Greetings to the hams of Michigan,                                     May, 2013  

Amateur Radio Week June 17 – 23, 2013  

At the beginning of the month, I received word from our Public Information Officer Pat Mullet, KC8RTW that the Michigan Senate had adopted SR0039 which declares that the week of June 17 – 23 will be Amateur Radio Week in Michigan.  

You can find the text of the resolution here: http://www.legislature.mi.gov/(S(jw5rqkaldtxe2p45x1wuuk45))/mileg.aspx?page=getObject&objectName=2013-SR-0039doing  

Thanks to Pat for doing a great job!  

GLD/Michigan Section Newsletter Contest  

As previously published here and at other locations, the 2013 Michigan Club Newsletter Contest is underway. The deadline for entry is May 17, 2013. There is still time to enter your newsletter.   The Michigan Section Newsletter Contest will select the best club newsletter in the state of Michigan to compete with the best from Ohio and Kentucky in the ARRL Great Lakes Division at the forthcoming GLD convention in Columbus, OH on August 3, 2013 for the Joseph J. Phillips Newsletter of the Year Award.  

Rules  (These are consistent with the rules used in both Ohio and Kentucky):

A.) An eligible newsletter must be regularly published at least four (4) times per year by a Michigan ARRL affiliated Amateur Radio organization. A winning newsletter from the most recent contest is not eligible to participate.

B.) Each organization submitting a newsletter for the contest must enter any two (2) issues starting with January 2013 for judging. The deadline for entries is May 17, 2013 and all entries must be in the hands of the Michigan Affiliated Club Coordinator by that date.

C.) Electronic (Web based) produced newsletters may also enter. However, they must represent their printed newsletter in all formats. For example, if photos or clip art appearing in the printed material, it must also appear in the electronic version as well.  

D.)Judging will be based upon: Style (15%), Content (35%), Service to Membership (35%), and Clarity of Presentation (15%). Style means newsletter design of all pages. Content means amount of useful information contained in the newsletter. Service to members means amount of information using individual members’ names. Clarity of presentation means readability of the newsletter including accuracy of English grammar.

E.) Entries will not be returned.  The Michigan Affiliated Club Coordinator only serves to certify entries, to provide the judges with entries, and to announce their decisions.

F.) The decision of the judges is final.  

Email your entries to: wb8alw@arrl.net  

Send paper copy to:  

WB8ALW - Newsletter Contest, 2627 Romence Rd, Portage, MI 49024  

Great Lakes Division Convention  

The 2013 GLD Convention will be held in Columbus, OH on August 3, 2013. An excellent slate of forums and presentations is being developed. Included will be a NTS forum and Dave Maynard, WA3EZN (OH STM) is leading the way, but is looking for some help manning the NTS table and participating in the Forum. Michigan traffic handlers: here is your opportunity to participate and to help spread the word. Contact Dave at wa3ezn@att.net to volunteer. 

2013 Field Day  

This year’s ARRL Field Day will be held on June 22 – 23, 2013. This is a great event for both new and not so new hams and is an excellent opportunity to showcase the capabilities of your club to set up multiple stations in the field with all the necessary support features to operate for 24 hours in conditions that may vary from mild to wild. Be sure to gather amateur radio promotional materials and set up an information table at which visitors can be greeted and provided with information about participation and becoming a ham. Information and sign-up sheets for those that would like more information on ham radio and classes is good to have on hand. Be sure to gather email addresses for continued communication and be sure to have your club’s website prominently noted. Don’t forget to send out your press releases to local media.   Speaking of visitors, be sure to invite various community officials (government, emergency management, police, fire, etc) to come out to your FD site to see what all the fuss is about. Make arrangements to get as many visitors as possible in the operating seat and have them make a few contacts!   Above all, follow all safety protocols and HAVE FUN!  

Hospitality Acknowledgements  

Many thanks for the hospitality shown to me at the Milford and Cadillac swaps.  

Section Staff Travel Plans  

Jun 1, 2013                  Hudsonville Swap, Hudsonville, MI – WB8R

Jun 2, 2013                  Chelsea Swap and Shop, Chelsea, MI – WB8R

Jun 8, 2013                  LARS Swap, Newberry, MI – WB8R

Jun 15, 2013                Midland Hamfest, Midland, MI – WB8R

Jun 16, 2013                Monroe Hamfest, Monroe, MI – WB8R

July 11-14 2013            MI Section Family Outing, Hale, MI – Section Staff

July 20, 2013               GMARC Trunk Swap, Utica, MI – WB8R

July 27, 2013               CMARC Trunk Sales, Lansing, MI – WB8R

Aug 3, 2013                 Gr. Lakes Div. Convention, Columbus, OH ** - WB8R

Aug 3, 2013                 UP Hamfest, Escanaba, MI

Sep 7, 2013                 GRAhamfest, Wyoming, MI – WB8R

** QSL Card Checker to be present  

APRSC Activities  

SARs for April, 2013: WB8WKQ 418, K8ED 324, WB8TQZ 290, KD8CYK 287, K8LJG 257, KB8RCR 217, K8RDN 195, KD8AAD 187, N8FVM 131, NX8A 102, K8VFZ 101, KD8RPP 97, KC8BW 73, WB8RCR 44, WD8USA 40, WB8R 12, N8OSL 11, W8MSK 11, KD8LSM 6, KC8YVF 5, KD8EBY 3. 

Total SAR reported: 2811  

BPL for April, 2013: K8LJG 257.  

PSHRs for April, 2013: WB8RCR 557, K8RDN 355, WB8R 212, WD8USA 195, N8OSL 178, KB8RCR 155, NX8A 150, N8FVM 149, KC8QWH 142, KC8EIA 142, KD8CYK 120, WB8WKQ 120, WB8TQZ 100, K8VFZ 100, KC8BW 90, KB8UIH 89, K8ED 80, KD8HPG 77, KC8YVF 71, KD8AAD  69, KD8EBY 66, KD8RPP 56, KD8LSM  25.  

Net traffic for April, 2013: MITN 252, MVTN 186, QMN 144, MACS 128, SEMTN 124, MIDTN 60, UPN 50, GLETN 42, TMMTN 30, MCN 10, SCAN 5, ACAN 4, D3AN 2, MIARPSC 2, D3DTN 1, GCARPSC 0, GRRC 0, BCEN 0, D5HN 0.  

Total net traffic reported: 1040  

Public Service Participation Dollar Value: NTS $62,698; ARES: $275,319 

Total April, 2013 Michigan ARPSC Dollar Contribution: $338,017  

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.  

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