ARRL Hudson Division 
May 2002
Hudson Division Beacon - e-mail edition
By Frank Fallon, N2FF, Director, Hudson Division, ARRL
30 East Williston Avenue, East Williston, NY 11596
(516) 746-7652 n2ff@arrl.org
 
Hudson Division Home Page - http://www.hudson.arrl.org
 
ARRL Members
 
Please continue to spread the word to others who may want to receive
this information that they will need to access the ARRL members only web
site and after becoming a member they must edit their profile and elect
to receive bulletins from the Section Manager and Director.
 
> DAYTON THIS WEEK
 
It's that time of year again. I will be driving out on Wednesday with
NA2M. Tom, KA2D was going to ride along but he needs to get back by
Sunday. Tom will be representing the hams that responded in the 9/11
attack and will receive on their behalf the TOPGUN Award from Kenwood at
a dinner on Thursday night in the Doubletree Hotel. I'll be there to
see Tom receive the honor on behalf of the many hams who responded. 
Thanks to Kenwood for honoring our ARES, RACES and Red Cross volunteers.
 I'll have the actual proclamation the New York State Legislature issued
in recognition of the support Amateur Radio operators provided. It will
also be on display at the ARRL booth on Friday, Saturday and Sunday
morning. On Saturday morning I will be moderator of the RTTY Forum at
the HARA Arena for a third year. The topic this year is "The Secrets of
SO2R Contesting." I hope to see many of you in the crowd over the
weekend.
 
> NEW HAM RADIO BILL INTRODUCED IN WASHINGTON
 
The BIG news is that Congressman Steve Israel from Long Island has
introduced an Amateur Radio antenna bill in the US Congress. Cosponsors
at this point are Congressman Greg Walden of Oregon and Congressman Pete
Sessions of Texas. All people we visited in February in Washington with
Jim Haynie. There may be a fourth original sponsor on the bill. I have
been informed that the bill has been "put into the hopper" but it may
take a few days to get a number assigned. It now looks like this will
happen a few days before or during the Dayton Hamfest. The bill will
most likely be titled "The Amateur Radio Emergency Communications
Consistency Act of 2002" as it is designed to include those hams now
living under CC&R rules and home owners associations into PRB-1
protections. 
 
Consistency is important because every section of the country need to
have our emergency communications capability available. A recent
"20/20" program pointed out that almost twenty percent of the US lives
in this type housing. That means there are fifty million people who
cannot have outside antennas. Many sections of the country do not have
much ham radio activity because of these restrictions and will not be
fully covered in any future communications emergency. We are going to
need to work hard to convince Congressman and Senators to sign on to
this bill. I have already sent requests to meet with Congresswoman
Carolyn McCarthy who is my own representative and also with Peter King
who was very helpful when we had NK2T's, now W2UFO, tower problem in
Hempstead. 
 
Hopefully everyone who reads this will now see the importance of
inviting Congressman and Senators to Field Day to show off our emergency
communications capabilities. It is usually the only chance we get each
year. Please use it as a chance to lobby for our legislative efforts.
 
Congressman Israel will be speaking about this bill and other topics at
a meeting that will be held on Wednesday, May 29 at 8:00 PM in the
Babylon Town Hall EOC, 200 East Sunrise Highway, North Lindenhurst.
 
Meet Congressman Steve Israel who will talk about "My Father the Ham and
How I Hope to Solve His Antenna Problems."
 
Currently CC&R restrictions are NOT covered by the limited federal
preemption know as PRB-1. CC&R is an acronym for "covenants, codicils
and restrictions" put into property deeds. It is very difficult to buy
a home in a new development that does not have them. Many CC&Rs contain
language forbidding the use of outdoor antennas or transmitting of any
kind. They have ruined many retirement plans. It is almost impossible
to find developments in the South and West that do not have these deed
restrictions. Projecting this trend for the next ten or twenty years
paints a very bleak future for Amateur Radio. Last July the ARRL Board
added CC&R relief to its advocacy program.
 
