Prepared - September 8, 2008
By: Darrell R. Norris - WA3AJQ
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The following excerpts were taken from recent ARRL news letters.
FCC TO RAISE VANITY CALL SIGN FEES
On August 11, the FCC announced that the cost of an Amateur Radio vanity call sign will increase 60 cents, from $11.70 to $12.30 www.hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-08-182A1.pdf . The fee will increase 30 days after notice of the increase is published in the Federal Register www.gpoaccess.gov/fr/index.html; no date has yet been set for publication. The FCC is authorized by the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, to collect vanity call sign fees to recover the costs associated with that program. The vanity call sign regulatory fee is payable not only when applying for a new vanity call sign, but also upon renewing a vanity call sign for a new 10 year term.
The vanity call sign fee has fluctuated over the 12 years of the current program -- from a low of $11.70 to a high of $50. The FCC said it anticipates some 15,000 Amateur Radio vanity call sign "payment units" -- or applications -- during Fiscal Year 2009, collecting $184,734 in fees from the program.
The vanity call sign regulatory fee is payable not only when applying for a new vanity call sign, but also upon renewing a vanity call sign for a new term. The first vanity call sign licenses issued under the current Amateur Radio vanity call sign program that began in 1996 came up for renewal two years ago.
Those holding "personalized" call signs issued prior to 1996 are exempt from having to pay the vanity call sign regulatory fee at renewal, as Congress did not authorize the FCC to collect regulatory fees until 1993. Such "heritage" vanity call sign holders do not appear as vanity licensees in the FCC Amateur Radio database.
Amateur Radio licensees may file for renewal only within 90 days of their license expiration date. All radio amateurs must have an FCC Registration Number (FRN) before filing any application with the Commission. Applicants can obtain an FRN by going to the ULS and clicking on the "New Users Register" link http://wireless.fcc.gov/uls/ . You must supply your Social Security Number to obtain an FRN.
The ARRL VEC will process license renewals for vanity call sign holders for a modest fee. The service is available to ARRL members and nonmembers, although League members pay less. Routine, non-vanity renewals continue to be free for ARRL members. Trustees of club stations with vanity call signs may renew either via the ULS or through a Club Station Call Sign Administrator, such as ARRL VEC.
League members should visit the "ARRL Member Instructions for License Renewals or Changes" page www.arrl.org/fcc/memberlicenseinstructions.html , while the "Instructions for License Renewals or Changes" page covers general renewal procedures for nonmembers www.arrl.org/fcc/licenseinstructions.html . There is additional information on the "ARRL VEC's FCC License Renewals and ARRL License Expiration Notices" page www.arrl.org/arrlvec/renewals.html.
License application and renewal information and links to the required forms are available on the "ARRL Amateur Application Filing FAQ" Web page. The FCC's forms page also offers the required forms www.arrl.org/FandES/field/regulations/application-filing-faq.htm
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Club Activities
ARES Simulated Emergency Test (SET) October 4th and 5th
The October meeting is the start of the 2009 club officers nominating process. (Please consider a position)
Multi County Breakfast Saturday October 11th at Eat'N Park in Indiana, 9:00 AM
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Birthdays
Chaney Woodring - HAPPY BIRTHDAY Chaney !!
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Thanks and 73's,
Darrell R. Norris - WA3AJQ
President - 05, 06, 07, 08
President Darrell Norris, WA3AJQ, called the meeting to order at __7:31__PM local time.
There were no comments or corrections to the August 5, 2008 minutes.
Motion to accept: Richard Stinson, KB3KBC Second by: Larry Freeman, N3LT.
Financial Report: Rusty O'Donnell, WB3EUQ
Rusty gave a financial report.
We'll soon need to look at raising some money, either through a fund raiser or simply asking for donations.
ARES: E.C. Robert Zugates, KB3JOF (Not at the meeting)
At a previous meeting Robert reported he had talked to John Rodgers, N3MSE, WPA Section Manager, about possible ARES training sometime in the near future. No further discussion.
Net Coordinator: Jerry Kiehl, WB3DUD
Net control operators are always needed and appreciated.
