KDØCL
West Bloomington 147.090+ Tone: None Central Bloomington Analog/Fusion 443.175+ DCS: 165
April 7th meetings will be held online
Bloomington AUXCOMM and Bloomington Amateur Radio Association (BARA) monthly meeting will be held online.
The ARRL will host the April meetings of Bloomington AUXCOMM and BARA.
Brian will lead off at 7 P.M. with the AUXCOMM meeting.
I’ll start the BARA meeting at 7:30 P.M. After club business I’ll give a presentation or find a guest speaker.
Please sign-up and test your connection before the meeting via
https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/466442925002999307
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.
ARRL January Board Meeting, “On The Air” magazine
The January Board of Directors meeting minutes have been published. I
think its important to bring you up to date on some important matters.
Let’s start with some good news…
Our former Dakota Division Directors and Vice Directors retired at the
end of the January board meeting from their First Vice President
positions. Both were elected Honorary Vice Presidents. Both have
ongoing active roles in amateur radio near and far.
Jay Bellows, KØQB, served 22 years on the board and continues to serve
as International Amateur Radio Union (IARU) Region 2 (The Americas)
Treasurer.
Greg Widin, KØGW, served 12 years on the board and continues to serve
as Chairman of the Logbook Of The World Committee (LOTW).
I’m very fortunate to have two (and for a while three) mentors, sitting
in the board room me, for the past four years. Jay and Greg, along with
former Director Kent Olson, KAØLDG, introduced me to my fellow
directors and the staff at ARRL HQ. They also brought me up to speed on
prior board actions and provided historical context regarding issues
being discussed by either the ARRL or IARU. Having four leaders from
the Dakota Division, in the board room, at the same time, has been an
experience I’ll never forget. Thanks gents and thank you Vice Director
Lynn Nelson for continuing to serve the Dakota Division with me.
The Board of Directors held officer elections at the January board
meeting. I think its important the members know the results of these
elections which are conducted by secret ballot. Chief Executive Officer
Dr. Howard Michel was not re-elected. 6 directors voted “yes” and 9
directors voted “no” to re-elect CEO Michel.
I voted to retain Dr. Michel because I thought he was making
improvements in day-to-day operations of our non-profit organization
that has about 80 employees and about a 15 million dollar annual
operating budget. I judge the CEO on their merits of running a
non-profit organization not their CW sending speed, number of DXCC
entities verified or their contest scores.
My fellow board members have a considerable challenge to find our 3rd
CEO in as many years. A search committee has been formed to hire a new
CEO with experience running a non-profit organization, managing a large
staff, enthusiasm for amateur radio, doesn’t mind New England weather
and possibly paying higher state income taxes than they have experienced
in their home state.
Two other officer elections had two candidates each:
Incumbent President Rick Roderick, K5UR, received 8 votes. Challenger,
Pacific Division Director, Jim Tiemstra, K6JAT, received 7 votes.
New International Affairs Vice President Rod Stafford, W6ROD, received
13 votes to challenger Bruce Frahm, K0BJ, 2 votes.
Elected Without Contest:
First Vice President Michael Raisbeck, K1TWF
Second Vice President Bob Vallio, W6RGG
Interim CEO and Secretary Barry Shelley, N1VXY
Treasurer Rick Niswander, K7GM
Chief Financial Officer Diane Middleton, W2DLM
The link to the full meeting minutes are posted at
http://www.arrl.org/news/arrl-board-of-directors-re-elects-president-rick-roderick-k5ur
Committee reports are posted at http://www.arrl.org/committee-reports
I’ll serve as the Program and Services Committee Chair in 2020.
Work on Capitol Hill continues. The legislative advocacy committee is
working with elected leaders, and their office staff, to create new
legislation to provide reasonable accommodation of Amateur Radio
antennas. With the impeachment proceedings behind us, I think
Washington D.C.’s focus will turn to November elections. This means the
process of crafting a bill, finding a sponsor and cosponsors and getting
a House committee to review the bill will likely take all year and drift
in 2021.
I ask each member to review the proposed HF band plan that I mentioned
in my last bulletin to members. Digital mode operation has become very
popular and many days digital contacts make up the majority of QSOs
uploaded to Logbook Of The World (LOTW). A committee was formed to
consider the needs and wants of CW, digital and phone operators when
drawing up this plan. Also considered in the process were IARU regional
band plans. Please file your comments, online, at
http://www.arrl.org/bandplan by February 19th.
