Friday, October 9, 2015

West Gulf Division Newsletter October 2015

---JOTA October 16-18
---Oklahoma State Convention at Ardmore
---The Amateur Radio Parity Act of 2015
---ARRL Education and Technology Program Grants
---Planned events for K5RAV and N5AUS
---Upcoming Hamfests and Conventions

---JOTA October 16-18

Help Scouts Get On The Air - JOTA 2015

The third weekend of October (16-18) is the 58th running of Jamboree on
the Air (JOTA), the largest gathering of Scouts throughout the world.
Last year, over 1 million Scouts communicated via amateur radio.

You can be a part of this event by learning what JOTA is, and, by,
contacting a local Scout Unit (Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts) or a local
BSA or GSUSA Council to offer to set up a station at a campout, city
park, Council offices or Scout Camp.  Many Hams simply invite a few
local Scouts and their parents to drop by their "shack" to talk
with other Scouts and others interested in Scouting and Amateur Radio.

More information can be found at:

www.scouting.org/jota

jotajoti.info

www.arrl.org/jamboree-on-the-air-jota

http://www.scouting.org/LocalCouncilLocator.aspx

http://www.girlscouts.org/en/about-girl-scouts/join/council-finder.html

We've been trying hard to communicate what JOTA is to BSA and GSUSA
Councils; however, don't get frustrated if they don't know what
you're talking about.  Even though it's grown to be the biggest
event of the year (participation wise), many Councils have many local
issues that prevent them from utilizing this opportunity.  That's
where you come in.

The K2BSA Amateur Radio Association offers some "talking points"
when contacting professionals and Scouters who might not be acquainted
with JOTA and amateur radio.

Once you decide to set up a JOTA operation, please do the following:

1. Register your station at jotajoti.info
2. Notify your ARRL Section ASM for Radio Scouting (see the list at
http://arrlwgd.org/education/scouting/)
3. Sign up for JOTA and Radio Scouting news at
http://www.k2bsa.net/news/
4. Have fun!

After your JOTA operation:

1. Complete a JOTA report (instructions provided when you register with
jotajoti.info)
2. Send a summary to your ARRL Section ASM and to K5HS@ARRL.NET (West
Gulf Division AD for Radio Scouting) - we'll compile a report for the
West Gulf Division after JOTA to share the fun
3. Start making plans for a bigger and better JOTA operation for 2016
(perhaps involving your Club)

The ARRL Section ASMs for Radio Scouting are always in need of support
from throughout their Section, especially for establishing contacts
with local Councils.  Consider letting them know you're available to
help.

Submitted by Frank Krizan, K5HS, Assistant Director for Radio Scouting

---ARRL Oklahoma State Convention at Ardmore

Texoma Hamarama Family FunFest is Southern Oklahoma's largest indoor
air-conditioned Ham Fest, forum, swap meet, expo and ham radio market
place.

This year, we are proud to be hosting the ARRL State Convention. League
members from around the West Gulf Coast division of the Amateur Radio
Relay League (ARRL) and the Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) will
be in attendance, both on the trade floor and in the forums.

Friday - Setup 12:00 Noon - Open 5:00 PM until 8:00 PM
Saturday - Setup 7:00 AM - Open 8:00 AM until 1:00 PM

A Giant Thank You to Everyone That Comes out for Texoma Hamarama. If
you need any assistance, find someone in a Yellow Vest/Hat, and they
will be able to help you with any need.

---The Amateur Radio Parity Act of 2015

The Amateur Radio Parity Act of 2015 -- H.R.1301 in the US House of
Representative and S 1685 in the US Senate --  would direct the FCC to
extend its rules relating to reasonable accommodation of Amateur
Service communications to private land use restrictions. US Rep Adam
Kinzinger (R-IL) introduced HR 1301 on March 4 with 12 original
cosponsors from both sides of the aisle -- seven Republicans and five
Democrats in the US House.  US Senator Roger Wicker (R-MS) introduced S
1685 on June 25, with Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) as the original
cosponsor, in the US Senate.