We need a net control for October, please help !!
RACES: Rusty O'Donnell, WB3EUQ
Nothing new to report.
ECHOLINK: Rusty O'Donnell, WB3EUQ
Its not being used however, its up and running.
Repeater Operation - Elmer Sorisio, KB3WG (Not at the meeting)
Consideration to name an assistant Trustee is pending.
Field Day
There will be no further discussion regarding Field Day 2008. Nearly everyone that participated was satisfied and "Just had fun".
Meetings - Darrell Norris, WA3AJQ
All members are encouraged to consider items for the meeting agendas and bring a fellow ham / member or a perspective ham to a meeting.
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The 50 /50 drawing: There was no drawing.
Won by: ______________________
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THE HAM FEST IS NO LONGER AN ITEM FOR DISCUSSION THIS YEAR
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The next several items will be discussed at the time there scheduled
VE Test - Bill McMillen, N3QM - October - ( Not at the meeting)
VE testing will occur if there are a sufficient number of requests.
Torrance Walk - May - Jerry Kiehl, WB3DUD
Jerry Kiehl, WB3DUD checked with Torrance and was told there will not be a walk again this year. (2nd Year)
Club's covered dish picnic - Sunday September 28th 1:00 PM
At: Richard and Anne Stinson's, KB3KBC at about 1:00 PM. You might want to bring a lawn chair.
Rusty, WB3EUQ, will get the dot dogs, hamburgers etc. Rusty has soda left from field day.
ARES Simulated Emergency Test
According to QST the SET is scheduled for October 4th & 5th .
OPEN (Multi County) Breakfast - October 11th
The weekend before is Home Coming and the two weekends after are home games.
It was suggested we get this put on our website in hopes of getting more fellow hams to participate.
Christmas Party - December 14th at Hoss's
Social time is scheduled for 6:00 PM, Dinner at 6:30 PM.
DVD - Video</b> presentation on amateur radio: Cliff Miller, KB3AGT
We'll try to schedule this again for the next meeting.
Show and Tell (Anybody / Anything)
Maybe we can get Marcia Malcolm, KD4ITP, to bring her antenna to the next meeting.
Notes or comments?
Jimmy St Clair, N3TQR, Still has his tower to be taken down and sold.
Cliff Miller, KB3AGT, is going to mention this to the Johnstown club.
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Darrell suggested we should consider leaving a generous tip for our meeting server, regardless of what we order. They put a lot of effort into setting up our meeting room and attending to our needs. I know they would appreciate it!
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I have re-established the nomination forms for the 2009 elections and hope everyone will give some consideration to filling a club position for next year.
Darrell, WA3AJQ, reminded everyone he will be removing Kim's name and address from the membership application and membership cards, who's name do we put on ???
The nominating process will start with the October meeting.
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Larry Freeman, N3LT, brought an interesting article to our attention that he had seen in the September issue of QST, it's found on page 92 of the issue. It's entitled "Communicating with a Whisper" you should take a look at this.
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BIRTHDAYS
Kathy Lute, N3SJY, Richard Malcolm, KA3IYT, Dennis Clark, KB3HZM, Bill Menk, W3LAB and Rusty O'Donnell.
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Motion to adjourn by: __Richard Stinson, KB3KBC_,
2nd by: ___Al Fister, N3ZFZ_.
The meeting adjourned at: _8:08_PM. (Local time)
| ( X ) Fister Alphonse N3ZFZ | ( X ) Freeman Larry N3LT | ( X ) Kiehl Jerry WB3DUD | ( X ) Kiehl Linda ********* |
| ( X ) Malcolm Richard KA3IYT | ( X ) Malcolm Marcia KD4ITP | ( X ) Miller Cliff KB3AGT | ( X ) Norris Darrell WA3AJQ |
| ( X ) O'Donnell Rusty WB3EUQ | ( X ) St Clair James N3TQR | ( X ) Stinson Richard KB3KBC |
Darrell Norris, WA3AJQ
President 05, 06, 07, 08
Return to Indiana County Amateur Radio Newsletter for the Month
08-Sep-2008 08:36 PM