*************** The ARRL Letter Vol. 26, No. 38 September 21, 2007 *************** IN THIS EDITION: * + Get Ready For the Second Annual ARRL On-Line Auction! * + IARU Region 2 Conference Completes Its Work in Brasilia * + ARRL Dakota Division Vice Director to Resign as of October 1 * + ARRL Roanoke Division Director to be Feted by Radio Club of America * + ARRL Continues to Deal with Department of Defense over PAVE Paws Sites * + FCC Amateur Radio Enforcement Correspondence Posted * Solar Update * IN BRIEF: This Weekend on the Radio ARRL Continuing Education Course Registration + Carl Gardenias, WU6D, Files Appeal with ARRL Executive Committee + ICOM Returns as November Sweepstakes Principal Awards Sponsor Tom Atkins, VE3CDM (SK) ARRL Receives MARS Call Sign North Carolina Ham Celebrates 100th Birthday L. B. Cebik, W4RNL, Wins August QST Cover Plaque Award Hams Named to Key NASA Positions Oklahoma Hams Assist with Accident Scene Dayton ARA Looking to Honor Silent Keys Let Us Know What You Think +Available on ARRL Audio News <http://www.arrl.org/arrlletter/audio/> =========================================================== ==>Delivery problems: First see FAQ <http://www.arrl.org/members-only/faq.html#nodelivery>, then e-mail <letter-dlvy@arrl.org> ==>Editorial questions or comments only: S. Khrystyne Keane, <k1sfa@arrl.org> =========================================================== ==> GET READY FOR THE SECOND ANNUAL ARRL ON-LINE AUCTION! The Second Annual ARRL On-Line Auction kicks off October 24, running until November 2 on the ARRL Web site <http://www.arrl.org/auction>. This is your chance to pick up one-of-a-kind Amateur Radio items. To see what the Auction will offer this year, be sure to check out the Auction preview that begins October 17. Last year, the Auction attracted more than 4300 bidders from 36 countries. While the majority of buyers were from the USA, Canada and the UK, there were buyers from Australia, Malaysia, Grenada and Tanzania. According to ARRL Chief Operating Officer Harold Kramer, WJ1B, "Last year's on-line auction was our first and it was a great success. When the bidding ended, we realized that we had sold 104 items and we had raised just over $37,000." Proceeds from the auction benefit ARRL education programs including activities to license new hams, strengthen Amateur Radio's emergency service training, offer continuing technical and operating education, as well as creating instructional materials. This year's auction will include many products tested by the ARRL Lab for QST Product Review. These items include an ICOM IC-7800, a Ten-Tec Omni VII, a Palstar Auto Antenna Tuner, an MJF 974H Balanced Antenna Tuner and a Heil Traveler Headset. There will be many vintage items offered, including the antique transmitter featured in John Dilks' "Old Radio" column in the November 2007 issue of QST. Also, returning by popular demand will be five ARRL Lab unique "junque" boxes. ==> IARU REGION 2 CONFERENCE COMPLETES ITS WORK IN BRASILIA Completing a week that included lengthy committee meetings and a half-day tour of Brazil's capital city, the delegates to the 16th IARU Region 2 General Assembly in Brasilia met in Plenary assembly on Friday, September 14 to complete their work. Members of the ARRL's delegation included President Joel Harrison, W5ZN; Vice President Kay Craigie, N3KN; CEO David Sumner, K1ZZ; Southeastern Division Director Frank Butler, W4RH; Chief Technology Officer Paul Rinaldo, W4RI, and Technical Relations Specialist Jon Siverling, WB3ERA. Committee A, which deals with administrative matters, was chaired by Norma Leiva, HR2NL, of Honduras; the ARRL's Siverling served as secretary and interpreter. This committee presented the first report of the Conference and made a number of recommendations for Conference action, all of which were adopted. They include: The establishment of a Region 2 Relief Fund with an initial transfer of $5000 from the general reserve of Region 2; additional contributions will be solicited. The Fund will be administered by the Executive Committee and will be available solely to assist Region 2 Member-Societies whose club stations and buildings, including antenna systems, are damaged by natural disaster. The Executive Committee will develop a conference call process for Region 2 that includes objectives, action plans, due dates and score cards in order to improve communication among the Member-Societies and the Executive Committee An offer by Radio Club Argentino to be responsible for the Spanish translation of the IARU Region 2 electronic bulletin was accepted. Terms of reference for the Amateur Radio in Education