Do you have an interesting ham radio story to tell?

Cindy Downes K5CED is a freelance writer looking for ham radio operators who are members of Electric Cooperatives of Oklahoma and who have an interested story to tell related to ham radio.

How do you use ham radio? Have you been involved in disaster relief? Have you used your ham radio in any event that was newsworthy? Have you done anything cutting edge with your radio? Unique? Saved money? Provided jobs? Helped the economy? Preserved the environment? Educated children? Anything else related to ham radio that you think might interest readers?  

If so, please send an email to Cindy. In your email, please provide your name, phone number, name of the Oklahoma electric cooperative in which you are a member, and a little bit about your adventures in ham radio.

If selected, Cindy will set up an interview and photo shoot with you, write the article and submit it to Oklahoma Living Magazine for possible publication. 


Note: If you're not a member of the electric co-op and have an interesting story related to ham radio, email Cindy anyway. She'll pitch it to another magazine. 

Oklahoma Section News

Hi there Oklahoma!!





First, let me apologize for not getting an April Section News done. Things have really been busy for me and I just couldn’t find enough hours in the day to get it done.





For those of you that haven’t heard, Wilma, W5WRO and I are moving. We are pulling up stakes in Ardmore and moving to Perry, OK. We should be there, though not unpacked, by the 3rd weekend in June. So, a June Section News may be a little suspect. Please bear with me….





Things in the section have been busy. We have had some changes in ARES management and have some new folks in place as Zone Coordinators in the SE, SW and the OKC Metro. I want to thank each of the outgoing ZEC’s for their service. The new ZEC’s are Steve Grayson, KE5BPL, ZONE 2 (SW), Kenny Orr, KC5ZDQ, ZONE 3 (OKC Metro), and Nick Hinkle, N7KPV, ZONE 6 (SE). Thanks guys for your willingness to serve.





Speaking of ARES, the tornado in Joplin and those in northeastern Oklahoma on May 22 have a lot of folks wondering how they can help. We have been in contact with the Missouri SM and SEC. They will let us know if and when they need any assistance. Please do NOT self deploy.





I have been busy with hamfest duties. The Durant tailgate on April was great as usual. I thought the jambalaya was great!! The fellowship was pretty good as well.





Charles Goodson, KC5UEG and I just returned from Dayton! It is still mind numbing to see all that cool hardware and all those hams in one place. Charles worked the EMCOMM booth for the League and I was in the PR booth. We got to meet astronaut, Doug Wheelock ( a really nice guy) and a lot of other folks. I renewed a lot of friendships and even bought some new gear for the new house…..(I had to sell my tower and SteppIR…..no room). If you ever get the chance, you have to see Dayton at least once.





Don’t forget, the ARRL National Convention will be at Ham-Com in Plano, TX, June10 and 11. The League will have a number of HQ staff in attendance as will the West Gulf Director, Vice-Director and the 4 SM’s. It’s your chance to put a face with a name and have an eyeball QSO.





Ham Holiday is scheduled for July 29 and 30 at the Biltmore Hotel in west OKC. This will be the Oklahoma State Convention. I’ll be there along with our Vice-Director, John Stratton.





The Texhoma Hamarama will be October 21 and 22. It will be the West Gulf Division Hamfest. There will be more vendors and more forums, so don’t miss it.





Last but not leas will be the Enid Hamfest on November 5th. So, make as many as you can!!





Field Day





I hope everyone is planning on a great Field Day. Our Director, Dr. David Woolweaver, K5RAV will be coming to Oklahoma this year to tour some sites with me. We are formulating a plan now, so if you are going to have Field Day, let me know where it will be and we will try to fit it into the schedule. We can’t make all of them, but we will try to have someone from the section management at most of the sites at least for a little while. Don’t forget to put your field day info on the leagues “Find a site” database.





When things settle down after the move, I’ll try to make up for a little lost time in the Section News.





73,





Kevin O’Dell N0IRW


Oklahoma Section Manager

Not just press releases

With the Internet and social media, the ability for a club public information officer to get the word out about their local club activities is greatly enhanced.

Tips for using online news outlets for Public Information Officers are:

1.  Find your local media pages.  Every newspaper, radio station, and TV station now have web pages.  Many of them offer local calendars.  Add your club meetings and special events to those pages to enhance the chances that the media will cover your event.

2.  Craigslist and Ebay both have community sections where one can announce club activities.  Is the club planning a special event?  Does the club want visitors to know what the club is talking about at the next club meeting?  Bookoo is a new site on the scene with local pages opening frequently.

3.  Don't forget Twitter and Facebook. Many of your local media already use these tools to promote to their customers.  Following them, you can also announce your activities.  This, too, may increase the chances that your event will receive media attention.

