If you have an interest in producing and giving a presentation for the 2016 Rocky Mountain Division Convention, to be held May 13-15, 2016 at Keystone, Colorado, please speak up!  The list of the forums that are in process can be found at: http://www.hamconcolorado.org/forum-information/

Emit Hurdelbrink, W0UAW is taking the lead on marshaling up forum presenters for the convention.  Emit can be contacted at forums@hamconcolorado.org.

Here’s another positive: If you’re a forum presenter, you will receive free registration to the Convention!

Registration for the convention is expected to open around December 1, 2015 and hotel reservations about the same time.  It will be an superb amateur radio event.

Thank you for being a valuable member of the League.  Your feedback is always welcome.

ARRL has just published the Fall 2015 issue of Radio Waves.  Radio Waves is an E-Newsletter for Teachers and Instructors.

This issue includes such articles as “Using Sensors to Explore Terraforming,” “STEM School and Academy ARC Builds Repeater,” and “Community College’s DIY Spirit Shines for ARISS Contact.”  This issue also looks at how ham radio can help Boy Scouts to earn the Radio merit badge, news, ideas and support for instructors, ham radio instruction for people with disabilities, and the evolution of a licensing class.

To receive Radio Waves, register with ARRL as an Instructor or Teacher, or simply log into your ARRL account at www.arrl.org and edit your personal profile by selecting Radio Waves as one of your email subscriptions.

Radio Waves is published quarterly by ARRL Education Services, you’ll find the current issue as well as past issues at: www.arrl.org/radio-waves

Thank you for being a valuable member of the League.  Your feedback is always welcome.

New Mexico ARRL members and hams,

This morning I was contacted by ARRL President Kay Craigie N3KN regarding the Amateur Radio Parity Act.

We are at a critical time for S. 1685, The Amateur Radio Parity Act of 2015, in the United States Senate. The bill will be considered in the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation next Wednesday. That is an extremely important step in the bill’s progress towards success.

We have learned that opponents of the legislation have urged their members to contact members of the Senate committee to communicate what can only be called bald-faced lies about the bill’s intent and effects.

A number of steps are being taken to counteract those lies. We, the membership, have to remind the Senators on the committee that amateur radio operators in their states want them to support this bill.

Senator Tom Udall is a member of the Commerce committee.  Please phone the Senator’s office in Washington, DC, or a local office. You can send an e-mail to the Senator using his official web page.   The message is simple:  “I am a constituent and a federally licensed amateur radio operator. I am contacting you to urge Senator Udall to support S. 1685, the Amateur Radio Parity Act, when it comes up for a vote in committee on November 18th. Thank you.”

The Senator’s office phone numbers are posted at http://www.tomudall.senate.gov/  For your convenience, the DC office phone number is (202) 224-6621.  His official web page showing local office numbers and an e-mail template is at https://www.tomudall.senate.gov/?p=contact.

Whether you phone or e-mail, the key thing is: Act now.

So let’s light up the Capitol switchboard.

Thank you for being a valuable member of the League.  Your feedback is always welcome.

ARRL’s Field Day is held the 4th weekend in June every year and is the largest operating event in Amateur Radio.  From individuals or clubs operating from their home station to setting up in public or remote locations to activating their local EOC, hams throughout New Mexico participated in this years event.  The results have been posted with 25 stations throughout the New Mexico reporting in for this years ARRL Field Day.

2015 ARRL Field Day NM Section Participants

• W5YA (Rancho Escondido ARC)
• N6ZZ (High Plains Contest Club)
• K5TQ
• W5UR (Albuquerque DX Association)
• W5MPZ (Rocky Mountain Ham Radio / Sandia National Labs ARC)
• KE5MIQ (Sacramento Mountains Radio Club)
• K5OUR (Valencia County ARA)
• K7IA
• KR5NM (Sierra Blanca ARC)
• W5PDO (Los Alamos ARC)
• W5B (High Desert ARC
• W5AQA (Socorro ARA)
• WB5LYJ (ABQ NW Valley Group)
• W9YA
• NM5SJ (San Juan County Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Team)
• N5LEA (Lea County Amateur Radio Group)
• NR5ON
• W5CSY (Amateur Radio Caravan Club / Albuquerque ARC)
• KA5B (Eastern NM ARC)
• W5SAF (Santa Fe ARES)
• AB5JR
• KC6KGL
• NB5T
• W5GZ
• KF5RGU