Project that was adopted by the 15th General Assembly in 2004 were revised slightly to simplify the grant application process and encourage applications. The Conference recognized Wolf Baron, TI2BY, of San Jose, Costa Rica, for his outstanding service to Amateur Radio by conducting on-the-air training on Sunday mornings for more than five years. Several recommendations from the Region 2 Working Group on Emergency Communications were adopted. These include establishing an Emergency Communications Committee that will be responsible to the Executive Committee for carrying out planning, training and the maintenance of equipment and personnel inventories for emergency assistance deployment. The Conference next received the report of Committee B/C, a combined technical and operational committee dealing with both HF and VHF/UHF matters. This committee was chaired by Ramon Santoyo, XE1KK, of Mexico City, Mexico; the ARRL's Rinaldo, served as secretary. The Plenary adopted all of the Committee's recommendations, including: A new Region 2 band plan for 160-10 meters was adopted, effective January 1, 2008. The new plan is modeled on one adopted previously by IARU Region 1, with regional differences taken into account; steps were taken to try to reduce interference to national emergency Nets, including establishing an inventory of such Nets and calling their importance to the attention of the radio amateur community; and an IARU Region 2 Diploma was approved, with some details remaining to be worked out by the Executive Committee. The next report was from the Finance Committee, Committee D, chaired by Treasurer Noel Donawa, 9Y4NED, of Trinidad and Tobago. The Plenary accepted two recommendations from Committee D. The first is an effort to reach out to Member-Societies that have fallen behind in meeting their dues obligations to Region 2; they will be offered the opportunity to pay their back dues through 2006 at a 25 percent discount if they do so by January 15, 2008. The Plenary also directed the Executive Committee to study the existing dues structure, along with options and alternatives, and to report to the next General Assembly. The Conference accepted the offer of the Club de Radio Aficionados de El Salvador (CRAS) to host the 17th General Assembly in 2010. The Conference's last order of business was the election of officers and other Executive Committee members for the next three years. Rod Stafford, W6ROD, declined to stand for re-election as President but will remain a Director. Moving to the office of President is Secretary Reinaldo Leandro, YV5AMH, of Venezuela. Dario Jurado, HP1DJ, of Panama was re-elected Vice President, and Donawa was re-elected Treasurer and Director. Santoyo was newly elected as Secretary and joins the Executive Committee for the first time. The other Directors were re-elected: Daniel A. Lamoureux, VE2KA, of Canada; Pedro Rodriguez, CO2RP, of Cuba; Marco Tulio Gudiel, TG9AGD, of Guatemala; Gustavo de Faria Franco, PT2ADM, of Brazil, and Ron Szama, LU2AH, of Argentina. A provision of the Bylaws was amended to permit the Executive Committee to consist of 10 members rather than the customary nine. The conferees expressed their deep appreciation to LABRE, host of the 16th General Assembly, for its outstanding hospitality. Forty delegates and observers representing 18 countries in the Americas -- 11 in person, seven via proxy -- attended the Conference. ==> ARRL DAKOTA DIVISION VICE DIRECTOR TO RESIGN AS OF OCTOBER 1 Dakota Division Vice Director Twila Greenheck, N0JPH, announced her resignation effective Monday, October 1, due to family responsibilities; her term expires in 2008. She plans to continue serving the League as an ARRL Education Advisor and consultant to the Board of Directors' ad hoc Scouting Committee. "Being part of the ARRL Board Family has been an incredible experience that I will always remember and cherish. The opportunity to serve with Director Jay Bellows representing the amateurs in the Dakota Division has surely been an honor," Greenheck said. Bellows said, "Twila has been a joy to work with over the past eight years. From the first time I met her to the present she has been a tireless and effective advocate of increased ARRL efforts to reach out to youth and strengthen education in Amateur Radio. I look forward to her continued service to the League, especially as a member of the ARRL's Educational Advisory Group." ARRL President Joel Harrison, W5ZN, will appoint a replacement. ==> ARRL ROANOKE DIVISION DIRECTOR TO BE FETED BY RADIO CLUB OF AMERICA The Radio Club of America (RCA) has named ARRL Roanoke Division Director Dennis