp as ever, and she
left me laughing.” Craigie expressed her condolences to Gauzens’
family.

Gauzens received a W4EHW/National Hurricane Center Award of
Appreciation in 2003 during the annual Amateur Radio Hurricane
Conference. That same year, she was honored for her 50 years of ARRL
membership. Gauzens was a member of the Quarter Century Wireless
Association (QCWA), a life member of the Dade Radio Club of Miami, and
a participant in the Florida Phone Traffic Net. She also belonged to
the A-1 Operators Club.

In 2001, the she was the recipient of the Citizens’ Ham Mobile-Marine
Patrol (CHAMP) Award, presented to an Amateur Radio operator for an
exemplary act of service to the community during the preceding year, or
to an amateur who has demonstrated years of distinguished service to
both Amateur Radio and the community. She was an ARRL VEC volunteer
examiner. In 2002, Kenwood honored Gauzens with its “Top Gun
Award.”

In 2012 Gauzens was inducted into the CQ Amateur Radio Hall of Fame,
recognized as “an active proponent of improved Amateur Radio public
relations” and as the principal on-site organizer — on behalf of
the ARRL as the host IARU Member Society — of the 1976 IARU Region 2
conference in Miami Beach.

“Love Amateur Radio and all those I have met in the fraternity,”
Gauzens said in her QRZ.com profile.

Gauzens’ late husband Carl was W4DTJ, a call sign now held by her
granddaughter, Stephanie. Her son Alan is WA4ATF.

Arrangements are pending.


Tom Gallagher, NY2RF, Will Succeed David Sumner, K1ZZ as ARRL CEO

Tom Gallagher, NY2RF, of West Palm Beach, Florida, will succeed David
Sumner, K1ZZ, as the chief executive officer of ARRL, effective April
18. In that role, he will oversee all activities at ARRL Headquarters
in Newington, Connecticut. Meeting in a special webinar session on
January 25, all 15 ARRL Directors voted to elect Gallagher as CEO and
Secretary, positions that Sumner will relinquish on April 18. Gallagher
will join the ARRL staff as CEO-Elect on February 29, and a transition
period will follow.
“I am excited by the prospects of ARRL’s Second Century, but I am
equally mindful of Dave Sumner’s enormous 4-decade contribution to
our organization and of the extraordinary contributions he has made to
advancing the art and science of Amateur Radio, to growing our ranks,
and to expanding the sheer enjoyment of ham radio around the world,”
Gallagher said.
Gallagher said he is looking forward to attending the ARRL 2016
National Convention, hosted by the Orlando HamCation, February 12-14.
Licensed in Pennsylvania in 1966 as WA3GRF (and later N4GRF in North
Carolina), Gallagher is a member of the West Palm Beach Amateur Radio
Group. He describes himself as “an incurable HF DXer and inveterate
tinkerer” and credits his first visit to the Franklin Institute’s
Amateur Radio station W3TKQ in 1963 for inspiring his interest in ham
radio.
Amateur Radio led to an early career in broadcasting. He was a
cameraman and technician with WGBH-TV in Boston, the CBS Television
Network, and Metromedia’s WIP Radio in Philadelphia.
He joins ARRL following 3 decades as an international investment banker
and financial services executive. His career has included senior
leadership positions

with JP Morgan Chase & Co and CIBC Oppenheimer & Co in New York, and
with Wachovia Capital Markets in Charlotte, North Carolina. He has also
served as an adjunct professor at the Walsh School of Foreign Service at
Georgetown University and as CEO of the Secondary School Admission Test
Board in Princeton, New Jersey. Gallagher has served on boards, both
public and non-profit, including two NYSE companies, the NPR affiliate
in Charlotte, the Executive Board of The PENN Fund at the University of
Pennsylvania, and The International Center of Photography.
Gallagher graduated magna cum laude with a BA from the University of
Pennsylvania, and he holds an MBA from The Wharton School. He is a
graduate of The Lawrenceville School, where he held the Nicholas Noyes
scholarship.
In addition to ham radio, Gallagher enjoys saltwater fishing and
sailing which, he confesses, is sometimes just an excuse to operate
maritime mobile.
At his Florida home along the Intracoastal Waterway, Gallagher has
maintained a fairly low Amateur Radio profile, with a wire antenna
that, he says, works well into Europe and Latin America. He also has a
40 meter Windom. “I would like to work Asia when I get a better HF
antenna solution,” he said. Gallagher has both modern and vintage
stations as well as a high-speed multimedia (HSMM) digital repeater.
Gallagher and his wife Lindy Allyn divide their time between West Palm
Beach, Florida, and Manhattan. They have three sons. He plans to return
to Connecticut; he'd lived previously for 13 years in New Canaan.