Full results for Field Day will be posted n the December issue of QST and can also be found at:
http://www.arrl.org/results-database?fd_category=&fd_power=&fd_sect=NM&ss_call=&sort0=&sort1=&sort2=&event_id=68929

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November is Sweepstakes month, the CW portion is Nov 7-9 and SSB Sweepstakes Nov 21-23.  Check out http://www.arrl.org/sweepstakes and see if you can earn a “Clean Sweep”.  For news features from the ARRL, see http://www.arrl.org/news-features.

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The Deming Amateur Radio Club W5DAR will be hosting their first ever Winter Banquet.  The banquet will be held on December 12th beginning at 11am, Ranchers Grill Steak House 316 E Cedar St. Deming, NM. Amateurs throughout NM and the region are invited to attend.  RSVP by December 1st to: w5cf@ymail.com or on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/events/1691485787761837

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The 17th annual SKYWARN Recognition Day (SRD) special event will take place Saturday, December 5, 2015, from 0000 UTC to 2400 UTC.  SKYWARN Recognition Day, co-sponsored by the American Radio Relay League and the National Weather Service, pays tribute to Amateur Radio operators for the vital public service they perform. During the 24-hour event, Amateur Radio operators visit their local National Weather Service (NWS) office and work as a team to contact other hams across the world.   This event is also aimed at strengthening the bond between Amateur Radio operators and local NWS offices.

The volunteer SKYWARN program comprises nearly 290,000 trained severe weather spotters — many of them radio amateurs — who identify severe storms and provide NWS forecasters with reports of local weather conditions during severe weather events.

SKYWARN Recognition Day is not a contest. The object is for stations to exchange some basic information with as many NWS stations as possible on 80 meters through 70 centimeters (excluding 1.25 meters). Repeater contacts are permitted. Stations exchange call signs, signal reports, locations, and a one or two-word description of the weather at their respective locations.

The National Weather Service provides event information on this Web site: http://hamradio.noaa.gov.

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Each month in QST’s Field Organization Reports column, the Public Service Honor Roll (PSHR) recognizes the efforts of Amateur Radio operators who are active in many aspects of public service. This includes net operations, traffic handling, emergency operations and public service communication support. There are chances that you’re already involved with some aspect of Amateur Radio that would apply to the PSHR. For more information on the PSHR, visit http://www.arrl.org/public-service-honor-roll

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If you missed out on signing letters to your Congressmen supporting the Amateur Radio Parity Act at recent hamfests, don’t fret. You can still go to http://rescue-radio.com/learn and generate your own. More details about this important legislation can be found at http://www.arrl.org/amateur-radio-parity-act

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Upcoming events in and around the New Mexico Section:

November 14th, 2015:  The Chuck Palmer memorial, Veterans Day Tailgate.
Rio Rancho, Intel south parking lot.  http://www.nm5hd.com/

December 12th, 2015:  Deming Amateur Radio Club Winter Banquet
Ranchers Grill Steak House 316 E Cedar St. Deming, NM.  RSVP by December 1st to: w5cf@ymail.com or on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/events/1691485787761837

January 30th, 2015:  Albuquerque Winter Tailgate Swapfest.
Albuquerque, Hoffmantown Church, 8888 Harper Dr.  NE (northeast corner of parking lot)

February 27th, 2016: New Mexico Techfest
http://www.rmham.org/wordpress/new-mexico-techfest

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We regret to report that the following Key is now silent:

Jim Holston, W9FFR
Bernalillo
Obituary, Albuquerque Journal

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Please visit the New Mexico Section website for the latest information on what happening in amateur radio in and around the Section:

http://www.arrl-nm.org

The New Mexico Net Counts report can be found on the section website.  This includes net counts from the previous month as well as an archive of recent months net activity.  The report is available at https://www.arrl-nm.org/wp/nets/net-counts

Also on the Section website is a listing of recently licensed amateur radio operators across the state of New Mexico, based on public information provided by the FCC.  Amateur radio clubs across New Mexico are encouraged to use this resource to reach out to new licensees in your area, welcome them to ham radio, and recruit them into your club.  This listing is available at https://www.arrl-nm.org/wp/new-ham-report

If you’re interested in serving as a member of the ARRL New Mexico Section Field Organization, don’t hesitate to contact me.  More information on the Field Organization can be found at: http://www.arrl.org/field-organization

Thank you for being a valuable member of the League.  Your feedback is always welcome.

