[SFDXA] A Message from Jeff
Bill
bmarx at bellsouth.net
Thu Feb 1 15:00:35 EST 2018
Greetings to all,
We’re off to a busy start to 2018 in the SFL Section. I attended
meetings of the Broward ARC, W.Palm Beach ARC, Martin County ARA and the
Southwest Florida Hamfest sponsored by the Ft. Myers ARC. The hamfest
was held at a new venue and it proved to be a successful event. We are
looking forward to next year. My thanks to all these clubs for their
dedication and hard work.
On the weekend of Feb. 9-11, the ARRL Florida State Convention will be
held in conjunction with the Orlando Hamcation. More info available at
http://www.hamcation.com Looking forward to seeing you there.
School Club Roundup
February 12-16, 2018
Objective: To exchange QSO information with club stations that are part
of an elementary, middle, high school or college. Non-school clubs and
individuals are encouraged to participate.
More info here: http://www.arrl.org/school-club-roundup
Mark your calendars for the upcoming Palms West ARC Flea Market on March
11th, the Stuart Hamfest on March 17th and, on a new date, the Ft.
Pierce Hamfest on April 7th. More info here next month.
In conjunction with the NWS Severe Weather Awareness Week, a tornado
drill was held on January 24th.
Skywarn and SFL ARES operators conducted tornado watch and warning nets
and relayed local WX observations to NWS in Miami and Melbourne. My
thanks to all who participated in this important training activity.
We have a new Emergency Coordinator (EC) appointment to report. Please
welcome Frank de Cespedes, AK4FU as the Miami-Dade County EC. Our SFL
ARES organization looks forward to working with Frank and his team.
Winter Field Day- A few of our SFL clubs operated WFD on Jan. 27-28.
Good opportunity to practice our skills away from storm season. Let’s
try to have all 14 counties represented next year.
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 maintaining these sites for
our section.
Congratulations to the following SFL clubs upon reaching these
milestones as an ARRL affiliated club:
Vero Beach Amateur Radio Club 50 years
Amateur Radio Association of SW Florida 40 years
Martin County Amateur Radio Association 40 years
Motorola Amateur Radio Club 40 years
Palm Beach Amateur Radio Council 35 years
WR4AYC Repeater Group 25 years
ARRL to Offer Expanded Orlando HamCation® Presence February 9-11
ARRL will be represented in force and with an expanded presence at
Orlando HamCation February 9-11 in Orlando. The event, which also is the
2018 ARRL Florida State Convention, takes place at the Central Florida
Fairgrounds and Expo Park. Team ARRL will include Headquarters staff and
volunteers. ARRL concessions at HamCation will support membership,
publication sales (ARRL store), the ARRL Southeastern Division, the ARRL
Collegiate Amateur Radio Initiative, and QSL card checking for DXCC and
other ARRL Awards. The League will offer special incentives for visitors
who join or renew ARRL membership at the booth.
Expected to be on hand are ARRL Puerto Rico Section Manager Oscar Resto,
KP4RF, and US Virgin Islands Section Manager Fred Kleber, K9VV. At
HamCation Resto and Kleber will accept the 2018 International
Humanitarian Award on behalf of radio amateurs in Puerto Rico and the US
Virgin Islands, who aided in relief and recovery after a punishing
Atlantic hurricane season.
An ARRL Membership Forum, moderated by ARRL Southeastern Division
Director Greg Sarratt, W4OZK, will take place on Saturday, while Andrew
Milluzzi, KK4LWR, will lead the Collegiate Amateur Radio forum,
discussing topics related to ham radio clubs at colleges and
universities. Topics will include activities, recruitment, connecting
with alumni, and social media. “Bring your school colors to hang in
the ARRL exhibit area!” Milluzzi said. “We’ll display your college
pennant, flag, or banner to show off the representation of college and
university radio clubs.” If you let ARRL keep your flag or pennant,
these will be included in a display being prepared for ARRL EXPO at
Hamvention® in Xenia, Ohio, May 19-21.
These Team ARRL members will be attending HamCation this year:
• ARRL President Rick Roderick, K5UR
• Diane Petrilli, KB1RNF, ARRL Membership Manager (ARRL staff)
• Yvette Vinci, KC1AIM, ARRL Member Services and Circulation Manager
(ARRL staff)
• Bob Inderbitzen, NQ1R, ARRL Marketing Manager (ARRL staff)
• Greg Sarratt, W4OZK, ARRL Southeastern Division Director
• Joey Tiritilli, N4ZUW, ARRL Southeastern Division Vice Director
• Steve Szabo, WB4OMM, ARRL Northern Florida Section Manager
• Darrell Davis, KT4WX, ARRL West Central Florida Section Manager
• Jeff Beals, WA4AW, ARRL Southern Florida Section Manager
• ARRL Puerto Rico Section Manager Oscar Resto, KP4RF
• US Virgin Islands Section Manager Fred Kleber, K9VV.