4.  Blogs like this, WordPress, and LiveJournal offer the ability to make a club page at very little cost.  This can be exploited to Twitter and Facebook through a variety of feeds.  The output of this page, for example, automatically update the Twitter feed at @ARRL_OK with no additional work past setting up the feed.  If you set up pages at all three, one post on one can update the other two using a feed.  One would certainly consider setting up club sites on all three, even if only one is used, in the case that someone might set up a bogus page on the other one.  Don't forget to include your Twitter feed on your blog.

5.  Email lists like YahooGroups and GoogleGroups are great for sending one email to reach local members.  YahooGroups even has a calendar that would allow club members to input their special dates, ex. birthday, anniversary, holidays, in addition to the club events, assuming, of course, the group is closed to non-members.

These are just a few ways to leverage the online tools for the Public Information Officer.  It's not just about sending a press release once per month any more.  It's becoming increasingly more important to give the person on the street access to information that will make them want to be a ham radio operator and participate in your club activities.

West Gulf Division's March Newsletter

    Kevin O'Dell, N0IRW remains on PRC
    ARRL and WGD Volunteers Needed at HamCom
    Spectrum Attack – How you can help!
    Texoma Hamarama to host the WGD Convention
    CC&R Relief Legislation Filed
    Recent Hamfest Reports
    Planned ARRL events for K5RAV and N5AUS
    Upcoming Hamfests

    News from David Woolweaver, K5RAV West Gulf Division Director

-----Kevin O'Dell, N0IRW, remains on PRC
OK Section Manager Kevin O'Dell, N0IRW, has accepted the
re-appointment by ARRL President Kay Craigie N3KN as a member of the
Public Relations Committee (PRC).  As one of the longest serving
committee members, Kevin has graciously volunteered his time in
assisting the League's Media Relations Manager, Allan Pitts W1AGP
with his PRC efforts over the past five years.  Kevin forecasts that
there is a lot of great material on the horizon for Public Relations!
An experienced, diverse and active group of people, the PRC's work is
done via email, conference calls, and webinars. There are no in-person
meetings. 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.

-----ARRL and WGD Volunteers Needed at HamCom

The ARRL and the West Gulf Division are looking for volunteers to
assist at the National Convention during HamCom in June. If you are
interested in volunteering a few hours during the convention, contact
Director Woolweaver at k5rav@arrl.org immediately. Special benefits
will be given to ARRL and WGD volunteers for their participation!

-----Spectrum Attack – How you can help!

You may have already heard that our 440 MHz band is being threatened by
a bill introduced into the U.S. House of Representatives.  In its
current form, HR 607 provides for the creation and maintenance of a
nationwide Public Safety broadband network.  As a part of that network,
the bill proposes to allocate the so-called "D-Block" of frequencies
in the 700 MHz range.  The "D-Block" consists of two, 5 MHz wide
segments of spectrum (758-763 MHz and 788-793 MHz) that became
available when the FCC ended analog television broadcasts in June 2009.
 It was initially expected that the "D-Block" would be auctioned for
 commercial use.

HR 607 provides for the reallocation of other spectrum for auction to
commercial users in order to offset the loss of revenue that will occur
as the result of the allocation of the "D-Block" to Public Safety
instead of commercial auction.  Among the bands to be reallocated for
commercial auction within ten years of passage of HR 607 are the paired
bands of 420-440 MHz and 450-470 MHz.

The concept for this proposed network has merit.  Everyone wants first
responders to have the radio systems they need in order to protect
themselves and us.  However, there is absolutely no need to reallocate
for auction the 440 MHz band to make it happen.  We must let our U.S.
Representatives know we oppose the current wording of HR 607.

First, watch the ARRL video on this topic at
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HAwDhb6i-fI.

Second, a web site to automatically prepare a letter opposing HR 607
has been created to assist you.  Go to
http://www.kd4pyr.net/hamletter.htm.
Insert your call sign where indicated and follow the simple
instructions. The name and address of your U.S. Representative will
automatically be inserted into the letter along with your name and
address (as found in the FCC database).  The letter will then be
displayed ready to be printed and signed.

IMPORTANT: Please be certain to observe the following once you have
printed your letter:
- Be sure to sign it.  Letters without a handwritten signature are not
effective.
- Signed letters can be sent by fax or postal mail to -
John Chwat
Chwat & Co.
Suite 103, 625 Slaters Lane, Alexandria, VA 22314
Fax number: (703) 684-7594
- The letter can also be signed and scanned into .pdf format and then
E-Mailed as a file attachment to: john.chwat@chwatco.com.  Chwat and
Co. is the ARRL's legislative relations firm in Washington, D.C.

