Friday, March 21, 2014

Ohio Section Journal - March 2014 Edition

 IN THIS ISSUE:


-> FROM THE SECTION EMERGENCY COORDINATOR

-> AFFILIATED CLUB COORDINATOR REPORT

-> SOUTHWEST OHIO HAPPENINGS

-> FROM THE TECHINCAL COORDINATOR

-> FROM THE PUBLIC INFORMATION COORDINATOR

-> FROM THE SECTION TRAFFIC MANAGER

-> FROM THE EDUCATIONAL OUTREACH - SCOUTING ASM

-> 22nd ANNUAL OHIO SECTION NEWSLETTER CONTEST RULES

-> ARRL TEACHERS INSTITUTE

-> FAR SCHOLARSHIPS

-> LET'S TALK

-> SPECIAL EVENT STATIONS IN OHIO

-> OHIO HAMFEST CALENDAR


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FROM THE SECTION EMERGENCY COORDINATOR..

Greetings!

The ARES Forum at the 2014 Dayton Hamvention is confirmed for Sunday, May 18th from 10:30AM in Room 3. I am pleased to announce this year's presenter will be ARRL Emergency Preparedness Manager Mike Corey KI1U. His presentation topic will be The Served Community - A whole community approach to Amateur Radio public service.

This forum is for all past, present, and future amateur radio volunteers interested in emergency, disaster, public service, and digital communications. All are welcome regardless of ARRL membership, club membership, or license class. This forum is usually "standing room only" so please come early.

While I have your attention...
I'd also like to direct your attention to the Emcomm Vehicle Display at Hamvention. If you have an emcomm vehicle / trailer, or know someone who does, Dayton Hamvention is one of the best times to show it off and share ideas amongst others who share the same passion. The coordinator for the display is Gary Hollenbaugh NJ8BB. His contact information is located on the emcomm vehicle display website http://www.kd8arb.com/daytonecommdisplay   

Check out the website for details on free admission tickets and parking passes for those who bring a trailer or emcomm vehicle.

If you hold an ARRL appointment, please remember to bring your ARRL name badge to wear at Hamvention. If you happen to forget yours, no worries. There are vendors at the show that will make one for you for a nominal cost.

For those who would like to meet & greet me, I will be at the ARRL Field Service Organization booth on Friday from 10AM to 11AM and on Saturday from 11AM to 1PM.

Thank you for your time and I look forward to seeing you at the 2014 Dayton Hamvention.


73, de Matt W8DEC

Section Emergency Coordinator
w8dec@arrl.net

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AFFILIATED CLUBS COORDINATOR REPORT..

It's been a busy end of winter here in Delaware County, we've had a tornado and a train derailment, within two weeks of each other. Luckily, there were no injuries reported from either incident. The tornado took down a barn and did other structural damage, and fortunately, no hazardous chemicals were on the train, just grain...... lots of grain. The reason I mentioned these incidents is that if they were large scale disastrous events Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) may have been asked by local EMA to activate and assist. If you are a licensed amateur radio operator and have an interest in helping your community, I encourage you contact your local ARES Emergency Coordinator (EC) to learn more about ARES and how to join.

What does your club have planned for spring? Do you participate in community events, Skywarn training, a Hamfest, or maybe have a spring foxhunt? If there is an event, (including club dinners, award ceremonies, events, etc.) that you would like to share with everyone, then write a short "blurb" about it and email it to me (pictures too, if you have them!) and I will share it on my ACC blog ( www.n8ys.blogspot.com ).

Don't forget to enter your club newsletter in the 2014 Newsletter Contest – Send entries to Ohio Section PIO John Ross, KD8IDJ – E-mail: john.ross3(at)att.net  2014 Newsletter Contest info and rules can be found at http://arrl-ohio.org/pic_page/ncr.html

CLUB NEWS

DELARA –
The Delaware Amateur Radio Association has the latest edition of The DELARA News available online. I enjoyed reading "Hurry up and Wait" by DELARA member Craig, W8CR. DELARA has a host of club members that write columns for the newsletter. DELARA can also be found on the web: www.k8es.org

20/9 Radio Club

The 20/9 Radio Club is hosting a Spring Craft Show – this email was sent out by club officers:
“The 20/9 Radio Club is hosting a Spring Craft Show and Vendor Expo on Saturday April 12, 2014. We are advertising on TV, Radio, Newspapers etc. Cost is $10.00 per table (electricity is $5.00 extra per vendor – not space) plus a donation to our silent auction. Great way to get Easter, Mother's Day, First Communion, Wedding or Graduation Gifts. We keep the cost inexpensive to allow the vendors the ability to showcase their talents in their communities. Food will be provided on site by the cooks at the Austintown Senior Center. All handcrafts are welcome.

Vendors are accepted on a first-come, first-serve basis and only one per style, example only one Avon, Party-lite, etc. Come out and join us for a FUN day! We will also have the Easter Bunny there for FREE pictures with the families and children!"

Buckeye Belles

From the Buckeye Burr newsletter: “News of Belles & Associates Marsha Fleming N8FE has agreed to run for Disbursing Treasurer of YLRL! This ought become completely official come April 15, unless another YL enters this race. YLRL candidates for 2014-15 offices were listed in Jan-Feb YL Harmonics which arrived recently. New Associate Belle member declared - Ann M Nutter VE3HAI is recently retired President of CLARA, Canadian Ladies ARA.” The Belles can also be found on the web: http://www.kc4iyd.com/buckeyebelles | YLRL: http://www.ylrl.org

Massillon Amateur Radio Club, W8NP - The Massillon ARC announced the following club members that were bestowed awards:

The William J North W8NP Amateur Radio Operator of the Year – Carol KB8IMH, MARC Member of the Year – Shirley Treacle (no call), the Bob Rodgers Field Day Award – Chris KD8TNF, Public Service Award – Don W8DEA, Technical Merit Award – Fred KD8SMO, Faithful Service Award – Robert (AC8GE) and Beverly Keller, Radio Amateur Callbook Award 2013 – Chris KD8TNF, Perils of Parking Award – Mike WA8MKH, and the distinguished Massillon Old Buzzard Award – Russ N8PII. - Congratulations to all those receiving awards, way to go! - Sandy, N8YS

The Massillon ARC can also be found on the web: http://www.w8np.org

Include me on your club newsletter distribution list and if you are a social media person, follow me on Twitter, Facebook and on my ACC blog.


73, Sandy, N8YS

Affiliated Clubs Coordinator

sandymackey@gmail.com

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SOUTHWEST OHIO HAPPENINGS..

New hamfest coming to greater Cincinnati. On September 21, 2014, OH-KY-IN will be hosting its first hamfest in nine years! More details to come. If you are looking for an earlier hamfest, check out Mid-Ohio Valley Hamfest at te Gallipolis Christian Church, 4486 SR 588, Gallipolis. This event will take place on mar 22 from 9-2. Testing will be offered at 10. Portsmouth ARC and Jackson RC will have their hamfests on April 5 and 26 respectively.


IDEAS FOR CLUB PROGRAMS

Is your club looking for a program? Bob, K8TQK, would like to put on a weak signal program for your club and let your members know about what can be accomplished on the 50 mhz. band and above. W8TDA, Assistant Section Manager - Southwest Ohio is also available to put on a program for clubs in the southwest area. Speaking of programs, OH-KY-IN extends an invitation to all interested hams to join them on April 1 for an informative program by Section Emergency Coordinator, W8DEC. For more information, visit http://www.ohkyin.org

LICENSING CLASS WRAPUP:

AK3Q, class coordinator, credits the teamwork of OH-KY-IN members for the club’s success with the recent licensing classes. Seven participants earned their technician license and seven upgraded to general. The Extra class, which is still running, has eight hams. Seven club members taught the classes and six members served as volunteer examiners. Still others took care of publicity.

PUBLIC SERVICE

Hams provided communications for the Xenia “spring has sprung healthy families” 5K run/walk On Saturday March 15th. Due to the high volume of cross streets on the route, 15 to 20 hams were asked to pitch in. The Monday Morning Memo reports that the annual bicycle Tour of the Scioto River Valley, a two day round trip between Columbus and Portsmouth, will be May 10 and 11. Normally amateurs are needed to assist along the route. More information to follow.