The annual Alamogordo Hamfest held early last month, was a success with around 300 hams from AZ, TX, OK, CO, NM, UT, and Mexico attending. A local 4×4 club put on a presentation. There were tables with local vendors, crafts and hams from NM as well as out of state.  See http://www.qsl.net/k5lrw/

The Socorro Hamfest was held early this month, as always well worth the trip.  The keynote speaker at the banquet on Friday was Dwayne Allen WY7FD, ARRL Rocky Mountain Division, Vice-Director.  Dwayne’s talk on “So You’re Bored with Amateur Radio?” was well received.  Notable VIPs attending this year’s hamfest were Brigadier General Andrew Salas, Adjutant General of the New Mexico National Guard and Brigadier General David Torres KF5OSE of the State Defense Force.  See http://www.socorroara.org/newsletters/current.pdf

The statewide ARES meeting held at the Socorro Hamfest was addressed by Brig. General  David Torres KF5OSE.  The NM State Defense Force is seeking amateur ham radio operators to volunteer.  The mission areas of the State Defense Force include radio communications, medical, honor guard, chaplaincy, heavy vehicle driving and maintenance and public affairs.  See http://nm.ng.mil/Pages/SDF.aspx

Alden Oyer AG5S of Santa Fe graces the cover of the September issue of CQ magazine.  See http://www.cq-amateur-radio.com/cq_highlights/2015_cq/2015_09_cq/2015_09_%1Ccq_cover.jpg

Jim Duffy KK6MC of Cedar Crest published an article in the Sept/Oct issue of ARRL’s National Contest Journal (NCJ) titled “Thoughts on Assistance in the June 2015 ARRL VHF Contest”.  It’s a good read.  See http://www.arrl.org/files/file/NCJ/SeptOct2015/TOFC.pdf

Each month in QST’s Field Organization Reports column, the Public Service Honor Roll (PSHR) recognizes the efforts of Amateur Radio operators who are active in many aspects of public service. This includes net operations, traffic handling, emergency operations and public service communication support. There are chances that you’re already involved with some aspect of Amateur Radio that would apply to the PSHR. For more information on the PSHR, visit http://www.arrl.org/public-service-honor-roll

If you missed out on signing letters to your Congressmen supporting the Amateur Radio Parity Act at recent hamfests, don’t fret. You can still go to http://rescue-radio.com/learn and generate your own. More details about this important legislation can be found at http://www.arrl.org/amateur-radio-parity-act

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Upcoming events in and around the New Mexico Section:

November 14th, 2015:  The Chuck Palmer memorial, Veterans Day Tailgate.  Rio Rancho, Intel south parking lot.  See http://www.nm5hd.com

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We regret to report that the following Key is now silent:

Ronald A. Keith, KE5OD
Las Cruces, NM. Age 70
Mesilla Valley Radio Club
Obituary in Las Cruces Sun News

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Please visit the New Mexico Section website for the latest information on what happening in amateur radio in and around the Section: http://www.arrl-nm.org

A new feature of the Section website is the New Mexico net count report.  This includes net counts from the previous month as well as an archive of recent months’ net activity.  The report is available at https://www.arrl-nm.org/wp/nets/net-counts

Also new to the Section website is a listing of recently licensed amateur radio operators across the state of New Mexico, based on public information provided by the FCC.  Amateur radio clubs across New Mexico are encouraged to use this resource to reach out to new licensees in your area, welcome them to ham radio, and recruit them into your club.  This listing is available at https://www.arrl-nm.org/wp/new-ham-report

If you’re interested in serving as a member of the ARRL New Mexico Section Field Organization, don’t hesitate to contact me.  More information on the Field Organization can be found at: http://www.arrl.org/field-organization

Thank you for being a valuable member of the League.  Your feedback is always welcome.

