= ARRL SANTA CLARA VALLEY SECTION =

Section Manager (SM) – Brandon Bianchi, NI6C
Assistant Section Manager (ASM) Phil Steffora, K6TT
Assistant Section Manager (ASM) Michael Pechner, NE6RD
Section Emergency Coordinator (SEC) Larry Carr, KE6AGJ
Assistant Section Emergency Coordinator (ASEC) Phil Steffora, K6TT
State Government Liaison (SGL) David Wolfe, AA6XV
Official Observer Coordinator (OOC) Andrew Korsak, KR6DD
Technical Coordinator (TC) Kit Blanke, WA6PWW
Section QSL Card Checker (CC) Russ Bentson, K6KLY
Affiliated Club Coordinator (ACC) Tony Dowler, KM6DA

[Want to Volunteer? Many Section Positions are Open!]

SCV Section Website: http://santaclaravalley.org
SCV Section Google Group: http://bit.ly/scv-group
= OCTOBER 2012 ARRL SCV SECTION NEWS =

=Pacificon 2012 Update :: NEXT WEEK!=

The Pacific Division convention has the honor of also serving
as the ARRL National Convention. This year’s event will be one
to certainly not miss. Event tickets are still available for sale
and there is still space in Friday’s Antenna Seminar.

If you are interested in volunteering at Pacificon this year,
there are many slots left to fill.

Please contact Sam Sampayan at kj6pcm@gmail.com
or visit http://bit.ly/pacificonvol for more information.

For event details and a schedule please visit http://pacificon.org
=Parachute Mobile QSO=

Skydivers will jump from 13,000 feet and once they have deployed their
parachutes they will make contacts (QSOs) with as many hams as possible.

QSOs with the Jumpers will be on 146.430 simplex with an
alternate of 147.570 simplex.

The first jump is scheduled to occur around 1200 hrs and approximately
each hour thereafter. There are plans to make 4 jumps.

http://bit.ly/SvGzxC

Live Stream at: http://justin.tv/mfwright
=California QSO Party :: Not too Late=

The first full weekend of October marks the annual running of the
California QSO Party (CQP) – the most fun you can have with a radio if
you live in the Golden State. This year marks the 46th running of CQP
sponsored by the Northern California Contest Club.

This weekend from October 6 1600 UTC to October 7 2200 UTC, get on HF and
you can be the DX!

For more information visit:

http://cqp.org/

=ARISS at Pacificon=

A scheduled ARISS radio contact and a presentation by NASA astronaut,
Dr. Lee M. Morin KF5DDB, will highlight the Youth Lounge activities.
Free admission is provided to Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, Camp Fire Girls,
Brownie, Cub Scouts, Explorer Scouts, 4-H members, and to all youth.
The Youth Forum will include young Amateur radio enthusiasts Andrea Hartlege KG4IUM,
former ARRL South Eastern Division Vice Director and Katie Stensrud K7KTI,
a young ham from Nevada, and many amateur radio educational resources from
the ARRL & AMSAT.

This is scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 13 at 18:57:50 UTC.
=ARES and RACES Info=

Emergency communications are key to the successful handling of any
disaster or emergency. As Amateur Operators, we can volunteer our
time and skills to assist. There are numerous online resources you can
utilize to learn more and study to become an ARES or RACES volunteer.

What is ARES?

http://arrl.org/ares

What is RACES?

http://usraces.org/

What are the differences between ARES and RACES?

http://arrl.org/ares-races-faq

If you are interested, please contact one of the District Emergency Coordinators
for your county. They can point you in the appropriate direction to help
get you started.

Monterey County :: Richard Hillbun, AF6TP
Santa Cruz County :: Charles Pennell (CAP), KE6AFE
San Benito County :: Tim Takeuchi, W6TST
Santa Clara County :: Scott Morse, KC6SKM
San Mateo County Coastside :: Dr. David R. Richards, AF6MN
San Mateo County Bayside :: Peter Liljequist, AA6PL
= UPCOMING SECTION EVENTS =

=VE Sessions=

The Sunnyvale VEC ARC will be holding one licensing session during the
month of October: Oct. 13 in Sunnyvale, Exam session at 10:30 AM at City
of Sunnyvale “De Anza Park”. The next session is November 10 in Sunnyvale,
Exam session at 10:30 AM at City of Sunnyvale “De Anza Park”. For more
information on what to bring to these sessions along with directions
visit: http://www.amateur-radio.org.
=CW Academy=

The CW Academy is a group who go out of their way to Elmer those
with interest in learning CW. There is no cost and membership is not
required to participate. Enrollment is open to anyone with the
desire to learn or improve their proficiency in Morse Code.