WARN NEWS

The annual severe weather spotter training sponsored by WARN is scheduled for Friday March 28, 2014, beginning at 7:00pm at Bethesda North hospital in greater Cincinnati.

For full information, please visit http://www.warn.org/training Dayton section Skywarn was recently featured on WKEF Ch-22. To watch the clip, visit http://youtu.be/V6Q_rwln5bI


73, Kitty Hevener, W8TDA

Assistant Section Manager (SW)
w8tda@arrl.net

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FROM THE TECHNICAL COORDINATOR..

As I sit here contemplating the effects of this rough winter while anxiously waiting for signs of springtime, I wonder if this is the pattern we are to expect in years to come. I am sure there would be no argument if winter suddenly departed, we had flowers sprouting all over and the gas meter stopped spinning like it was a gyroscope while feeding the furnace that tries to keep us warm.

The sunspot cycle has failed to materialize the excellent HF propagation that we had hoped for as well. Sunspots bring the HF bands to life, it hasn’t been good for quite a while and those who make predictions on the subject are suggesting that this may be one of those cycles that never makes it, something they also say just happens occasionally. I was lucky when I first earned my call back in 1990. The cycle was at the peak and propagation was amazing. It also spoiled my expectations as we have not seen a cycle as productive since.

Complaining doesn’t help much and I should not be doing so. This winter brought me two new grandsons who are doing well. That is a wonderful consolation for the long season of cold and snow we have endured. Going to see Kellan and Greyson have kept me out of the shack on several occasions as well and I count those as blessings. One of these days before I realize it, I may have all four of my grandkids in the shack with a flurry of questions. That indeed would make the worst of winter and less than ideal propagation seem a small matter. The curiosity of a child along with the innocence that goes with it are what a grandparent lives for and it is part of the balance we must strive for. Amateur Radio is a hobby after all and it should be fun and add to the value of family and the other responsibilities that we all have in our lives.

Late in the fall Mark WD8KQX and I erected the supports for my OCF dipole and hung the antenna once the concrete had time to fully cure. It is one of the few things that have gone through this winter without requiring my attention. I must also report my results are impressive. I have managed to work some interesting DX over the last 3-4 months along with several of the W1AW centennial stations. I also had hoped to have some pictures to share with you describing how we managed to put together the supporting structures and antenna. The weather just has not been cooperative. It seems to snow, blow, freeze and thaw with a frequency that makes that effort not the priority that I would like it to be. I will get to it soon I trust as things are improving every day and spring is surely around the corner for all of us.

Yesterday, Mark and I along with many others from Seneca County were able to take in the TMRA Hamfest at Owens Community College on Oregon Rd. As usual, the event was well attended and we had a great time looking over the tables full of interesting hardware etc. The Ohio Section was there in force as well with the ARRL forum hosted by Great Lakes vice Director Dale Williams WA8EFK, the ARES forum with Matt Welch W8DEC our Section Emergency Coordinator and finally the digital forum with a lot of great information on FLdigi. The TMRA group always does a fine job of hosting their Hamfest and Amateurs from the surrounding states are eager to attend which makes it a great opportunity to meet a lot of familiar faces and renew old friendships.

Your Ohio Section is here to serve you. Please feel free to contact any member of the Ohio Section Cabinet with questions or concerns. The ARRL Ohio web page is an excellent resource for news, help and contact information. SM Scott Yonally N8SY as webmaster maintains up to date information as well as current news items on the site which can be found at http://arrl-ohio.org

Effective immediately, I will be maintaining the database of ARES training records for the section. Everyone who has completed FEMA or ARRL training course work is encouraged to submit your certificates to me for inclusion in the database. This will help us to accurately assess our readiness and evaluate the future needs of the Ohio Section regarding ARES training and our capabilities. Please contact me if you have any questions, w8erw@arrl.net.

73, Jim Yoder W8ERW

Technical Coordinator
w8erw@arrl.net

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FROM THE PUBLIC INFORMATION COORDINATOR..

Badges, Buckeyes and Bad Weather..

Not necessarily in the order of the headline, but I had a few things to pass along that I thought might be of interest.

First…bad weather. Your really don’t have to tell a ham radio operator about bad weather. We all seem to gravitate to the radios when the season changes. Reading over the newsletters, I can see every club is already thinking about spring and getting ready for when things churn up. On March 1st, I attended the NWS training session here in Columbus…something I’ve done every year for the past 6 or 7 years. I go to learn about any changes in the spotting criteria and to check in with old friends. If you haven’t attended one of these training sessions…try to get to one if you can. There is a lot of valuable information passed along and it helps to “reprogram” yourself every year to get the right mind set for the upcoming storm season. For those of you who have been around for a while, you’ll also remember this is the 40th anniversary of the Xenia tornado. If you lived though that disaster you know just how important ham radio can be and it’s one reason we do what we do to help.
Now to the Buckeyes…and not the football team! The Ohio State University Amateur Radio Club, call sign W8LT, has always been of interest to me. I didn’t belong when I was a student back in the 70’s but I remember the big antennas on the Southeast tower in Ohio Stadium. I’m working a story about the club and finding out a lot of history. The club began forming in 1924…so that would make them about 90 years old!!!! The first club license was issued in 1926 as 8LT. A lot has changed over the years and you’ll be able to read more about the club in the months ahead.

If you have information about W8LT you want to share…send me an email. If you know about any other Ohio universities that have amateur radio clubs…pass that info along as well.

About the badges. I was happy to get my new ARRL/PIC Ohio Section badge just before the Mansfield ham fest. I had intended to wear it proudly but when I reached into my pocket…it wasn’t there. I checked every pocket, my car and just about every location where badges go to hide. Well, two weeks later, my wife asked if I would take the clothes out of the dryer. When I opened the door…there was the badge, still wrapped in a neat little plastic sack. It was almost like an episode of the Twilight Zone…I swear I could hear the music playing! Somehow, the badge had survived several rise and spin cycles and about 55 minutes of drying! So, if there is a moral to this story…and you’ve lost your badge or ID…check the dryer first. Or, if you badge gets dirty…just toss it in with the daily laundry!! But whatever you do, DON’T tell my wife when I found mind!!!


73, John Ross, KD8IDJ

Public Information Coordinator
kd8idj@arrl.net

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FROM THE SECTION TRAFFIC MANAGER..

Public Service Honor Roll

Each month in Field Organization Reports column of QST, the Public Service Honor Roll (PSHR) recognizes the efforts of Amateur Radio operators who are active in many aspects of public service. This includes net operations, traffic handling, emergency operations and public service communication support. There are chances that you're already involved with some aspect of Amateur Radio that would apply to the Public Service Honor Roll (PSHR). Your participation in an ARES net, event or supporting role to a served organization should be reported.

Take a look at these categories and descriptions to see where your Amateur Radio activities fit in. At the end of each calendar month, just add up your qualifying points. If it reaches the 70-point level (or more), you've qualified for the Public Service Honor Roll! Report the good news with your call sign and monthly PSHR point total to your ARRL Section Traffic Manager.

This ARRL section leader, in turn, would forward the report onto ARRL Headquarters so that Headquarters staff may prepare these for listing in the Field Organization Reports segment of QST'. Your Ohio Section Manager is WA3EZN and you can send your report in a radiogram to WA3EZN Hilliard OH or to my email address: wa3ezn at arrl dot net.

1) Participation in a public service net -- 1 point, maximum 40.

One example of a public service net is one that is regularly scheduled and handles Amateur Radio formal messages. There are many such public-service nets: local and section nets that are affiliated with the National Traffic System (NTS); NTS region, NTS area, and independent nets that handle messages. ARES, RACES, SKYWARN nets that meet on a regular basis would also qualify.

Another example is when an NTS Digital Relay Station manually logs onto an automated digital system. This action, too, qualifies under the intent of PSHR Category 1.

Public service or emergency nets that are activated to support an actual emergency or potential emergency or public-service event would be part of this first category. How about the net that has been established for training radio amateurs in public service and emergency communications? Why sure!

2) Handling formal messages (radiograms) via any mode -- 1 point for each message handled; maximum 40.

