• ARRL Extra Bulletin

    From Daryl Stout@HURRICAN/THUNDER to All on Mon Feb 27 15:22:00 2017
    SB SPCL @ ARL $ARLX001
    ARLX001 Past ARRL Midwest Division Director Lew Gordon, K4VX (SK)

    ZCZC AX01
    QST de W1AW
    Special Bulletin 1 ARLX001
    From ARRL Headquarters
    Newington CT February 27, 2017
    To all radio amateurs

    SB SPCL ARL ARLX001
    ARLX001 Past ARRL Midwest Division Director Lew Gordon, K4VX (SK)

    Past ARRL Midwest Division Director Lew Gordon, K4VX, of Hannibal,
    Missouri, died on February 25. He was 87. Although he had been
    suffering from cancer, Gordon had remained active on the air until
    his death.

    Licensed in 1947, Gordon was a veteran of the Korean Conflict. After
    separating from the service, he attended Purdue University, earning
    a bachelor's degree in physics.

    An ARRL Life Member, Gordon served on the ARRL Board's Membership
    Services Committee, including 2 years as chairman, and on its
    Administration and Finance Committee. He stepped down from the Board
    in 2000 at the age of 70.

    Cliff Ahrens, K0CA, later also served as Midwest Division Director.
    "Lew's love for Amateur Radio touched so many, Ahrens said. "He was
    a strong advocate for Amateur Radio during his 6 years of service as
    the ARRL Midwest Division Director. And he served our country
    honorably in both the Air Force and the CIA. We will miss him
    greatly."

    Gordon's first love was DX contesting, and during his active contest
    years as W9APY, W4ZCY, and K4VX his station made several hundred
    thousand QSOs. Over the years he also mentored many young
    contesters, including three-time WRTC co-champion Jeff Steinman,
    then KR0Y, now N5TJ. Among the other budding contesters that
    Steinman enticed into the circle of K4VX operators was Dave Patton,
    NN1N, now ARRL Field Services Manager.

    "Jeff brought me into the group in 1985, after I returned from my
    active duty Navy stint," Patton recounted, "and I am forever
    thankful to Lew and his wife Terry, NS0Z for opening their house and
    hearts to me." The late Bill Fisher, W4AN, was another of Gordon's
    contesting proteges.

    Patton said Gordon had a reputation in the contesting world for his
    high ethical standards, insisting that operators at his station
    abide by them, especially with respect to not exceeding the maximum
    legal power output.

    "His strength of character and contest skills led to his selection
    as Chief Judge at two World Radiosport Team Championship
    competitions," Patton said. "I was proud to be a competitor when he
    was there, and we were sure that the scoring was the best it could
    be."

    He was on the DXCC Honor Roll with 366 all time for 1 DXCC Honor
    Roll. He also held Worked All Zones (WAZ) on both phone and CW. In
    1996 he was tapped for membership in the CQ Contest Hall of Fame, an
    honor he always felt topped all the others. Gordon was a life member
    of QCWA, the Eastern Iowa DX Association, and the Mississippi Valley
    DX and Contest Club. He also belonged to the Potomac Valley Radio
    Club and the Society of Midwest Contesters.

    Gordon has been published in QST, CQ, NCJ, and in several editions
    of The ARRL Antenna Compendium. He said recently that he'd rather be
    known for the antenna-design software he wrote - YagiMax - and for
    the various antennas he's designed. YagiMax remains in use
    worldwide.

    Patton said Gordon ventured beyond contesting and DXing, equipping a
    local school with ham gear and teaching classes. "He licensed over
    100 kids, and they all had tours of a real radio station," Patton
    said.

    "Lew was one of our real true hams, and it goes without saying that
    he will be missed," Patton said.
    NNNN
    /EX


    Posted by VPost v1.7.081019
  • From Daryl Stout@HURRICAN/THUNDER to All on Wed Apr 5 16:16:00 2017
    SB SPCL @ ARL $ARLX002
    ARLX002 30th International Marconi Day Event Set for April 22

    ZCZC AX02
    QST de W1AW
    Special Bulletin 2 ARLX002
    From ARRL Headquarters
    Newington CT April 5, 2017
    To all radio amateurs

    SB SPCL ARL ARLX002
    ARLX002 30th International Marconi Day Event Set for April 22

    Dozens of official "award stations" have registered to take part in
    the 2017 International Marconi Day (IMD) event, this year being held
    on April 22, 0000-2359 UTC (starting on April 21 in US time zones).
    All contacts counting toward the Marconi Award must be made on HF
    with registered stations, but other participating stations do not
    need to be registered to claim awards. This year marks the 30th IMD,
    held each year to mark the anniversary of wireless pioneer Guglielmo
    Marconi's birth on April 25, 1874. IMD is observed each year on a
    Saturday close to Marconi's birthday. Many special event stations -
    some operating from Marconi-related sites - will be on the air.
    Marconi Award certificates are available for both transmitting
    stations and shortwave listeners (SWLs).

