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Central Division
Director
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Carl
Luetzelschwab K9LA
1227 Pion Rd
Fort Wayne, IN 46845
(260) 637-6988
k9la@arrl.org
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Central Division
Vice Director
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Brent A
Walls N9BA
2151 E Bomar Lane
Greenfield, IN 46140
n9ba@arrl.org
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CENTRAL
DIVISION NEWS
|
|
ARRL Announces
Leadership
Changes
in the
Central
Division
ARRL Central
Division
Director
Kermit
Carlson, W9XA,
has stepped
down as
Central
Division
Director.
Carlson made
the
announcement
at the July
2021 Board of
Directors
meeting this
past weekend.
Vice
Director Carl
Luetzelschwab,
K9LA, has
acceded to the
Director's
chair, and
ARRL President
Rick Roderick,
K5UR, has
appointed
Brent Walls,
N9BA, to
succeed
Luetzelschwab
as the Central
Division Vice
Director. An
ARRL Life
Member, Walls
served as
Indiana
Section
Manager from
2016 until
2018. Active
in ARES, he is
a former ARRL
Indiana
Section
Emergency
Coordinator
and also
served as
Marion County,
Indiana,
Emergency
Coordinator.
He is an ARRL
VEC volunteer
examiner.
Carlson served
both as Vice
Director and
then Director
of the Central
Division for a
total of 12
years. He said
his
resignation
stemmed from
"an
intractable
conflict"
between Board
and family
obligations
that would
impinge upon
his travel on
behalf of
ARRL.
"It would be
impossible to
maintain the
level of
in-person
engagement
with the
Members that I
believe is
essential,"
Carlson said.
Carlson said
his "most
challenging
and rewarding
experiences"
include the 11
years as Chair
of the
Electromagnetic
Compatibility
Committee
(EMC) and his
recently
concluded term
as the chair
of the
ARRL CEO
Search
Committee. He
will continue
to chair the
EMC.
|
Frequently
Asked
Questions
About the FCC
RF Exposure
Rules Changes
Version 1.3
4/23/2021
Greetings
All,
and
the ARRL
Laboratory are
the authors
of this
document
with technical
advice from
Dr. Greg
Lapin, N9GL,
and
the RF Safety
Committee.
My thanks to
the Executive
Committee
for their
contribution
to the
editorial
process
of
this document.
This PDF
version 1.3 is
suitable for
distribution.
Any questions
or
suggestion for
future
inclusion in
the FAQ
should be
directed
to
the ARRL
Laboratory by
email at
tis@arrl.org.
One of the
ARRL
Laboratory
engineers will
respond to
comments by
email.
The
responsibility
for updates to
this
living-breathing
document
will
now pass the
ARRL
Laboratory
staff under
the direction
of
Ed
Hare, W1RFI;
and the the RF
Safety
Committee
under the
lead
of Dr. Greg
Lapin,
N9GL.
As ARRL
members, we
are indeed
very
fortunate to
have such a
great
assemblage of
truly gifted
authorities
in the field
of RF
Engineering.
Please be
aware that
updates might
be very common
as
details
come into
better focus
as the
discussions
between the
FCC
and
the ARRL
develop
clarifications
and
recommendations.
Thanks again
to Ed Hare,
W1RFI, for the
authorship of
this FAQ.
73,
Kermit Carlson
W9XA
ARRL EMC
Committee
Chair
|
|
Board
of Directors
Elects New
ARRL CEO David
Minster, NA2AA
The
ARRL Board of
Directors has
elected David
Minster,
NA2AA, of
Wayne, New
Jersey, as
ARRL’s new
Chief
Executive
Officer,
starting on
September 28.
Minster is
currently
Managing
Partner at
Talentrian
Partners, a
management
consulting
firm serving
the consumer
goods and
luxury goods
industries.
 Minster
began his
career as a
software
engineer,
moving into
management at
Unilever, as a
Chief
Information
Officer of
this globally
recognized
portfolio of
brands that
includes
Elizabeth
Arden Company,
Chesebrough-Ponds
Canada, Thomas
J. Lipton Co.,
and others.