> AMATEUR RADIO POISED TO GAIN TWO NEW BANDS.....news from the ARRL Web
site
 
Chalk up three runners on base for Amateur Radio. The FCC has proposed
going along with ARRL's request of last summer for a new domestic
(US-only), secondary HF allocation at 5.25 to 5.4 MHz. The FCC also is
ready to adopt at least part of ARRL's longstanding request for a
low-frequency amateur allocation by proposing to permit operation on a
136-kHz "sliver band." And, in response to a third ARRL request, the FCC
has proposed elevating Amateur Radio to primary status at 2400 to 2402
MHz.
 
"I'm just as tickled as I can be," ARRL President Jim Haynie, W5JBP,
said upon hearing the news. "This is a classic example of our ARRL at
work."
 
The 60-Meter band would be the first new HF allocations since 1979. In
announcing the 60-meter proposal, the FCC said the new band would help
amateurs "better match their choice of frequency to existing propagation
conditions." The band, if approved, would be the first new amateur HF
allocation since World Administrative Radio Conference 1979 gave
amateurs 30, 17 and 12 meters--the so-called "WARC Bands." Assuming the
5-MHz band eventually is authorized, it could be a few years before it
actually becomes available.
 
The ARRL has told the FCC that a new 5-MHz band would aid emergency
communication activities by filling a "propagation gap" on those
occasions when 80 meters is too low in frequency and 40 meters too high
for reliable ionospheric propagation. This can be a particular problem
on paths between the US and the Caribbean, when the "propagation gap"
can disrupt emergency communications during hurricanes and severe
weather emergencies. The ARRL also argued that a new 150-kHz allocation
at 5 MHz could relieve the overcrowding that periodically plagues 80 and
40.
 
The ARRL has proposed that General class and higher amateurs be
permitted to operate CW, phone, data, image and RTTY on the new band
running maximum authorized power. No mode-specific subbands were
proposed. If allocated to the Amateur Service on a secondary basis, hams
would have to avoid interfering with--and accept interference
from--current occupants of the spectrum, as they already do on 30
meters. The band 5.250 to 5.450 MHz now is allocated to Fixed and Mobile
services on a co-primary basis in all three ITU regions.
 
The 136 kHz band would mark the first LF allocation for hams in the US. 
The ARRL asked the FCC for two LF allocations in October 1998--135.7 to
137.8 kHz and 160 to 190 kHz. The petition had languished at the FCC
until this month, apparently in part because of concerns expressed over
the 160 to 190 kHz request. Unlicensed experimenters--some of them
hams-currently operate on LF in the US under the FCC's Part 15 rules.
 
"This action proposes changes that would enhance the ability of amateur
radio operators to conduct technical experiments, including propagation
and antenna design experiments, in the 'low frequency' (LF) range of the
radio spectrum," the FCC said in its Public Notice.
 
The FCC also proposes to elevate Amateurs to Primary at 2400-2402 MHz. 
The ARRL asked the FCC to elevate the domestic status of Amateur and
Amateur-Satellite services at 2400 to 2402 MHz from secondary to primary
in July 2000. The FCC said its proposal to upgrade the Amateur Service
allocation to primary "seeks to protect current amateur use of this
band."
 
Amateurs already are primary at 2390 to 2400 and from 2402 to 2417 MHz.
The ARRL has said primary status in the intervening spectrum slice was
needed "to provide some assurances of future occupancy of the band
segments for the next generation of amateur satellites," including Phase
3D.
 
Hams have shared their other 2.4 GHz spectrum on a secondary basis with
government users. The League has said it wanted an allocation that was
not subject to reallocation or use by "an incompatible sharing
partner."
 
> NEW YORK STATE LEGISLATURE ISSUES PROCLAMATION FOR 9/11 
 
On Monday April 22 Tom Carrubba, KA2D, NLI SEC, Gerry Agliata, W2GLA,
Hudson Division Assistant Director, KA2DVM, Ray Wemple, Local Government
Liaison and I were in Albany to receive a joint Legislative Resolution
from the Senate and the Assembly on behalf of all the New York State
Amateur Radio operators who responded in that crisis. The proclamation
has been in the works since last October. Not much happens quickly in
Albany. That resolution will eventually be put on the division web site
and hopefully will appear in both QST and CQ. The wording was designed
to give a detailed explanation to the legislators as to just what ham
radio operators did in this emergency. Please note we are working
toward a similar proclamation in the New Jersey Legislature. Copies were
mailed to all division club contact address and should arrive by the
weekend.
 