Have you checked out the new ARRL magazine? “On The Air,” will be
published every other month and available to all members online. If
you’re new to amateur radio or don’t feel QST has articles that most
interest you, please give “On The Air” a read. When you renew your
membership you can elect to receive QST or “On The Air” by mail.
Remember both magazines are available to members, online, as a member
benefit.
The 2020 hamfest season is upon us. Check out the Division calendar at
https://www.arrldakota.org/calendar.html for an event near you.
ARRL Dakota Division
Director: Matt Holden, K0BBC
k0bbc@arrl.org
FCC Invites Comments on 5.9 GHz
The FCC has invited comments on a Notice of Proposed Rule Making
(NPRM) in WT Docket 19-138, which said the FCC would take ”a fresh
and comprehensive look” at the rules for the 5.9 GHz band. The FCC
proposes to make 5.850 – 5.895 GHz available for unlicensed
operations and to authorize transportation-related communication
technologies to use 5.895 – 5.925 GHz.
WT Docket 19-138 files can be found online in PDF format at,
https://www.fcc.gov/ecfs/filing/1217200308588 .
The FCC is not proposing to delete or otherwise amend the
5-centimeter secondary amateur radio allocation at 5.650 – 5.925
GHz, part of which includes the 75 Megahertz under consideration.
Comments are due by March 6, and reply comments are due by April 6.
ARRL will be filing comments supporting no change to 5.850 – 5.925
GHz for amateurs, as included in the FCC proposal.
Feb 22: AERO 101 and AERO 102 Courses
AERO Courses are written by the Amateur Emergency Radio Organization (AERO) of Minnesota. They are a written curriculum and hands on practice experience in operating amateur radios. The emphasis will be on basic operations with a focus on emergency communications. The Courses are as below:
AERO 101: Introduction to Emergency Communications for the Amateur Radio Operator. Basic radio operations and communications skills, operating using a radio net, the role of amateur radio during emergency communications, and the basics of the Incident Command System (ICS) and ICS forms. This course is the prerequisite for all future courses. Offered Saturday, February 22, 9:00 AM at Woodbury High School ( 2665 Woodlane Drive, Woodbury, MN), Room 218 South side door 36.
AERO 102: Advanced Emergency Communications for the Amateur Radio Operator. The Radio Operator will learn how to communicate information effectively to other radio operators, provide effective communications support during routine and non-emergency communications, demonstrate proper application of communications procedures and demonstrate proper use of communications equipment. Offered Saturday, February 22, 9:00 AM at Woodbury High School ( 2665 Woodlane Drive, Woodbury, MN), Room 218 South side door 36.
Registration:
- You may register with John Regan, KA0HYR, ARES EC, at 651-491-6611 or jeregan3@gmail.com .
- Or, You may walk into the room prior to the class and register on site. –
Additional AERO Courses will be offered this fall: AERO 201 and 202 on Net Control operations, procedures, and hands on practice. Tentative dates in August and October. Exact dates and times TBD.
Courses on Digital modes and operation are planned for the future. No designated dates as of yet.
Get Training and Event Alerts
Click here: ARESMN Metro Email List
Get the AERO training and participate in events you need to be a valuable volunteer for ARES, Emergency Management or a disaster organization. This list replaces the list sent by webmaster@aeromn.org and webmaster@aresmn.org. You must sign up to be included in future mailings.
–
Dave Johnson, N0KBD, AUXCOMM(t), COMT(t)
n0kbd1@gmail.com www.n0kbd.com
ARES MN Metro District ADEC – PIO
AERO MN Vice Director
Maple Grove RC Board Director and MSW NCO Supervisor
Metro Skywarn Ex-Officio and Founding Board Director
March Skywarn Spotter Training Cancelled
The Bloomington Skywarn (and all other training sessions in March) have been cancelled. Below is the statement from Metro Skywarn leadership:
With the total number of COVID-19 cases now up to 9 people in the state of Minnesota and 5 of our 7 counties that we cover having cases in it, Metro Skywarn Board of Directors has decided to postpone the 3 remaining March classes until a later date.