CWops is International in scope, membership and management.
Its focus is the use of CW, whether for contesting, DXing or ragchewing.
Moreover, it supports every form of sending — if it’s CW,
CWops supports it!

http://www.cwops.org/cwacademy.html

=PAARA Meeting Update=

PAARA’s meeting location has moved from the Menlo Park Rec Center
to the Cubberley Community Center in Palo Alto. The next meeting will
be October 5th. You can visit http://paara.org for more details.
=Northern California DX Club=

The 64th International DX Convention, April 19-21, 2013 will be
held in Visalia, CA. Mark your calendars and plan to attend this event!
=2012 ARRL Section Managers Workshop=

September 14-16 12 newly elected or appointed Section Managers were in
Newington at ARRL Headquarters for an orientation workshop. The primary
purposes of the three-day workshop sessions were to share ideas and to
provide basic administrative, management, leadership and motivational
training.

The following 12 Section Managers attended the orientation workshop:
Betsey Doane, K1EIC, Connecticut; Lou Everett, WA5LOU, Indiana;
Larry Camp, WB8R, Michigan; Bill Kauffman, W5YEJ, New Mexico;
Walt Mayfield, KE5SOO, North Texas; Frank Piper, KI8G, Ohio;
Rene Fonseca, NP3O, Puerto Rico; Brandon Bianchi, NI6C, Santa Clara Valley;
Chris Stallkamp, W0ADZ, South Dakota; Keith Miller, N9DGK, Tennessee;
Fred Kleber, K9VV, Virgin Islands, and John Mueller, K2BT, Western New York.
=Monthly Newsletter=

Do you have something for our section newsletter?

Contact the SCV Staff with your Club News and other items of interest
to SCV amateurs.

====================================================================

Would you like to receive the SCV section news every month by email? If
you are an ARRL member, simply login to the ARRL website and “edit your
profile”. Select “edit your email subscriptions” and check off the box
“News and Information from your Division Director and Section
Manager”.

You will find contact information for all of the SCV section staff on
our web page at www.santaclaravalley.org. We need to hear about your
club news and other items of interest to the amateur radio community in
SCV. News items, club events and other information you would like listed
on the SCV wiki can be sent to Brandon Bianchi <ni6c@arrl.org>

——————————————————————–
ARRL Santa Clara Valley Section
Section Manager: Brandon J Bianchi, NI6C
ni6c@arrl.org
——————————————————————–

“The Section Manager Workshop is an orientation and training event for new Section Managers who have come on board within the last year, or for those long-term Section Managers who have never attended the workshop” said ARRL Field Organization Team Supervisor Steve Ewald, WV1X. “We have conducted this training each year here at Headquarters since 1992, and it has been well received by past participants.”

The workshop provides an opportunity for the Section Managers to chat among themselves or within the group, and to share their own views on various issues and exchanging ideas. Through training and orientation sessions conducted by ARRL staff members — and by meeting with other Section Managers — participants can explore what works, as well as what does not, and to bring home some fresh ideas and some encouragement.

The staff in the ARRL’s Membership and Volunteer Programs Department and its Field Organization Team are the lead coordinators of the event. “We also cover the responsibilities and functions of the Section Manager position, and the Section Managers are able to visit with ARRL Headquarters staff members and learn more about the many programs that the League supports,” Ewald explained. “The workshop sessions are presented by several staff members here at Headquarters who are experts in their respective areas.”

The following 12 Section Managers will be attending the orientation workshop: Betsey Doane, K1EIC, Connecticut; Lou Everett, WA5LOU, Indiana; Larry Camp, WB8R, Michigan; Bill Kauffman, W5YEJ, New Mexico; Walt Mayfield, KE5SOO, North Texas; Frank Piper, KI8G, Ohio; Rene Fonseca, NP3O, Puerto Rico; Brandon Bianchi, NI6C, Santa Clara Valley; Chris Stallkamp, W0ADZ, South Dakota; Keith Miller, N9DGK, Tennessee; Fred Kleber, K9VV, Virgin Islands, and John Mueller, K2BT, Western New York.

Via: http://www.arrl.org/news/view/newly-elected-section-managers-to-converge-in-newington

=How can you help? :: ARES and RACES Info=

Emergency communications are key to the successful handling of any 
disaster or emergency. As Amateur Operators, we can volunteer our
time and skills to assist. There are numerous online resources you can
utilize to learn more and study to become an ARES or RACES volunteer.