We spent some five hours talking to various Assemblyman and Senators
about the antenna bill and what hams had done after the WTC Attack. We
had a chance to meet with Assemblyman Tocci and Smith and discuss
progress of the bill over lunch. We later met with Assemblymen Sweeney,
O'Connell, Tonko, Levy, DiNapoli, Lentol, Brodsky, and Deputy Speaker
Arthur Eve. We were given a tour of the Senate Chamber by Senator Hugh
Farley, the Senate Majority Whip, who presented each of us with
individual citations. We met also with Senators Volker, Spano, Skelos
and Wright.
 
Here is W2GLA's report to the NY PRB-1 Committee:
 
 Here is an update on what's going on with our effort. First,
many thanks to those that sent photos of ham towers (at least the ones
that are not too big). These photos have been forwarded to our contacts
in the 
legislature and hopefully will serve their intended purpose, that is, to
clearly depict a typical ham tower in a typical ham setting.
 
 On Monday, April 22, Frank Fallon, Ray Wemple, Tom Carruba, and
I, traveled to the State Capitol in Albany for several purposes. One, to
accept resolutions issued by the NY State Assembly and Senate that
thanked amateur radio operators for their 9/11 communications efforts,
and two, to lobby for our bills in both houses of the legislature. We
were able to accomplish both tasks. Soon you will see the resolution
publicly, probably in QST and CQ magazines. Our lobbying efforts made
considerable progress also. The Local Government Committee Chairman,
John Sweeney committed to releasing our bill from his committee next
week. We expect it will go to the Rules Committee, (Assemblyman.
Silver), soon thereafter. Clearly, the 9/11 resolutions created higher
visibility for our bills, just what we wanted. On the senate side,
Senator Volker said to us that he wanted this bill passed this year and
he will work towards that end. We are still working tirelessly in our
lobbying effort and will keep you posted. I'd like to say that all the
hard work our committee did to allow us to get this far, doting the i's
and crossing the t's, was well worth it.
 
One last thing, as a follow up to Franks letter to radio clubs, please
invite your assemblyman, state senator and congressman/U.S. senator to
your local field Day this year. If they choose to attend, lobby the
hell out em, for our cause.
 
73, de Jerry W2GLA 
 
Here is the text of the proclamation:
 
 WHEREAS, Over 800 licensed Amateur Radio Operators from the State of
New York have demonstrated their value in public service by providing
emergency radio communications during the World Trade Center disaster of
September 11, 2001; and
 
 WHEREAS, These Amateur Radio Operators working from home stations,
emergency shelters, or regional emergency operations centers; expended
more than 15,000 man-hours of volunteer service for over two weeks, free
of charge, to the hundreds of served agencies across the state including
the New York City Office of Emergency Management, the American Red
Cross, the Salvation Army and the Villages, Towns and Counties across
the entire State of New York in this disaster; and
 
 WHEREAS, Amateur Radio Operators initially provided communications for
more than thirty shelters across the entire state set up to house
stranded air travelers; and those in New York City displaced by the
collapse and smoke from the World Trade Center fires; and
 
 WHEREAS, Amateur Radio Operators used their high frequency radio links
with New York City enabling State agencies near Albany to reestablish
contact when conventional telephone service was unavailable due to
damaged telephone facilities in New York City; and
 
WHEREAS, Amateur Radio Operators Clubs turned over the use many of their
own repeater networks for more than two weeks to allow groups of
stations, located at remote sites and shelters, to communicate
with each other so that supported agencies would know what types of
supplies and personnel were needed and where they were needed; and
 
WHEREAS, Amateur Radio Operators supply their own personal equipment
such as radios, microphones and antennas, in addition they are
constantly honing their technical knowledge and expertise to enhance
their communications and technical skills so they can provide a public
benefit and serve the citizens of the State of New York; and
 
WHEREAS, Amateur Radio Operators volunteers exceeded the actual need for
their services; and
 
WHEREAS, Amateur Radio Operators have the unique ability to enhance
international goodwill through their communications; and
 
WHEREAS, these Amateur Radio operators continue to be alert and
available for any emergency, local or world-wide; now, therefore, be it
 
 
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body, pause in its deliberations to pay
tribute to the New York State Amateur Radio Operators; and be it
further
 
RESOLVED, That copies of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to the representatives of the New York Amateur Radio
Operators.
 