National Parks on the Air (NPOTA) Event Gets Off to a Strong Start!

The year-long ARRL’s National Parks on the Air (NPOTA) event got off
to a strong start, with considerable activity reported on the HF bands
and even some on the SO-50 satellite over the first weekend of the new
year. Throughout 2016, Amateur Radio will be helping the National Park
Service (NPS) to celebrate its 100th anniversary. Hams will activate
NPS units, promote the Park Service, and showcase Amateur Radio to the
public. During the first three days of NPOTA, “Activators” were on
the air from 78 of the 483 NPOTA Units — about 16 percent of the
total.
“Pileups were pretty strong all weekend long,” said ARRL Media and
Public Relations Manager Sean Kutzko, KX9X. “At least two units —
Weir Farm National Historic Site in Connecticut (NS76), and Little Rock
Central High School National Historic Site in Arkansas (NS45) — were
activated via the SO50 FM satellite.”
The program has two participation tracks — Chasers and Activators.
Chasers will simply attempt to make contact with operators in as many
of the NPS units as possible. Activators will attempt to activate as
many of the units as possible. NPOTA participants may serve in both
roles. Chaser and Activator totals will be tracked via an online NPOTA
Leader Board based on LoTW data.
“We’ve received an official welcome from the NPS superintendent of
the North Country National Scenic Trail and the Executive Director of
the North Country Trail Association,” Kutzko reported. The trail runs
from New York to North Dakota.
“We appreciate your enthusiasm and engagement as we celebrate this
100th anniversary of the National Park Service,” wrote Mark Weaver,
the Scenic Trail superintendent, and Bruce Matthews, executive director
of the North Country Trail Association. “While operating from the
North Country National Scenic Trail, we encourage all radio amateurs to
participate in the NCTAs “Hike 100 Challenge,” to hike 100 miles on
the trail this year; to get out, enjoy the fresh air, get some
exercise, and take a moment to appreciate one of America’s great
scenic and recreational resources.”

Kutzko said 400 new NPOTA Facebook group members have signed on since
New Year’s Eve. “The Facebook group is the central location for all
things NPOTA,” he said, “with lots of people exchanging ideas, tips,
spots, and success stories. We’re also using it as the place to keep
everybody updated on administrative issues.”
#ARRL_NPOTA, #NPS100 and #HamRadioInParks remain the common Twitter
feeds.
“This NPOTA event looks to make the Centennial QSO Party look like a
quiet night with poor band conditions,” Jeff Otterson, N1KDO,
commented on the NPOTA Facebook page. Jeff DeKonty, AB3WM, reported
that he operated over the opening weekend as N3P from both First State
National Historical Park in Delaware (HP12) and Valley Forge National
Historical Park in Pennsylvania (HP46).
In an interview with Christian Cudnik, K0STH, on the “100 Watts and a
Wire” podcast, Dekonty said portable operations for NPOTA were within
reach of most hams. “I think about DXpeditions, and heading down to
small islands north of Antarctica. That all sounds very interesting,
but it’s not terribly achievable [for me],” he said. “NPOTA was
something I could do just in a few hours on a weekend, and it really
didn’t take that much of an investment. And it was also a great
learning opportunity. It was my first time having to work a pileup like
that, and it was really intense and fun!”