What is ARES?

http://arrl.org/ares

What is RACES?

http://usraces.org/

What are the differences between ARES and RACES?

http://arrl.org/ares-races-faq

If you are interested, please contact one of the District Emergency Coordinators
for your county. They can point you in the appropriate direction to help
get you started. 

Monterey County             ::  Richard Hillbun, AF6TP
Santa Cruz County           ::  Charles Pennell (CAP), KE6AFE
San Benito County           ::  Tim Takeuchi, W6TST
Santa Clara County          ::  Scott Morse, KC6SKM
San Mateo County Coastside  ::  Dr. David R. Richards, AF6MN
San Mateo County Bayside    ::  Peter Liljequist, AA6PL

=FCC Releases Congressionally Mandated Study on Amateur Radio=

On August 20 -- in response to a Spring 2012 Congressional directive -- 
the Federal Communications Commission released its findings on the Uses 
and Capabilities of Amateur Radio Service Communications in Emergencies 
and Disaster Relief: Report to Congress Pursuant to Section 6414 of 
the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012.

This report contains the FCC’s “ review of the importance of emergency 
Amateur Radio Service communications relating to disasters, severe 
weather and other threats to lives and property in the United States; 
and recommendations for enhancements in the voluntary deployment of 
Amateur Radio operators in disaster and emergency communications and 
disaster relief efforts; and recommendations for improved integration 
of Amateur Radio operators in the planning and furtherance of initiatives 
of the federal government.” It also required “that the study identify 
impediments to enhanced Amateur Radio Service communications and provide 
recommendations regarding the removal of such impediments.”

Please note the FCC response to the ARRL cited that today's CC&R, 
land use, HOA, and other Antenna Restrictions "...prohibit the erection 
of even modest Amateur Radio antennas."

The FCC disagreed with that assessment stating “…our review of the record
does not indicate that amateur operators are unable to find homes that 
are not subject to such restrictions. Therefore, at this time, we do not 
see a compelling reason for the Commission to revisit its previous 
determinations that preemption should not be expanded to CC&Rs.”

You can read the full report if you have not already on the ARRL Website:

http://bit.ly/fccstdy

= UPCOMING SECTION EVENTS = 

=VE Sessions=

The Sunnyvale VEC ARC will be holding two licensing sessions during the
month of September: Sept. 8 in Sunnyvale, Exam session at 10:30 AM at City
of Sunnyvale "De Anza Park" and Sept. 15 in Redwood City, Exam session
at 10:30 AM at Redwood City Library, 1044 Middlefield Rd, Redwood City,
CA. For more information on what to bring to these sessions along with
directions visit: http://www.amateur-radio.org.

=CW Academy= 

The CW Academy is a group who go out of their way to Elmer those 
with interest in learning CW. There is no cost and membership is not 
required to participate. Enrollment is open to anyone with the 
desire to learn or improve their proficiency in Morse Code.

CWops is International in scope, membership and management.
Its focus is the use of CW, whether for contesting, DXing or ragchewing.
Moreover, it supports every form of sending -- if it's CW,
CWops supports it!

http://www.cwops.org/cwacademy.html

=D-STAR QSO Party 2012=

The goal of the D-STAR QSO PARTY is to communicate through 
as many D-STAR repeaters as possible throughout the world.

The Event is September 21, 22 and 23, 2012.
Friday 00:00 ~ Sunday 24:00 (UTC)

DV mode
28MHz / 50MHz / 145MHz / 430MHz / 1200MHz
(Simplex operation on 28MHz and 50MHz)

There are 7 Icom ID-51A prize radios up for grabs.
If you have D-STAR you should certainly take part
in this event.

http://bit.ly/dstarqso

=PAARA Meeting Update=

PAARA's meeting location has moved from the Menlo Park Rec Center
to the Cubberley Community Center in Palo Alto. The next meeting will
be September 7th. You can visit http://paara.org for more details.

=Northern California DX Club=

The 64th International DX Convention, April 19-21, 2013 will be
held in Visalia, CA. Mark your calendars and plan to attend this event!

=Monthly Newsletter=

Do you have something for our section newsletter?

Contact the SCV Staff with your Club News and other items of interest
to SCV amateurs.

====================================================================

Would you like to receive the SCV section news every month by email? If
you are an ARRL member, simply login to the ARRL website and "edit  your
profile".  Select "edit your email subscriptions" and check off the box
"News and Information from your Division Director and Section
Manager".