These ARRL Honorary Officials also will attend:
• Frank Butler, W4RH, ARRL Honorary Vice President
• Rod Stafford, W6ROD, ARRL President Emeritus
• Larry Price, W4RA, ARRL President Emeritus
ARRL Volunteer Examiner administered license examinations given on
Friday and Saturday. Advance registration is required. Contact Val
Jacyno, AK4MM.
Puerto Rico, US Virgin Island Amateurs are International Humanitarian
Award Winners
The ARRL Board of Directors has conferred the 2018 International
Humanitarian Award jointly on the Amateur Radio population of Puerto
Rico — served by ARRL Section Manager Oscar Resto, KP4RF — and the
radio amateurs of the US Virgin Islands, served by ARRL Section Manager
Fred Kleber, K9VV. Radio amateurs in Puerto Rico and in the US Virgin
Islands aided in relief and recovery after a punishing hurricane season
in the Caribbean.
The Board noted that radio amateurs in Puerto Rico and on the US Virgin
Islands were “pressed into immediate service before and during the
devastating storms” during the 2017 Hurricane Season. “The efforts
of the local amateur communities continue to support the relief and
recovery efforts even now,” the Board said, “and the ARRL leadership
in each section continues to do extraordinary service to their
communities.” ARRL established the International Humanitarian Award to
recognize “truly outstanding Amateur Radio operators in areas of
international humanitarianism and the furtherance of peace.”
In a separate motion, the Board recognized the outstanding work and
service and commended all involved with the various hurricane relief
communication efforts during 2017. The Board cited the Amateur Radio
communities of Puerto Rico, US Virgin Islands, the Caribbean island, and
in south Florida and Texas for “outstanding service during the 2017
Atlantic hurricane season, calling their efforts “a demonstrable
exhibition of Amateur Radio public service.
Two More US Educational Organizations Move into Phase 2 of ARISS
Selections
Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) has announced
the addition of two more educational organizations to the Phase 2 list
to host an ARISS ham radio contact with an ISS crew member. The selected
schools submitted proposals before the deadline last November and join
the 13 schools and groups announced in mid-December. The two extra
scheduling opportunities are special events, thanks to ARISS’s two
major sponsors, the NASA Space Communications and Navigation group and
the Center for the Advancement of Science in Space. Students of the two
organizations will travel to aerospace conferences, where their ARISS
radio contacts will be featured.
Chosen were Quest for Space/Quest Institute for Quality Education, San
Jose, California, whose ARISS contact will be a highlight of the July
23-26 ISS R&D Conference in San Francisco, and Burns Science & Technical
Charter School in Oak Hill, Florida, whose ARISS contact will be
featured at the July 11-13 S.P.A.C.E. Conference at NASA’s Kennedy
Space Center.
The ARISS-US Education Committee selected the initial 13 candidates from
a field of 25. The schools and organizations are:
• Allen Park Elementary School, Lee County School District, Fort
Myers, Florida
• Ashford School, Ashford, Connecticut
• Bishop O’Connell High School, Arlington, Virginia
• Delcastle Technical High School, Wilmington, Delaware
• Hudson Memorial School, Hudson, New Hampshire
• Kopernik Observatory & Science Center, Vestal, New York
• Mendez Fundamental Intermediate School, Santa Ana, California
• Pathfinder Regional Vocational Technical High School, Palmer,
Massachusetts
• Pearl Technology STEM Academy, Peoria Heights, Illinois
• Pell Elementary School, Newport, Rhode Island
• St. Catherine of Bologna School, Ringwood, New Jersey
• Tallmadge Community Learning Center, Lancaster, Ohio
• Valley High School, Albuquerque, New Mexico
ARISS anticipates that NASA will be able to provide scheduling
opportunities from July to December of next year. These schools and
organizations now must submit Amateur Radio equipment plans to host a
scheduled contact with a member of the ISS crew, as well as an equipment
plan that demonstrates their ability to execute a ham radio contact with
the ISS.
Once the ARISS technical team approves their equipment plans, the
remaining finalists will be scheduled as their availability and
flexibility match up with the scheduling opportunities.
ARISS’s primary goal is to engage young people in science, technology,
engineering, and math (STEM) activities, and to involve them in
activities related to space exploration, Amateur Radio, communications,
and areas of associated study and career possibilities.
