3/2/08 - LOS ANGELES HAMS HONORED FOR COMMUNITY SERVICE

On February 27, members of the Disaster Communications Service (DCS), based at the Carson Sheriff Station, received individual and group awards from the State of California, the County of Los Angeles, the Carson Sheriff Station Support Foundation and the City of Carson, California for their participation in a wide range of both planned and emergent events.

These 27 Amateur Radio operators provided almost 8000 hours of service to the agencies, including assisting in providing assistance during a bicycle race, tactical alerts due to civil unrest, funerals for fallen deputy sheriffs and the fires that plagued Southern California. Members of their Rapid Deployment Team spent five days on Catalina Island, serving as the primary means of communication between the island and the mainland until telephone systems were restored.

The service provided by the Carson Station DCS volunteers saved the taxpayers of Los Angeles County almost $320,000, "but more importantly, they selflessly provided an invaluable service that is a critical component to the safety of our communities and families," the DCS coordinator said.

Thirteen deputies, a firefighter, two station volunteers and two citizens were also recognized in the second annual event that pays tribute to Carson sheriff's deputies and supporters for their work in the city. More information can be found at the Los Angeles County Disaster Communications Web page.

From ARRL
http://www.arrl.org/?artid=8055

2/20/08 - ARRL SAN DIEGO SECTION MANAGER ELECTED

In the only contested Section Manager race this Winter, Steve Early, AD6VI, was elected ARRL San Diego Section Manager with 332 votes; his opponent, Pat Bunsold, WA6MHZ, received 264 votes. Election ballots were counted at ARRL Headquarters on February 19, 2008.

Early, whose two-year term begins on April 1, 2008, said that he is looking forward to the opportunity to serve. He has been active in several Amateur Radio clubs and ARES, as well as providing public service support to agencies such as the American Red Cross and CERT (Community Emergency Response Team). He is also president of the Palomar Amateur Radio Club (PARC). Early takes over from Harry Hodges, W6YOO, who was appointed to fill the vacant position in November 2007.

Louisiana will also be getting a new Section Manager on April 1. Gary Stratton, K5GLS, of Shreveport, the Louisiana Section Emergency Coordinator for the last three years, will be taking the reins from Mickey Cox, K5MC. Cox, who has served as Section Manager for the past eight years, decided not to run for another term of office.

Carl Clements, W4CAC, of Portsmouth, Virginia, returns to the Virginia Section Manager's post on April 1. He had previously served as Virginia Section Manager from May 2001 to March 2006. Glen Sage, W4GHS, the outgoing Virginia Section Manager, did not seek a new term of office.

The following incumbent ARRL Section Managers did not face opposition and were declared elected for their next terms of office beginning April 1, 2008: Pete Cecere, N2YJZ, Eastern New York; Eric Olena, WB3FPL, Eastern Pennsylvania; Tim Slay, N4IB, North Carolina; Richard Beebe, N0PV, South Dakota, and Bob Schneider, AH6J, Pacific.

From ARRL Bulletin
http://www.arrl.org/w1aw/2008-arlb004.html

2/15/08 - NEW ARRL VOLUNTEER EXAMINER MANUAL ONLINE

The ninth edition of the ARRL VEC/VE Manual is now online at http://www.arrl.org/arrlvec/vemanual/ on the ARRL Web site. The manual, the most complete source on the Amateur Radio Volunteer Examiner Program, has everything you need to know in order to be an ARRL Volunteer Examiner.

"We're really excited about the new Manual," said ARRL VEC Manager Maria Somma, AB1FM. "We've put a lot of work into it, taking suggestions from Volunteer Examiners all over the United States. It's very comprehensive, yet easy to understand." Somma said the manual is full of new and timely information, taking into account the licensing rule changes that went into effect last year.

"One of the biggest changes to the ninth edition is the deletion of all the procedures having to do with Morse code testing," Somma said. As of February 23, 2007, the FCC no longer requires those upgrading their license to be tested on Morse code. Somma said that more than 80 percent of the Manual's content has been revised.

The Manual, written to help guide amateurs through the VEC program, is also a guide for those aspiring to be Volunteer Examiners. "Any General, Advanced or Amateur Extra class license holder is eligible to be a Volunteer Examiner," Somma said. "It's a simple process to become a VE -- just complete the ARRL VE application form and pass a 40-question 'open book' test and you're set! If you're an active ham radio operator, you probably enjoy giving back to the Amateur Radio community, be it through public service or as a Volunteer Examiner. Many hams fondly remember their first license examination experience."

Information in the Manual includes how to become an accredited Volunteer Examiner and how to participate in the Amateur Radio examination process, as well as real-life experiences from current Volunteer Examiners. "It's really a reference manual with tons of details. The real-life experiences in the Manual will help current and future Volunteer Examiners know how to deal with those pesky situations that sometimes pop up," Somma said.

From the ARRL Letter
http://www.arrl.org/arrlletter/08/0215/

2/15/08 - DUCIE ISLAND DX-PEDITION LOGS ARE ONLINE

The DXpedition to Ducie Island, VP6DX, is well underway and the DXpedition crew has now posted its logs online at: http://www.ducie2008.dl1mgb.com/onlinelog/index.php/.

Have you worked VP6DX yet? Check and make sure you are listed in their log. There are 21 band slots in three modes (CW, Phone and RTTY) that can be worked. Their Web page also lets you know when the optimum times for working VP6DX are. Depending on weather and other considerations, VP6DX will go off the air on or around February 27. For more information, please see the VP6DX information page http://www.ducie2008.dl1mgb.com/index.php/

From the ARRL Letter
http://www.arrl.org/arrlletter/08/0215/