 I recently had the pleasure of personally thanking members of the Red
Cross Amateur Radio Club in Queens for their work in the attack and
reading the proclamation to them at their May meeting. The club lost
its repeater, which was located on one of the Twin Towers of the WTC, on
September 11th. Members of the club were heavily involved in the 9/11
response and staffed the shelter set up at Shea Stadium. When I
finished reading the proclamation they cheered and clapped. 
 
> MAY ALBANY LOBBYING TRIP - Meeting the Governor.....
 
On Tuesday, May 7th we (KA2DVM, W2GLA and I) returned to Albany to lobby
the senate sponsors, co-sponsors and some of the key committee staffers.
 It was a thirteen-hour day. Out of the house by 7 AM I picked up Gerry
in New Rochelle and then drove up to Albany. We arrived in Albany at
few minutes after eleven and checked in with Jimmy the Newsagent, W2JHO,
to get the latest intelligence on what's happening with the bill from
his prospective in the lobby. We then went to Assemblyman Tocci's
office where we met Ray and the Assemblyman, and checked with Sharon the
office manager. She presented us with corrected copies of the joint
proclamation. Next we had a quick early lunch with Assemblyman Tocci
and discussed the status of the bill. There is some opposition from the
Association of Mayors and the Association of Towns but we expected that.
 The bottom line: it is not a major problem at this point. So we have
our fingers crossed. A 1565 was on the agenda of the Assembly Local
Government Committee meeting later in the afternoon. Once our meetings
started at noon we would have no time for a snack break so we ate early.
 Assemblyman Sweeney had told us on our visit two weeks before that his
committee will "report it out" and move it on to the next committee. 
This was the first meting of that committee since our visit. We are
hoping that it will go directly to Rules. (During our last visit of the
day we learned that the bill has been sent to "Ways and Means" where it
spent some time last year.) We ate very quickly.
 
Our first meeting was with Joseph Erdman, a Policy Analyst for Senator
Maziarz, who is a co sponsor of the bill. In very few instances do
lobbyists, and that's what we were, get to meet directly with the
senators or assemblymen. Joe, in his mid twenties and originally from
Valley Stream, will report our meeting to the senator. We make a BIG
pitch for why we need a height specified in the bill. Our pitch went
something like this:
 
The FCC limited federal preemption, which the bill repeats, limited
local government in the matter of amateur antennas back in September of
1985 and since then all too many local governments, not all but too
many, have been in denial of this fact. They key issue revolves around
our need for antennas at an effective height. One or two of us insert a
short technical explanation concerning line of sight in UHF and VHF
communications and the relationship of frequency and height when dealing
with ionospheric propagation at short waves. We also go into how height
effects that angle of radiation and reception at short waves. All the
time we watched to make sure that our listener did not begin to glaze
over and nod off. We talked about how a few towns - Sands Point,
Hempstead, Saratoga Springs, and Kinderhook have "tortured" amateur
radio operators over these issues and forced them to spend a lot of
money unnecessarily because the municipalities refused to accept the
federal limitations. We need the height specified because towns don't
understand the issue. They are not experienced with or conversant in
the physics of high frequency ionospheric propagation and attempt to
treat our height requests the same way that they would treat a request
for a height variance for a fence. 
 
All of the above is not easy to do effectively in the short amount of
time we had with the staff people. We left Joe with a copy of the
Saratoga Springs decision, and copies of the newspaper articles about
the Hempstead and Kinderhook tower cases. I also included a copy of the
November 2001 QST which had an article about our 9/11 response and I
added a copy of Senator Farley's resolution thanking Amateur's for
their help in that attack. He informed us that our sponsor, Senator
Volker, is the key person to have to deal with any opposition or
problems we encounter as the bill moves through committees. 
 
We left for our one PM meting with Senator Larken's assistant. We had a
few minutes to spare and as we passed Senator Mary Lou Rath's office I
decided to stop in and see if we could speak to Mike Hetler, Legislative
Counsel. I had spoken to him on the phone the previous week about
"safety" and whether our bill takes that issue away from local
government control. I assured him it did not and sent a copy of PRB-1
to him. Luckily he is in and we have a few minutes to speak. He had
not yet seen PRB-1 as he requested me to send it to the local office
rather than Albany. I gave him another copy and assured him that local
government is still able to deal with the safety issue. We remind him
that the committee last year had no problem with this issue. (We were
told later in the day that Mr. Hetler is new in the job as his
predecessor passed away.) We were introduced to Senator Rath as she
left for a meeting. Our visit was less than ten minutes. We jumped into
the elevator again.
 
