November 2000 QST

The FCC Office of Engineering and Technology discusses League
spectrum issues. Pictured here, around table left to right, are Bureau
Chief Dale Hatfield, W0IFO, Karen Rackley, Hugh Van Tuyl and
Julius Knapp. Backs to camera are ARRL General Counsel Chris
Imlay, W3KD, and ARRL President Jim Haynie, W5JBP.
DUTCH CONSULATE GENERAL THANKS
HAMS FOR HELP
Dutch Consulate General Alexander C. H. van Schelle took the
opportunity to visit with ARRL President Jim Haynie while he
was in Washington. Van Schelle wanted to express his gratitude
and appreciation to Amateur Radio for the role it played in saving
the life of Dutch citizen Willem van Tuijl, son of Jacco and Janni
van Tuijl, KH2DT and KH2TE, respectively. For those not aware
of the story, Willem was shot by “pirates” attempting to board the
family’s sailboat off the coast of Honduras. Hams monitored the
event over the air, got on-the-air medical advice for the van
Tuijls, and Haynie eventually got word of the event to Congressman
Pete Sessions (D-TX-5th). Congressman Sessions convinced
Dallas Children’s Hospital to fly Willem from Honduras to its
Dallas facility. The Washington meeting was arranged by Sessions’
chief of staff, Jeff Koch, NU5Z.
“I think it’s important that Amateur Radio get involved with that
because of spectrum crowding,” Haynie says. “And besides, we
should be looking at these technological advances.”
During the meeting, OET staff raised the possibility of ARRL
members participating in noise-floor measurement tests in spectrum
occupied by Part 15 devices. There will be more word of this
as the project develops. Discussions also touched on Amateur
Radio exam questions, RF interference issues, spread spectrum and
the League’s pending petition for a low-frequency allocation.
ARRL MEETS WITH PUBLIC SERVICE GROUPS
TO RENEW AGREEMENTS
During a meeting-packed week in Washington, ARRL President Jim
Haynie and the ARRL staff met with several groups to renew memoranda
of agreement establishing how Amateur Radio works together
with served agencies. The first meeting was with Andy Butler, the
Chief Engineer for Public Broadcasting (PBS) who is president of
the Society of Broadcast Engineers. Butler indicated great interest in
the ARRL “Big Project,” as some broadcasters are having an increasingly
difficult time recruiting RF engineers. Haynie and Butler
signed an ARRL/SBE memorandum of agreement on future cooperative
efforts. The ARRL group also met with Paul Reid, N4EKW,
emergency communications manager with the Federal Emergency
Management Agency (FEMA) to discuss renewing the memorandum
of agreement between ARRL and FEMA. Later, the group also met
with John Perry, N1EOD, Manager of Telecommunications Disaster
Services and other representatives of the American Red Cross to
review a new memorandum of agreement with them, and to tour the
Red Cross’s Emergency Communications Center.
ARRL and American Red Cross pause for snapshots during a tour
of the Red Cross Emergency Communications Center in Falls
Church, Virginia. Left to right: Chris Imlay, W3KD; Bev Hoover,
Red Cross Director of External Relations; Steve Mansfield,
N1MZA; John Perry, N1EOD, Manager of Red Cross
Telecommunications Disaster Services; Jim Haynie, W5JBP; and
Bob Bavis, Director of Red Cross Disaster Administration.
16 November 2000
(left to right) Dutch Consulate General Alexander van Schelle
discusses Amateur Radio’s role in rescue operations with Texas
Congressman Pete Sessions and ARRL President Jim Haynie, W5JBP.
Media Hits
• The New York Times was in Newington recently to write about the
League’s efforts to promote Amateur Radio locally. Featured in an
article about license classes at ARRL Headquarters were Dan
Miller, K3UFG, and Al Cohen, W1FXQ.
• Randy Carter, N4AYS, spotted a familiar name in the AOPA Pilot,
a magazine devoted to private aircraft flying. It was none other than
Dick Rutan, KB6LQS, best known for his nonstop round-the-world
flight. In a more recent adventure, Rutan and a flying companion
used Amateur Radio to summon help during a flying trip when they
were stranded at the North Pole.
• The Chico Enterprise-Record featured Chico, California ham
operator Allen Sherwood, K6USN, (he’s a retired Navy commander)
pictured in his radio shack preparing for his next
DXpedition to Dunk Island, in the Coral Sea.
• The Tribune Chronicle, out of Warren, Ohio, showcased local
hams Chris Walker (11 years old), KC8NLR; Bill Craiger, K8UV;
Henry, Kay and Ron Parise, NZ8W, N8WER and WA4SIR; Dan
and Sue Coe, KB8QVS and KB8UXJ; Steve Marshall, N3TPF; and
others at the 43rd annual Warren Amateur Radio Association
hamfest. Does the Ron Parise call sign ring a bell That’s right, he’s
an astronaut!
• The Romney (West Virginia) Hampshire Review went “up close
and personal” with Tom Viselli, K2UOP, of Romney, whose
mountaintop home is an ideal DX location. The paper devoted a
page to Tom’s pursuit of good DX.
• Hal McClamma, NN4US, president of the Tuscaloosa, Alabama,
Amateur Radio Club and Dr Gordon King, W4XI, discussed ham
radio on the local WTBC talk radio station recently. The appearance
was part of their promotion for a Technician license class.