--- ARRL Foundation Announces Grant to KF5CRF
--- FCC Releases New Rules for 60 Meters
--- WG5L Gary Lewis, Appointed Assistant Director
--- ARRL Foundation Scholarship Season
--- Webinar Training Soars to New Heights
--- Recent Hamfest Reports
--- Planned ARRL Events for K5RAV and N5AUS
--- Upcoming Hamfests/Conventions
News from David Woolweaver, K5RAV your West Gulf Division Director
--- ARRLWGD.org – The New WGD Website & Social Media
”This will be the year of communication improvements in the West Gulf
Division,” said Director Woolweaver in January of 2011 and one example
of improvement is the introduction of the ARRL West Gulf Division
Facebook page which was followed up over the summer with the ARRL_WGD
Twitter account. Enhancing these efforts to spread information across
the division, on November 1st, the new WGD website was launched bringing
a new look, new opportunities, and fresh information to our internet
presence. Check out the new site at
www.arrlwgd.org.
Mark Mireles, AD5CA, developed the original West Gulf Division internet
site several years ago. Recently, Frank Krizan, KR1ZAN, has been
maintaining it and will continue to assist on the new site. Wanting to
provide a fresh look and utilize the new mediums available on the net,
it was decided to start anew and develop a website from scratch.
After talking to WGD members and seeking their thoughts on what they
would like to see in a website, Director Woolweaver put our new website
designer, Gary Lewis, WG5L, to work pulling all of the information
together to develop a progressive and informative platform. We have
added more educational information, linked to all of the Section
websites (check out their new websites as well!), and will continue to
build on the “Links” page so that you can easily find information
pertaining to the Amateur service and especially the WGD. With the
new website, we are also introducing the ARRL WGD Channel on YouTube
where we hope to publicize videos that promote the best of the Amateur
Community in all areas – educational and informational.
Please bookmark the new WGD website and check it frequently for new
information. We added a new calendar feature and will be listing all
of the ARRL sanctioned events as soon as they are approved by Director
Woolweaver and HQ. Over the next few months, we will introduce you to
some of our content contributors and will be seeking your input on
questions that pertain to the WGD. Remember to also join us on
Facebook at ARRL West Gulf Division and follow us on Twitter at
ARRL_WGD.
Contributions to our mass media endeavors are important to the success
of the web site. If you have something you (or your club) would like
to share with the WGD membership on our website, Facebook, monthly
newsletter or Twitter, please let us know, so we can consider it.
Additionally, we would enjoy hearing your feedback on how you think we
are doing in our communication efforts. Please email Director
Woolweaver at K5RAV@arrl.org with your thoughts or news contributions.
--- ARRL Foundation Announces Grant to KF5CRF
Director Woolweaver is a member of the ARRL Foundation Board of
Directors and it was his privilege to announce at the West Gulf
Division convention at Ardmore, OK the approval of an equipment grant
of $2,018 to the Viking Radio Club of Lawton, OK. The grant was
approved for the purchase of a Kenwood 590 radio, a Hustler 5-BTV
antenna and for coaxial cable and connectors. “The grant
application received Board approval in the fastest time that I have
seen since being elected to the Foundation Board”, reported Director
Woolweaver.
As outlined in Viking’s grant application, this grant will provide
funding for resources to strengthen the club and provide for a pilot
program at the Eisenhower Middle School in Lawton. The ARRL Foundation
Directors shared the hope that the program will expand to encompass the
entire school district of 18,000 students applauding their two-fold
plan to encourage Amateur Radio and educate students in accord with
state standards. The West Gulf Leadership joins the Foundation
Directors in applauding the Viking Amateur Radio Club’s goal of being
a model for other schools.
You may learn more about the Viking ARC by visiting their websites at
http://www.qrz.com/db/kf5crf and http://www.qrz.com/db/k5usa.
--- FCC Releases New Rules for 60 Meters
On November 18, the FCC released a Report and Order (R&O), defining new
rules for the 60 meter (5 MHz) band. These rules are in response to a
Petition for Rulemaking (PRM) filed by the ARRL more than five years
ago and a June 2010 Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM). In the R&O,
the FCC replaced one of the channels in the band, increased the maximum
authorized power amateur stations may transmit in this band, and
authorized amateur stations to transmit three additional emission
designators in the five channels in the 5330.6-5406.4 kHz band (60
meters).