The ARRL's Public Service Communications Manual explains how to count your individual messages. Here is a reference from Section 2, NTS Chapter 10.2. (You may find the entire manual at this Web page: http://www.arrl.org/FandES/field/pscm/ .)

Originated--One point for each message from a third party for sending via your station. This "extra" credit is given for an off-the-air function because of the value of contact with the general public.

Sent--Every message sent over the air from your station to another amateur receives a point in this category. Thus, a message that is eligible for an Originated point as above receives another point when it is sent on the air.

Likewise, a message that is received on the air conveys a sent point when it is relayed to another station. A message that you initiate yourself, while it gets no originated point, gets a sent point when cleared. All Sent points require on-the-air sending.

Received--A message received over the air gets a Received point, whether received for relaying (sending) or for delivery to the addressee. Any message received which is not eligible for a Delivery point (such as one addressed to yourself) is nevertheless eligible for a Received point.

Delivered--The act of delivery of a message to a third party receives a point in this category, in addition to a Received point. This is strictly an off-the-air function and must be coupled with receipt of the message at your station. Thus you can't get a Delivered point unless you first get a Received point.

3) Serving in an ARRL-sponsored volunteer position: ARRL Field Organization appointee or Section Manager, NTS Net Manager, TCC Director, TCC member, NTS official or appointee above the Section level. -- 10 points for each position; maximum 30.

ARRL Field Organization appointees (in alphabetical order) include the following: Assistant District Emergency Coordinator, Assistant Section Emergency Coordinator, Assistant Section Manager, District Emergency Coordinator, Emergency Coordinator, Local Government Liaison, Net Manager, Official Emergency Station, Official Observer, Official Observer Coordinator, Official Relay Station, Public Information Coordinator, Public Information Officer, Section Emergency Coordinator, Section Manager, Section Traffic Manager, State Government Liaison, Technical Coordinator and Technical Specialist.

The Section Manager is the ARRL-member elected League official in the section. An NTS official or appointee above the Section level would include Region and Area Net Managers, and TCC (Transcontinental Corps) Directors who are in charge of organizing TCC membership rosters of operators that comprise the corps. TCC members are those operators that are assigned to relay traffic from one NTS area to another, conducting liaison with NTS nets to do so. NTS Members at Large, NTS Area Staff Chairs, NTS Area Digital Coordinators and Digital Relay Stations would also be included in this category.

4) Participation in scheduled, short-term public service events such as walk-a-thons, bike-a-thons, parades, simulated emergency tests and related practice events. This includes off-the-air meetings and coordination efforts with related emergency groups and served agencies.

-- 5 points per hour (or any portion thereof) of time spent in either coordinating and/or operating in the public service event; no limit. This category recognizes the value of public safety communication events that Amateur Radio is often called to participate in. Simulated emergency tests, exercises, and drills are covered by this category. Points are gained by the amount of time that an Amateur Radio operator spends directly involved in operating the event. This also recognizes the value of off-the-air time it takes to meet with the organization or public service agency to plan and coordinate Amateur Radio involvement.

5) Participation in an unplanned emergency response when the Amateur Radio operator is on the scene. This also includes unplanned incident requests by public or served agencies for Amateur Radio participation.

--5 points per hour (or any portion thereof) of time spent directly involved in the emergency operation; no limit.

This category recognizes an Amateur Radio operator who is directly involved in an actual emergency operation. This includes the operator who is on the scene or out in the field, in the shelter, at the emergency operations center, at the hospital, or other served agency's headquarters or their temporary command center.

If you are an active participant in an unplanned incident -- or in other words, an emergency operation--you may take credit for this participation even though you may not be physically at the emergency scene.

Category 5 covers all the Amateur Radio operator participants such as net controllers, net liaison stations and other radio amateurs that support communications in unplanned incidents. Even if you are not actually on the emergency scene or at the shelter, etc, but are spending time and efforts for supporting the same emergency communication effort, then this time would count for points in Category 5.

As an example, if the National Weather Service activates SKYWARN, Amateur Radio operators serve as weather spotters from their home (or car, or work, or other locations) during the weather event. Then, a tornado strikes and the American Red Cross calls out the ARES members to serve in shelters and to provide support for damage assessment communications. These operators would be able to qualify for Category 5 points.

There would likely be several net control operators, net liaison operators, traffic handlers, etc, who are away from the disaster scene, but are spending time to support the Amateur Radio emergency communication effort on behalf of the served agencies (American Red Cross and National Weather Service, in this example). They, too, would qualify for points under Category 5.

6.) Providing and maintaining a) an automated digital system that handles ARRL radiogram-formatted messages; b) a Web page e-mail list server oriented toward Amateur Radio public service -- 10 points per item.

Category 6 (a) recognizes the efforts it takes to provide and maintain an automated digital system (like a packet bulletin board or a PACTOR system) that handles ARRL radiogram-formatted messages.

Category 6 (b) recognizes the Web pages and e-mail list servers have become popular and effective ways to communicate news and information to the community of radio amateurs that are involved in emergency and public service communication operations and preparedness.

If you are involved in any of these activities, keep track of your efforts and the time involved and report your results accordingly.

This information is from the ARRL Website.


73, David, WA3EZN

Section Traffic Manger
wa8ezn@att.net

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FROM THE EDUCATIONAL OUTREACH - SCOUTING ASM..

Opportunities abound at Summer Camp..

When June arrives each year thoughts of family vacations, gardening and warm weather fills the air. But, if you are a Boy Scout your thoughts turn to....SUMMER CAMP!!!

June kicks off the summer camp season. Summer camp is the perfect venue to introduce amateur radio to the youth of your area. State wide, thousands of Boy Scouts attend summer camp each year. They are there learning new skills, making new friends and earning some of the 135 different merit badges that are currently available to them.

There is one merit badge that should be of particular interest to the amateur radio community, and that is the Radio Merit Badge. One of the 9 requirements for this badge is to " Carry on a 10-minute real or simulated ham radio contact using voice or Morse code; use proper callsigns, Q signals, and abbreviations." Imagine the thrill the scout would get if a ham operator were to set up a radio at summer camp and he was able to make a REAL 10-minute QSO and earn his Radio Merit Badge!
I have taken amateur radio with me the last two years that the Boy Scout Troop I am involved with has gone to Camp Falling Rock, outside Newark, Ohio. After getting permission from the camp director, I set up a simple wire antenna in the trees, and the boys have talked all over the world from summer camp. The camp director was amazed that his camp was in direct contact with someone in Serbia and Switzerland. He even asked me if I planned on bringing amateur radio with me to camp this year. Talk about making an impression!

There are numerous Boy Scout Summer Camps going on around the state each summer. From Portsmouth to Newark, Columbus to Cleveland to Chillicothe. With 16 Scout Councils in Ohio, there is sure to be one near you!

If you or your radio group would be interested in setting up an amateur radio demonstration at a summer camp, the first step is to contact your local BSA Scout Council. They will be able to answer any questions you may have and help you to " get the ball rolling". If you are not able to do that but still want to do something to help, the easiest thing to do is... get on the air and make a contact to a scout! You may end up being the contact that helps a scout earn his Radio Merit Badge!
As always, follow me on Twitter @ OHradioscouting for updates on Ohio Radio Scouting.
Remember: Take care, stay safe, and make a difference in someone's life !!

73, Scott, KC8ITN

Assistant Section Manger for Educational Outreach- Scouting
kc8itn@arrl.net

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22nd ANNUAL OHIO SECTION NEWSLETTER CONTEST RULES..

It is time again for the Annual ARRL Ohio Section Amateur (Ham) Radio Newsletter Contest. This contest has become very popular and there have been obvious improvements to the newsletters over the years. This was the objective of the Ohio Section PIC (Joe Phillips, K8QOE) when he created it back in 1992..."

Now the rules:

A.) An eligible newsletter must be regularly published at least four (4) times per year by an Ohio Amateur Radio organization. The Ohio Section Journal and the newsletter for any club that the current PIC is affiliated with are not eligible.

B.) Each organization submitting a newsletter for the contest must enter at least two (2) issues starting with January 2014 for judging. All Amateur organizations that have regularly been sending newsletters to the Ohio PIC are automatically entered (as long as these publications qualify under rule A, or C if applicable). Unless you are automatically entered, the deadline for entries is Monday, June 30, 2014, and all entries must be in the hands of the Ohio PIC by that date.