Share the web site information with your amateur radio friends.  It is
not necessary to be an ARRL member to use the site.  The more letters
sent to Representatives the better.

This is your opportunity to make a stand against this legislation.
Help save the 70cm band by completing and mailing the opposition letter
as requested.

-----Texoma Hamarama to host the WGD Convention

The West Gulf Division Convention will be hosted by Texoma Hamarama,
October 21 and 22nd.  Held at the beautiful Ardmore Convention Center,
the venue will allow for a wealth of forum presentations and vendor
participation.  The Hamarama Team is currently seeking presenters that
wish to participate in the Convention.  Please contact Henry Allen,
W5TYD, if you would like to volunteer your expertise.
Henry's E-Mail address is w5tyd@arrl.net.

Hamarama is one of the longest running Hamfests in the Division.
Proceeds from this event fund the Texoma Hamarama Scholarships which
are awarded each year.  Make your plans now to attend!

-----CC&R Relief Legislation Filed

Rep. Warren Chisum has filed the West Gulf Division's CC&R Relief
legislation in the Texas legislature.  The bill number is HB 3038.  If
you are in Rep. Chisum's district, District 88, please send him an
E-Mail or FAX thanking him for supporting amateur radio.  Details about
this bill and the West Gulf legislative agenda will be provided in a
"Special Legislative Addition Newsletter" coming soon.  If you live
in Oklahoma, you have not been forgotten.  Last year in consultation
with Kevin O'Dell, N0IRW, OK SM, it was decided to delay filing CC&R
Relief legislation in Oklahoma until experience was gained in Texas.

-----Recent Hamfest Reports

March 4 and 5th – The Greater Houston Hamfest held in Rosenberg, TX
was greater than ever this year.  At the ARRL forum, Harold Kramer,
WJ1B, ARRL COO presented an informative power point tour of ARRL HQ.
K5RAV discussed the importance of opposing HR607 and N5AUS updated the
group on the WGD's legislative agenda.  Many thanks go to Rick, W5RH
and John, K5IZO and the entire Brazos Valley ARC for a great event.
March 9 and 10th – The Green Country Hamfest in Claremore was a huge
success with approximately 1100 people attending the Oklahoma Section
Convention!  Good weather and awesome hospitality promoted folks young
and old to sell out all of the hotels in Claremore!  Many old friends
stopped by the ARRL booth to say hello and to renew their memberships.

K5RAV and N0IRW had the chance to reacquaint with several folks who are
now retesting and returning to the Amateur community!  The ARRL forum
was standing room only as was the venue for most of the weekend!  Check
out the pictures on our Facebook page (ARRL – West Gulf Division) and
put this event on your 2012 calendar!

-----Planned ARRL Events for K5RAV and N5AUS

Director Woolweaver and Vice Director Stratton are planning to attend
the following upcoming events:

K5RAV – Executive Committee meeting March 19th.
N5AUS – 56th Annual St. Patrick's Day Hamfest, WTX Section
Convention, sponsored by the Midland ARC, March 19th
N5AUS – HamEXPO, sponsored by the Temple ARC, April 2nd , Belton, TX
ARRL events are a great place to visit with the Division and Section
Leadership.  Most events will include an ARRL forum where you can
obtain insight to Division and Section matters.
Of course, at anytime that you have a concern or just want to say hello
you may contact Director Woolweaver at K5RAV@arrl.org or Vice Director
John Stratton at N5AUS@arrl.org.

-----Upcoming hamfests
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://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/
05/14/2011 | Panhandle ARC's 11th Annual Picnic/Swapfest
Location: Amarillo, TX
Type: ARRL Hamfest
Sponsor: Panhandle Amateur Radio Club
Website: http://www.w5wx.org
06/10/2011 | ARRL National Convention (Ham-Com 2011)
Location: Plano, TX
Type: ARRL Convention
Sponsor: Ham-Com, Inc. & supporting clubs
Website: http://www.hamcom.org/
07/09/2011 | TARS Hamfest
Location: Texas City, TX
Type: ARRL Hamfest
Sponsor: Tidelands Amateur Radio Society
Website: http://www.tidelands.org
07/29/2011 | Central States VHF Conference
Location: Irving, TX
Type: ARRL Convention
Sponsor: Central States VHF Society
Website: http://www.csvhfs.org/
07/29/2011 | Oklahoma State Convention (Ham Holiday 2011)
Location: Oklahoma City, OK
Type: ARRL Convention pending Executive Committee approval
Sponsor: Central Oklahoma Radio Amateurs
Website: http://www.hamholiday.org
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ARRL West Gulf Division
Director: David A Woolweaver, K5RAV
k5rav@arrl.org
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