The Amateur Radio Service in the United States has a secondary
allocation on 60 meters. Only those amateurs who hold General,
Advanced, or Amateur Extra class licenses may operate on this band.
Amateur stations must not cause harmful interference to -- and must
accept interference from -- stations authorized by any administration
in the fixed service, as well as mobile (except aeronautical mobile)
stations authorized by the administrations of other countries.
For a complete reading of the rule, please refer to
http://www.arrl.org/news/fcc-
note that these changes have not yet taken effect. These new rules will
take effect 30 days after they are published in the Federal Register.
The ARRL will announce on its website when the rules are published.
--- WG5L Gary Lewis, Appointed Assistant Director
Director Woolweaver is pleased to announce the appointment of Gary
Lewis, WG5L, as an Assistant Director for Internet Services. Gary has
been involved in electronics and communications since his Navy days in
the 1970's, where he was an electronics technician working on shipboard
communications equipment. After leaving the Navy, Gary obtained his
degree in Management Information Systems. He first worked in the oil
industry and he has spent the last 23 years working for IBM. He also
holds an MBA from LeTourneau University.
It wasn't until the year 2000, that Gary returned to his electronics
and communications roots, spurred on by his son who showed an interest
in ham radio. After almost 30 years of being largely absent from the
communications scene, all of that past background came flooding back.
However, it was not until he returned to Texas in 2002, that he really
became active in pursuing various aspects of the Amateur Radio service.
Gary has held various positions within his local ham radio club,
Longview East Texas Amateur Radio Club (LETARC). He started that club's
current VE team and has become very involved in emergency
communications, bringing ARES to his county and revitalizing the local
EmComm program. He currently holds the following positions within the
North Texas Section:
•Gregg County EC and RACES ALT CLO
•North Texas District 8 DEC
•North Texas Section ASEC
In addition, Gary is a registered ARRL Volunteer Instructor and
Volunteer Examiner. Beyond being the primary developer of the new WGD
website, he is also the webmaster for both the LETARC and North Texas
Section websites. Recently, in a return to his Navy roots, Gary has
become involved with Navy-Marine Corps MARS. An avid user of both
voice and digital modes, you can usually find him on most of the 40 and
80 meter southwest traffic nets, as well as PSK31 on 20 meters.
--- ARRL Foundation Scholarship Season
The ARRL Foundation is now receiving scholarship applications for the
2012 scholarship season. Each year the ARRL Foundation awards more
than 70 scholarships that are funded entirely by the generosity of
radio amateurs and friends to young hams that are pursuing higher
education. The awards range from $500 to $5000.
All applicants must submit a full application and transcript to be
considered (other rules may apply to specific scholarships). The
application period for ARRL Foundation Scholarships opened on October
1, 2011, and will close promptly on February 1, 2012. Awards are
usually announced to the winners by letter in mid-May. Applicants
should review the scholarship descriptions as some awards have specific
geographic criteria or requirements as to course of study.
Governed by a nine member volunteer Board of Directors, the ARRL
Foundation is devoted to providing valuable programs to serve the
Amateur Radio community. To learn more about the ARRL Foundation or
its scholarship program please visit their website at
http://www.arrl.org/the-arrl-
--- Webinar Training Soars to New Heights
ARRL Atlantic Division Director Bill Edgar, N3LLR, has been extremely
proactive in the promotion of Amateur Radio education in his division
by incorporating internet webinars for everyone’s benefit – at zero
cost to the ARRL or to his Division. Topics such as Winlink 2000 Intro,
Amateur Radio Kit Building, and D-Star and EmComm are a few of the
Atlantic webinars that have been hosted. With Bill’s encouragement,
the WGD has joined him in supporting this endeavor by hosting Antenna
CC&R’s, You and the ARRL, Antenna Ordinances, You and the ARRL
webinars as well as Hurricane Preparedness webinars.
The next webinar, scheduled for December 5th, is Amateur Radio in the
Next 25 Years, a conversation with former FCC Special Counsel Riley
Hollingsworth, K4ZDH; ARRL General Counsel, Chris Imlay, W3KD; and Ed
Hare, W1RFI, ARRL Laboratory Manager. To join this webinar, visit
https://www1.gotomeeting.com/
Past webinars have included notable presenters such as Laura Smith, FCC
Special Counsel; ARRL Chief Legal Counsel, Chris Imlay, W3KD; noted
antenna zoning lawyer, Fred Hopengarten, K1VR; and the developers of
the NBEMS system, Harry Bloomberg W3YJ and Dave Kleber, KB3FXI. We
invite you to bookmark the Atlantic Division Training website
http://www.atldiv.org/training
purchase DVDs of previous presentations at a nominal cost, which
supports the hosting expense only and does not benefit the ARRL
Atlantic Division.
