Compiled by S. Khrystyne Keane, K1SFA
ARRL News Editor
news@arrl.org
March 1, 2010

This feature -- including convenient Web links to useful information -- is a concise monthly update of some of the things ARRL is doing on behalf of its members. This installment covers the month of February.

ARRL President Kay Craigie, N3KN, appointed two new Vice Directors: Grant Hopper, KB7WSD, of Everett, Washington, as the new Northwestern Division Vice Director and Rod Blocksome, K0DAS, of Robins, Iowa, as the new Vice Director in the Midwest Division.

In terms that start April 1, Carl Clements, W4CAC, was elected Section Manager in Virginia and Bill Morine, N2COP, was elected Section Manager in North Carolina. Six other Section Managers did not face opposition and were declared elected.

The minutes of the 2010 Annual Meeting of the ARRL Board of Directors have now been posted to the ARRL Web site. The meeting -- which took place January 15-16 in Windsor, Connecticut -- saw the election of the League's 15th President, Kay Craigie, N3KN, of Blacksburg, Virginia.

W1AW announced that beginning March 15, the station will alternate the digital modes used for its digital bulletin transmissions. It also announced the Qualifying Run Schedule for March

Jo Bonner (R-AL-1) pledged his support for HR 2160, The Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Enhancement Act of 2009, bringing the total number of cosponsors to 34, including original sponsor Sheila Jackson-Lee (D-TX-18).

ARRL Media and Public Relations Manager Allen Pitts, W1AGP, reported that there continues to be high use of Amateur Radio in critical areas in earthquake-ravaged Haiti. Teams from the Dominican Republic have erected a third repeater system (courtesy of the ARRL Ham Aid program); the first two are in heavy use by Red Cross and other groups with embedded hams.

The ARRL announced the beginning of a new event -- the ARRL Rookie Roundup -- modeled on the popular ARRL Novice Roundup that ran from 1952-1995

The ARRL responded after the FCC denied the League's Request for Declaratory Ruling concerning statutes in the State of Florida aimed at pirate broadcasters.

At its next meeting, the ARRL Executive Committee will consider what additional steps can be taken with regard to a waiver granted by the FCC for a device that operates in the 70 cm band.

ARRL has released the 2010 Field Day Packets that include the complete rules, as well as other reference items such as forms, ARRL Section abbreviation list, entry submission instructions, a Frequently Asked Questions section, guidelines for getting bonus points, instructions for GOTA stations, a kit to publicize your event with the local press and more.

The ARRL Lab issued four letters to power companies in New York, Illinois and Indiana concerning interference received by radio amateurs from power line noise.

ARRL Chief Technology Officer Brennan Price, N4QX, is continuing his work with the NTIA and the US Coast Guard to obtain 500 kHz privileges for Amateur Radio operators. He and ARRL Technical Relations Specialist Jon Siverling, WB3ERA also went to Geneva -- Price for meetings of the ITU's Radiocommunication Advisory Group (where BPL continues to be a major topic) and Siverling for meetings of WRC-12 Working Parties 1A and 1B.

The National Conference of Volunteer Examiner Coordinators released a revised 2010 Technician (Element 2) Question Pool, correcting more than 50 minor typographical errors and clarified the questions and answers, making them easier to understand. The ARRL VEC is one if 14 VECs.

In February, The ARRL Letter counted more than 78,000 subscribers.

The ARRL marketing team started planning for the ARRL EXPO at the 2010 Dayton Hamvention®.

The winner of the QST Cover Plaque Award for February is Paul Christensen, W9AC, for his article "An SWR Null Meter."

The March 2010 issue of QST, as well as the March/April editions of NCJ and QEX, were released to the printer.