C.) Electronic (Web based) produced newsletters may also enter. Non-amateurs, in the Public Relations industry will do the judging. They will be judging on style (15%), content (35%), service to membership (35%), and clarity of presentation (15%). Style means newsletter design of all pages. Content means amount of useful information contained in the newsletter. Service to members means amount of information using individual members' names. Clarity of presentation means readability of the newsletter including accuracy of English grammar.

D.) No entries can be returned and all decisions of the judges on content and eligibility are final. The Ohio PIC only serves to certify entries, to provide the judges with entries, and to announce their decisions only.

E.) The decision of the judges is final.

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ARRL TEACHERS INSTITUTE..

Greetings Teachers!

As you probably have noted, ARRL has announced the 2014 schedule for our Teachers Institute on Wireless Technology. We’ve included an announcement in our recent newsletter, Radio Waves. If you missed it, you can access the recent issue here: www.arrl.org/announcements-news-briefs-newsletters.

If you are a past participant of the Teachers Institute we hope that you have found many ways to use the ideas, training and resources you received and are interested in spreading the word to other teachers.

You are probably in the best position to know where to circulate information about this opportunity within your school district. A listing on your school or school district website? A newsletter? A web page for science and technology teachers? Word of mouth to teachers in your circle? We’d like to get the word out to reach teachers who can make use of this opportunity. 

If you would like to receive copies of our printed brochures please send your request and your mailing address to me or to etp@arrl.org 

Here’s some copy you can use to announce the opportunity in your school community: Integrate Science and Math with Engineering and Technology by Exploring Wireless Technology ARRL, the national association for amateur radio, has just announced the schedule for two sessions of its Introductory Teachers Institute on Wireless Technology (TI-1) to be offered during the summer of 2014. Now in its 11th year, the ARRL Teachers Institute is a four-day, expenses paid, intensive professional development opportunity for educators who want to receive training and resources to explore wireless technology in the classroom. Topics include basic electronics, radio science, microcontroller programming and basic robotics. ARRL will also offer an advanced Teachers Institute (TI-2) on Remote Sensing and Data Gathering. The linked article from the March issue of ARRL’s journal, QST, includes the schedule and description of offerings this summer.

Please visit the ARRL website at: www.arrl.org/teachers-institute-on-wireless-technology for more details. Go to www.arrl.org/teachers-institute-application for information about applying and to download an application. Application deadline is May 1.

From: arrl.org

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FAR SCHOLARSHIPS..

THE FOUNDATION FOR AMATEUR RADIO, INC., a non-profit organization with headquarters in Washington, D.C., plans to administer Fifty-two (52) scholarships for the academic year 2013 – 2014, to assist licensed Radio Amateurs in the pursuit of higher education.. The scholarships are worth $72,100 in aggregate. The Foundation fully funds two of these scholarships. The remainder are administered by the Foundation, without cost, for various donors.

Licensed Radio Amateurs may compete for these awards. They must be planning to pursue a full time course of studies beyond high school and be enrolled, or have been accepted for enrollment, at an accredited university, college or technical school.

Students pursuing a baccalaureate or graduate degree via on-line courses offered by an accredited university, college or technical school will also be considered.

The awards range from $500 to $5,000 with preference given, in some cases, to residents of specified geographical areas or the pursuit of certain study programs. Non-US residents are eligible to apply for some of the scholarships. To be considered, completed applications must be received by April 15, 2014.

Clubs, especially those in California, Delaware, Florida, Maryland, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia and Wisconsin (areas of preferred residence for some of the scholarships), are encouraged to announce these opportunities at their meetings, in their club newsletters, during training classes, on their nets and on their club’s web pages.

Additional information and an application form may be requested by letter or QSL card, mailed to:

FAR Scholarships
Post Office Box 911
Columbia, MD 21044-0911
or, via email to mailto:dave.prestel@gmail.com.

Applications are available, for download from the Foundation’s web site:
http://www.farweb.org/2014-scholarship-information. The Foundation for Amateur Radio, incorporated in the District of Columbia, is an exempt organization under Section 501(C)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954. It is devoted exclusively to promoting the interests of Amateur Radio and those scientific, literary and educational pursuits that advance the purposes of the Amateur Radio Service.

From: arrl.org

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LET'S TALK..

Have you had enough of winter yet? As I understand it, we are due for some more snow this next week or so! Let’s all hope that it’s just a tracking snow and then spring comes.. I don’t know about you but I’m ready for a nice warm spring and summer this year! I’m very anxious to get the motorcycle out and start riding!!

Ok, enough of that.. Now on to the business at hand..


I’ve found a great hit when I go to visit clubs and events around the state. As most of you know the Ohio Section has its own logo. I’m
sure that you’ve seen it on the website and even some “green” shirts at the different events around the state. Now, put that logo on a coffee mug and you have one fantastic cup of coffee going for yourself! Yup, I had a number of coffee mugs made up with our logo on them for gifts to give out, and WOW.. I never dreamed that they would be so popular!

My wife Janie, KB8YPW gave me the idea to have some bookmarks made up with the Ohio Section logo and website address on them as well. So, not wanting to get on her bad side, I had some made up just to see if anyone would want them. Believe this or not, they’re even a bigger   hit! I guess that just settles it, the Section Manager will just have to continue with this great idea. So, with that in mind, I will do just that. I also have some other ideas for gifts that I will try out as the year goes on. You’ll never know what else I’ll come up with!! So stay tuned.

Yes I’m going to push the RSS feeds now.. I do want to continue to encourage all of you to watch the RSS feeds for updates to the website. You can set your browser / email programs to “watch” for updates coming through on these RSS feeds as well. This way you’ll be notified quicker that something has been added. Why do I push this so hard? I want you to be informed. I want you to know when something is posted that can have an effect on how you operate, or just have fun with this great hobby of ours.

Along the lines of keeping updated.. You can access our website 24/7 and get the latest information on just about any topic you can think of. There is a number of RSS feeds that bring in information from all over the state and country. Take advantage of this FREE service. Whether you are a member or not, you are invited to view our website. You’ll find it at:  http://arrlohio.org   take advantage and check it often.

As you saw by Nick Pittner, K8NAP’s comments last month, our new antenna law - Ohio PRB-1 - is being challenged in the Appellate Court by the Village of Swanton. After losing the first round of court proceedings last year, the Village of Swanton is once again attempting to knock down our new law. You can rest assure that the Ohio Section and the ARRL will fight this with all that we have in our legal powers. Please stay tuned for more details.

Have you checked out the link to a new video from the ARRL? It’s called ARRL at 100. It’s about a 25 minute video all about the first 100 years of not only ARRL, but Amateur Radio. It’s really a good video and I do encourage all of you to take the time to watch it. It’s worth it, believe you me.

I want to thank the various clubs around for inviting me to speak. I love getting out and talking with all of you about the League and Amateur Radio. One warning about inviting me.. I take pictures!! I also post them on the Section website. I know that this has been said a million times before, but it’s always worth repeating, don’t forget that the entire Cabinet is Ohio’s Speaker’s Bureau. If you’d like any of us to come and be a speaker at your function, please feel free to give any of us a call.
Were you in attendance at our SEC’s ARES Leadership meeting this last weekend? If not you were in the minority. There was a fantastic turn-out. More than 90 folks attended. The new Ohio Section Coffee Mugs were presented to each of the 10 DEC’s and ASEC’s in attendance from me for appreciation for all their hard work though-out the years. We also gave out several of these special mugs as door prizes as well. By the way everyone hung around after the meeting I’d say it was a big hit with all those attending.

Dayton Hamvention.. For those of you interested, the Ohio Section has been invited back to host the Field Services Organization booth at Dayton. Stop by and say hello. And, along that same thought.. Matt Welch, W8DEC has also been invited back to be the moderator of the ARES forum on Sunday morning. If you happen to be there on Sunday morning, drop in and support Matt.

That’s going to do it this month from here.. I hope to see all of you at the various hamfests or meetings soon and who knows, maybe you’ll be one of the lucky ones to get a “mug” on me.