ARISS is a cooperative venture of international Amateur Radio societies
and the space agencies that support the International Space Station
(ISS). In the United States, sponsors are ARRL, AMSAT, the Center for
the Advancement of Science in Space (CASIS), and NASA.
Florida Ham Radio Club Aids Homeless During Cold Snap
Uncharacteristically cold weather in east-central Florida in early
January prompted members of the North Brevard Amateur Radio Club (K4NBR)
to assist the area’s homeless. The New Year began with a bitter cold
front descending upon Central Florida, bringing temperatures that
hovered around freezing. Such conditions can be especially concerning
for those lacking regular shelter from the elements. NBARC members Ricky
DeLuco, K4JTT; Robert Ortiz, KJ4VEH; William Klosowski, K4SVT, and
Michael Ellixon, KE4MWZ, set out in their own vehicles, searching the
city of Titusville for homeless residents. For the next two evenings,
and using Amateur Radio as communications, the group worked in the cold,
wet weather for more than 12 hours, logging some 120 miles on the roads
around Titusville.
The Disabled American Veteran Center in Titusville had opened its doors
as a cold weather shelter and offered a warm place to sleep and eat. The
ham radio group alerted local law enforcement, so they were aware of the
effort and in the hope that on-duty officers also might reach out. The
group was able to locate five homeless individuals on its first evening
tour of the town and provide them with transportation out of the cold.
Local police also contacted the team to help and to provide
transportation for other homeless individuals located by on-duty
officers.
One additional homeless person located late on the first night had a
need for immediate medical attention and was transported to a local
hospital.
Within the ARRL Southern Florida Section, NBARC is an ARRL-affiliated
community service organization and is involved in several area events.
It also provides back-up communication for Parrish Hospital, as needed.
Florida Weak Signal Society 3.4 GHz Beacon Back on the Air
The Florida Weak Signal Society (FLWSS) reports that its beacon on
3,456.075 MHz is back on the air and invites reports. The FLWSS said all
of its beacons, located in EL98 in the Orlando area, are subject to some
drift with temperature; each operates independently with its own crystal
reference. “We can’t provide individual frequency accuracy, but we
strive to keep them all reasonably close to as shown,” said George
Presley, K4RSV, in a post to the FLWSS mailing list.
Other FLWSS beacons are on 50.0667, 144.277, 222.056, 432.307, 1296.025,
3456.075, 5760.120, 10,368.015, and 24,192.035 MHz.
Nominations Sought for Philip J. McGan Memorial Silver Antenna Award
Nominations are open for ARRL’s annual Philip J. McGan Memorial Silver
Antenna Award, which recognizes and honors the efforts of individuals
who create greater awareness and understanding the services and benefits
that Amateur Radio provides to the general public. The deadline to
submit a nomination is May 19, 2018.
Every day Public Information Coordinators, Public Information Officers,
and other public relations volunteers strive to keep Amateur Radio
visible in their communities by publicizing and promoting special events
to the media, by maintaining good relations with local news outlets, and
by creating content for social media, as well as many other valuable
activities. These efforts benefit us all.
The award is named for journalist Philip J. McGan, WA2MBQ (SK), the
first chairman of ARRL’s Public Relations Committee, who helped
reinvigorate the League’s commitment to public relations.
Unfortunately, McGan never got to see how well his efforts paid off. To
honor him, his friends in the New Hampshire Amateur Radio Association
joined with the ARRL Board of Directors to pay a lasting tribute to the
important contributions he made on behalf of Amateur Radio.
The McGan Award will go to the radio amateur who has demonstrated
success in Amateur Radio public relations and who best exemplifies
McGan’s volunteer spirit. Activities for which the McGan Award is
presented include efforts specifically directed at focusing the
media’s and the general public’s attention on the value of Amateur
Radio. This may include traditional methods, such as generating media
coverage of a specific event, or non-traditional methods, such as
hosting a radio show or being an active public speaker.
A candidate’s work must fit the definition of public relations, i.e.,
getting a message out to people. (Public service is about providing a
service.) The McGan Award recognizes the promotion of Amateur Radio to
the non-amateur community, not for work within a club or organization
that primarily benefits the Amateur Radio community.
The award is given only to an individual, who must be a full ARRL member
in good standing at the time of nomination. The nominee must not be
compensated for any public relations work involving Amateur Radio
(including payment for articles) and may not be a current officer,
director, vice director, paid staff member, or a member of the current
selection committee.
The specific criteria for nomination and the nomination form (in PDF
formate) are posted on the ARRL website, or e-mail Dave Isgur at ARRL
Headquarters and ask for an official Philip J. McGan Memorial Silver
Antenna Award entry form. Past winners of the McGan Award are listed
here.