At Senator Larken's office, another co sponsor, we met with Mark Simmons
his legislative assistant. We asked him to thank Senator Larkin for
co-sponsoring the bill and gave him the same pitch. When we learned
that he had good grades in high school physics we decided to leave him a
copy of "Antenna Height and Communications Effectiveness" by Dean
Straw, N6BV, and Gerry Hall, K1TD. He promised to read it but we
assured him that while we may be back we are not going to test him on
the contents. I left with the impression that he will actually read it
and understand it, and more importantly understands why we need the
height left in the bill.
 
Another elevator ride later and we were in Senator Volker's office. The
senator is the senate sponsor of the bill. He is very important and I
have requested that he be present at the meeting. While we were waiting
for the Senator, Assemblyman Arthur O. Eve, Deputy Speaker from Buffalo
came into the office and we had a big hello for him. We had sat at the
table next to him at lunch two weeks before and had struck up a
conversation with him about schools in New York City after hearing part
of an interview he was having with a reporter. We had a chance to
remind him about our Amateur Radio Antenna Bill. This helped put a face
on our issue for him. Assemblyman Eve had a quick meeting with Senator
Volker and then were in to see him and thank him for all the work he had
done on our bill in the last two years. 
 
With the Senator are his two key aides - J.R. Drexiules, Legislative
Counsel and Waynette Engel, Director of Legislative Operations. We have
met both of them before and spoken to them on the telephone many times. 
We brief them about progress in the assembly and ask them about movement
in the Senate. Our bill is still in Senator Rath's Local Government
Committee but the senator has requested that it be reported out. We are
told that the Association of Towns and the New York Commission of
Mayors, NYCOM, are exerting pressure. Neither group likes the fact that
the bill sets a standard or height. The bottom line we feel is that
they have never liked the bill and are trying to hide the fact that
PRB-1 even exists. We also made the point that a key legislative
advisor, who will write a report on the bill for Senator Bruno is biased
against us. Waynette, who has been at meetings we have had with him,
agrees with our assessment. We are assured that one person cannot stop
the bill. This is good news. We make our pitch and once again stress
how we have been "tortured" over height limitations and how they effect
our ability to make distant communications. We left lots of reading
matter as before and promise to send more background material, which the
aides can use to convince committee people about the bill. We left the
meeting with a very good feeling about our chances of passage. The
meeting was a very positive one and Senator Volker listened very closely
to what we had to say.
 
At our next destination on another floor they were not ready for us and
Ray decided to make a cellphone call. A very young woman who is an aide
to Senator Morahan ushered into a conference room. The young woman had
no business card (she is probably an intern) and I did not hear her name
when she introduced herself. She sat taking notes as we gave our pitch.
 At one point Gerry asked her if she knows what ham radio is. She
answers, "I have been reading the bill." She hasn't a clue. Gerry
gives her the one-minute definition of Amateur Radio. We leave her our
business cards and a lot of reading material. We had the feeling that
we have probably not accomplished much here.
 
On our way to the elevator Ray told us about his phone call. He had
called a lobbyist friend who has contacts with the president of NYCOM
and asked him to call and tell them that we need the bill so we can
continue to provide emergency communications as we did in 9/11. He has
asked his friend to gave a pitch for us and the professional lobbyist
has agreed to do it. Our time in the office was not totally wasted.
 
It took us nearly fifteen minutes to get to our next appointment - slow
elevators again and now security. Our next stop was the Governor's
Office. George was not ready for us so we sat in the splendid capitol
lobby while Ray gave us a history lesson about some of the people
pictured on the walls. His cell phone rang. After a minute he handed
me the phone and said, "Listen to what my friend has to say." The voice
on the other end identifies itself as Ray's friend that he called
earlier. He told me that he had just finished speaking with the
president of NYCOM and has explained to him that we need to have a
height in our bill in order to be able to continue to provide emergency
communications as we did in 9/11. He has listed all the things we did
in this and previous emergencies. I thank him for his efforts on our
behalf. This guy wastes no time doing things. He has done us a VERY
BIG favor.
 
