***W3YXE*** Fw: Western Pennsylvania Section News - October 27, 2018

[James Froncek]

   ----- Forwarded Message ----- From: ARRL Members Only Web site <memberlist at www.arrl.org>To: "jim.ka3rda at yahoo.com" <jim.ka3rda at yahoo.com>Sent: ‎Saturday‎, ‎October‎ ‎27‎, ‎2018‎ ‎09‎:‎47‎:‎13‎ ‎AM‎ ‎EDTSubject: Western Pennsylvania Section News - October 27, 2018
 Western Pennsylvania Section News
October 27, 2018
 

WPA South-1 District Meeting 

The South-1 District meeting will take place at the WACOM Hamfest New
Improved Location!

When: Sunday, November 4th, 2018
Time: 12:30PM-3PM
Where: Printscape Arena at Southpointe, 114 Southpointe Blvd, Canonsburg
Pa 15317 (Exit 48 off Interstate 79)

The District Meeting follows the hamfest.

District Meeting Topics:
 * Greetings and Introductions
 * ARES Update including ARESConnect and the Public Service Enhancement
program
 * WPA Section activity reports
 * Club Leadership topics
 * Youth Activities report
 * Section Staff reports, Q&A

Our WPA District Meetings, lika all WPA Section activities are open to
all WPA radio amateurs and the public. You are invited to attend and
participate!


2018 WPA Yearbook

It's time once again to gather up all the photos and write-ups about
local activities in our Section, and send them in for publication in
this year's WPA Yearbook!

Last year's edition was very popular and well received, and with all the
activities we've had, this year should be even better!

Send your material to:    yearbook at wpa-arrl.org  
  

Major Changes to ARES and OO Programs

The ARRL Public Servie Enhancement Working Group has completed its
two-year project to re-tool the Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES)
to meet the requirements of partner agencies, nationwide. The new
program will consist of ARES Members who are “organized, trained,
qualified and credentialed” to better serve our partner agencies.

The new program features three levels of ARES membership, which are
matched by three levels of required training and certification. The
training requirements will be met by members completing free, online
courses including NIMS IS-100, IS-200, IS-700 and IS-800 and the newly
revised ARRL EC-001, which will be provided free of charge to ARES
members. Additional training is required for all ARES leadership
appointees (“*ECs”).

The ARRL Board has opened a public comment period which runs until
October 31. ARRL requests your comments to be sent through your Section
Emergency Coordinator <sec at wpa-arrl.org> and Section Manager
<sm at wpa-arrl.org> only. The Board will review all comments and vote on
the final program at the January 2019 ARRL Board Meeting.

The current OO program will end, and be replaced by a new Volunteer
Monitoring program, administered by ARRL HQ, working closely with FCC.
All current OOs will be invited to apply for the new program, which will
concentrate on major enforcement issues the FCC requests. The goal is to
provide more rapid enforcement response to significant, developing
on-the-air violations rather than more minor operating and technical
issues.

Much more information about these developments is available online at
www.arrl.org and in upcoming issues of QST.


2018 Summer Recap

What a busy Hamfest Season we have had! Our WPA Section Convention and
the first Pennsylvania State ARRL Convention in many years were well
attended and widely appreciated.

Public Service Activity reports have been pouring in every month. Our
WPA Section hams have been very active indeed! Nice work, everyone!

Our Section Staff officials have been busy making plans to keep serving
our section better and better. ASM Dr. Juan Manfredi NA0B has embarked
on a mission to rejuvenate College Radio Clubs across our section. SEC
Bud Plants N3TIR and ASEC Steve Fazekas K3FAZ have been working overtime
to implement the new, enhanced ARES program, develop a wider cooperation
with Western PA Red Cross, and building plans to expand ARES
communications capabilities, including the 60 meter band and digital
messaging across the WPA Section.

Section Traffic Manager Herb Gilliland W3YNX reports that an increasing
number of WPA hams are making their presence known on the Public Service
Honor Roll. Section Youth Coordinator Bruce Gibson K3BEG is working with
schools and scouts with plans for amateur radio activities that support
educational and operating activities for young hams everywhere in our
WPA Section.


Upcoming Events

Our WPA Section always has something going on, and here is what is
happening next!

Date                Location        Event
Nov 4              Cannonsburg WACOM Hamfest & South-1 District Meeting



In Conclusion

If you’re looking for a program for your club meetings, why not put
together some activities for new hams and those who are interested in
Amateur Radio? Demo the latest entry level radios like the Icom 7300 and
the Yaesu 991A (for example), have some Advisors available to answer
questions, have a show and tell about DXing, digital modes, SDR, signal
location… the list is endless.

Advertise it as much as you can, especially in schools, colleges, on
bulletin boards at work, on your nets, and in person to the hams in your
communities who recently got licensed. It doesn’t have to be perfect
— it just has to be done. Who knows, you might make the difference
needed to gain some active new members!

Above all else, go out of your way to make new hams feel welcome and
respected! We want to make good amateur radio friendships in the best
100+ year tradition of Amateur Radio!

Still looking for more ideas for meeting programs? Drop me an invite or
a request for a visit by any of our section staff. We are available to
travel to your group, and can discuss a variety of very interesting
Amateur Radio topics.

73 and Press On!
Joe Shupienis W3BC

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ARRL Western Pennsylvania Section
Section Manager: Joe Shupienis, W3BC
w3bc at arrl.org
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