    The event is not a contest but an opportunity for amateurs around
    the world to make point-to-point contact with historic Marconi sites
    using HF communication techniques descended from those used by
    Marconi, and to earn an award certificate for working or hearing a
    requisite number of Marconi stations.

    There are two categories. Transmitting amateurs attempt to complete
    contacts with 15 of the official award stations, while shortwave
    listeners attempt to log two-way communications made by 15 of the
    official award stations.

    International Marconi Day special event station GB4IMD will be on
    the air from Cornwall, helmed by members of the Cornish Amateur
    Radio Club, which organizes the IMD event. Cornwall was home to some
    of Marconi's early work. A list of participating stations is on the
    Cornish Amateur Radio Club's website at,
    http://gx4crc.com/imd-stations/ .

    The Kerry Amateur Radio Group in Ireland will be taking part as an
    IMD award station. EI6YXQ will be set up on the site of the former
    Marconi Station at Ballybunion. The YXQ suffix commemorates the call
    sign of the Marconi Station at Ballybunion.

    In the US, special event station K2M will be on the air from
    Binghamton, New York, the site of the remaining Marconi tower, where
    the inventor demonstrated in 1913 that it was possible to
    communicate via radio with a fast-moving train.

    For the seventh year, radio amateurs in Norfolk, England, will be
    active from Caister Lifeboat as part of the IMD celebration. The
    Norfolk Amateur Radio Club (NARC) will be on the air from special
    event station GB0CMS at the Caister Lifeboat Visitor Centre to
    commemorate the village's original Marconi wireless station,
    established in 1900. The station's original purpose was to
    communicate with ships in the North Sea and the Cross Sands
    lightship.

    Other IMD sites with historical links to the inventor's work include
    Cape Cod, Massachusetts (WA1WCC and KM1CC); Nantucket Island
    (W1AA/MSC); Glace Bay, Nova Scotia (VE1IMD); Villa Griffone,
    Bologna, Italy (IY4FGM), and many others.

    A Facebook page is also available at, https://www.facebook.com/search/top/?q=gb4imd .
    NNNN
    /EX


    Posted by VPost v1.7.081019
  • From Daryl Stout@HURRICAN/THUNDER to All on Wed Apr 5 16:16:00 2017
    SB SPCL @ ARL $ARLX003
    ARLX003 Former Kansas Section Manager Orlan Cook, W0OYH, and Former
    Sacramento Valley Section Manager Ron Murdock, W6KJ (SK)

    ZCZC AX03
    QST de W1AW
    Special Bulletin 3 ARLX003
    From ARRL Headquarters
    Newington CT April 5, 2017
    To all radio amateurs

    SB SPCL ARL ARLX003
    ARLX003 Former Kansas Section Manager Orlan Cook, W0OYH, and Former
    Sacramento Valley Section Manager Ron Murdock, W6KJ (SK)

    Former Kansas Section Manager Orlan Cook, W0OYH, died on March 28.
    An ARRL Life Member, he was 85. Cook served for 5 years as Kansas
    SM, taking office by appointment in 1997 and serving until 2002. He
    was an ARRL Official Relay Station (ORS) and Official Bulletin
    Station, and for the past decade or so, he served in an informal
    public information role as editor of the KAR (Kansas Amateur Radio)
    newsletter.