Nominations must be received at ARRL Headquarters by May 19. The ARRL
Public Relations Committee will recommend a winner, if any, to the ARRL
Board of Directors, which will make a final determination at its July
meeting.
ARRL Invites Nominations for Six Awards
ARRL invites nominations for awards that recognize educational and
technological pursuits in Amateur Radio. Nominations are also open for
the League’s premier award to honor a young licensee — the Hiram
Percy Maxim Award.
• The Hiram Percy Maxim Award recognizes a radio amateur and ARRL
member under age 21 whose accomplishments and contributions are of the
most exemplary nature within the framework of Amateur Radio activities.
Nominations for this award need to be made through the nominator’s
ARRL Section Manager, who will forward the nomination to ARRL
Headquarters by March 31, 2018.
• The ARRL Herb S. Brier Instructor of the Year Award honors an ARRL
volunteer Amateur Radio instructor or an ARRL professional classroom
teacher who uses creative instructional approaches and reflects the
highest values of the Amateur Radio community. The award highlights
quality of, and commitment to, licensing instruction. Nominations are
due by March 15, 2018.
• The ARRL Microwave Development Award pays tribute to a radio amateur
or group of radio amateurs who contribute to the development of the
Amateur Radio microwave bands. The nomination deadline is March 31,
2018.
• The ARRL Technical Service Award recognizes a radio amateur or group
of radio amateurs who provide Amateur Radio technical assistance or
training to others. The nomination deadline is March 31, 2018.
• The ARRL Technical Innovation Award is granted to a radio amateur or
group of radio amateurs who develop and apply new technical ideas or
techniques in Amateur Radio. The nomination deadline is March 31, 2018.
• The Knight Distinguished Service Award was established to recognize
exceptionally notable contributions by a Section Manager to the health
and vitality of the ARRL. The nomination deadline is April 30, 2018.
The ARRL Board of Directors selects recipients for these awards. Winners
are typically announced following the Board’s July meeting. More
information about these awards is available on the ARRL website, or by
contacting Steve Ewald, WV1X, telephone (860) 594-0265, at ARRL
Headquarters
NCVEC Releases New Technician License Question Pool into the Public
Domain
The National Conference of Volunteer Examiner Coordinators (NCVEC) has
announced the release of the 2018-2022 Amateur Radio Element 2
Technician class license question pool into the public domain. Each
question pool must be published and made available to the public prior
to its use as a question set, from which individual examinations are
developed.
Alert the NCVEC Question Pool Committee to any necessary corrections or
typographical errors.
The new Technician license question pool contains 428 questions. It will
become effective for all Technician class license examinations starting
on July 1, 2018.
Dec. traffic report from STM Ed, W2PH
W2PH SFL STM
SAR DEC
SAR JAN 9
W9GPI 20
NT4TS
W4ZE 71
W2PH 78
KE4CB 17
W4CMH 149
KM4WNF 16
KR4ST 5
K9GZT 9
KR4PI
KM4RAZ
W2PAX
W4YMJ
KC1AYL
KM4KRE 87
KK4RXW 9
KM4KME
KD8SYP 100
PSHR 105
W4CMH 145
KE4CB
W2PH
W1RP
Net Information
All Florida CW Net (QFN) via KI0JO
Manager: WA4BAM thru 5/31 via KI0JO
QNI via KI0JO
QTC via KI0JO
QND
SESSIONS
QFN NM is KZ8Q effective 6/1
Florida Med Speed Net (FMSN)
Manager: AG4RJ
QNI
QTC
QND
SESSIONS
(I will find NM replacement)
SE Florida Tfc Net (SEFTN) 532
Manager: KD4ZFW 56
QNI 1084
QTC 30
QND
SESSIONS
SW Florida Traffic Net (SWFTN) 450
Manager: KE4CB/N9WS 107
QNI 524
QTC 27
QND
SESSIONS
Tropical Fast Net (TFN) 554
Manager: W2PH 290
QNI 633
QTC 31
QND
SESSIONS
Silent Keys- It is with deep regret that we report the passing of the
following SFL members:
George P. “Pat” Geran, KK4AXV of Cocoa. Pat was a former RACES
Officer for Brevard County and an ARRL Public Info Officer.
Howard “Howie” Silver, KB2BBG of W. Palm Beach. Howie served as a
Palm Beach County Chapter Red Cross radio operator for 25 years. He was
also a member of Palm Beach County ARES and the Palms West 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 with ham radio.
Vy 73,
Jeff, WA4AW
--------------------------------------------------------------------
ARRL Southern Florida Section
Section Manager: Jeff Beals, WA4AW
wa4aw at arrl.org
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