You will find contact information for all of the SCV section staff on
our web page at www.santaclaravalley.org. We need to hear about your
club news and other items of interest to the amateur radio community in
SCV. News items, club events and other information you would like listed
on the SCV wiki can be sent to Brandon Bianchi 

--------------------------------------------------------------------
ARRL Santa Clara Valley Section
Section Manager: Brandon J Bianchi, NI6C
ni6c@arrl.org
--------------------------------------------------------------------

Section Manager (SM) - Brandon Bianchi, NI6C
Assistant Section Manager (ASM) Phil Steffora, K6TT
Assistant Section Manager (ASM) Michael Pechner, NE6RD
Section Emergency Coordinator (SEC) Larry Carr, KE6AGJ
Assistant Section Emergency Coordinator (ASEC) Phil Steffora, K6TT
State Government Liaison (SGL) David Wolfe, AA6XV
Official Observer Coordinator (OOC) Andrew Korsak, KR6DD
Technical Coordinator (TC) Kit Blanke, WA6PWW
Section QSL Card Checker (CC) Russ Bentson, K6KLY
Affiliated Club Coordinator (ACC) Tony Dowler, KM6DA

[Want to Volunteer? Many Section Positions are Open!]

SCV Section Website: http://santaclaravalley.org
SCV Section Google Group: http://bit.ly/scv-group

= AUGUST 2012 ARRL SCV SECTION NEWS =

=Pacificon 2012 Update=

The Pacific Division convention has the honor of also serving
as the ARRL National Convention. Plans are well under way to
prepare for the biggest and best Pacificon ever! This year's
event will be one to certainly not miss.

Preparations for this year's convention are well underway.
If you are interested in volunteering at Pacificon this year,
there are many slots to still fill.

Please contact Sam Sampayan at kj6pcm@gmail.com
or visit http://bit.ly/pacificonvol for more information.

For event details visit http://pacificon.org

=San Mateo Radio Club in the Media=

KALW FM radio 91.7 has coverage from the San Mateo Radio Club's
ARRL Field Day activities. During the show, you can listen to
interviews from club members and W6UQ CW contacts.

Be sure to tune in on August 2nd from 5:05 to 5:45 PM to enjoy
this broadcast. If unable to listen on the radio, you can listen
online at the link below:

http://www.kalw.org/listen-live

=New Section Appointments=

Section Manager - Brandon Bianchi NI6C
Serving my first term as Section Manager has already been
very exciting. I have had the opportunity to meet with many
local hams at recent activities and I'm looking forward to meeting
many more! If anyone has news they would like included in the
monthly section news or questions in general, please feel free
to reach out to me.

Assistant Section Manager & Assistant Section Emergency Coordinator
Phil Steffora, K6TT, our past section manager has volunteered
to assist in several capacities. Phil has been a huge help in getting
me up to speed in my new role, and recently volunteered to assist
our Section EC Larry Carr as well. Phil's dedication to our section
is greatly appreciated!

Emergency Coordinator
Bert Fry, K6BRF, has been appointed EC serving Los Gatos and
Monte Sereno. Bert has already been filling the role for the past
several years and has agreed to officially step into the position.
Thanks Bert!

= UPCOMING SECTION EVENTS =

=VE Sessions=

The Sunnyvale VEC ARC will be holding two licensing sessions during the
month of August: on Aug. 11 Sunnyvale Exam session at 10:30 AM at City
of Sunnyvale "De Anza Park" and on Aug. 18, Redwood City Exam session
at 10:30 AM at Redwood City Library, 1044 Middlefield Rd, Redwood City,
CA. For more information on what to bring to these sessions along with
directions visit http://www.amateur-radio.org.

=PAARA Meeting Update=

PAARA's meeting location will soon be moving from the Menlo Park Rec Center
to the Cubberley Community Center in Palo Alto. The exact date has not been
finalized, but you can visit http://paara.org for more details.

=Northern California DX Club=

The 64th International DX Convention, April 19-21, 2013 will be
held in Visalia, CA. Mark your calendars and plan to attend this event!

= GETTING ON THE AIR =

The Portage County Amateur Radio Service announces the 5th Annual
“Ohio State Parks On The Air” (OSPOTA) contest to be held on
Saturday, September 8, 2012, from the hours of noon to eight p.m.
EDT (1600 UTC to 2400 UTC).

For hams throughout the State of Ohio, this is an opportunity to visit
and enjoy the amenities offered by the 75 beautiful State Parks in Ohio.
More information about the event can be found online http://portcars.org.

Tom Sly WB8LCD has extended an invitation to assist any clubs that are
interested in establishing a similiar contest for their state. If any
clubs are interested please reach out to Tom at wb8lcd@portcars.org.