    Former ARRL Sacramento Valley Section Manager Ron Murdock, W6KJ, of
    Yuba City, California, died on April 1. An ARRL Life member, Murdock
    was 76. "Ron's passion for serving our amateur radio community was
    truly inspiring and he will be sorely missed," said current
    Sacramento Valley SM Dr. Carol Milazzo, KP4MD. Murdock was a US Air
    Force veteran, who flew 300 combat missions as a B52 radar
    navigator. He also worked as a substitute teacher for 15 years.
    Murdock served as ARRL Sacramento Valley Section Manager from 2007
    until 2015.
    NNNN
    /EX


    Posted by VPost v1.7.081019
  • From Daryl Stout@HURRICAN/TBOLT to All on Wed Nov 8 15:32:08 2017
    SB SPCL @ ARL $ARLX011
    ARLX011 ARI President Mario Ambrosi, I2MQP (SK)

    ZCZC AX11
    QST de W1AW
    Special Bulletin 11 ARLX011
    From ARRL Headquarters
    Newington CT November 8, 2017
    To all radio amateurs

    SB SPCL ARL ARLX011
    ARLX011 ARI President Mario Ambrosi, I2MQP (SK)

    Associazione Radioamatori Italiani (ARI) President Pietro "Mario"
    Ambrosi, I2MQP, of Rodano, Millepini, Italy, died November 6 after
    serving for several decades at the head of Italy's national Amateur
    Radio organization and IARU member society.

    A long-time ARRL member, DXCC card checker, and 2005 CQ Amateur
    Radio Hall of Fame inductee, Ambrosi was credited with growing ARI
    and with bringing younger people into ham radio. Ambrosi was a DXer
    and contester, a member of the ARI DX Club Contest Team, and held #1
    Honor Roll and 9-Band DXCC. He also served as a QSL manager for
    multiple stations.

    Ambrosi was the author of several books on radio and the editor of
    ARI's journal, Radio Rivista.
    NNNN
    /EX


    ---
    ■ Synchronet ■ The Thunderbolt BBS - wx1der.dyndns.org
  • From Daryl Stout@HURRICAN to All on Mon Nov 2 11:46:24 2020
    SB SPCL @ ARL $ARLX014
    ARLX014 ARRL Pacific Division Director Jim Tiemstra, K6JAT (SK)

    ZCZC AX14
    QST de W1AW
    Special Bulletin 14 ARLX014
    From ARRL Headquarters
    Newington CT November 2, 2020
    To all radio amateurs

    SB SPCL ARL ARLX014

    ARLX014 ARRL Pacific Division Director Jim Tiemstra, K6JAT (SK)

    ARRL Pacific Division Director Jim Tiemstra, K6JAT, of Oakland,
    California, died October 30. An ARRL Life Member, he was 65.

    "Jim was passionate about ham radio and a dedicated member of the
    ARRL Board of Directors," ARRL President Rick Roderick, K5UR, said.
    "He devoted himself to the members of his Division and always strove
    to do what was best for amateur radio and its future. His knowledge
    and leadership were significant and will be missed by the many who
    worked with him and had the pleasure to know him."

    Tiemstra was ARRL Pacific Division Vice Director from 2009 through
    2017, sitting on the Administration and Finance, and Programs and
    Services Committees of the Board. He became ARRL Pacific Division
    Director in January 2018. Currently, he was a member of the
    Administration and Finance Committee, the Legal Structure Review
    Committee, chair of the Legislative Advocacy Committee, and an
    advisor to the Amateur Radio Legal Defense and Assistance Committee,
    among other Board assignments.

    Licensed in 1970 as WN9ELU in Chicago, Tiemstra was the president of
    his high school radio club in Illinois. Early on, he built most of
    his own gear from Heathkits. In 1977, he married Lilah Greene,
    KE6EHD, and they moved to California, where Tiemstra became N6OIK,
    later choosing K6JAT as a vanity call sign. He'd also held V26JAT
    and 3D2TJ and had operated from Curacao and Hawaii.

    Primarily a contester and DXer, Tiemstra had been a DXpedition
    member and had long been involved in the public service aspects of
    the hobby. As a member of the Oakland Amateur Radio Emergency
    Service (ARES) group, he was among those responding to the Loma
    Prieta earthquake in 1989 and the Oakland Hills firestorm in 1991,
    receiving a Certificate of Appreciation from the American Red Cross.
    He championed the Emergency Communication Ham Operation (ECHO)
    proposal to install amateur radio equipment in his city's emergency
    operations center and in each of its 30 fire stations.

    Tiemstra worked with his ARES group to gain RACES recognition, wrote
    the RACES Operations Manual, and was instrumental in forging a
    formal Letter of Understanding with the City of Oakland. Jim served
    as Oakland's RACES Radio Officer for more than 14 years, was on the
    mayor's Emergency Management Council, and was ARRL East Bay Section
    Emergency Coordinator. In 2002, he was recognized by the Oakland
    Fire Department as Community Volunteer of the Year.

