[SMCARA] ARRL Club Newsletter, April 6, 2007

[J D Delancy]

ARRL Club Newsletter
April 6, 2007
____________________________________________________________________

Norm Fusaro, W3IZ, Editor

IN THIS ISSUE:
+First Thirty Days
+Club Update
+QSL
+Programs Wanted
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The First Thirty Days

Since February 23, 2007, the date that the Amateur Radio rules
changed, Volunteer Exam Coordinators (VEC) around the country have
been processing applications for new Amateur Radio licenses and
upgrades.  Incidentally, while ARRL may handle the lion's share of
license applications, we are only one of twelve VECs that make up the
National Conference of Volunteer Coordinators -- NCVEC. 
http://www.ncvec.org/

Volunteer Exam sessions around the country, many of them club
sponsored events, are churning out many new and enthusiastic hams. 
This is evident on the airwaves.  The influx of good operators
looking to learn the ropes of DXing, contesting, traffic handling and
just plain old rag chewing is remarkable.  

Log Book of The World usage has exploded.  ARRL is upgrading the LoTW
hardware and software to handle the additional traffic.  The
switchboard at HQ has been flooded with calls from new hams asking
all sorts of questions about operating practices.  These zealous new
operators want to make sure that they are getting it right.  

In almost every conversation that I have had with a new ham they tell
me of a memorable QSO or proudly boast of the number of DX countries
that they have worked so far.  ARRL has issued a whole shebang of
First Contact Awards 
< http://www.arrl.org/FandES/ead/award/certificate/1contact.html > to
new operators who will always remember that exciting time when they
first got on the air and introduced themselves to the Amateur
community.  The first one hundred requests came in the first week of
the changes and everyday more continue to roll in.

At the end of the phone running of the 2007 ARRL DX Contest, Tom,
8P1A reported working more than 1,000 stations that did not appear in
his database of :known: callsigns. He made just over 8,000 QSOs that
weekend.  These totals are telling numbers--the interest in joining
the fun on HF is evident.

A huge thank you goes out to all of the mentors and instructors and
examiners who have helped the new hams, and to all the radio Amateurs
who have extended a welcoming hand to not just the new operators, but
to all hams.  It is reassuring to see that nobody paid any attention
to the curmudgeons that tried to tell us that ham radio was going to
become the new Citizen's Band or that ham radio licenses were some
how being degraded because we no longer are required to test for
Morse code proficiency.  It is unfortunate that some people continue
to wallow in their own complacency while the rest of us adapt, accept
and move forward.  Ham radio in the 21st century is as exciting as
ever.
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Club Updates

Once a club is affiliated, it remains affiliated. To stay actively
affiliated, a club leader must complete and submit an Annual Report.
A club's status will be changed to inactive should two years go by
without the submittal of an Annual Report. A club can return to
active status at any time by simply completing and submitting an
Annual Report. ARRL sends reminder emails pointing to the Annual
Report form.
http://www.arrl.org/FandES/field/club/forms/fsd2/

Please update your information only if something has changed or if it
is past due.  
_____________________________________________________________________
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QSL

We have added a new Power Point program to the ARRL multi media
library. www.arrl.org/multimedia 
The QSL card has traditionally been called the final courtesy of the
contact. "QSL Cards -- Sending and Receiving Paper Gems" shows the
operator the ins and outs of exchanging QSL cards.  Some of the
topics covered in this program include using the outgoing and
incoming QSL bureaus, working with QSL managers and basic information
required for a valid QSL card. We have even included some tips from
the experts for QSLing those elusive DX cards. The program also
includes handout material that will serve as a handy reference.  

All of the programs in the multi media library are free to download
and make excellent meeting programs.  
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_

Programs Wanted

ARRL is always looking for new material for the multi media library. 
If you have a program that you would like considered for the library,
please send a CD to:

ARRL Affiliated Clubs
225 Main St.
Newington, CT 06111
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ARRL Affiliation Milestones for March 2007

10 Year 
*W1 
CT Central Connecticut ARC,  KB1BSJ

*W2 
NNJ David Sarnoff Radio Club N2RE
NNJ Robert D Grant United Labor ARA  N2UL

*W4 
PR Radio Operadores Del Este  KP3RE
WCF Desoto ARC, Inc  W4MIN
VA Scott County ARS  KF4VTM

*W6 
SCV 50 MHz & Up Group Of Northern CA KF6JJL
SJV N A Chaderjian School ARC KF6IUI

*W7 
NV RARA- Rural Amateur Radio Association KC7WIR


50 Year 
MI Mason County Amateur Radio Service K8DXF

======================================================================
The ARRL CLUB NEWS is published on the first Wednesday of each month by
the American Radio Relay League--The National Association For Amateur
Radio--225 Main St, Newington, CT 06111; tel 860-594-0200; fax
860-594-0259; www.arrl.org. Joel Harrison, W5ZN, President.

The ARRL CLUB NEWS is an e-mail digest of news and information of
interest to active members of ARRL Affiliated Clubs. 

Material from The ARRL CLUB NEWS may be republished or reproduced in
whole or in part in any form without additional permission. Credit must
be given to The ARRL CLUB NEWS and The American Radio Relay League.

Editorial questions or comments: Norm Fusaro, W3IZ, clubs at arrl.org