Have a question? Feel free to give me a call or write to me.. My email and phone number are always listed on the Ohio Section Website.. http://arrlohio.org


73, Scott, N8SY

Section Manager
n8sy@arrl.org

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SPECIAL EVENTS STATIONS IN OHIO..

04/19/2014 | Our 2nd annual Earth Day event. Powered only by the sun.

Apr 19, 1500Z-2000Z

W8PRC, Cleveland, OH. Parma Radio Club.
21.285 14.235 7.185. QSL. Parma Radio Club,
7811 Dogwood Ln, Cleveland, OH 44130.

Beautiful QSL photo of the earth. Help us celebrate our marvelous
planet parmaradioclub.webs.com

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04/27/2014 | Two Modern Popes Now Saints

Apr 27, 1600Z-2000Z

ND8GA, Gates Mills, OH.
Gilmour Academy Amateur Radio.
146.55 21.255 14.255 7.255.

Certificate. Ken Kane, KG8DN, Gilmour Academy, 34001 Cedar Rd,
Gates Mills, OH 44040.

Gilmour Academy celebrates the dual canonization in Rome today
of Pope John 23rd and Pope John Paul 2nd. Each worked effectively
to serve the church and the world while "opening the doors" to
lay people and youth. Mail a hard-copy QSL card to Gilmour with
your email address to receive an emailed certificate.

https://sites.google.com/a/gilmour.org/gilmour-amateur-radio-club

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OHIO HAMFEST CALENDAR..

03/22/2014 | MOVARC's Hamfest
Location: Gallipolis, OH
Mid-Ohio Valley Amateur Radio Club
Website: https://sites.google.com/site/midohiovalleyarc/

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04/05/2014 | Portsmouth Radio Club Hamfest
Location: Portsmouth, OH
Portsmouth Radio Club
Website: http://www.portsmouthradioclub.org

-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*

04/12/2014 | Cuyahoga Falls ARC's 60th Annual Hamfest
Location: Cuyahoga Falls, OH
Cuyahoga Falls Amateur Radio Club
Website: http://www.cfarc.org/hamfest2014.php

-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*

04/26/2014 | Jackson County ARC Hamfest
Location: Jackson, OH
Jackson County Amateur Radio Club
Website: http://jacksoncountyarc.org/page3.html

-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*

04/27/2014 | Athens Hamfest
Location: Athens, OH
Athens County Amateur Radio Association
Website: http://ac-ara.org/

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eof..

Friday, February 21, 2014

February Ohio Section Journal




 

In this issue:

-> FROM THE SECTION EMERGENCY COORDINATOR

-> AFFILIATED CLUB COORDINATOR REPORT

-> SOUTHWEST OHIO HAPPENINGS

-> FROM THE TECHINCAL COORDINATOR

-> OUT AND ABOUT IN SOUTHEAST OHIO

-> FROM THE OFFICIAL OBSERVER COORDINATOR

-> FROM THE STATE GOVERNMENT LIAISON

-> FROM THE EDUCATIONAL OUTREACH ASM

-> FROM THE EDUCATIONAL OUTREACH - SCOUTING ASM

-> 22nd ANNUAL OHIO SECTION NEWSLETTER CONTEST RULES

-> LET'S TALK

-> SPECIAL EVENT STATIONS IN OHIO

-> OHIO HAMFEST CALENDAR

-> TIME CHANGE

-> YOU'RE INVITED

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FROM THE SECTION EMERGENCY COORDINATOR..


Ohio HF Emergency Preparedness Net. Tues at 7PM on 3850 kHz (+/-)
Ohio Digital Emergency Net (OHDEN) Tues at 8PM. 3585 kHz and 7072 kHz USB.
Ross T. Stillisano KB8JTZ Memorial Award Winner: David Rickon NF8O, of Medina, OH

Greetings and salutations from the Northeast corner of the Buckeye State where the temperature is 39 degrees and raining.

Many thanks to the Western Reserve Amateur Radio Club for having me at their recent club meeting. It was fun, had a great time, and I look forward to my next visit.

Many thanks to everyone who attended the ARES Forum at the Mansfield Hamfest. We had great attendance and there wouldn't be any forum without you.

There will be another ARES Forum at the Toledo Hamfest in Perrysburg on Sunday, March 16th. Check out www.tmrahamradio.org for hamfest details. This forum will be especially important as I'll be announcing details from the Ohio ARES Leadership meeting.

Just a reminder, the Ohio ARES leadership meeting will be held on Saturday, March 15th at the State of Ohio Emergency Operations Center. Meeting starts at 10AM and will conclude at 3PM. This meeting is for all those who hold ARES appointments including Assistant Emergency Coordinators and Official Emergency Stations. There's quite a bit on the agenda so please ensure your county and district is represented at this annual meeting.

DEC Eric Jessen N8AUC writes...
Ohio ARES Tenth District will be holding a Special Training Event on Saturday, March 1, 2014. This training is offered free of charge to all interested radio amateurs. The location will be the Lubrizol Conference Room at Tri-Point Medical Center. This link will get you to a map of the location, along with available driving directions. Click on the link, and scroll down to the bottom of the page. http://www.lakehealth.org/lake-locations/tripoint-medical-center. Doors will open at about 8:30AM for coffee and donuts, with the actual training beginning at 9:00AM. Lunch will be provided to all attendees, and you should be on your way home before 4:00PM. Since lunch will be provided, and the room only holds 68 people, advance registration is required. After all, we need to know how much food to have on hand. You can register for this event at http://d10.mediaex.com/2014-d10-mar. Just click on the link, and a form will pop up. Fill it in, and you’re good to go. Contact me directly if you have any questions. Hope to see YOU there!!!

In final...
There are many public service events scheduled throughout the year. These events rely or depend on amateur radio for situational awareness among other things. These events need your help. Please get in touch with your Emergency Coordinator or District Emergency Coordinator to find out when they are. Mark the dates down on your calendar so you can plan accordingly.

That's all I have for this week. Thank you for everything you do for amateur radio.

73, de Matt W8DEC
Section Emergency Coordinator
w8dec@arrl.net

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AFFILIATED CLUBS COORDINATOR REPORT..
It's hard to believe it's time to write another newsletter article, but yet here we are in February, which from my window, looks the same as January. Let me jump right into the good-stuff – HAMFESTS! The Mansfield Hamfest will be Sunday February 16th, by the time you read this, it will be history! I am looking forward to attending, my husband Gary, KE8O and I like to make a day of it. When I accepted the ACC position, one of the first things Gary asked me was “does this mean we're going to more hamfests?” I knew I was in trouble right then and there! I have been reading all the newsletters that come my way and I try to put as as much information from each club in my newsletter article and on my blogsite as possible. If you have an event, class, testing session, or anything radio related you would like to have on my blog please send it my way and I will put it out there as soon as I receive it.

What's the Scoop?

Greater Cincinnati Amateur Radio Association..
This months meeting will on February 26th at 7:30pm and the topic is preparedness - In this newsletter article, Club President Dave Self, K8SSN says “This month the Program will be about preparing for ANYTHING. As hams we need to be ready for all the things that might be bestowed upon us. Such as, tornado’s, hurricanes, major earthquake, brownouts, blackouts and not to forget the zombie apocalypse."

The club also inducted two new members into the 2013 GCARA Hall of Fame:
Jay Adrick, K8CJY and Tom Denham, K8VOE. Congratulations to them both!

Follow the GCARA on the web and on Twitter…@W8DZ

Highland Amateur Radio Association..
I am fortunate to receive the HighlandARA MONDAY MORNING MEMO, which takes the place of their newsletter, and has weekly updates on their club happenings. It's a great idea and I have learned a lot from reading them each week. This week they shared their pick for Web Site of the Week - www.n2yo.com. If you need a place to track earth satellites, Ham, television, military, GPS, radio and a host of others. It also shows which of the satellites are the brightest to your eyes in the early morning and evening skies.

Also in the 'MMM' - At 8:30 PM each Monday evening, Bob, K8TQK, calls the 144.252 mhz two meter weak signal activity net. He normally has around 30 check-ins from as far as 400 miles from his Bainbridge QTH. Tuesday evening sees activity between 8-10 on the 222.1 mhz calling frequency. N4PZ conducts an activity night from the Chicago area on 432.1 mhz each Wednesday.