From there, he
moved to fine
jewelry
manufacturer
and retailer
David Yurman,
where he
served as COO
and CIO. More
recently,
Minster served
as CEO of
jewelry brands
Scott Kay and
Judith Ripka.
“Building
a culture of
accomplishment
and
accountability
is what I do
best. My
initial focus
will be
working with
the Board on
establishing
strategic
goals and
concrete plans
to navigate
ARRL through
the digital
transformation
required for
the coming
decades of its
Second
Century. This
includes
exciting and
innovative
ways to be
engaged in
amateur radio,
while growing
activity and
membership.”
Minster got
his Novice
license,
WB2MAE, in
1977, when he
was in his
teens. He
progressed
from Advanced
to Amateur
Extra and,
after a stint
as NW2D, he
settled on the
vanity call
NA2AA in the
1990s as a way
to honor a
mentor, N2AA,
and the
contest
station that
he used to
frequent,
K2GL, in
Tuxedo Park,
New York.
Minster’s
ham radio
pursuits have
ranged far and
wide over the
years. His
background
includes
National
Traffic System
training and
participation
in public
service
events, as
well as
contesting
from home,
club stations,
and contest
stations in
the Caribbean
--
particularly
on Bonaire,
where he is a
member of
PJ4G.
Primarily a CW
operator,
Minster
collects
unique and
vintage bugs
and keys.
Minster
earned a
bachelor’s
degree in
computer
engineering
from The Ohio
State
University and
has a special
interest in
satellites,
digital
communications,
remote
operation, and
ham radio
computing and
software. He
has written
keyer software
for the
commercial
market, and
contest
logging,
packet, and
satellite
telemetry
software for
personal use.
In
addition to
being an ARRL
member,
Minster is a
member of
AMSAT, the
Frankford
Radio Club,
the Straight
Key Century
Club, CWops,
and the North
American QRP
CW Club.
“I
spend every
day of my
life, one way
or another,
engaged in
amateur radio.
It is more
than just a
hobby for me;
it is my
community. It
is where I
live; where I
have built
lifelong
friendships,
and
friendships
that span the
globe. Amateur
radio allows
me to dream
and to
experiment. I
can’t wait to
bring my
energy and
boundless
enthusiasm in
service to
ARRL.”
ARRL
President Rick
Roderick,
K5UR, said,
“We are
excited to
welcome David
as our new
CEO, and look
forward to his
progressive
leadership.
His experience
in management
and
operations,
plus his
activities in
amateur radio,
will serve our
organization
and members
well.”
Minster
will succeed
Barry J.
Shelley,
N1VXY, who had
been serving
as ARRL’s
Interim CEO
since January
2020. Shelley
had been
ARRL’s Chief
Financial
Officer since
January 1992.
|
|
ARRL
Welcomes Paul Z.
Gilbert, KE5ZW,
as Director of
Emergency
Management
8/12/2020
As another step in
ARRL's increased focus
on strengthening its
emergency communications
capabilities and
long-standing working
relationships with
federal and state
agencies and private
emergency response
organizations, ARRL has
hired Paul Z. Gilbert,
KE5ZW, of Cedar Park,
Texas, as its first
Director of Emergency
Management.
 Gilbert
brings more than 30
years of experience in
public service in both
his professional and
amateur radio endeavors.
Beginning with his
appointment as Emergency
Coordinator in 1987, he
has held multiple
positions in the ARRL
Field Organization.
Currently in his second
term as South Texas
Section Manager, he has
also served for more
than a decade as the
West Gulf Division's
Assistant Director for
Public Service, acting
as liaison between
Division leadership and
local, state, and
federal emergency
management
organizations.
Professionally, Gilbert
most recently was Radio
Officer, HQ Staff, for
the Texas State Guard,
where for the past 6
years he has been
responsible for planning
and implementation of
the organization's
communications
capabilities.
Previously, he was a
Public Safety Radio
Coordinator for a Texas
agency, charged with
overseeing that
organization's
large-scale disaster
communications response
and identifying and
eliminating in-state
interoperability issues.
