Greetings to the Hams of Michigan:                            February, 2014

Normally by the middle of February we here in Michigan have some expectations of warmer weather and while the short range forecast tells of some moderation, I am pretty sure that we are not out of the woods yet. This has been a really interesting and trying winter and for many, they have a snow machine that they can actually use more than once or twice without having to haul it 3-400 miles north!

Your task for the next month is to think spring!
 
PRB-1 Update

On February 11, a Senate Hearing was held in Lansing within the Energy and Technology Committee, which is chaired by Senator Nofs. This hearing was a bit different in that there was just slightly over a week’s notice and the tone of the hearing was different than what we went through in December 2012.

We testified before the committee using the documentation we had prepared in our short 9 day notice period. In addition to our testimony, there were two organizations testifying that are opposed to our bill along with a village manager.

There are areas of consensus as well as some areas that the involved groups do not agree. The differences are relatively minor and we believe that there is a very good opportunity to work together with those that oppose our bill and come up with a document that works for everyone.

Senator Nofs has instructed one of his aides to set up a meeting between our team and the Michigan Municipal League where we can set together, work out our differences and hopefully come up with a revised bill that meets the needs of both groups. We have confidence that such a compromise bill will have a good chance of approval within committee, paving the way for House and Senate action to get the bill to Governor Snyder for his signature.

There will come a time when input from the hams of Michigan will again be needed. Be advised that things are happening suddenly and the notice we can give you to communicate with your elected representatives will most likely be short.

It is recommended that you opt to receive Section Bulletins via email. You can do this on the ARRL web page (www.arrl.org) when you log in and edit your profile to receive said bulletins. This is where the call to action will appear when the time comes.

Digital Presentation Team

I am very pleased to announce the formation of a team of Michigan hams who have worked together to provide information and instruction concerning digital HF soundcard mode operation.

This group has prepared a common presentation and has volunteered to be available for presentations at club meetings, hamfests or other gatherings where hams have an interest in learning how to get on the air via HFdigital.

The team members are:

John Clements, KC9ON Gaylord, MI kc9on@arrl.net

Stephen Smith, WA8LMF, Haslett, MI wa8lmf@aol.com

Joe Miller, KJ8O, Troy, MI kj8o@arrl.net

Brian Johnston, W8TFI, Warren, MI w8tfi@arrl.net

John Mathieson, AC8JW, Kalamazoo, MI ac8jw@arrl.net

If your group is interested in such a presentation, please contact the team member who is closest to you and see what you can work out. Please understand that these gentlemen are volunteers who operate on their personal funds for travel. There is a chance that their availability may not mesh with your needs. Our team will do their best to provide your group with quality information on a reasonable schedule.

ARRL Centennial QSO Party

The ARRL Centennial QSO Party, a year-long operating event is well underway as of this writing. Every week since January 1, two states have been on the air making contacts as W1AW portable stations. The response by the world’s radio amateurs has been nothing short of fantastic! The pileups have been huge and the opportunities to work states that might otherwise be hard to find has made believers of us.
 
Each state gets two opportunities as W1AW/portable. Michigan comes to bat the week of February 19-25. AA8R, Randy, has done an outstanding job of organizing our response to the challenge by organizing 40+ stations who have committed to operating 350+ hours on the air so that their fellow hams will have a chance to work W1AW/8 from Michigan.

This fall the K8CC group will be at the helm, working out of their excellent contest station in Ypsilanti.  Complete information concerning the ARRL Centennial Celebration is available on the ARRL website at www.arrl.org.

ARRL National Centennial Convention

The 2014 ARRL National Convention will be held in Hartford, CT, the home of the ARRL on July 17 – 19, 2014. Tell your boss that you need that week off work and make your plans now! Hotels are taking reservations now and they will be going fast.

Complete information is available on the ARRL website.

Radio Clubs Elect New Officers for 2014

Arrow Communication Association in Washtenaw County

President:   Jack Spence, N8PMG
Treasurer:    Harvey Bauss, KB8MUP
Secretary:   Mary Anne Stoner, W8VWY
Technical Coordinator:   Jay Nugent, WB8TKL
Public Service Coordinator:  Jim Lommel, WD8RWI
Activities Coordinator:  John Wasciuk, WA8TON/VO1TON

The Michigan Amateur Radio Alliance

President:   Barton Bechtel, N8XQH                                                         Vice-President:  Larry Dells, KC8KVR
Secretary:  Mike Eilers, K8OOK
Treasurer:    Jerry Wittkoski, W8MSK 
Trustee:  Rich Ranta, K8JX

Thank you for accepting the call to serve. Amateur radio clubs are truly the lifeblood of amateur radio.

MSU Scholarship Opportunity

Scott Westerman, W9WSW reports:

Amateur radio at Michigan State University continues to be an important dimension of the Spartan Life. Club station, W8SH, located at the College of Engineering, can be regularly heard during radiosport events and we continue to cherish our connection to K1ZZ, our former Spartan in Newington.

We have recently had conversations with our sister club at the University of Michigan about some joint activities and hope to be able to share details soon.

Among the benefits to licensed amateurs who attend Michigan State is the MSU Amateur Radio Club Scholarship. This is an endowed fund that provides financial assistance to freshmen or transfer students. While the scholarship is open to any eligible amateur in the nation, we have a particular interest in promoting it's availability to Michigan based hams.