The classes postponed are: 3/14 in Blaine, 3/25 in Maple Grove, and 3/28 in Bloomington.
Our next class scheduled is 4/2 in Richfield. Our class schedule is at https://metroskywarn.eventbrite.com
We will continue to monitor the situation and will make announcements regarding our next classes in April. When it is safe, we will attempt to reschedule the postponed classes.
We are sorry for the inconvenience, but we need to protect our hosts, trainers, and spotters.
Thank you!
Theresa Caspers
Education Coordinator
Metro Skywarn
March 3rd Meeting Davanni’s
The March meeting of the Bloomington Amateur Radio Association will be March 3rd at Davanni’s 8605 Lyndale Ave S, Bloomington MN 55420
We’ll get started at 7 P.M. social hour and dinner. No purchase is necessary. Please order food as you enter the restaurant and they will deliver your order to you in the party room.
We had considered moving the meeting date, but, most members in attendance at the January meeting said they were unavailable the next week. City hall is unavailable because of the primary election taking place today.
2020 Field Day Logo Revealed
Field Day is always held on the 4th full weekend in June — 27-28, 2020.
The 2020 Field Day information packet and promotional materials will be posted at http://www.arrl.org/field-day as soon as it is finalized.
ARRL to Argue for Continued Access to 3-GHz Spectrum as FCC Sets Comment Deadlines
01/24/2020
At its January meeting, the ARRL Board of Directors instructed the League’s FCC counsel to prepare a strong response to protect amateur access to spectrum in the 3 GHz range. In its Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) in WT Docket 19-348, the FCC proposed to relocate all non-federal operations, including amateur uses, to spectrum outside the 3.3 – 3.55 GHz band. The Commission anticipates auctioning this spectrum to expand commercial use of 5G cellular and wireless broadband services, if agreement can be reached on relocation of — or sharing with — the federal incumbents that operate in the same band. Publication of the NPRM in the Federal Register on January 22 established deadlines of February 21 for comments and March 23 for reply comments.
The FCC has requested comment on the uses radio amateurs make of the spectrum and appropriate relocation options. Complicating matters is the fact that radio amateurs must consider the possibility that the immediately adjacent 3.1 – 3.3 GHz band is included in the spectrum that Congress has identified for similar study. FCC Commissioner Michael O’Rielly, in a December statement, referenced the fact that the lower band may also be considered for non-federal reallocation, potentially limiting relocation possibilities.
Amateurs make substantial use of the 3.3 – 3.5 GHz band that would be hard to replicate elsewhere, and they have filed more than 150 comments before the designated comment period even began. Among users looking at options are those who use this spectrum for Earth-Moon-Earth (moonbounce) communication, mesh networks, experiments with communication over long distances, radiosport, and amateur television. A portion of the band also is designated for use by amateur satellites in ITU Regions 2 and 3 (the Americas and Asia/Pacific).
A report is due by March 23 from the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) evaluating the feasibility of having federal users share all or part of the 3.1 – 3.55 GHz band with commercial wireless services. This report is required by the Making Opportunities for Broadband Investment and Limiting Excessive and Needless Obstacles to Wireless (MOBILE NOW) Act. The results of the NTIA report will impact how much spectrum ultimately may be re-allocated for auction to wireless providers.
ARRL urges amateurs who comment to inform the FCC about the uses they make of the 3 GHz spectrum. Short comments and longer statements may be filed electronically. Visit the FCC “How to Comment on FCC Proceedings” page for more information. Commenters should reference WT Docket 19-348.
February 4th Meetings in the McLeod Conference Room on the 1st Floor
The February 4th Bloomington AUXCOMM and Bloomington Amateur Radio Association (BARA) monthly meetings will be held in the McLeod Conference Room on the 1st Floor.
Bloomington AUXCOMM starts at 7 P.M.
BARA starts at 7:30 P.M. Matt Holden KØBBC will be the featured speaker. He is the ARRL Dakota Division Director and will give an update on the proceedings of the January meeting of the ARRL Board of Directors.
2020 Club Officers
President Matt Holden KØBBC
Vice President Fred Steinhaus ACØFS
Secretary Brian Gaffney KNØWN
Treasurer Bill Mitchell AEØEE
Thank You Bill, Toddy (Martha), Dan and Steve for your years of service to the club.