Gilbert, who has an
Amateur Extra-class
license, is a member of
Army MARS, and holds
numerous DHS
certifications,
including COML, COMT,
COMT Instructor, and
AUXCOM Communicator. He
is a member of the FEMA
Regional Emergency
Communications
Coordination Working
Group (RECCWG), a
graduate of the FEMA
Emergency Management
Institute's Exercise
Design Course, and was a
founding member of the
Texas Division of
Emergency Management
Communications
Coordination Group.
In his new role, Gilbert
will manage a team
responsible for
supporting ARRL
Emergency Communications
(EmComm) programs and
services, including the
Amateur Radio Emergency
Service® (ARES®) and
National Traffic System
(NTS), as well as lead
the continued
modernization of those
programs in consonance
with the future
emergency communications
needs of the public and
ARRL's key partners.
|
Subject: ARRL during the COVID-19 Shutdown [3-31-20]
Dear ARRL Central Division Member;
The challenges that we now face are significantly
different than anything our modern world has previously
encountered. Over the past week we have fielded a number
of emails with questions and suggestions about the ARRL
and amateur operations. The most important
advice that we can offer is to please follow the directives
of your local health professionals and government
authorities. On account of the orders of the Governor of
Connecticut, the ARRL Headquarters has closed. All HQ
operations are being conducted by remote with the
staff working from home. Other than one or two
people occasionally at 225 Main Street, the halls are empty.
We do want to express our sincere thanks to the
members of our Headquarters staff for keeping the lights on,
even if by remote. This shift in operation was arranged
with little warning and has provided an ongoing continuity
through the diligent efforts of dozens of dedicated HQ
staff members.
Several members have inquired about the possibility
of remote monitoring of VE Testing. The Alaska VEC does
perform remote testing with proctors monitoring by online
video. However, the Alaska VEC uses at least one proctor present
at the testing location. With the current guidance of
social distancing there are discussions on how a test
could be administered completely by remote. The ARRL VEC
has been developing an all-electronic method of testing
but that is not ready for use. The Board and staff are
expecting that no immediate change is possible under
the circumstance but there are discussions within the
Board of possibilities that are being explored.
Here are answers to some the questions that have
been asked about League operations and future League
activities;
Volunteer Examinations and the ARRL VEC -
Due to the orders in place by the State of Connecticut,
the VE office is closed with nobody in the building. The
following information is provided by Mr. Barry Shelly, N1VXY,
the ARRL CEO;
Processing existing test sessions that have been submitted
through our e-file web page and are transmitting those to the
FCC for processing. The FCC is functioning and processing normally
so far.
Any sessions that had been mailed to HQ but not received by this
past Monday (3/23) are not being processed because no one is at
HQ to process them.
Exams are being processed from sessions where the VE teams
have the ability to scan and send PDF documents to ARRL VEC.
Filing individual and club license changes and renewals
that are emailed or phoned in directly to VEC continues
as are the renewals which are forwarded from circulation
staff and HQ staff.
The ARRL VEC office is unable to processing test sessions
which had been sent via mail since Monday (3/23).
Paper exams are not being sent out because no one is in
the office to do so, these limitations are due to the edict
of the Governor of Connecticut.
Also, the VEC office cannot process credit cards or checks
until they are back in the office.
VEC functions that can be done remotely are ongoing.
Hamfests -
If your group or club is postponing or cancelling a hamfest
please email Eric Casey, KC2ERC, at ecasey@arrl.org with
the updated information. To view hamfest and event
cancellations, visit http://www.arrl.org/canceledHamfests.php
Field Day -
There are no rule changes to those rules that were posted two
months ago. A posting yesterday on the ARRL Web site answers most
questions about the upcoming Field Day 2020.
Please have a look at;
http://www.arrl.org/news/field-day-2020-a-time-to-adapt
The concept is to work with whatever situation exists this year in
June. The Field Day-2020 will be different because of this extreme situation,
but it well be held.
