West Gulf Division Newsletter

News from David Woolweaver, K5RAV West Gulf Division Director


WGD Leadership Team Operates W1AW
Cowtown Hamfest a Huge Success
N5OK Continues as DXAC Committee Chair
HamCom 2011 Looking for Volunteers
ARRL Foundation 2010 Report
ARRL Foundation Announces 2011 Committee Assignments
Steven Polunsky, W5SMP Appointed to Public Relations Committee
Planned Events for West Gulf Leadership Team
Upcoming Hamfests

---WGD Leadership Team Operates W1AW

Amateur Radio should be fun and what could be more fun than operating
the world class HF station at W1AW? Nothing! Every ARRL member is
entitled to be a guest operator at W1AW and, in January, Director
Woolweaver and Vice Director Stratton exercised that privilege. Taking
personal days before the ARRL Board meeting, the WGD Leadership team
called “CQ West Gulf Division” on 14.240 USB during brief guest
operating periods on January 18th and 19th. A record 210 contacts were
made providing many amateurs with their first W1AW QSO. The station
used was composed of a Yaseu FTDX9000, Acom amplifier and a wide spaced
20 meter beam at 120 feet.

Look for a future announcement in this newsletter about W1AW operation
in July. If you missed your chance to contact W1AW in January, you may
have another chance in July.

W1AW, also known as the Maxim Memorial Station, was dedicated on
September 2, 1938 and contains articles of historical value to Amateur
Radio. Much of today’s ARRL Headquarters as well as the City of
Newington grew up surrounding the W1AW facilities. To learn more about
W1AW, its rich history and current transmitting abilities, visit
http://www.arrl.org/inside-w1aw.

You can also look forward to the opportunity to contact W1AW/5 at the
2011 ARRL National Convention in Plano, Texas during HamCom. W1AW/5
will be hosted by the Dallas County REACT Team, an ARRL Special
Services club. Details of their operation will be posted in the
future. .


---Cowtown Hamfest a Huge Success

Congratulations to the Cowtown Hamfest organizers for a grand event
January 15th & 16th! With 600+ in attendance, the hamfest is
developing the reputation of being a well organized and well attended
event.

ARRL membership recruitment was active and successful. The Dynamic Duo
of Assistant Director for Membership Carla Dyer K5RLA, and WTX SM John
Dyer, AE5B reported that thirteen 1-year memberships and eight 3-year
memberships were received during the 2-day Hamfest. The best news in
the report was that 11 of the 21 were new or expired members; some of
whom had not been ARRL members for 10-15 years.

Director Woolweaver joined NTX SM Jay Urish, W5GM and WTX SM John Dyer,
AE5B in greeting members in the ARRL booth and hosting the ARRL forum.
You can see several pictures from the Cowtown Hamfest on the ARRL –
West Gulf Division Facebook page.


---N5OK Continues as DXAC Committee Chair

Former WGD Director Coy Day, N5KO has accepted ARRL President Kay
Craigie’s N3KN invitation to continue spearheading the efforts of the
DX Advisory Committee (DXAC), as its 2011 Committee Chair. The DXAC is
responsible for making recommendations to the Board of Directors
through its oversight standing committee, Programs and Services.

N5OK was tapped as the WGD DXAC representative by Director Woolweaver
in 2010, and has subsequently served as its Committee Chair since that
time at the request of President Craigie. To learn more about the
DXAC Committee go to http://www.arrl.org/dx-advisory-committee.

Advisory Committees are comprised of one Director nominated member from
each Division, and one member of The Radio Amateurs of Canada, who is
proficient in the knowledge and expertise of the Committee’s field of
endeavor; has a willingness to serve in the Committee’s deliberations;
has the ability and willingness to participate in public forums and
demonstrates clear communication skills.

The Committees, acting in their areas of specialty, undertake studies,
review proposals and make recommendations to League Management. An
Advisory committee member may serve for up to a maximum of six
consecutive years’, and maybe appointed as Chairman by the ARRL
President for no more than two years but may not hold any other ARRL
elective office. WGD League members interested in serving on Advisory
Committees should contact Director Woolweaver.


---HamCom 2011 Looking for Volunteers

HamCom is hosting the ARRL National Convention this year and the
organizers are in need of volunteers to help produce a successful
event. Because HamCom will be ARRL National, there is an increased
need for manpower to deal with the extra tasks and crowds that are
expected. All volunteers will receive free admission to the event,
which includes a ticket for the prize barrel and the popular
commemorative HamCom ball cap.

Volunteers are needed in two hours shifts for a variety of inside and
outside positions. This is a great way for high school students to get
community service hours needed for graduation! Please consider
volunteering a couple of hours to the hobby we all love and help make
the event the best we can. This is a chance for the members of the
West Gulf Division to shine. Visit www.HamCom.org for more details!


---ARRL Foundation 2010 Report

The Foundation was established in 1973 by the ARRL as an independent
and separate 501c3 organization to administer programs in support of
Amateur Radio. In 2010, the Foundation awarded 70 scholarships with a
total value of $153,578. $72,200 was in annual awards and $81,378 in
Goldfarb awards. Funded entirely by the generous contributions of
radio amateur operators and friends, the Foundation program awards
scholarships for higher education and awards various grants to Amateur
Radio projects.