The Amateur Radio Parity Act would require the FCC to amend its Part 97
Amateur Service rules to apply the three-part test of the PRB-1 federal
pre-emption policy to include homeowners association regulations and
deed restrictions, often referred to as "covenants, conditions, and
restrictions" (CC&Rs). At present, PRB-1 only applies to state and
local zoning laws and ordinances. The FCC has been reluctant to extend
the same legal protections to include private land-use agreements
without direction from Congress.

H.R. 1301 has been referred to the House Energy and Commerce Committee.
Rep Greg Walden, W7EQI (R-OR), chairs that panel's Communications and
Technology Subcommittee, which will consider the measure. S 1685 has
been referred to the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation
Committee's subcommittee on Communications, Technology, Innovation and
the Internet, which is chaired by the bill's sponsor, Wicker.

ARRL members are urged to contact their members of both the House and
the Senate, asking them to sign on to the bill as a co-sponsor. Route
letters for your member of Congress to:

ARRL
Attn  Amateur Radio Parity Act grassroots campaign
225 Main St
Newington CT 06111

For sample letters and to determine who represents you in Congress, go
to

www.arrl.org/amateur-radio-parity-act

Follow the instructions there to prepare your support letters for both
H.R. 1301 and SB 1685.  Letters are important to elected officials.
The more letters received by your Representative and Senator the more
likely he/she are to support amateur radio.

Please do your part.  Send your letters today.

---ARRL Education and Technology Program Grants

November 1 is the deadline for schools to apply for 2016 ARRL Education
& Technology Program (ETP) grants.

The ETP offers two types of grants. School Station Grants are awarded
to schools providing a plan to use Amateur Radio as part of an
enrichment program and/or as part of in-classroom learning. ETP
Progress Grants offer modest support to teachers now using Amateur
Radio as an instructional tool who need additional resources for
specific purposes. Progress grants also are available for teachers who
need resources to start teaching wireless technology and electronics
topics as part of a longer-range plan to involve Amateur Radio.

A primary ETP objective is to boost wireless technology literacy among
US students and educators through Amateur Radio.

"Amateur Radio provides hands-on opportunities for students to learn
about radio science!" said ARRL Educational Services Manager Debra
Johnson, K1DMJ. "We look for commitment from teachers and school
administrators, a well-conceived plan to use the resources to engage
students, and a working relationship with local ham radio volunteers
who are willing to serve as mentors," she explained.

Applicants should review and complete the ETP grant application form
(PDF) (MS-Word). Submitted applications are evaluated on several
criteria.

The ETP depends upon the sustaining support of the Amateur Radio
community. Since its inception in 2000, the program has grown to
benefit more than 550 schools. The program welcomes your donation. For
more information, contact Debra Johnson, K1DMJ, at ARRL Headquarters.

---Planned events for K5RAV and N5AUS

Director Woolweaver, K5RAV and Vice Director Stratton, N5AUS plan to
attend the following upcoming events in 2015:

K5RAV
---Oklahoma State Convention, Ardmore, OK Oct 23
---South Texas Hamfest, Aransas Pass, TX, Oct 31

N5AUS
---South Texas Hamfest, Aransas Pass, TX, Oct 31

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 any time that you have a concern or just want to say hello, contact
Director Woolweaver at K5RAV@arrl.org.

---Upcoming Hamfests and Conventions

10/17/2015 | Lubbock ARC's Second Annual Hamfest
Location: Lubbock, TX
Type: ARRL Hamfest
Sponsor: Lubbock Amateur Radio Club
Website: http://K5LIB.org

10/23/2015 | Oklahoma State Convention (Texoma Hamarama)
Location: Ardmore, OK
Type: ARRL Convention
Sponsor: Texoma Hamarama Inc.
Website: http://www.texomahamarama.org/

10/31/2015 | South Texas Hamfest
Location: Aransas Pass, TX
Type: ARRL Hamfest
Sponsor: South Texas Hamfest Association
Website: http://www.southtexashamfest.org

11/07/2015 | Enid ARC Hamfest
Location: Enid, OK
Type: ARRL Hamfest
Sponsor: Enid Amateur Radio Club
Website: http://www.enidarc.org

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