Portage County Amateur Radio Service (PCARS)..
PCARS had an interesting time at their last meeting.....Don't you hate it when you go to your normal meeting place (in this case a local restaurant) and they are closed? As the President and Vice President of PCARS said in their newsletter articles that it wasn't closed for the night, but forever!

Luckily things worked out for them and things are coming together!

PCARS VE sessions are scheduled for 10:00 am on the first Saturday of every even numbered month.
February 1st, April 5th, June 7th, August 2nd, October 4th, December 6th

Special General Class VE Test Session (Open to anyone) - March 4th – 7 pm

Special Amateur Extra Class VE Test Session (Open to anyone) - March 19th – 7 pm

OH-KY-IN Amateur Radio Society..
OH-KY-IN meets at the St. Bernard Municipal Building (Recr. Hall) at 120 Washington Ave. in St. Bernard (corner of Washington & Tower) on the first Tuesday of every month (except when elections conflict) at 7:30 PM. Please enter the doors that face the high school on Washington.


Visit OH-KY-IN on the web: http://www.ohkyin.org/

ARRL Special Service Club..
If your club is not an ARRL Special Service Club, this may be the year to do it! Click Here for information and the Special Service Club application. If you think your club is ready to take this step, and you would like assistance filling out the form or discussing what you need to do, contact me. If your club is not ready to take this step, contact me and we can discuss how we can turn your club into a SSC.

Include me on your club newsletter distribution list and if you are a social media person, follow me on Twitter, Facebook and on my ACC blog.


73, Sandy, N8YS

Affiliated Clubs Coordinator
sandymackey@gmail.com

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SOUTHWEST OHIO HAPPENINGS..

CLASSES..
Budget cuts have taken a toll on the NWS funding for spotter training. Consequently, There will be fewer training classes available this year out of the Wilmington office. In all likelihood, the classes currently listed on the NWS training schedule web page will be all that are offered. The full Wilmington, OH NWS training schedule can be viewed at: http://www.erh.noaa.gov/iln/training.php.

The Greene County Amateur Radio License Courses, jointly sponsored by the three Greene County amateur radio clubs (Bellbrook, Fairborn and Xenia) and Greene County ARES, began on Sunday, February 16, and will run through Sunday, April 13. All sessions will start at 7:00PM and end at 9:00 PM.

An exam session is scheduled for Sunday, April 27, at 6:00 PM. For more information, or to register, contact Mike Crawford KC8GLE by email at: KC8GLE@earthlink.net

OH-KY-IN’s classes for all levels of licenses started on February 3 from 7:00 to 9:00 PM in St. Bernard. The technician and general classes run through February 24. The extra class will end one month later. Bellbrook Amateur Radio Club (BARC) will be sponsoring its next Morse Code Course beginning Tuesday, February 18, 7:00 PM, at the BARC Clubhouse & Communications Center, Lower Level Sugarcreek Elementary School, 51 South East Street in Bellbrook. The course is open to anyone interested in learning Morse Code and getting into CW operating.

The course will provide instruction in learning Morse Code and developing a basic proficiency. CW operating techniques also will be discussed.

Multiple teaching aids will be utilized from code practice oscillator to CD to on-air reception and operation.

The course will be instructed by Ed Kulesa K2VEE with the assistance of Ken Gunton W8ASA and Tom Williams K9DAC. All three are excellent (and active) CW operators.

If meeting on Tuesdays presents a serious scheduling conflict, we'll consider finding a more agreeable regular meeting day / time. You do not need to pre-register for this course but If you have any questions or cannot make the Tuesday classes, please contact Ed Kulesa K2VEE@arrl.net

EXAMS..
An examination session in Technician, General and Extra Class Amateur Radio Operator's License will be available on Wednesday evening, March 19, 2014 in the Verity Lodge Miami University-Middletown, Middletown, OH, Doors will open for registration at 6 P.M. and exams will commence shortly thereafter. Please plan to arrive early as all registration activities are to be completed by 7 P.M. Additional information may be obtained from Dave Williamson, KD8W (513-424-5819) or Carl Morgan, K8CM (513-422-9384).

PUBLIC SERVICE..
The 16th Flying Pig runs on Sunday, May 4! That's a mere 87 days away.Here's the link: http://volunteer.getmeregistered.com/events/register.php?id=16&group=432
The "Group Password" is "ham".

You can safely say "No" to "willing to change assignments". You do not have to give an exact Date of Birth but if you indicate you are less than 18 years old, that causes parent/guardian issues.
This online volunteer tracking system is the only *official* way to sign up for the pig.

MAXIMIZING YOUR RESOURCES..
It’s the 11th hour 59th minute and you’re still trying to round up enough volunteers to provide communications for your marathon, bikeathon, parade, etc. Sound familiar? Imagine putting out one call for help and getting far more volunteers than you need. It’s possible, especially if you play your cards right. Allow me to explain. Some new hams recently asked me how they could get involved in public service. Chances are those who are taking part in various licensing classes will do likewise. Hams who are on vacation and those who have moved to your area may also step up to the plate. You’ll probably put them to work. will they come back? You have more to say about that than you probably realize. I have over thirty years of leadership experience with volunteers. The three keys that follow have led to my success in workingwith them. Use these keys and watch your volunteers come back again and again. They’ll probably help your future recruiting efforts, too, by sharing their positive experiences.

1. Get to know your volunteers individually. What do they want to do? (fulfill community service requirements, build their resume, make a difference, have fun, gain recognition, etc.

2. Find out what strengths they bring to the table and play to them. . Afterall, everyone wants to succeed.

3. Recognize volunteers individually for their unique contributions that made your event the resounding success it was. Yes, using these keys will take time. So does putting out repeated calls for help. Will those who stepped up to the plate the first time come back again? The answer depends on the choice you make.


73, Kitty Hevener, W8TDA

Assistant Section Manager (SW)
w8tda@arrl.net

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FROM THE TECHNICAL COORDINATOR..

By this time, most of us probably realize how much we have been spoiled by the mild winters we have become accustomed to. This year is certainly not mild nor am I accustomed to it. I hope that we are not in line for more of this or worse. We have had several days with sub zero temperatures including the last two and snow that seems to just keep falling. My back yard has over a foot of it now and it is falling again right now.I thought I would have been outside with the camera taking a few shots of the OCF dipole and supports I put up late last year. I suppose I could have, but I didn’t think most of our readers would appreciate more pictures of the snow. So, I’ll save that story for a later and hopefully a more spring like environment to brighten up the pictures and perhaps provide you with some workable options for installing wire antennas when there are no trees to support them.
It’s been a busy season with the holidays last year and a new grandson in November followed by another in January. I have not had much time to devote to radio in the last three months. I had hoped to be working on some of the newer digital modes and have my station configured for it. I have also been looking at working with the Raspberry Pi board on a D-Star implementation. That reminds me, ARRL has several publications available. “Ham Radio for Arduino and PICAXE” contains a lot of useful information on the subject including many useful projects for the Radio Amateur. The ARRL store also has several titles in the “For Dummies” series and “Nifty Guides” for “Raspberry Pi” and the HF digital modes.

One of our local Amateurs, Jeff Potteiger WB8REI has put together an implementation of the “Raspberry Pi” providing access to both “IRLP” and “Echolink”. As soon as this weather breaks and we aren’t frequently outside shoveling snow, I will spend some time with Jeff and see what he has crafted. It sounds quite interesting and should enable easy and functional access to both of those digital networks via the internet.

As I write this, we are just a few days away from the Mansfield Hamfest. I hope to see many of you there again this year. Going to Mansfield is a great way to start off the year in Amateur Radio especially with this winter having its way with us. I hope that we don’t have any difficulty getting there this year.


73, Jim Yoder W8ERW

Technical Coordinator
w8erw@arrl.net

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OUT AND ABOUT IN SOUTHEAST OHIO..

I’m mighty tired of that White Stuff that at the moment has deposited 4 inches so far today!

TUSCO Hamfest was pretty good for the weather was pretty bad at least North of I-70. There was a few hearty souls that ventured out even from as far away as Dayton and WV that I knew of. Thanks to Gary K8WFN & Janice KB8YDK Green for heading the event up. Good Job from you and all your helpers.