Greg Allen, who is the Governor's assistant counsel, then walked up and
greeted us. We had not expected to meet with him as Gerry told the
governor's secretary that this was a personal meeting rather than a
business meeting. We spent an hour with Gregg last year talking about
the bill and have spoken to him on the telephone many times since. He
informed us that he has been sent out to usher us in to see the
Governor. Greg shepherded us past a few state troopers and into a
conference room next to the governor's office.
 
While we wait for the governor we chat with Greg about the bill. His
job is to advise the governor whether he should sign bills. He is
slightly important to our goal here. We tell him what is happening with
the bill. We stress how local government is still "torturing" hams. I
tell him about the federal decision we had in Saratoga Springs and the
problems in Kinderhook with five hearings over nine months. Both events
have taken place since our last meeting. Greg replied, "I live in
Kinderhook. I never heard anything about this." I reach into my bag
and pull out the Saratoga decision and four newspaper articles about the
Kinderhook hearings. I pointed out that all of the media articles were
favorable to us. This, I tell Greg, is proof that Fred Fitte, the ham
involved, was "tortured." I realized at this point why I had been
dragging around a bag full of heavy paper all day.
 
At this point Governor George Pataki walked into the room and had a big
hug for Jerry and we were introduced and shook hands with the governor. 
When we finally sat down Gerry and the governor begin to talk about old
times and family. The Governor mentioned how small rigs have become and
we asked if he was enjoying reading QST. He tells us he has not seen
it. As the Governor is a member I tell him that we will check with his
secretary to see that we have the correct address. I again reached into
the bag for a November QST that I gave to the Governor. From this point
on the Governor thumbed through QST as we spoke. When the governor
asked what can I do for you the three of us gave a chorus of, "You can
come to Field Day." The governor began to talk about Field Days of yore
and poor Greg Allen hadn't a clue as to what we were talking about. The
governor told us of a Field Day when he was a teen where they carried a
beam and a rig and three big storage batteries up a big hill and the
batteries ran down after three hours. The rig the governor tells us had
only three watts output. The Governor explained that at this point he
has no idea where he will be at the end of June. We told him that if
his staff lets us know where he will be Saturday afternoon or Sunday
morning we will find a suitable location anywhere in New York State that
he can attend. We promised QST and local media coverage if he attends a
Field Day anywhere in New York State. When Gerry showed the Legislative
proclamation to the Governor he replied that he has to do one too and
asks his secretary to make a photocopy. That was easy, I thought to
myself.
 
The Governor then took us on a short tour of his inner office where he
works and the ceremonial office next door. While he is showing us the
ceremonial office he says, "This is where I will sign the Amateur Radio
Antenna bill." We joke that we have copies with us in case he wants to
practice today. The Governor pointed out the secret entrance and
elevator that FDR had made so that he could get to his office without
anyone realizing that he was wheelchair bound. The Governor also
demonstrated the step stool that Dewey used to make himself look
taller.
 
We plan to follow up on our invitation to the Governor for a Field Day
visit. It certainly would also be nice to get the Governor back into
Amateur Radio. We explained the easier exams these days and offer to
provide a crash course if he feels he needs it. Perhaps George Pataki
could do for Amateur Radio the type of things Barry Goldwater did for us
in the past century.
 
Our last visit of the day was with two staffers from the Programming
Counsel's Office, or Rules Committee. It is a short meeting. They
informed us that the Assembly bill has moved to the Ways and Means
Committee without any amendments. This is good news.
 
We moved to the cafeteria for a debriefing session and then headed for
home. I arrived home a little after 8 PM very tired after a very hectic
but rewarding day. 
 
> THERE IS HOPE FOR THOSE DEALING WITH CC&R RESTRICTIONS
 
First Florida (last week), and now Arizona have dealt blows to the power
of CC&R restrictions. 
 
To further add ammunition to those who believe that CC&R's can be
preempted, the Arizona Legislature yesterday passed a bill that limits
CC&R's. The bill states that CC&R's cannot prohibit the display of
flags (means flagpoles too). Other states have either passed or are
considering such bills. This will allow flagpole verticals and adds
credence to the argument that CC&R's may be preempted.
 