Any student or parent who may be interested can feel free to contact me via w9wsw@arrl.net.

Hospitality Acknowledgements

Many thanks to the following organizations for their warm hospitality shown to the section staff during travels around the state:

HARA Swap, Negaunee

Cherryland Swap, Traverse City

It was a pleasure to attend your event.

Section Staff Travel Plans (winter weather permitting)

Feb 16, 2014  Livonia Hamfest, Livonia, MI – WB8R

Mar 8, 2014  Section Staff Meeting, Lansing, MI – Section Staff

Mar 15, 2014  Crossroads Hamfest, Marshall, MI – WB8R

Apr 12, 2014  Milford Swap, Milford, MI – WB8R

May 3, 2014  Cadillac Hamfest, Cadillac, MI – WB8R

Jun 15, 2014  Monroe Hamfest, Monroe, MI – WB8R

Jun 21, 2014  West Michigan Youth Club Hamfest, Lowell, MI - TBD

Jul 26, 2014  CMARC Outdoor Swap, Lansing, MI – WB8R

Michigan Section Traffic/ARPSC Nets

MACS - MI Amateur Communications System 3.952 1000 Daily

UPN – Upper Peninsula Net 3.921 1700 Daily; Noon Sunday

MIARPSC – MI Amateur Radio Public Service Corps 3.932 1700 Sunday

QMN – The Michigan Net 3.563 1830 and 2200 Daily

MITN – MI Traffic Net 3.952 1900 Daily

MIDTN – MI Digital Traffic Net 3.583 (Olivia 8/500) in waterfall l 2000 Tues, Thurs, Sat

GLETN – Great Lakes Emergency and Traffic Net 3.932 2000 Daily

MVTN – MI VHF Traffic Net IRA Link System 2100 Mon, Wed, Fri, Sun

NLEUP - Northern Lower Eastern UP Net 146.64- 18:30 Daily

SEMTN – SE MI Traffic Net 146.76- 2215 Daily

TMMTN – Thumb Mid Michigan Traffic Net 147.30+ 2130 Mon - Sat
More information is available at http://nts-mi.org/. Come join us on our traffic and public service nets.

Amateur Radio Public Service Corps (ARPSC) Activities

Station Activity Reports (SAR) for January, 2014:

K8ED 489, K8RDN 416, N8FVM 314, WB8WKQ 273, KD8AAD 254, WD8USA 182, KB8RCR 164, KD8ULU 127, WB8TQZ 101, W8QZ 96, WB8RCR 76, KC8BW 66, WB9JSR 47, KD8LSM 33, W8MSK 24, WB8R 22, WB8H 20, N8UN 6, KC8YVF 5, N8OSL 3, KD8EBY 2.
 
Total Station Activity Report (SAR) reported: 2720

Brass Pounder’s League (BPL) for January, 2014: None

Public Service Honor Roll (PSHR) for January, 2014:

WB8RCR 375, N8FVM 290, K8RDN 265, WB8R 209, KB8RCR 195, KC8YVF 171, WD8USA 165, KD8LSM 123, WB8WKQ 100, N8OSL 98,WB8TQZ 95, WB9JSR 92, KC8BW 90, K8ED 80, W8QZ 73, WB8H 65, KD8AAD 56, KD8EBY 50, KD8ULU 50, W8TBC 42, KC8QWH 41,KD8HPG 11.

Total PSHR eported: 2636

Net traffic for January, 2014:

Michigan VHF Traffic Net 249, Michigan Traffic Net 188, Michigan Amateur Communications System 176, The Michigan Net 171, Southeastern Michigan Traffic Net 108, Michigan Digital Traffic Net 59, Upper Peninsula Net 50, Great Lakes Emergency and Traffic Net 48, Branch County Digital Training Net 11, Saginaw County ARES Net 3, District 3 ARPSC Net 2, Red Cross Net of Greater Grand Rapids 1, Michigan Amateur Radio Public Service Corps 1, Branch County Emergency Net 0, Chelsea ARC Net 0, Genesee County ARPSC Traffic and Training Net 0.

Total net traffic reported: 1067

Total value of ARPSC activity for January, 2014: $251,590

Total value of NTs activity for January, 2014: $70,951

Total value of Michigan Public Service for January, 2014: $322,541

Parting Comments

If you are reporting monthly to our SEC/STM WB8RCR, you can see your PSHR eligibility status at http://www.nts-mi.org/. The full details are at: http://www.arrl.org/public-service-honor-roll. This award recognizes the efforts of hams that are active in public service. Those reporting accumulate points for checking into nets, volunteering, holding Section appointment(s) and handling message traffic.
 
EC’s can see their reports of Form FSD-212 here: http://ares-mi.org/ec_his.php If you send your report to WB8RCRand don’t see it noted there, send a note to John to tell him your report has gone missing. EC’s: Be sure to share your FSD 212 with your District EC, your ARES/RACES members and with your county’s Emergency Manager and others in your jurisdiction who need to know what you and your ARES/RACES group are contributing to your community each month.

Thank you for all of your efforts on behalf of the people of the State of Michigan and for filing your monthly reports. It really shows how active Michigan is in holding a leadership position for ham radio public service activities.
 
73 until next month,

Larry, WB8R