Last month was busy. Right on the heels of Field Day, I attended the 2015 Central States VHF Society Conference in Denver, Colorado.  It was an intense four days of talks and workshops covering VHF and above.  The highlight of the event was a rousing talk at the Saturday banquet by ARRL First Vice President Rick Roderick K5UR, an avid VHFer. If you haven’t attended one of these, I highly recommend it.  Next year it will be in Minneapolis, MN.  http://www.csvhfs.org

The following weekend was the 2015 ARRL Rocky Mountain Division Convention held in beautiful Bryce Canyon, Utah.  It was a cozy affair with about 300 in attendance. The theme was “Ham Radio 101 & Beyond”, celebrating 101 years of the ARRL.  There were a variety of forums aimed at the beginner and advanced topics, and Dan Henderson, N1ND, the ARRL HQ Regulatory Information Manager, spoke on Sunday morning about “Getting On The Air — And Beyond”.  Next Year’s Division convention will be held in Keystone Resort, Colorado. http://www.hamconcolorado.org/

Finally wrapping things up was the 2015 Albuquerque Duke City Hamfest and ARRL New Mexico State Convention.  If you didn’t make it, you missed one heck of a hamfest.  At the Saturday banquet the keynote address was given by Riley Hollingsworth, K4ZDH. Riley’s talk focused on “Amateur radio in the world of today”.  Bill Boedeker, NM5BB, received the ARRL New Mexico Section Ham of the Year Award for 2015 and the Taos Amateur Radio Club was awarded the ARRL NM Section Club of the Year Award for 2015.  Santa Fe ARES was recognized as having achieved their ARRL Special Service Club status.  At the Saturday morning DX/Contesting Bob Allison, WB1GCM, give an interesting and informative talk covering, by the numbers, what makes a good contest radio.  There were about 850 in attendance. Three hundred and ninety letters to our representatives in support of the Amateur Radio Parity Act were generated, signed, and sent to ARRL HQ for hand delivery to Capitol Hill.  Thank you to all the volunteers who made the convention happen and stay tuned for details on next year’s event.

If you missed out on signing letters to your Congressmen supporting the Amateur Radio Parity Act, don’t fret. I’ll be at at the Alamogordo and Socorro hamfests so members can generate and sign them there.  Or you can go to http://rescue-radio.com/learn and generate your own.  More information about the Amateur Radio Parity Act can be found at http://www.arrl.org/amateur-radio-parity-act

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Upcoming events around the New Mexico Section:

September 5th, 2015:  Alamogordo Hamfest
http://www.qsl.net/k5lrw/index.htm

September 19th, 2015:  Pecos Valley ARC Tailgate
http://www.pecosvalleyarc.com

October 3rd, 2015:  Socorro Hamfest
http://socorroara.org/hamfest.html

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We regret to report that the following Keys are now silent:

Sanford “Sandy” Fortner, WB5CYK.
Albuquerque, NM.
Passed 7/1/15, Age 92.
Obituary in ABQ Journal, 8/2/15.

George Revels, K5FXN.
Albuquerque, NM.
Passed 7/12/15, Age 88.
Obituary in ABQ Journal, 7/16/15.

Robert “Bob” Sparks, WB5QZD.
Socorro, NM.
Passed 7/12/15, Age 83.
Obituary in ABQ Journal, 7/16/15.

Jesse Brown, KE5DAN.
Clovis, NM.
Passed 7/12/15, Age 76.
Obituary in ABQ Journal 7/16/15

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Please visit the New Mexico Section website for the latest information on what happening in amateur radio in and around the Section: http://www.arrl-nm.org

New to the webpage is a listing of recently licensed amateur radio operators across the state of New Mexico, based on public information provided by the FCC.  Amateur radio clubs across New Mexico are encouraged to use this resource to reach out to any new licensees in your area, welcome them to ham radio, and recruit them to your club.  This listing is available at https://www.arrl-nm.org/wp/new-ham-report

If you’re interested in serving as a member of the ARRL New Mexico Section Field Organization, don’t hesitate to contact me.  More information on the Field Organization can be found at: http://www.arrl.org/field-organization

Thank you for being a valuable member of the League.  Your feedback is always welcome.