Bodson, PhD, PE, W4PWF, of Arlington, Virginia, as the recipient of the Sarnoff Citation. The award is given to recognize significant contributions to the advancement of electronic communications. Barry Goldwater, K7UGA (SK), was the first recipient of the Sarnoff Citation in 1973. "I was shocked when I heard that I would receive the Sarnoff Citation," Bodson said. "I find it difficult to believe that I'll be on the dais with Walter Cronkite, KB2GSD." Bodson, Cronkite and QST and QEX author John S. "Jack" Belrose, PhD, VE2CV, are to receive the RCA's Armstrong Medal, the RCA's foremost achievement award and named for its first recipient, Major Edwin Armstrong, at the RCA's Annual Awards Banquet and Annual Meeting and Technical Symposium on November 16 in New York City. Andy Rooney of CBS's "60 Minutes" will be the keynote speaker. Bodson, who is retired -- "Retired means different things to different people. I work, but on different things," he said -- displays an energy level that hardly anyone can match. Bodson is retired as chief of the Technology and Standards Division of the National Communications System (NCS) in 1998. In October 2005, he became a member of the executive staff of the Institute for Defense and Homeland Security where he is director of Telecommunications and Sensor Systems. Bodson is an ARRL Life Member and a member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE). "Fifteen years ago, I had the opportunity [to serve on the ARRL Board of Directors]. I knew the former Division Director, and he suggested, 'get involved and run for Vice Director.' I was elected to that, and when he retired, I moved up to Director. I have enjoyed it, but everything comes to a change. I still have this year and two more years, and then I'll decide whether to run for re-election," Bodson said. He also is Vice President of the Arlington (Virginia) Amateur Radio Club (AARC). Born in Washington, DC, Bodson always wanted to be an electrical engineer. He earned a BEE in 1961 and an MEE in 1963, both from The Catholic University of America in Washington. From 1963-1966, he served as an officer in the US Air Force assigned to the National Security Agency. From 1966-1969, he was with Vitro Laboratories, Atlantic Research Corporation and the US Army Materiel Command where he was engaged in research and development and systems engineering. In 1970, Bodson began his long career with NCS, an interagency group of 23 federal departments and agencies managed by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). While at NCS, Bodson continued his formal education and earned a Master's in public administration in 1976 from the University of Southern California's Washington Center for Public Affairs, and completed his PhD in electrical engineering in 1985 from California Western University. In recognition of his accomplishments in federal service, in 1999 Dennis received the IEEE's Charles Proteus Steinmetz Award. According to the IEEE's Web site, the award is "presented to an individual for exceptional contributions to the development and/or advancement of standards in the field of electrical and electronics engineering." IEEE has seen a lot of Bodson since his beginning days as a student engineer. "My major professor said, 'Become active in your professional society.' I took him at heart and did so and never regretted it," he said. After retiring from NCS, Bodson increased his IEEE involvement, and by 2000, he was chairman of the IEEE Vehicular Technology Society (VTS) Standards Committee, reflecting his work on standards at NCS. He was a senior editor for the VTS quarterly bulletin, "News Digest," and later became its editor. "I became editor because we needed to do something, but then we got a real editor, Dr James Irvine. We went from a bulletin to a 60 page magazine," he said. Bodson is a Life Fellow of IEEE, where new Fellowships are limited to no more than one-tenth of one percent of the membership per year, making elevation to the status of Fellow in IEEE a particularly high distinction. Soon after his retirement from NCS, Bodson served as president of the IEEE Engineering Management Society (EMS). For his service to EMS, he was given the EMS Engineering Manager of the Year Award. The IEEE Standards Association (IEEE-SA) bestowed on Bodson the IEEE-SA Distinguished Service Award in 2002. Bodson was then was elected President of VTS, where he continues on its board of governors as Junior Past President. Bodson has written more than 60 technical articles and has published four books. He joined RCA in 1976, became a Fellow in 1981 and became an RCA Life Member in 1996. The