 
Might be a useful approach on CC&Rs for us to get behind. This could
lead to many "flagpole" antenna projects in the future?
 
 Thanks to Tom, K1KI and Bruce, K1MY for calling this to our attention
via the Tower-talk reflector.
 
 
> CARL FELT'S CALL, N2XJ, LIVES ON 
 
N2XJ, the call letters of the late Carl Felt will live on as the
official call letters of the New Providence Amateur Radio Club. This
honors a great ham, citizen and Naval officer. Carl entered the U. S.
Navy at the start of WW II and served in the Pacific and then stayed in
the Naval Reserve until retirement.  He was also very active in local
politics, having served on the Borough Council. His passion as a ham
was traffic handling, especially on CW. Carl was an active member of
Chatham RACES and ARES and the New Providence Amateur Radio Club. All
who ever met Carl will remember him as a true gentleman.
 
>From Chatham RACES 
 
Note: For many years Carl had been an Assistant Director in the Hudson
Division and attended nearly all of the cabinet meetings held. About a
year before he died he informed me that he no longer wished to be an
Assistant Director as he was slowing down a bit. I believe he was 93 or
more when he passed away. L learned of his passing months later. I
will always remember being with him in a diner before a meeting with a
group of local hams when the topic turned to retirement and social
security. Carl announced, "Yes, all of my kids are on social security
now." We laughed for quite a time about that comment. Carl was a real
class act.
 
 
* FIELD DAY PREPARATIONS - Think PR here, please.
 
I am sure your Field Day Chairman has already downloaded the rules file
from the ARRL site and plans are well underway for another great time at
FD in 2002. It is also time to begin inviting local elected officials
so you can show off ham radio and make it easier to get support for
antenna support structure legislation. As we are about to begin a
national effort for CC&R legislation. We are going to need to get
support across the nation for this important effort. Please, therefore,
invite your local US Congressional representative and US Senator and
have someone available to give them the pitch for support. I have sent
a letter to each club in the division asking them to invite legislators
and enclosed a copy of the New York Legislative Resolution on our
response on 9/11, which can be duplicated and distributed to visitors.
 
Remember: It's not only a smart thing to do, there are points to be
gained for the Field Day Score. Have the club secretary write a letter
or send a fax to the district office scheduler of the official with the
dates and times of the Field Day event. You might also want to try the
governor. 
 
If you do get a VIP visitor please, contact a local PIO and get some
media coverage at your site.
 
>>>>>>>>> APPROVED HAMFESTS: 
 
1 Jun  + Bergen ARA Washington
 2002 http://www.bara.org Township, NJ
 Contact: Jim Joyce, K2ZO Div: Hudson
 286 Ridgewood Blvd. North Sect: Northern New
 Washington Township, NJ 07676 Jersey
 Phone: 201-664-6725
 Email: jjjoyce@cybernex.net
 
9 Jun + Long Island Mobile ARC Bethpage, NY
 2002 http://www.limarc.org Div: Hudson
 Contact: Diane Ortiz, K2DO Sect: New York
 PO Box 392 City-Long Island
 Levittown, NY 11756-0392
 Phone: 516-520-9311 or
 631-286-7562
 Email: hamfest@limarc.org
 
15 Jun + Raritan Valley Radio Association Dunellen, NJ
 2002 http://www.w2qw.org Div: Hudson
 Contact: Doug Benner, W2NJH Sect: Northern New
 1020 Laurel Trail Jersey
 Martinsville, NJ 08836
 Phone: 732-469-9009
 Email: wb2njh@aol.com
 
 30 Jun + Hall of Science ARC Queens, NY
 2002 http://www.qsl.net/hosarc Div: Hudson
 Contact: Stephen Greenbaum, WB2KDG Sect: New York
 85-10 34th Avenue City-Long Island
 Jackson Heights, NY 11372
 Phone: 718-898-5599
 Email: wb2kdg@bigfoot.com
 
17 Aug + Ramapo Mountain ARC Oakland, NJ
 2002 http://www.qsl.net/rmarc Div: Hudson
 Contact: Steven Oliphant, N2KBD Sect: Northern New
 10 Glen Road  Jersey
 Ringwood, NJ 07456
 Phone: 973-962-4584
 Fax: 973-962-6210
 Email: rmarc@qsl.net