DE N1VXY, ARRL CEO -
The following message was sent from interim ARRL CEO Barry Shelly, N1VXY,
and was authored by ARRL Director of Operations Norm Fusaro, W3IZ;
Here at HQ we have received lots of communications from our members
either asking for guidance or offering suggestions during the current
crisis. We hope everyone is adhering to CDC and local health department
guidelines by staying home, maintaining safe distances when around
people, and following sanitary practices.
With many hams staying home there are opportunities to get on the air
and call CQ or gather around the local repeater. We certainly do not
need a reason to get on the air, after all, that is what hams do.
In terms of ham radio preparedness, this current crisis has not
disrupted communications on a national scale. We know many of our
members practice and train for a personal radio communication capability
that can be called on when disaster strikes. ARES volunteers and our
partners in providing emergency communications already routinely monitor
the information and requests from Emergency Coordinators and the like.
Station and skills readiness are tenets of the Amateur Radio Service
and this current crisis has not changed this.
We can encourage members to remain safe, and to follow the guidelines
and requests of their national and local government officials and public
health leaders. For those members who are healthy and safe at home, we
can encourage them to get on the air:
Get on the air. As online fatigue and a feeling of
isolation will inevitably creep into our new normal being on-air
will introduce variety into our communication practices. As many of us
are now housebound or working and studying from home, turning on a radio
to connect with your ham radio peers will be a welcome respite!
Radio Clubs. Think of this current challenge as an
opportunity to encourage our club members to get on the air. Move
(short) meetings to the club repeater, and encourage check-ins.
Organize skeds, nets, and challenges. Try different bands (HF, VHF,
UHF ) and modes. This will also help new radio amateurs gain practical
operating experience.
Readiness. Station and skills readiness are tenets of
the Amateur Radio Service. Any time we spend on the air will contribute
to developing and practicing our personal radio communication
capability.
If you are a radio amateur serving your community through the ARRL
Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) or by volunteering with any of
our partners in providing public service communications, thank you. ARES
members routinely monitor the information and requests from their ARES
Emergency Coordinators. We are grateful for all the ways you stand-ready
to support the emergency service personnel in your communities when
disaster strikes.
.... DE N1VXY
The amateur community is filled with examples of hams helping
hams, with health and wellness check-ins and extra nets being held on
the local repeaters. We would like to mention that this is also a time to
explore the possibility of conducting an online video conference meeting
in place of the local in-person meeting. Several of us have been living a
daily work life on Zoom and email, but one does adapt to the lack of
"personal" contact. Please remember to take care of your neighbor and
fellow amateur. The recommended social distance is 2 meters, but our
contact can be as close as 2 meters, or any other band you choose.
For instance, the Illinois ARES net on 3905 at 1200 Central has become
a health and wellness daily net. Now is an excellent time to find new
friends and old acquaintances on the air.
Take care and stay well,
73, Kermit Carlson W9XA
Carl Luetzelschwab K9LA
--------------------------------------------------------------------
ARRL Central Division
Director: Kermit A Carlson, W9XA
w9xa@arrl.org
-------------------------------------------------------------------- |
|
Dear
ARRL Central Division Member,
Today the ARRL has
announced the start of the new
Volunteer Monitoring program effort
which will be led by Mr. Riley
Hollingsworth, K4ZDH.
Mr. Hollingsworth has most recently
been serving as the ARRL Vice
Director for the Atlantic Division.
In the today's announcement is has
been noted that Vice Director
Hollingsworth will resign from that
position in order to begin the
implementation of this new ARRL
program.
___________________
(The following article is from the
ARRL Letter 2/14/19)
ARRL is getting underway with the
development phase of the new
Volunteer Monitor program and has
contracted with former Atlantic
Division Vice Director Riley
Hollingsworth, K4ZDH, to oversee
the development and implementation
of the program, which replaces the
Official Observers program.
Hollingsworth, a retired Federal
Communications Commission (FCC)
enforcement official,
has resigned his vice directorship
in order to avoid any appearance of
a conflict of interest.