RCA banquet is open to members, non-members and guests. Registration is required; registration forms can be downloaded here <http://homeeverestkc.net/dbishop13322/registration_form/registration_fo rm.doc>. To learn more about the Radio Club of America and their awards, please visit the RCA Web site <http://www.radioclubofamerica.org/>. The ARRL thanks RCA Fellow and ARRL Life Member Don Bishop, W0WO, for this information. ==> ARRL CONTINUES TO DEAL WITH DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE OVER PAVE PAWS SITES The ARRL participated in a teleconference call on Wednesday, September 19, with the Department of Defense (DoD) regarding Amateur Radio repeaters interfering with the Air Force's PAVE Paws radar system. According to ARRL Regulatory Branch Manager Dan Henderson, N1ND, "The DoD acknowledges that it has seen changes at some repeater sites, but not all of them." He said the DoD has revisited the Massachusetts repeaters, located near Otis Air Force Base on Cape Cod, to "remeasure the numbers. Some Massachusetts repeater owners have volunteered to completely turn off their systems and some others have made changes, but more is needed at both PAVE Paws radar sites." The DoD, Henderson continued, has identified additional sources of interference in Massachusetts. "This was not really unexpected and is part of what has become an ongoing project. The ARRL will begin working with these repeater owners as soon as the DoD provides us with specific information," he said. In California, where more than 100 repeaters are being scrutinized by the DoD, Henderson said the majority of repeaters have not been mitigated: "The Air Force has not had a chance to revisit Beale Air Force Base for new measurements, but it will be happening soon." Reports have circulated that a number of California repeater owners have decided to take no further action about mitigating the interference unless they receive official notice from the Federal Communications Commission. "If these reports are true," Henderson said, "it is unfortunate. The FCC has stayed abreast of the discussions between the League and the DoD, and they are prepared to act appropriately if they are contacted by the DoD." He continued: "The DoD has indicated they are willing to allow the ARRL to continue its attempts to mitigate the interference; however, they have expressed a sense of urgency that this must come to a conclusion. Those waiting for FCC action may find it coming sooner rather than later." ==> FCC AMATEUR RADIO ENFORCEMENT CORRESPONDENCE POSTED On August 23, the FCC's Enforcement Bureau released new Amateur Radio enforcement actions. Todd C. Browne, KD0PA; Keith W. Coad, KW2C; Santos J. Rodriguez Colon, KP4DC; Jerry L. Counsellor, WE5JC; Pablo Diaz-Alequin, KP4MC, and Donald B. Flowers, NC4DF, all received letters from the Commission concerning their vanity call signs. These amateurs received their vanity call signs by stating they were former holders of these call signs, but the FCC can find no documentation substantiating their claims. Robert C. Moldenhauer, W9CQ, also received a letter concerning his vanity call sign that he requested as a "close relative" of the former holder of that call sign. The FCC told Moldenhauer they can find no documentation of his claim. Steve L. Wingate, K6TXH, received notice from the Commission that the recordings he had requested concerning complaints alleging his lack of station control and deliberate interference had been sent to him. Wingate was also granted an additional 30 days to respond to Commission correspondence. The FCC Enforcement Bureau now posts Amateur Radio enforcement-related correspondence and documents -- with some exceptions -- on its own Web site <http://www.fcc.gov/eb/AmateurActions/Welcome.html>. Direct all questions concerning the Amateur Radio Service Enforcement Actions Web postings via e-mail only to Riley Hollingsworth <fccham@fcc.gov> in the FCC Spectrum Enforcement Division. ==>SOLAR UPDATE Tad "All for the Love of Sun(spots)" Cook, K7RA, this week reports: Fifteen days in a row with no sunspots, but this may change soon. Take a look at sunspot numbers compared to solar flux for the current third quarter of 2007 <http://www.sec.noaa.gov/ftpdir/indices/quar_DSD.txt>. Notice that when there are zero sunspots, the solar flux (the amount of energy we receive from the Sun at a wavelength of 10.7 cm or 2800 MHz) is always below 70. Recently, the flux value has been below 70, and for some time now the US Air Force has predicted a slight rise in solar flux to 70 for today, September 21. You can see those predictions here <http://sec.noaa.gov/ftpmenu/forecasts/45DF.html>. If we examine predictions from early September on that page, note they show a return to 70 solar flux for September 17; later forecasts show it creeping out to September 18, then 19 and finally for yesterday, the prediction for today is 70. We also see the return of sunspot group 970 set for September 21-23 in September 21 Solar Region Summary <http://www.sec.noaa.gov/ftpmenu/forecasts/SRS.html>. It would be great to have at least one sunspot when fall returns. The official autumnal equinox is this weekend, September 23 at 0951 UTC. Sunspot numbers for September 13-19 were 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0 and 0 with a mean of 0. The 10.7 cm flux was 66.4, 66.8, 67.7, 67, 66.9, 66.5 and 66.8 with a mean of 66.9. Estimated planetary A indices were 2, 4, 4, 2, 2, 3 and 4 with a mean of 3. Estimated mid-latitude A indices were 1, 3, 3, 2, 1, 2 and 2 with a mean of 2. For more information concerning radio propagation, visit the ARRL Technical Information Service Propagation page <http://www.arrl.org/tis/info/propagation.html>. __________________________________ ==>IN BRIEF: * This weekend on the radio: This weekend, the NCCC Sprint (CW) is September 21, while the AGCW VHF/UHF Contest is September 22. The Scandinavian Activity Contest (SSB) and CIS DX Contest are September 22-23. The SKCC Weekend Sprint is September 23 and the 222 MHz Fall Sprint is September 25. Next week, look for the ARRL EME Competition on September 29-30. The NCCC Sprint (CW) is September 28. On September 29-30, look for the CQ Worldwide DX Contest (RTTY), CQIR - Ireland Calling, the Texas QSO Party, FISTS Coast to Coast Contest and the UBA ON Contest (CW). The ARS Spartan Sprint is October 2. The YLRL Anniversary Party (CW) is October 2-4, the German Telegraphy Contest and the 432 MHz Fall Sprint are October 3. The SARL 80 Meter QSO Party is October 4. See the ARRL Contest Branch page <http://www.arrl.org/contests/>, the ARRL Contester's Rate Sheet <http://www.arrl.org/contests/rate-sheet/> and the WA7BNM Contest Calendar <http://www.hornucopia.com/contestcal/index.html> for more info. * ARRL Continuing Education Course Registration: Registration remains open through Sunday, October 7, 2007 for these online courses beginning on Friday October 19, 2007: Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Level 2 (EC-002); Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Level 3 (EC-003R2); Antenna Modeling (EC-004); HF Digital Communications (EC-005); VHF/UHF - Life Beyond the Repeater (EC-008), and Radio Frequency Propagation (EC-011). To learn more, visit the CCE Course Listing page <http://www.arrl.org/cce/courses.html> or contact the Continuing Education Program Coordinator <cce@arrl.org>. * Carl Gardenias, WU6D, Files Appeal with ARRL Executive Committee: Carl Gardenias, WU6D, who was disqualified last week as a candidate in the race for Director of the ARRL Southwestern Division, filed an appeal with the ARRL Executive Committee on Monday, September 17. Gardenias was disqualified by the League's Ethics and Elections Committee for not acting promptly in response to communications from that committee requesting he correct misinformation sent out on his behalf concerning other candidates. The Executive Board is currently considering Gardenias' appeal. * ICOM Returns as November Sweepstakes Principal Awards Sponsor: ICOM has generously agreed to serve for a third year as principal awards sponsor for the 2007 ARRL November Sweepstakes. The Amateur Radio equipment manufacturer's first such sponsorship was for the 2005 events. The 2007 CW Sweeps takes place November 3-4, while the phone Sweeps is November 17-18. Under its agreement with ARRL, ICOM will be the principal sponsor for nearly 150 unsponsored contest plaques that recognize various levels of operating achievement in the popular annual competition. "Competitive operating events are the proving grounds for equipment, operators and antenna systems," said ARRL Membership and Volunteer Programs Manager Dave Patton, NN1N. "ICOM Amateur Radio Products National Sales Manager Ray Novak, N9JA, and ICOM recognize the importance of these testing grounds, as well as the high levels of achievement in contests that deserve to have 'some wood on the wall.' The Amateur Radio industry has been terrific in supporting many contests and activities run by ARRL, and we know first hand that participants appreciate the attention and devotion shown to these pursuits." Patton predicts nearly 3000 entries will be received for the November Sweepstakes this fall. * Thomas B. J. Atkins, VE3CDM (SK): Former ARRL Canadian