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NORTH CAROLINA SECTION NEWS -- October, 2012

Posted Oct 29, 2012

HURRICANE SANDY - Thankfully Hurricane Sandy had minor impact on most of North Carolina. A State of Emergency was declared in 33 eastern counties and the entire North Carolina coast was under a Tropical Storm Warning, but ARES was not activated. Thanks to all who were prepared and stood by.

NC QSO PARTY -- The Raleigh Amateur Radio Society (RARS) is taking over administration of the NC QSO Party, which has a new website: http://www.rars.org/ncqsoparty A tip of the hat to Henry Heidtmann, W2DZO, and the Forsyth Amateur Radio Club for its management of the NC QSO Party for many years, and to Marty Young, W4MY, who will head up the NC QSO Party for RARS. Set the date for the next NC QSO Party on your calendar now: February 24, 2013.

LONGTIME CDXA PRESIDENT TED GOLDTHORPE, W4VHF, STEPPING DOWN -- For those who like to chase DX, we are fortunate to have an ARRL affiliated dedicated DX club located in North Carolina: the Carolinas DX Association. Although based in Charlotte, it serves members throughout North and South Carolina, and in many other states. Not many ARRL sections have a DX club so take advantage of its resources and superb website at www.cdxa.org Ted, W4VHF, has been the long time chief of CDXA and after many years of unflagging service, he and his equally hard working YL Itice, K4LVV, are taking some well deserved time off. Thanks Ted and Itice for your expert leadership in making DX fun in the Carolinas.

MEDIA HITS -- Another bumper crop of great media mentions this past month. Hurricane Sandy prompted Wilmington’s WECT-TV to contact Section Manager Bill Morine, N2COP, to explain how Hams help with emergency communications. Newly appointed ARRL Public Information Officer (PIO) Janice Hopkins, KJ4JPE, helped the Jacksonville Daily News do an article on the Maysville Hamfest. The subsequent story prompted an inactive Ham to come out to the hamfest to get started again. Clay County ARES Emergency Coordinator (EC) Larry Ford, KG4GPJ, was instrumental in having the Smoky Mountain Sentinel, the Clay County Progress and Cherokee Scout publish articles about the reinvigorated ARES effort in southwestern North Carolina. Finally, the family of Mike Falzone, K4PSP, from Raleigh placed an ad in the News & Observer celebrating Mike’s 96th birthday.

NOMINATE YOUR FAVORITE JOURNALIST, PRODUCER OR BLOGGER FOR ARRL’s BILL LEONARD AWARD -- Did a reporter do a nice story about a Ham , a club or event this past year, either on TV, radio, in a newspaper, on a website, a podcast or a blog? Nominate him or her for the annual ARRL Bill Leonard W2SKE Professional Media Award. The 35 year old Bill Leonard Award is named after the former head of CBS News, W2SKE. There are three categories for the award: Print/Text, Radio/Audio, Video/TV. Nominees should be professional journalists who earn their living through media reporting. Each category carries a $250. honorarium which is donated to a charity designated by the winner. Nominations are due December 9th at ARRL Headquarters. The entry form is available at http://www.arrl.org/files/file/Media%2520%26%2520PR/PR%2520Awards/Leonard%252012%2520app.pdf With so many good stories about North Carolina Hams appearing in media, give some recognition to those who recognize us.

WELCOME NEW PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICERS -- Section Public Information Coordinator (PIC) Woody Woodward, K3VSA, and his team of ARRL section Public Information Officers (PIOs) have modernized how they get the word out about Amateur Radio to the public. Since 2009, those wishing to become ARRL section PIOs are required to complete ARRL’s PR-101 course, a three hour online class which contains very useful information on how to effectively promote Amateur Radio in all forms of media. Recently completing PR-101, which is free for any ARRL member to take, and becoming PIOs are Janice Hopkins, KJ4JPE, of Swansboro; Ed Best, AK4W, and Rene Couch, AI4WJ, both from Durham; Michael Doornbos, N4LNX, of Weaverville; and Benjamin Gufford, W4BRG, from Wilson. Benjamin also was recently named Wilson County Schools’ Teacher Of The Year. ARRL PIOs concentrate in their local media markets, but they can and do scour the state looking for good stories. You can learn more about our section PIOs at: https://www.ncarrl-pio.org