Subcommittee Chair, H.R. 1301 Sponsor Testify on Behalf of Amateur
Radio Parity Act


“We just simply add the same standard that has been used successfully
in municipal areas to other areas,” he concluded.
HR 1301 would direct the FCC to extend its rules relating to reasonable
accommodation of Amateur Service communications to private land-use
restrictions, such as deed covenants, conditions, and restrictions. The
bill has attracted 116 cosponsors from both sides of the aisle. An
identical US Senate measure, S. 1685, has attracted 3 cosponsors. It
cleared the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation
last November.
More information about the legislation is on the ARRL Amateur Radio
Parity Act web page.


Foundation for Amateur Radio Invites Scholarship Applications

The Foundation for Amateur Radio Inc (FAR) invites applications for the
2016-2017 academic year for the 46 scholarships it administers.
All applicants must hold a valid Amateur Radio license and be enrolled
or accepted for enrollment at an accredited university, college or
technical school. Applicants attending school outside the US must
provide a brochure describing the school.
Students do not apply for specific scholarships; each application will
be considered for all of the scholarships for which the applicant is
qualified. In order to be considered for the Chichester and QCWA
scholarships, applicants must obtain the appropriate recommendations.
Applications must be submitted by April 15, although applicants may
edit their applications until May 7. Data entered onto the application
goes directly into an Applicants attending school outside the US must
provide a brochure describing the school.
Students do not apply for specific scholarships; each application will
be considered for all of the scholarships for which the applicant is
qualified. In order to be considered for the Chichester and QCWA
scholarships, applicants must obtain the appropriate recommendations.
Applications must be submitted by April 15, although applicants may
edit their applications until May 7. Data entered onto the application
goes directly into an encrypted, password-protected PDF file available
only to the review committee. No part of the application is stored
online.
Contact FAR for more information.


SEC Report for December from Larry, W4LWZ


Total number of ARES members: 346

Change since last month (+, -, same): +8

Number of DECs/ECs reporting this month: 8

Number of ARES nets active: 11

Number of nets with NTS liaison: 3

Calls of DECs/ECs reporting: KB1PA, AD4RZ, W9GPI, K1UQE, N4ZIQ, N4LEM,
WW4RX, WA4PAM

Number of drills, tests and training sessions this month: 26

Person hours: 238

Number of public service events this month: 1

Person hours: 26

Number of emergency operations this month: 0

Person Hours: 0

Total number of ARES operations this month: 27

Total Person hours: 264



STM Report for December from Mike, KM2V


SAR - December 2015

CALL	TOTAL
WA4BAM	159
KE4CB	061
W9GPI	003
K9GZT	010
KK4KAH	005
K4KFF	044
KA3PYO	005
KR4ST	012
KD8SYP	022
NT4TS	005
KM2V	129
W4ZE	010


PSHR - December 2015

Callsign	Total
WA4BAM	110
KE4CB	130
KM2V	130


NETS - December 2015

NET	ABB.	QNI	QTC	QND	SESS	MGR
All Florida CW Traffic Net 	QFN	229	60	364	29	WA4BAM
Florida Medium Speed Net	FMSN	186	47	421	31	AG4RJ/AB4XK
Southeast Florida Traffic Net	SEFTN	547	73	886	31	KM2V
Southwest Florida Traffic Net	SWFTN	375	44	1635	27	KE4CB/N9WS



Silent Keys- It is with deep regret that we report the passing of the
following SFL members:

Walter E. “ Walt “ Peace, WD4IUD of Palm Springs. Walt was a long
time member of the West Palm Beach ARC, a past President and manager of
the club’s “ Sailfish Net “ on 10 meters.  Walt was also a member
of the Palm Beach Chapter of QCWA.


I am saddened by the passing of a dear friend; Evelyn, W4WYR. I worked
with Evelyn thru ARRL and Hamboree for over 30 years. Her leadership in
the South Florida amateur radio community as well as her friendship to
all will be dearly missed. Our sincerest condolences go out to son Alan
and the entire Gauzens family.


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 with ham radio.

Vy 73,

Jeff, WA4AW

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ARRL Southern Florida Section
Section Manager: Jeff Beals, WA4AW
wa4aw at arrl.org
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