Interested persons are encouraged to review all of the potential
opportunities that are available through The ARRL Foundation. To learn
more about the ARRL Foundation or its mission you may visit
http://www.arrl.org/the-arrl-foundation.


---ARRL Foundation Announces 2011 Committee Assignments

ARRL Foundation President Tom Frenaye, K1KI announced recently that
former WGD Director, Tom Comstock N5TC will be appointed to chair the
ARRL Foundation Scholarship Committee for 2011. Comstock, an ARRL Life
Member was elected to the ARRL Foundation Board of Directors in 2009 for
a 3-year term. Joining N5TC on the Scholarship Committee will be Martin
Green K2PLF of the Atlantic Division and WGD Director Woolweaver. In
2010, Director Woolweaver was elected to a 3-year term on the
Foundation Board, by the ARRL Board of Directors.

To learn more about the available ARRL Foundation Scholarship program
visit http://www.arrl.org/scholarship-program.


---Steven Polunsky, W5SMP Appointed to Public Relations Committee

STX Public Information Officer (PIO) Steven Polunsky, W5SMP has been
appointed with the approval of Director Woolweaver by ARRL President
Kay Craigie N3KN to become a member of the Public Relations Committee
(PRC). Polunsky’s appointment stems from the recommendations of the
PRC Committee Chairman, Bill Morine N2COP and the League’s Media
Relations Manager, Allan Pitts W1AGP. Steve also serves as a Director
on the Texas State Senate Committee on Business and Commerce.

N3KN cited Steve’s background in providing PR for ham radio in the
context of emergency communications and noted that his skill set would
be an asset to the Committee.

Each Section in the WGD has a Public Information Coordinator (PIC)
appointed by the SM. Each PIC, with the approval of their SM, recruits
and helps local ARRL PIO’s in promoting Amateur Radio in their home
area. This gives the ARRL about 450-500 PR people scattered throughout
the country.

An experienced, diverse and active group of people, the PRC’s work is
done via email, conference calls, and webinars. To learn more about the
PRC you may visit http://www.arrl.org/public-relations-committee. ARRL
members who are interested in serving in the Public Relations field on
behalf of the ARRL, should contact their Section Manager.


---Planned ARRL Events for the WGD Leadership Team

Director Woolweaver, K5RAV and Vice Director John Stratton, N5AUS are
planning to attend the following upcoming events:

N5AUS – Georgetown Hamfest, sponsored by the Williamson County ARC,
February 12th

K5RAV and N5AUS – Greater Houston Hamfest, STX Section Convention,
sponsored by the Brazos Valley ARC, March 4-5th

K5RAV – Green County Hamfest, OK Section Convention, sponsored by
Green County Hamfest, Inc., March 11-12th

ARRL events are a great place to visit with your Division and Section
Leadership! Each event will also include an ARRL forum where you can
get additional insight into and information on Division and Section
matters.

Of course, at anytime that you have a concern, comment or just want to
say hello please contact Director Woolweaver at K5RAV@arrl.org.


---Upcoming Hamfests

02/12/2011 Williamson County Amateur Radio Club
Location: Georgetown, TX
Type: ARRL Hamfest
Sponsor: Williamson County Amateur Radio Club
Website: http://www.wcarc.com

02/26/2011 Orange Hamfest 2011
Location: Orange,TX
Type: ARRL Hamfest
Sponsor: Orange ARC & Jefferson County ARC
Website: http://www.qsl.net/w5nd/

03/05/2011 West Central Oklahoma Amateur Radio Club
Location: Elk City, OK
Type: ARRL Hamfest
Sponsor: West Central Oklahoma Amateur Radio Club

03/05/2011 South Texas Section Convention (Greater Houston Hamfest)
Location: Rosenberg, TX
Type: ARRL Convention
Sponsor: Brazos Valley Amateur Radio club
Website: http://www.houstonhamfest.org

03/11/2011 Oklahoma Section Convention (Green Country Hamfest)
Location: Claremore, OK
Type: ARRL Convention
Sponsor: Green Country Hamfest, Inc.
Website: http://www.greencountryhamfest.org

03/12/2011 Ninth Annual IARC Hamfest
Location: Irving, TX
Type: ARRL Hamfest
Sponsor: Irving Amateur Radio Club
Website: http://www.irvingarc.org/iarchamfest.html

03/19/2011 West Texas Section Convention (56th Annual St Patrick’s
Day Hamfest)
Location: Midland, TX
Type: ARRL Convention
Sponsor: Midland Amateur Radio Club
Website: http://www.hamfest.w5qgg.org

03/26/2011 Weatherford TX Hamfest
Location: Weatherford, TX
Type: ARRL Hamfest
Sponsor: Amateur Radio Club of Parker County
Website: http://www.w5pc.org

04/02/2011 HamEXPO
Location: Belton, TX
Type: ARRL Hamfest
Sponsor: Temple Amateur Radio Club
Website: http://www.beltonhamexpo.org/

--------------------------------------------------------------------
ARRL West Gulf Division
Director: David A Woolweaver, K5RAV
k5rav@arrl.org
--------------------------------------------------------------------