As was announced previously, two annual awards have been established within the New Mexico Section to recognize a League member and ARRL-affiliated club within our ranks. ARRL members across the state submitted their nominations, and it gives me pleasure to announce this year’s recipients: Bill Beodeker, NM5BB of Los Alamos and the Taos Amateur Radio club.

Here is a thumbnail sketch of our recipients from their nominations.  Both will be recognized and awarded a plaque at this weekend’s ARRL New Mexico State Convention (Albuquerque Duke City Hamfest, https://dukecityhamfest.org).  Please join me in congratulating them!

2015 ARRL NEW MEXICO SECTION HAM OF THE YEAR

Bill Boedeker, NM5BB is in many ways an active and exemplary radio amateur operator.  Upon earning his licence, Bill became active in the Los Alamos Amateur Radio Club (LAARC) where he currently holds the position of Communications Officer.  He is an ARRL Volunteer Examiner Coordinator and oversees quarterly examinations at the LAARC facility in Los Alamos. Bill has taught several licensing classes around northern New Mexico.  He has also run the local Sunday evening net as well as an informal SSB net on 28.440 MHz where Technician licenses could interact with hams across the state on 10 meters.  Bill has also been central to the Field Day effort of LAARC. Over the years, he has acted as its Field Day Coordinator, making arrangements for the Field Day site, submitting the club’s entry to ARRL, and gifting a transceiver, antennas, several logging laptops, and a network equipment to the club.

In the public service realm, Bill is District Emergency Coordinator and RACES official for Los Alamos County and has built an effective relationship with the Los Alamos County Emergency Manager. His efforts were evident during the Los Conchas Fire in 2011 which forced the evacuation of Los Alamos County.  He is also largely responsible for the ARES/RACES station at the New Mexico State EOC, where Bill oversaw the upgrade of amateur radio equipment including the installation of new antennas.

Bill holds an Extra Class licensee, is a Life Member of the ARRL and also serves as an Assistant Section Manager within the New Mexico Section.

2015 ARRL NEW MEXICO SECTION CLUB OF THE YEAR

The Taos Amateur Radio Club became ARRL-affiliated in 2012, is made up of about 60 members, and is very active within the surrounding amateur radio community.  It holds regular monthly meetings that are activity or skill focused, has established and maintains repeaters on remote mountaintops throughout northern New Mexico, conducts training nets for its members and area hams, recruits new members through several area partner organizations, mentors both new hams as well as people interested in becoming a ham one day, has an active Volunteer Examination team that provides on-demand testing sessions, has been a regular club participant of the New Mexico QSO Party, and has two active teenage members.  Taos ARC provides a great deal of service to the public as well.  It is a certified New Mexico Search & Rescue (SAR) organization, is essentially home to Taos County ARES, supports Taos county emergency management and police, has provided communications for the annual RoughRiders 200 mile bike race, and provides technical support for the local CAP squadron, fire department, and SAR teams. Taos ARC meets on the second Wednesday of each month at the Taos County EOC.  Its website is http://taosarc.org

Thank you to everyone who submitted a nomination for this year’s awards.  An announcement will be sent across the Section when nominations for the 2016 ARRL New Mexico Section Ham of the Year and 2016 ARRL New Mexico Section Club of the Year awards are open.

Congratulation to the following winners and runners up of the 2015 ARRL New Mexico Section Field Day photo contest.  Thank you to every one and every club who participated in Field Day and submitted photos!

Individual Contributor category

Winner: “Arm Chair Copy at 2015 Field Day”. (Photo by Romy Webb KD0PQU)

Runner up: Judy WB5LYJ. (Photo by Jay Miller W5WHN)

Club Contributor category

Winner: High Desert Amateur Radio Club. (Photo by Jerry Aceto K6LIE)

Runner up: Valencia County Amateur Radio Association. (Photo by Charlie Lyon NM5CL)

Runner up: Greyhound Amateur Radio Club. (Photo by Keith Wattenbarger KF5EHG)

Runner up: Rocky Mountain Ham Radio / Sandia National Laboratories ARC. (Photo by Brian Mileshosky N5ZGT)