Division Director and IARU Region 2 President Tom Atkins, VE3CDM, passed away Tuesday, September 18. He was 81. Atkins was the last Director of the ARRL's Canadian Division before the Canadian Radio Relay League (CRRL), a predecessor to the Radio Amateurs of Canada (RAC), began to operate independently in 1988. He served as ARRL Director from September 20, 1982 to January 1, 1988. Atkins also served as President of IARU Region 2 for two three-year terms, 1995-2001, after holding every other office in Region 2 -- Treasurer, Secretary and Vice President -- in succession between 1983 and 1995. He also served on the IARU Administrative Council and as an IARU Expert Consultant * ARRL Receives MARS Call Sign: The ARRL now has a new Emergency Communications tool in its toolbox -- MARS call sign AAN1ARL. According to W1AW Station Manager Joe Carcia, NJ1Q, "The call sign was requested to reflect both the holder of the license (ARRL) and the various MARS services (Army, Air Force and Navy)." The MARS station will be housed at W1AW, the Hiram Percy Maxim Memorial Station. ARRL Emergency Preparedness and Response Manager Dennis Dura, K2DCD, said, "The establishment of an ARMY MARS call sign for W1AW begins a relationship with the Military Affiliate Radio System and the ARRL. Our two organizations are working toward the near-term establishment of a Memorandum of Understanding. Additionally, the League and MARS will utilize each other's personnel and technical capabilities to further enhance our emergency preparedness and response capabilities." The MARS program consists of licensed Amateur Radio operators who are interested in military communications on a local, national and international basis as an adjunct to normal communications. MARS has a long and proud history of providing worldwide auxiliary emergency communications during times of need. The combined three service MARS programs (Army, Air Force, and Navy-Marine Corps) volunteer force of more than 5000 dedicated and skilled Amateur Radio operators is the backbone of the MARS program. There are Army MARS stations in Japan, Korea, Hawaii, Panama, the Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, Alaska, Central America, Africa, Germany and the continental United States. MARS responders operate on specially assigned military radio frequencies in voice, teletype and packet modes of communications. * North Carolina Ham Celebrates 100th Birthday: Harry Mills, K4HU, of Hendersonville, North Carolina, celebrated his 100th birthday September 19. In 1922, when Mills was first licensed, there was no Federal Communications Commission; communications were regulated under the Department of Commerce with Herbert Hoover as Secretary of Commerce. Mills has been a member of the League since February 1, 1936 - more than 71 years; he is also a member of QCWA. Still active on the air, Mills can be heard twice weekly checking into the AM net on 3810 kHz, as well as the Chapter 76 QCWA SSB net on Saturday mornings on 3930 kHz. Mills credits a crystal receiver project from the Boy Scout handbook in 1919 for his interest in wireless and radio. ARRL Membership Manager Katie Breen, W1KRB, passed along birthday wishes: "On behalf of the Board, Staff and 152,000 members of ARRL -- we all wish a hearty Happy Birthday to Harry, K4HU. It's not too often that we have the opportunity to wish a Happy Birthday to someone who has been a member for 71 years -- yes, 71 years! I knew when I started here that we have thousands of dedicated members, but Harry exemplifies our long-time members. We are so pleased for Harry and wish him a very Happy 100th Birthday." -- Tnx John Dilks, K2TQN, and Harold Kinley, WA4GIB * L. B. Cebik, W4RNL, Wins August QST Cover Plaque Award: The winner of the QST Cover Plaque Award for August is L. B. Cebik, W4RNL, for his article "A Short Boom, Wideband 3 Element Yagi for 6 Meters." Congratulations, L. B.! The winner of the QST Cover Plaque award -- given to the author or authors of the best article in each issue -- is determined by a vote of ARRL members on the QST Cover Plaque Poll Web page <http://www.arrl.org/members-only/qstvote.html>. Cast a ballot for your favorite article in the September issue by Sunday, September 30. * Hams Named to Key NASA Positions: Veteran astronaut Ellen Ochoa, KB5TZZ, has been named Deputy Director of NASA's Johnson Space Center. Ochoa has served as Director of Flight Crew Operations at Johnson. She will succeed Bob Cabana, KC5HBV, who was named Director of NASA's Stennis Space Center in Mississippi. Ochoa and Cabana have each flown in space four times. Ochoa flew on space shuttle missions STS-56 