Oklahoma Section News – March - April 2013

Is it spring yet??

Well, maybe pretty soon.......

We've had a great start to the hamfest season here in Oklahoma!

Eddie and I had a great time in Moreland back on the first weekend in February.  Great hams, great hospitality and great deals, what more could you ask for.  You need to try and make it next year.

I didn't get to make it to Elk City, but I understand they had a great timd as well.

Green Country is in the books and I can say it was wonderful as usual.  It did seem that the numbers were down some this year, but I though Friday evening was better than in the past.  We go to play host to Chuck Skolaut, K0BOG and his wife Mary (I forgot her call).  Chuck gave a good talk on the Official Observer program.  If there is anyone in the section that would be interested in becomng an OO, let me know.

Also in attendance was our Vice-Director, John Stratton, N5AUS and my wife Wilma, W5WRO.  John had one of the best talks on the League's Advocacy that I have ever heard.  Wilma, with Mary's help manned the League booth while Chuck, John and I shook hands and generally mingled with members.  The booth generated 31 new or renewal memberships.

Speaking of memberships, if you either join or renew at the league booth, we have some nice premiums for you to choose from.  The usual Repeater Directory, More Wire Antenna Classics, Hints & Kinks (New), Small Antennas for Small Spaces (New) and the 2012 Periodicals Collection.  The last item is really pretty neat.  It is the entire year of QST, QEX and NCJ on CD.  They are all in PDF format and fully searchable.  So sign up at the booth.

ASM Tom Webb (WA9AFM sent along the following announcement.....

We're having another "Ham-Aid"!!!  It will be on Saturday, 20 April at the Salvation Army Citadel, 1 blk west of SE 44th & Bryant.  Tentative start time is 9:00 AM.  This will also be a follow-up to the Marathon Pre-Briefing for those who can't make the regular briefing on Tuesday,16 April.  The various activities are still being developed.  If you have a request or suggestion for an event or activity at 'Ham-Aide', contact Dave, NE5S (ddgold@cox.net).  One activity will be helping folks program HT/mobile rig for the 2013 Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon.  Please bring your software and cable!!!

2013 Hamfests

6/7 – 6/8                        Ham-Com, Plano, TX 

7/26 – 7/27                        Ham Holiday, OKC

9/13 - 9/14                          Ada Hamfest, Ada, OK????

10/25 – 10/26            Texhoma Hamarama, Ardmore, OK

11/2                                    Enid Hamfest, Enid, OK 

 ---WGD Announces New Annual Division Awards

Director David Woolweaver is pleased to announce the creation of the West Gulf Division Annual Division Awards.  There are two primary awards: Ham of the Year and Young Ham of the Year, which will be
complimented by a third award, the West Gulf Division Excellence Award.
While the first two awards are self explanatory, the third award represents any Amateur Radio endeavor that the nominators feel deserves recognition.  Suggested categories can be found on the Division website.
www.arrlwgd.org They include Educator of the Year, Radio Scouter of the Year, Technical Achievement and Amateur Radio Organization of the Year among many others.   For the WGD Excellence Award only, the nominators are not limited to the suggested categories.  

Divisional Awards will be presented at the West Gulf Division Convention each year.  Nominations for 2012 Award Winners will be accepted until April 15, 2013 for presentation at HamCom in June.  Nomination forms for each nominee (by category) must be supported by at
least three ARRL members on the award nomination form, a minimum 150-word statement and any available supporting documentation.  Other rules do apply and can be found on the WGD website at www.ARRLWGD.org. 


The Division Awards judging panel consists of four (4) ARRL members, selected by each of the Section Managers in North Texas, Oklahoma, South Texas and West Texas Sections.  The Section Manager may opt to
appoint his/herself to the committee.  The fifth judge is selected by the Division Director and may reside anywhere within the West Gulf Division.   Neither the Division Director nor the Vice Director will participate in the vote.

Legislative Agenda

Eddie Manley, K5EMS, our State Government Liaison , has informed me that as of 3-25-2013 our legislation changng the wording in our state PRB-1 law has passed the House floor vote unanamously and has been passed out of committee in the Senate.  So, it's looking like it's gonna get through unless somethng big comes up.

Youth

I am proud to let you know that the section now has an Assistant Section Manager for Youth.  Conner Keef, WX5CJK is a meteorology student at OU and will be working with the youth of the section.  He is being assisted by Megan McCellan, K5MEM past North Texas ASM for youth.  They are planning on having a Youth Lounge at the sections 3 larger hamfests this year starting with Green Country, then Ham Holiday and ending with Texhoma.  The youth lounge concept has really started to catch on.  This way, any kids that come to these hamfests, licensed or not, will have programming aimed directly at them.

The youth lounge at Green Country got the ball rolling.  Both of our ASM's for Youth Activities couldn't attend for family reasons.  However, Gary Way, AE5OF of Meeker, picked up the ball and ran with it.  Gary got 2 eagle scouts to take over the booth for Conner and Megan.  They did a wonderful job.

ARRL Centennial

Don’t forget the ARRL Centennial is coming up in 2014.  By the beginning of 3^rd quarter this year you should start seeing ideas for your club to start the planning process for next year.

E-mail Groups

If you aren’t a member of the  aresoklahoma or OKtraders Yahoo groups, then you should be.  Also check out the section presence on Twitter and Facebook.  Then make sure you join the ARRL-OK section e-mail list at http://mailman.qth.net/.

That’s all for now.  I hope to see all of you at one time or another this year.

73,

Kevin O’Dell, N0IRW

Oklahoma Section Manager

Chairman ARRL PR Committee