    In 1998, Tiemstra incorporated the Oakland Radio Communication
    Association (ORCA), an ARRL affiliated club, was a founding
    director, and became its first president. He served as trustee of
    the club's call sign, WW6OR.

    Tiemstra retired in 2018 as a federal practitioner in the private
    practice of law. He was an ARRL Diamond Club and Maxim Society
    member.

    He and his wife have twin sons, Robert and Matthew, KI6IHP.
    NNNN
    /EX
    --- SBBSecho 3.11-Win32
    * Origin: The Thunderbolt BBS - tbolt.synchro.net (57:57/10)
    ■ Synchronet ■ Eye of The Hurricane BBS - hurrican.synchro.net
  • From Daryl Stout@HURRICAN to All on Wed Nov 25 17:48:16 2020
    SB SPCL @ ARL $ARLX015
    ARLX015 Former West Virginia Section Manager Ann Rinehart, KA8ZGY
    (SK)

    ZCZC AX15
    QST de W1AW
    Special Bulletin 15 ARLX015
    From ARRL Headquarters
    Newington CT November 25, 2020
    To all radio amateurs

    SB SPCL ARL ARLX015
    ARLX015 Former West Virginia Section Manager Ann Rinehart, KA8ZGY
    (SK)

    Former West Virginia Section Manager Ann Rinehart, KA8ZGY, of South
    Charleston died on November 20 of COVID-19 complications. An ARRL
    Member, she was 85.

    ARRL Roanoke Division Vice Director Bill Morine, N2COP, said, "She
    was one of our Division's pioneering women - consistently gracious,
    yet firm in her efficient management of the Section."

    Rinehart served as West Virginia Section Manager from 2005 until
    2013. She also served as an Official Emergency Station and was the
    Affiliated Club Coordinator in West Virginia in 2001. Rinehart was
    an Assistant Section Manager from 2017 until her death.

    Rinehart was a nurse and administrator at Charleston Area Medical
    Center. She belonged to the West Virginia State Amateur Radio
    Council and the Kanawha Amateur Radio Club. Due to COVID-19
    restrictions, no service will be held at this time.
    NNNN
    /EX
    --- SBBSecho 3.11-Win32
    * Origin: The Thunderbolt BBS - tbolt.synchro.net (57:57/10)
    ■ Synchronet ■ Eye of The Hurricane BBS - hurrican.synchro.net
  • From Daryl Stout@HURRICAN to All on Tue Jan 12 17:36:40 2021
    SB SPCL @ ARL $ARLX001
    ARLX001 Former RAC President John "Hoppy" Hopwood, VE7RD (SK)

    ZCZC AX01
    QST de W1AW
    Special Bulletin 1 ARLX001
    From ARRL Headquarters
    Newington CT January 12, 2021
    To all radio amateurs

    SB SPCL ARL ARLX001
    ARLX001 Former RAC President John ''Hoppy" Hopwood, VE7RD (SK)

    Former Radio Amateurs of Canada (RAC) President John Farrell "Hoppy"
    Hopwood, VE7RD, of North Vancouver, British Columbia, died on
    December 8. He was 91. Hopwood was instrumental in the founding of
    RAC and was inducted in 2015 as a member of the Canadian Amateur
    Radio Hall of Fame.

    Hopwood spent his career in telecommunications, once working as a
    telegraph lineman. In 1971, he formed a Systems Coordination Centre
    (SCC) to help British Columbia Telephone Company and other large
    business users to install new telecom networks, and he managed the
    SCC until he retired in 1992.

    Licensed in 1955, Hopwood was an early member of the Canadian Radio
    Relay League (CRRL), the Canadian Amateur Radio Federation (CARF),
    and ARRL. As Vice President of CARF, Hopwood encouraged the CARF and
    CRRL boards to resume talks to consider creating one national
    society.