Contact the SCV Staff with your Club News and other items of interest
to SCV amateurs.

====================================================================

Would you like to receive the SCV section news every month by email? If
you are an ARRL member, simply login to the ARRL website and "edit your
profile". Select "edit your email subscriptions and check off the box
"News and Information from your Division Director and Section
Manager".

You will find contact information for all of the SCV section staff on
our web page at www.santaclaravalley.org. We need to hear about your
club news and other items of interest to the amateur radio community in
SCV. News items, club events and other information you would like listed
on the SCV wiki can be sent to Brandon Bianchi

--------------------------------------------------------------------
ARRL Santa Clara Valley Section
Section Manager: Brandon J Bianchi, NI6C
ni6c@arrl.org
--------------------------------------------------------------------

It’s with great excitement and enthusiasm I introduce and pass the virtual baton to our new Santa Clara Valley Section Manager Brandon Bianchi, NI6C.

Originally licensed in April 1995 as KE6THG, he upgraded to General in 2006 (taking the call N6OOB) and Extra in 2007 when he changed to his current call of NI6C. He is also licensed in Switzerland as HB9EGB.

Brandon has been an active member of numerous amateur radio communities over the past 15 years and grew up around amateur radio. His father Jim Bianchi, W6DIA and sister Brittany Newell, KG6GIX are also active amateur operators.

Most recently he has been serving in the role of Assistant Section Manager for the Santa Clara Valley (SCV) over the past term. Brandon has also held various other positions for clubs and groups throughout the state including net control operator, publications editor and board member. He is a VE and enjoys DXing and emergency communications.

When not involved in amateur radio, he works as a Senior Network Engineer and enjoys scuba and spending time with his wife and daughter.

Be sure to give a huge Thank you to Brandon for stepping up to the challenge of this role for our section. We are very lucky to have him and look forward to his leadership.

73 de K6TT

Field Day 2012 is here. Get all of the latest Field Day news at the ARRL website.

Just click here to search a list of sites where you can participate.

Bring your swap tables and your appetites! It’s time for the Annual M2 Open House and Bar-B-Q. Gates open for swappers at 7:30 am and the M2 Shop will open at 8:00 for tours, rag chewing and great deals on M2 products. We will raffle off great stuff for Hams and non-Hams. And don’t miss our famous HAM-burgers and goodies. There is no charge to attend!

4402 N. Selland Ave. Fresno, CA 93722 - Tel: (559) 432-8873  http://www.m2inc.com

will be held Saturday, March 3rd, 2012, from 8am to 4pm at the Monterey Moose Family Center, 555 Canyon Del Rey (Hwy 218), Monterey, CA.

Sponsored by the Naval Postgraduate School Amateur Radio Club, this event is only $1 to get in! Wow!

Breakfast and Lunch will be served at a great price. There will be tons of commercial vendor booths, ham radio demos, a large indoor/outdoor swap meet, fantastic speakers, raffle prizes and even license exams! For more information check out http://www.radiofest.org . Talk-in 146.970 – pl 94.8

The ARRL – PALM SPRINGS HAMFEST scheduled for January 28 is sponsored by Desert RATS CLUB & the Riverside County ARES. The event is expected to have over 30 commercial vendors; all day demo’s, a swap meet (that is free for sellers), raffles all day long. Only a $2 entry fee.

RAT RODS /Hot RODS get special parking area. Commercial participants include: Yaesu, Alinco, Elecraft, Ham Radio Outlet etc… More info at website :  http://desertrats.am

Event address: 4193 Matthew Drive Palm Springs, CA.

Be sure to join us for the SCV Townhall meeting at 10am Saturday morning (Oct15th).

Also here is an update for the section about one of the events:

An opportunity to get education on amateur contesting, including its history, use of loggers and proper operating technique will be presented at Pacificon this sunday morning between 9-11 am by Rob K6RB, Chris N6WM and John K6MM, all well known and respected contesters.  This presentation will be followed by a detailed presentation on how to construct a contest station by Jack KF6T at 11:30.

The schedule on the Pacificon website has been updated to reflect this, but the material presented at the door may not reflect this educational opportunity so I wanted to get the word out to the section.  With 10 meters now regularly open, the entire Amateur community from Novice/Technician to Extra,  can benefit from this fun and engaging part of the hobby. Please take an opportunity to attend.

This is an an abbreviated version of material regularly presented at the NCCC Contest Academy in Visalia during the International DX convention,  that has always received high marks from its attendees.  I hope you have an opportunity to attend.