“I am grateful for the Atlantic
Division ARRL members supporting me,
but I think I can better serve the
Atlantic Division, and all ARRL
divisions, by working in the
Volunteer Monitors program,”
Hollingsworth said in his
resignation letter.
ARRL President Rick Roderick, K5UR,
said that Hollingsworth is the ideal
person to lead the ARRL’s efforts in
the development and implementation
of this joint program with the FCC.
“I support
Riley’s decision to concentrate his
efforts on this very valuable
project on behalf of the
ARRL,” said Roderick.
(Details on appointment of a
new vice director for the Atlantic
Division are still to be
determined.)
The new Volunteer Monitors program,
which was approved by the ARRL Board
in July 2018, is a program of the
ARRL in cooperation with the FCC in
which volunteers trained and vetted
by the ARRL
will monitor the airwaves and
collect evidence that can be used to
correct misconduct or
recognize exemplary on-air
operation.
Cases of flagrant violations
or noncompliance will be directed to
the FCC by the ARRL for action
in accordance with guidelines
establish by the FCC. The
intent of this program is to
re-energize
enforcement efforts in the
Amateur Radio bands. It was proposed
by the FCC in the wake of
several FCC regional office closures
and a reduction in field staff.
Hollingsworth has identified three
phases to the program – Development,
Solicitation and Training, and
Implementation.
The Development phase will include
drafting a mission statement,
clearly defining the ARRL’s and
FCC’s requirements and needs as part
of the program, writing a job
description for the volunteer
manager position, and developing a
training manual for volunteers.
The Solicitation and Training phase
will involve identifying the
geographic locations where volunteer
monitors will be most needed,
soliciting applications and
screening applicants.
Current Official Observers will be
invited to apply for appointment as
Volunteer Monitors (VMs). The ARRL
Board continues to express its
appreciation for the OOs and
their dedicated volunteer
service over the years.
The Implementation phase of the
program will involve having the
volunteers providing field reports
and ARRL staff providing guidance to
the volunteers to ensure that the
information collected meets FCC
requirements. In addition, there
will be continuing education
provided to the volunteers.
Hollingsworth has committed to FCC
and ARRL officials to ensure the
adequacy of training for the new
positions, to review the quality and
utility of Volunteer Monitor
submissions to the FCC for
enforcement actions, and to advocate
for rapid disposition of cases
appropriately submitted to the FCC.
ARRL officials estimate that it will
take 9 to 12 months for the first
Volunteer Monitors to begin filing
their reports.
(end of excerpt from the ARRL Letter
2/14/19)
________________
In other ARRL News,
the new ARES-2019 plan is posted on
the ARRL website.
Please follow the link to;
http://www.arrl.org/ares-plan
for more detailed information.
With the recent departure of Mike
Corey, KI1U, from the Emergency
Manager position at HQ there will be
a slight delay in the release of
several portions of the program such
as the
publication of Position Task Books.
_______________
The ARRL Board
meeting this past January was
very productive in a number of
important areas. If you
are interested in the details of the
meeting the final approved minutes
of the ARRL January 2019
Annual Board Meeting have been
posted at;
http://www.arrl.org/files/file/2019%20Board%20of%20Directors/Final%20Minutes%20January%202019.pdf
The new Proposed Rules and
Procedures for the Ethics and
Election Committee, referenced in
the minutes as "Appendix A" has been
posted at;
http://www.arrl.org/files/file/Ethics%20and%20Elections/Attachment%20A%20%20EE%20Committee%20Procedural%20Rules.pdf
_______________
As a reminder you
can find the most current
amateur radio news in the ARRL
Letter at;
http://www.arrl.org/arrlletter?issue=current
or, in order to receive this free
weekly update on current ARRL events
and ham radio news, subscribe by
loging to your member account at
http://www.arrl.org
, click "edit your profile", and add
a checkmark next to the ARRL Letter.
GUD DX es 73,
Kermit W9XA
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Former Wisconsin Section
Manager Don Michalski, W9IXG, SK
08/11/2018
[ARRL]
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