    "Merging the two societies was a complex and delicate process," RAC
    said in remembering Hopwood. He worked with CRRL President Dana
    Shtun, VE3DSS, who, RAC said, "shared the vision for a strong
    national amateur radio society." Hopwood served as RAC's first Vice
    President and subsequently was appointed as RAC President, retiring
    in 1998 after six terms.
    NNNN
    /EX
    --- SBBSecho 3.11-Win32
    * Origin: The Thunderbolt BBS - tbolt.synchro.net (57:57/10)
    ■ Synchronet ■ Eye of The Hurricane BBS - hurrican.synchro.net
  • From Daryl Stout@HURRICAN to All on Wed Dec 30 11:32:01 2020
    SB SPCL @ ARL $ARLX016
    ARLX016 ARRL Staffers to be On the Air from W1AW for Straight Key
    Night

    ZCZC AX16
    QST de W1AW
    Special Bulletin 16 ARLX016
    From ARRL Headquarters
    Newington CT December 30, 2020
    To all radio amateurs

    SB SPCL ARL ARLX016
    ARLX016 ARRL Staffers to be On the Air from W1AW for Straight Key
    Night

    Members of the ARRL Headquarters staff will put W1AW on the air for
    Straight Key Night (SKN). Set some time aside on New Year's Eve and
    New Year's Day to take part in this annual ARRL tradition.

    Information on Straight Key Night can be found at, http://www.arrl.org/straight-key-night .

    SKN begins at 0000 UTC on January 1, 2021 (New Year's Eve in US time
    zones) and wraps up at 2359 UTC. Not a contest, SKN is dedicated to
    celebrating amateur radio's Morse code heritage. Bring out the
    brass, get on the air, and enjoy casual CW contacts, preferably
    using a straight key (hand key) or a semi-automatic key (bug).
    Activity traditionally centers on CW segments in the HF bands (W1AW
    will focus on 80, 40, and 20 meters).

    Submit via email your SKN list of stations contacted and your votes
    for "Best Fist" and "Most Interesting QSO" by January 31 to, straightkey@arrl.org .
    NNNN
    /EX
    --- SBBSecho 3.11-Win32
    * Origin: The Thunderbolt BBS - tbolt.synchro.net (57:57/10)
    ■ Synchronet ■ Eye of The Hurricane BBS - hurrican.synchro.net
  • From Daryl Stout@HURRICAN to All on Wed Feb 3 20:29:33 2021
    SB SPCL @ ARL $ARLX002
    ARLX002 MARS Announces Schedule of Dates for 60-Meter
    Interoperability

    ZCZC AX02
    QST de W1AW
    Special Bulletin 2 ARLX002
    From ARRL Headquarters
    Newington CT February 3, 2021
    To all radio amateurs

    SB SPCL ARL ARLX002
    ARLX002 MARS Announces Schedule of Dates for 60-Meter
    Interoperability

    The Military Auxiliary Radio System (MARS) has announced dates in
    2021 during which MARS members will operate on 60 meters for
    interoperability with the amateur radio community. Some dates
    coincide with quarterly Department of Defense Communications
    Exercises (COMEX).

    All exercises will begin on channel 1 as the initial calling channel
    and move to other 60-meter working channels as may be appropriate.

    "In addition to voice calls, I want to introduce passing ICS 213
    messages in both voice and digital modes to enhance the overall
    interop experience," said US Army MARS Chief Paul English, WD8DBY.

    English continues, "Our exercises will yield the frequencies to
    other scheduled exercises or mission activations, which may be
    called by other agencies for interop support (e.g., hurricane,
    wildfire, etc). We regularly instruct MARS members to work
    cooperatively with the amateur radio community during the use of the
    60-meter interop channels. We will continue to track our 60-meter
    usage and activities."

    English said he plans to provide a quarterly usage report of
    60-meter interoperability activities.

    The interoperability schedule is as follows:

    February 23 - 27
    Exercise: DOD COMEX 21-1
    Location: CONUS

    March 1 - 7
    Exercise: Interop Outreach
    Location CONUS

    April 3 - 10
    Exercise: Interop Outreach
    Location CONUS

    April 30 - May 6
    Exercise: DOD COMEX 21-2

    May 7 - 8
    Exercise: Armed Forces Day Cross-Band Test
    Location: CONUS

    June 1 - 6
    Exercise: Interop Outreach
    Location CONUS

    July 5 - 10
    Exercise: Interop Outreach
    Location CONUS

    July 20 - 22
    Exercise: DOD COMEX 21-3
    Location: CONUS

    August 2 - 8
    Exercise: Interop Outreach
    Location CONUS

    September 1 - 6
    Exercise: Interop Outreach
    Location CONUS

    October 1 - 31
    Exercise: DOD COMEX 21-4
    Location: CONUS
    NNNN
    /EX
    --- SBBSecho 3.11-Win32
    * Origin: The Thunderbolt BBS - tbolt.synchro.net (57:57/10)
    ■ Synchronet ■ Eye of The Hurricane BBS - hurrican.synchro.net