--- Recent Hamfest Reports
Texoma Hamarama
The West Gulf Division Convention was held in Ardmore, hosted by the
good folks of Texoma Hamarama the weekend of October 21 and 22.
Visitors from the Midwest and Delta Divisions also joined in the fun
this year, checking out the many bargains that were available.
Joining Director Woolweaver at the ARRL Forum was ARRL Emergency
Preparedness and Response Manger, Mike Corey, W5MPC. Mike announced
the placement of an ARRL HF “Go Kit” in the Oklahoma Section. This
brings the total number of “Go Kit’s” deployed in the West Gulf
Division to nine. Each has been placed strategically in the Division
to meet communication needs in the event of an emergency.
Prepositioning “Go Kits” in the West Gulf places the kits in a
central location in the nation should the kits be required elsewhere
for EmComm purposes. Under an agreement with Southwest Airlines that
Director Woolweaver negotiated, an ARRL “Go Kit” could be
transported free of charge to any destination that Southwest serves.
This translates to one day delivery to most parts of the United States.
During the forum, Director Woolweaver recognized the astounding efforts
of the Viking Radio Club and its mentors, Clifton Harper, KE5YZB, and
Paul Goulet, KC5CYY. (See also ARRL Foundation Announces Grant to
KF5CRF)
Also at Hamarama, it was announced that Megan McClellan, K5MEM, was the
recipient of the Texoma Hamarama Scholarship Award for 2011.
Congratulations, Megan!
The WGD Leadership thanks and appreciates all of the hard work of
Henry, W5TYD, Tina Allen and the entire Hamarama Board of Directors for
their hard work in putting together the 2011 WGD Convention!
NCTech Hamfest
The NCTech Hamfest, sponsored by the Tri-County & DiRECT Amateur Radio
Clubs in Azle had a good turn out this year. Presentations by AMSAT,
CERT, ARRL West Gulf, and ARRL NTX were well attended. Director
Woolweaver and NTX SM Walt Mayfield, KE5SOO had an opportunity to visit
with the attendees and they acquired several new memberships. As the
final sanctioned event for 2011, it was a great way to end the year,
and we will look forward to another successful event at NCTech in 2012.
--- Planned ARRL Events for K5RAV and N5AUS
Director Woolweaver, K5RAV, and Vice Director Stratton, N5AUS, will
attend the following events:
K5RAV and N5AUS – 2012 ARRL Annual Board Meeting, Windsor, CT,
January 12-14, 2012
K5RAV – Cowtown Hamfest, North Texas Section Convention (Pending
Executive Committee approval), sponsored by the Lockheed Martin ARC,
Ft. Worth, TX, January 20-21, 2012
N5AUS – Williamson County ARC Hamfest, sponsored by the Williamson
County ARC, Georgetown, TX, February 25, 2012
ARRL Convention and Hamfest events are a great place to visit with the
Division and Section Leadership! Each event will also include an ARRL
forum where you can receive additional insight into Division and
Section matters.
At anytime that you have a concern or just want to say hello, contact
Director Woolweaver at K5RAV@arrl.org.
-- Upcoming Hamfests and Conventions
01/14/2012 | San Antonio Amateur Radio Fiesta
Location: Schertz, TX
Type: ARRL Hamfest
Sponsor: San Antonio Radio Club
Website: http://w5sc.org
01/20/2012 | North Texas Section Convention (Cowtown Hamfest)
Location: Fort Worth, TX
Type: ARRL Convention pending Executive Committee approval
Sponsor: Lockheed Martin Amateur Radio Club
Website: http://www.cowtownhamfest.com
02/25/2012 | Williamson County ARC Hamfest
Location: Georgetown, TX
Type: ARRL Hamfest
Sponsor: Williamson County Amateur Radio Club
Website: http://wcarc.com
------------------------------
ARRL West Gulf Division
Director: David A Woolweaver, K5RAV
k5rav@arrl.org
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