JOTA TURNOUT A SUCCESS -- Special stations were set up on the weekend of October 20-21 for the 55th annual Scouting Jamboree-On-The-Air, or "JOTA". Adults demonstrated Amateur Radio to Boy, Cub and Girl Scouts in Gastonia, Four Oaks, Fletcher, Fayetteville, Albemarle, Charlotte, New London, Aurora, Rutherfordton, Raleigh, Louisburg, Fuquay-Varina and numerous other places across the state. Thanks to patient leaders who supplemented on-air time with instruction which permitted scouts to earn activity pins, electives and even the Radio Merit Badge.

HAMFESTS: Sunday, Nov. 18, JARSfest, American Legion Building, 605 Wall St., Benson. Talk-In 147.27

SPECIAL EVENT STATIONS - Nov 3-Nov 4, 1201Z-0300Z, N4F, Dupont Rescue Experience, Flat Rock, NC. North Carolina USAR Task Force 6. 28.325 14.255 7.225. Details at: dupontrescue.com

PUBLIC SERVICE: Sat., Nov. 3, 5:30 PM -7:30 PM, Light The Night, Durham; Sun., Nov. 4th, 6:00 AM-2:30 PM, City of Oaks Full and Half Marathon, Raleigh; Sun., Nov. 18th, 7:00 AM-5:00 PM, Makin’ Room For Turkey Bike Ride for MS, Raleigh. Details for all three previous listings: www.hampublicservice.org

LICENSING CLASSES: Two multi-week Technician classes are underway: Bakersvile (email wa9otp@bellsouth.net for more info) and Oriental (email cressbill@gmail.com for more info). If your club will be hosting a licensing class coming up, please register it at: www.arrl.org/register-a-new-license-class

NTS SEPTEMBER TRAFFIC REPORT -- QNI (total check-ins), 3397. TOTAL MESSAGES PASSED, 800. STATION ACTIVITY REPORTS (SARs) W3DNA 310, K4IWW 229, W2EAG 203, WK4P 182, KJ4RUD 154, KS4PG 90, WB4ZIQ 77, KF4OCU 56, KJ4JPE 55, KC4PGN 45, W3HL 44, AK4RJ 43, KE4AHC 36, W4TTO 36, K4JUU 32, KK4BVR 30, N2RTF 14, KK4CWT 13, KA4IZN 4. PUBLIC SERVICE HONOR ROLL (PSHR) KK4BVR 160, W4DNA 160, WK4P 150, WB4ZIQ 145, AK4RJ 140, KJ4JPE 140, K4IWW 130, K4JUU 112, W2EAG 110, KJ4RUD 100, W4TTO 96, KF4OCU 95, N2RTF 84, KS4PG 80.

SILENT KEYS -- We regret to report the passing of Jim Morris, KA4MPP, of Woodleaf.

QUA* - November is Thanksgiving, and in Amateur radio, we have a lot for which to be thankful. We belong to a century old public service and hobby which has both a strong legacy and a bright future. True, some traditional modes may not be as popular as they once were, but no one is prohibited from using them. Meanwhile, the digital era is exploding with new opportunities. Moreover, I am grateful we have a conscientious team of trained PIOs who are successfully telling all sorts of media outlets about the many aspects of Ham Radio, from being the original social network, to radio sports like DXing and contesting, to public service through ARES, AUXCOMM and helping out with community events, to new technologies being made on both benchtops and laptops. This is my 42nd year of licensure, and I feel Ham Radio is more fun than ever. Make time to savor the many flavors of Ham Radio, and be thankful.

73 de Bill N2COP

*QUA - CW Net control signal meaning "Do you have news for me?"