I had a little problem on my way home. I went a little too far to the left while passing and spent over an hour waiting for help after I landed in the medium headed North instead of South. The car kept running but it took me a while to get oriented. I called 911 right after it happened and did not have an idea where I was. Later I saw cars coming down the ramp to go North so then the window saw clear enough over my left Shoulder a Duke sign & a McDonalds sign and figured out I was near Rt 36. A State Patrol Gentleman came about that time and opened the passenger door to ask me if I was OK, which I was. He called for a wrecker for me and came back and told me he had to go check to see if others were having trouble. I had a book with me and almost finished the book while I waited.

The State Patrol and a Deputy Sheriff pulled up and here came the wrecker. They put a chain around my front axel and slick as a whistle I was back headed South. I asked it they needed any more from me and then started toward home. About 5 minutes later a car whizzed by me and ended up in the same situation. I made it home safely.


73/88, Connie Hamilton, N8IO

Assistant Section Manager - Southeast Ohio
n8io@arrl.net

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FROM THE OFFICIAL OBSERVER COORDINATOR..

New Year greetings from your new Ohio Section Official Observer Coordinator John, W8RXX

I want to thank Rick, KK8O who has recently stepped down from his 10 years of service as OOC. He was first appointed an OO in 1977. He has been most helpful during this transition. He is off helping his 11 year old granddaughter get licensed amongst other things. I hope to continue receiving his OO reports. Rick, we all wish you the best!

I want to thank all the OO’s in the program as often they are unappreciated. If you happen to run into an OO please thank them for helping protect YOUR hobby into the future.

Most amateurs realize the OO program is there to note discrepancies and call them the attention of those who are often unaware to a violation of the rules. Here is a fact you may be unaware of, many OO’s send out more Good Operator Reports than Advisory Notices.


73, John Perone, w8RXX

Official Observer Coordinator
w8rxx@arrl.net

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FROM THE STATE GOVERNMENT LIAISON..

Village of Swanton Antenna Decision Appealed..

On February 4 the Village of Swanton filed a notice of appeal, appealing the decision of the Fulton County Common Pleas Court in the case of Wodtke v. Village of Swanton. The case is the first court case that we are aware of involving application of Ohio’s new antenna legislation, H.B. 158 (129th General Assembly). The Trial Court ordered the approval of an application to the village by Gary Wodtke, WW8N, for approval of an antenna variance. The Village denied the application and Mr. Wodtke appealed that decision to the Fulton County Common Pleas Court. The Court ruled in Mr. Wodtke’s favor and the Village is now appealing that order. In the docketing statement filed with the Court of Appeals the Village asserts four potential issues to be argued in the appeal, including whether Revised Code Section 5502.031, enacted by H.B. 158, is constitutional and whether it was constitutionally applied in this case.

Ohio law grants a right of appeal from final decisions of a common pleas court. The decision here is appealed to the Sixth District Court of Appeals, headquartered in Toledo. The appellate process involves first, filing the record of proceedings in the common pleas court, then briefs of each of the parties and, finally, a brief oral argument to the court. Appellate decisions are heard by a three judge panel that is usually designated near the time for oral argument. Decisions normally take a number of months after oral argument. Appellate decisions are generally final, unless further review is granted by the Ohio Supreme Court. While a court of appeals decision represents the law only in that appellate district, it carries significant precedential value in other Ohio courts and may also be cited in similar cases in other states.

Mr. Wodtke is represented by Toledo attorney Carey Cooper and by Fred Hopengarten, K1VR a noted authority on zoning and amateur radio antenna issues. ARRL leadership at the national level is also aware of the appeal. Scott Yonally, Ohio Section Manager and Jim Weaver, Great Lakes Division Director have enlisted support from the ARRL. In my discussion with League General Counsel, Chris Imlay, W3KD, it appears that the leadership of the League views this appeal as being one of precedential significance, not only for Ohio amateurs, but also for amateurs in other states that have passed state versions of FCC regulation PRB-1. Discussions are ongoing regarding various ways to help bring this appeal to a successful conclusion. We will keep you informed as further developments occur.


73, Nick, K8NAP

State Government Liaison
goodsonrd@netwalk.com

****************************************************

FROM THE EDUCATIONAL OUTREACH ASM..

ARRL Teacher's Institute on Wireless Technology

The application window is now open for the ARRL Teacher's Institute on Wireless Technology for this summer's sessions:

* TI-1 June 23 - 26th at Dayton Amateur Radio Association, Dayton, OH

* TI-1 July 22 - 25th at ARRL Headquarters, Newington, CT

* TI-2 (Remote Sensing and Data Gathering) July 8 – 11 ARRL Headquarters, Newington, CT

These are great opportunities to get teachers and subsequently students involved in Amateur Radio!

If you are a teacher please get your application in soon if interested or if you know a teacher that may be interested please pass this on to them. Here is a link with more details on the program.

For those teachers that cannot attend or that are not accepted in ARRL Teacher's Institute on Wireless Technology, but are still interested, the Ohio Section will be hosting a "Mini TI on Radio Tech in Classroom"  this summer in Northeast Ohio. This opportunity will also be free. Details are still to be finalized including: the date(s), one or two days, a name, etc. If you or you know of anyone that might be interested in Mini TI please send me a direct message k8zt@arrl.net; this will be helpful as we finish planning and then announcing the event. In addition to interested teachers, I will also be looking for hams that would like to participate in a few different ways: volunteering to assist at the event, being able to make contacts from you home shack to the event, providing follow-up support for attendees from your are of the state, etc. Watch Section News for further details.

Many hams have been enthusiastically working the ARRL W1AW/ portable stations*. Wanting a more interactive way to track my progress, I have created Spreadsheet using Google Docs. It is available for free for others to copy and use. It requires no additional software be installed to run.

Here is the link-- http://goo.gl/xIO8gv

To Get Started-

Make a copy of this spreadsheet, so you can enter your personal data. In its current state, you can only view it and not make changes. From the spreadsheet, Go to menu "File"..."Make a copy"

There are three worksheet tabs-

1. Instructions (along with version number and update notes)

2. Data Entry

3. Summary

* Here is a link to complete ARRL Centennial Operations-Portable W1AW Operations & QSO Party- www.arrl.org/centennial-qso-party

If you have questions, comments or need help you can email me at k8zt@arrl.net


73, Anthony, K8ZT

Assistant Section Manger for Educational Outreach
k8zt@arrl.net

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FROM THE EDUCATIONAL OUTREACH - SCOUTING ASM..

Thunder Base  2014

May 2 - 4 , 2014

What do "Legacy, Reverence, Adventure, Service, Fellowship" and over 8,000 Boy Scouts add up to ?  Only the greatest Simon Kenton Council Camporee ever!!

This year's Thunder Base 2014 "Where The Adventure Begins" Camporee is being held at the Ross County Fairgrounds is Chillicothe, Ohio.

Of all the events that will be going on during the camporee, there is one that will perk up everyone's ears... Amateur Radio!

We have an exciting Amateur Radio program prepared to help each scout understand the principles of radio and have a lifetime of service and fun using amateur radio. With the program that we are setting up for Thunder Base, we will have HF radios operating phone and CW, as well as digital communications. There will also be radios set up operating ATV, Echolink, APRS, Satellite and possibly even Moonbounce (EME). We will also be holding BSA Radio Merit Badge classes and free VE license testing for any scouts interested in getting the ham radio license.

During th event, we will be operating all over the amateur radio frequencies. There are some " World Scout Frequencies" that we will also be operating on. They are: 3.690 & 3.940Mhz., 7.190 MHz., 14.290 MHz., 18.140 MHz., 21.360 MHz., 24.960 MHz., 28.390 MHz., and  50.160 MHz..
For the event we have been permitted to use the K2BSA/8 callsign. If you are on the radio May 2nd thru the 4th and you hear the K2BSA/8 callsign, please get back to it! You may end up making contact with a future ham radio operator! Your contact could be what makes them decide to get their license.

If you get on Twitter, follow " OHradioscouting ". That is where I post information concerning radio scouting in the Ohio Section. I will also be posting Thunder Base updates there. Also, if your BSA district or council is having an event and would like me to post it on " OHradioscouting ", email me the info and I will put it on.