on Discovery in 1993, STS-66 on Atlantis in 1994, STS-96 on Discovery in 1999 and STS-110 on Atlantis in 2002, logging a total of 978 hours in space. She became Deputy Director of Flight Crew Operations at Johnson in December 2002 and Director of Flight Crew Operations in September 2006. Cabana has logged more than 1010 hours in space. He served as pilot on STS-41 in 1990 and STS-53 in 1992, both on Discovery. He was mission commander on STS-65 on Columbia in 1994 and STS-88 on Endeavour in 1998, the first International Space Station assembly mission. "Having friends in high places is always a good thing," said ARRL ARISS Program Manager Rosalie White, K1STO. "It is a great thing for the Amateur Radio on the International Space Station program to have Ellen and Bob in these high-level positions at important NASA facilities. They are familiar with Shuttle Amateur Radio Experiment (SAREX) and ARISS; recalling good experiences the two programs have provided students over the years can be very helpful to the future of Amateur Radio in space." * Oklahoma Hams Assist with Accident Scene: On September 8, Myrna Cobb, KE5IAD, of Bethany, Oklahoma, and Victor Stillman, KE5LQU, of Edmond, Oklahoma, were driving home from an ARES exercise and talking with friends on the K5EOK EARS repeater in Edmond. As they were talking, a car about 150 yards ahead of them on the highway started hydroplaning. The car skidded into a tractor-trailer, causing caused both vehicles to wreck. Still on the radio, Cobb and Stillman told Frankie Tassone, KE5KQL, about the accident, giving him the accident details. Tassone then contacted the Oklahoma Highway Patrol. Cobb and Stillman were able to immediately respond when they pulled up on the scene. Stillman, a volunteer fire fighter and EMT, supplied first aid to the victims while Cobb directed traffic, keeping the scene clear for more than 20 minutes before the Highway Patrol arrived. - Tnx Mark D. Conklin, N7XYO * Dayton ARA Looking to Honor Silent Keys: If you know of a ham who has died in service during the conflicts in Afghanistan or Iraq, the Dayton Amateur Radio Association would like to honor them. DARA is looking to publish a memorial page in the Hamvention 2008 program listing these SKs, with their name, call sign, branch of service, rank and unit. For more information, please contact Ed Collins, N8NUY <n8nuy@arrl.net>. * Let Us Know What You Think: What's your favorite part of The ARRL Letter? What kind of stories would you like to see in the Letter? Would you prefer the Letter in an HTML format? This is your Letter and your chance to let your voice be heard. Please send your suggestions to ARRL News Editor S. Khrystyne Keane, K1SFA, at k1sfa@arrl.org, with the subject line "ARRL Letter Suggestions." All messages will be read and discussed, and we look forward to implementing positive suggestions into the ARRL Letter. =========================================================== The ARRL Letter is published Fridays, 50 times each year, by the American Radio Relay League: ARRL--the National Association for Amateur Radio, 225 Main St, Newington, CT 06111; tel 860-594-0200; fax 860-594-0259; <http://www.arrl.org/>. Joel Harrison, W5ZN, President. The ARRL Letter offers a weekly e-mail digest of essential and general news of interest to active radio amateurs. Visit the ARRL Web site <http://www.arrl.org/> for the latest Amateur Radio news and news updates. The ARRL Web site <http://www.arrl.org/> also offers informative features and columns. ARRL Audio News <http://www.arrl.org/arrlletter/audio/> is a weekly "ham radio newscast" compiled and edited from The ARRL Letter. It's also available as a podcast from our Web site. Material from The ARRL Letter may be republished or reproduced in whole or in part in any form without additional permission. Credit must be given to The ARRL Letter/American Radio Relay League. ==>Delivery problems (ARRL member direct delivery only!): letter-dlvy@arrl.org ==>Editorial questions or comments: S. Khrystyne Keane, K1SFA, k1sfa@arrl.org ==>ARRL News on the Web: <http://www.arrl.org/> ==>ARRL Audio News: <http://www.arrl.org/arrlletter/audio/> or call 860-594-0384 ==>How to Get The ARRL Letter The ARRL Letter is available to ARRL members free of charge directly from ARRL HQ. To subscribe, unsubscribe or change your address for e-mail delivery: ARRL members first must register on the Members Only Web Site <http://www.arrl.org/members/>. You'll have an opportunity during registration to sign up for e-mail delivery of The ARRL Letter, W1AW bulletins, and other material. 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