Compiled by S. Khrystyne Keane, K1SFA
ARRL News Editor
[email protected]

This feature -- including convenient Web links to useful information -- is a concise monthly update of some of the things ARRL is doing on behalf of its members. This installment covers the month of July.

The ARRL Board of Directors held its Second Meeting of 2011 July 15-16 in Windsor, Connecticut, under the chairmanship of President Kay Craigie, N3KN.

The Teachers Institute on Wireless Technology finished up a successful season at ARRL HQ.

The ARRL requested that the FCC keep open a proceeding concerning 2300 MHz. The FCC has marked approximately 800 proceedings, of which 45 are Amateur Radio-related, for termination.

ARRL VEC Manager Maria Somma, AB1FM, and Assistant VEC Manager Perry Green, along with ARRL Regulatory Information Manager Dan Henderson, N1ND, attended the annual National Conference of Volunteer Examiner Coordinators (NCVEC) meeting in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.

ARRL Official Observers teamed with the FCC to solve a rogue keyer problem on 17 meters.

The ARRL launched three forums -- Contesting, Awards and Technology -- on its website.

The ARRL is looking for stations to become Emergency Liaison Stations.

Upon gaining membership to the United Nations, the Republic of South Sudan is a DXCC entity. The DXCC Desk began accepting QSOs for this new entity with a start date of July 14, 2011.

The ARRL Executive Committee approved resource and equipment grants valued at nearly $5000 to six schools.

The 2011 running of the ARRL June VHF QSO Party saw a record number of logs submitted. This year, 1243 logs were submitted for this contest, breaking the record set in 2010 of 1202 logs.

Bill Roberts, W5NPR, of Alpine, has been appointed as the Interim West Texas Section Manager.

A new QuickStats poll was made available on the ARRL website.

The winner of the QST Cover Plaque Award for July 2011 is Jerry Clement, VE6AB, for his article “Gain Twist 75 Meter Mobile Monobander.”

The September issue of QST was released to the printer.

Official Observer Desk: Official Observers (OOs) in the ARRL’s Northern New Jersey Section are investigating reports of foul language and poor operating behavior on a local repeater. Reports of a Missouri business using a repeater have been forwarded to the FCC. Complaints regarding a shortwave broadcaster on 7.210, 18.130 and 28.260, as well as CB stations causing interference on the amateur bands were received. OOs in South Carolina and Georgia are investigating reports of interference to local repeaters.

Member Contact: ARRL Membership and Volunteer Programs Manager Dave Patton, NN1N, attended the W0DXCC meeting in Leavenworth, Kansas.