That's all for now. Remember: Take care, stay safe, and make a difference in someone's life !!


73, Scott, KC8ITN

Assistant Section Manger for Educational Outreach- Scouting
kc8itn@arrl.net

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22nd ANNUAL OHIO SECTION NEWSLETTER CONTEST RULES..

It is time again for the Annual ARRL Ohio Section Amateur (Ham) Radio Newsletter Contest. This contest has become very popular and there have been obvious improvements to the newsletters over the years. This was the objective of the Ohio Section PIC (Joe Phillips, K8QOE) when he created it back in 1992..."

Now the rules:
A.) An eligible newsletter must be regularly published at least four (4) times per year by an Ohio Amateur Radio organization. The Ohio Section Journal and the newsletter for any club that the current PIC is affiliated with are not eligible.

B.) Each organization submitting a newsletter for the contest must enter at least two (2) issues starting with January 2014 for judging. All Amateur organizations that have regularly been sending newsletters to the Ohio PIC are automatically entered (as long as these publications qualify under rule A, or C if applicable). Unless you are automatically entered, the deadline for entries is Monday, June 30, 2014, and all entries must be in the hands of the Ohio PIC by that date.

C.) Electronic (Web based) produced newsletters may also enter. Non-amateurs, in the Public Relations industry will do the judging. They will be judging on style (15%), content (35%), service to membership (35%), and clarity of presentation (15%). Style means newsletter design of all pages. Content means amount of useful information contained in the newsletter. Service to members means amount of information using individual members' names. Clarity of presentation means readability of the newsletter including accuracy of English grammar.

D.) No entries can be returned and all decisions of the judges on content and eligibility are final. The Ohio PIC only serves to certify entries, to provide the judges with entries, and to announce their decisions only.

E.) The decision of the judges is final.

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LET'S TALK..

I borrowed that title from a good friend of mine. Hope you don’t mind Phil.. I’ve been looking for a catchy title for my column and I think this one fits the best.. I like it.

I know that Buckeye Chuck says that spring will come early this year, but you could sure fool me with all of this nasty weather that we’ve had these past several months.

Ok, enough of that.. Now on to the business at hand..

I want to continue to encourage all of you to watch the RSS feeds for updates to the website. You can set your browser / email programs to “watch” for updates coming through on these RSS feeds as well. This way you’ll be notified quicker that something has been added. Why do I push this so hard? I want you to be informed. I want you to know when something is posted that can have an effect on how you operate, or just have fun with this great hobby of ours. The RSS feed on the front page of the website is information fed to us directly by the ARRL. As soon as it’s published to the internet, it appears on our website. This is not the only RSS feed that is on the website either. Our Section Emergency Coordinator has one as well as the Affiliated Clubs Coordinator. Having these feeds on the website gives us the ability to get the news quickly and directly from the person writing the news. No middle man to wait on.

I’ve added to the Quick Links section of the main webpage (the left side) a section were you can quickly see all the upcoming ARRL Approved hamfests in Ohio. I’ve also linked them to their respective websites so if you need more information about a particular hamfest, you can just click on the link and go there without all the muss and fuss..

Have you checked out the link to a new video from the ARRL? It’s called ARRL at 100. It’s about a 25 minute video all about the first 100 years of not only ARRL, but Amateur Radio. It’s really a good video and I do encourage all of you to take the time to watch it. It’s worth it, believe you me.
There’s a new link in this same area to a program that our own Anthony Luscre, K8ZT wrote to track all of those W1AW / Portable stations with. It’s a great little Google Docs program that really works well. Since it’s written using Google Docs, no special software is needed. Just log on and fill it in. Give it a try, it’s a real blast.

Dayton Hamvention.. For those of you interested, the Ohio Section has been invited back to host the Field Services Organization booth at Dayton. Stop by and say hello. And, along that same thought.. Matt Welch, W8DEC has also been invited back to be the moderator of the ARES forum on Sunday morning. If you happen to be there on Sunday morning, drop in and support Matt.

The Speakers Bureau is starting to fire back up again after a holiday respite. I want to thank all of you that have invited me to your functions. One warning about inviting me.. I take pictures!! I also post them on the Section website. I do enjoy going and visiting with all of you. Please don’t forget that the entire Cabinet is Ohio’s Speaker’s Bureau. If you’d like any of us to come and be a speaker at your function, please feel free to give any of us a call.

Hamfest season is once again starting to heat up. Please don’t forget to register your hamfest with the League to be an Approved ARRL Hamfest. There’s lots of advantages to registering.

Have you noticed that there is a new survey posted on the website? I would like you to spend just 2 minutes of your time to complete this survey. It only has 3 (Yes/No) questions on it, but it will mean so much to all of us if you complete it.

Have you been receiving phone calls from some very strange phone numbers lately? The Better Business Bureau and major wireless carriers have issued an alert about a new phone scam called "One Ring." "The basics of this scam aren't new," AT&T spokeswoman Holly Hollingsworth said.
In "One Ring," a computerized dialer rings a cellphone number once and then disconnects. When curious consumers call the number, typically originating from the 473 area code, the call goes to Grenada and customers are charged $9.99 per minute.

"The best advice: Don't return a call to a number you don't know," said Verizon spokeswoman Laura Merritt.

Telemarketing issues are a common source of complaints and inquiries, said a spokeswoman for the Ohio attorney general's office. "In many cases, consumers report that the caller left no message or that the phone number that appeared on their caller ID had an out-of-country area code," spokeswoman Kate Hanson said.

Consumers who want to report telemarketing violations or potential scams can contact the Ohio attorney general's office at 1-800-282-0515.

That’s going to do it this month from here.. I hope to see all of you at the various hamfests or meetings soon.

Have a question? Feel free to give me a call or write to me.. My email and phone number are always listed on the Ohio Section Website..  http://arrlohio.org


73, Scott, N8SY

Section Manager
n8sy@arrl.org

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SPECIAL EVENTS STATIONS IN OHIO..

04/19/2014 | Our 2nd annual Earth Day event. Powered only by the sun.
Apr 19, 1500Z-2000Z
W8PRC, Cleveland, OH. Parma Radio Club.
21.285 14.235 7.185. QSL. Parma Radio Club,
7811 Dogwood Ln, Cleveland, OH 44130.
Beautiful QSL photo of the earth. Help us celebrate our marvelous planet parmaradioclub.webs.com

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04/27/2014 | Two Modern Popes Now Saints
Apr 27, 1600Z-2000Z
ND8GA, Gates Mills, OH.
Gilmour Academy Amateur Radio.
146.55 21.255 14.255 7.255.

Certificate. Ken Kane, KG8DN, Gilmour Academy, 34001 Cedar Rd, Gates Mills, OH 44040.
Gilmour Academy celebrates the dual canonization in Rome today of Pope John 23rd and Pope John Paul 2nd. Each worked effectively to serve the church and the world while "opening the doors" to lay people and youth. Mail a hard-copy QSL card to Gilmour with your email address to receive an emailed certificate.

https://sites.google.com/a/gilmour.org/gilmour-amateur-radio-club

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OHIO HAMFEST CALENDAR..

03/16/2014 | TMRA Hamfest & Computer Fair
Location: Perrysburg, OH
Toledo Mobile Radio Association
Website: http://www.tmrahamradio.org

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03/22/2014 | MOVARC's Hamfest
Location: Gallipolis, OH
Mid-Ohio Valley Amateur Radio Club
Website: https://sites.google.com/site/midohiovalleyarc/

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04/05/2014 | Portsmouth Radio Club Hamfest
Location: Portsmouth, OH
Portsmouth Radio Club
Website: http://www.portsmouthradioclub.org

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04/12/2014 | Cuyahoga Falls ARC's 60th Annual Hamfest
Location: Cuyahoga Falls, OH
Cuyahoga Falls Amateur Radio Club
Website: http://www.cfarc.org/hamfest2014.php

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TIME CHANGE..

Yes folks, it's that time of year once again. As that we will be going to Daylight Saving (notice no "S") Time we will be springing ahead one hour. This will happen at 02:00 Sunday, March 9, 2014.

Don't forget, or you will be late for everything until you "spring forward."




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