Division news
Dale Williams, WA8EFK
CONGRATULATONS to John E. Ross, KD8IDJ, of Columbus, Ohio, selected by ARRL to be our new
national ARRL News Editor.
An Extra class licensee, for the past 10 years, John has served as the Public Information Coordinator
for the ARRL Ohio Section. His background includes journalist and broadcast engineer. An OSU
graduate, he had dual careers as Vice President/Associate for Wilson Group Communications, a
Columbus-based public relations, media relations, and crisis management firm. He recently retired
from AT&T after 28 years as a Network Analyst. He is a US Army and US Army Reserve veteran, and is
a six-time recipient of the President’s Volunteer Service Award for helping disabled and homeless
veterans.
John has been training with Bob Inderbitzen NQ1R and ARRL Headquarters staff members of the
editorial team for the last few weeks. He has already produced the last 2 editions of the ARRL Letter,
and ARRL Audio News. John will also produce news content for ARRL’s website, and the “Happenings”
and “Amateur Radio World” columns in QST.
Submissions for The ARRL Letter and ARRL News can be sent to John via news@arrl.org.
HAMFESTING: Continuing the discussion from last month, I have had discussions with our three
Division Section Managers to cover some concerns that have been expressed regarding Great Lakes
Division Hamfests. The first relates to what may constitute a "Swap" or "Hamfest", versus what are
recently being called "Trunk" swaps. It seems most swaps, at least when the weather is warm, are in
fact swaps involving a lot of sales from trunk, tailgate, and personal tables in the trunk sales areas.
Furthermore, there is no real accepted definition that covers what differentiates a "trunk sale" from
any other type of swap. Should it be a limited number of sellers? Attendance? Available lot size?
Admission charge? Sponsor's choice? At this point we are seriously considering no longer
attempting to define hamfests by a definitions as "Trunk sales/swap" or not and will use a general
listing as either a hamfest (or a ham swap meet), sponsor's choice for those two traditional naming
conventions. Your input is solicited.
The second matter arises as to the number of ARRL Sanctioned hamfests that should be permitted
each season for a specific sponsor. Further discussion with ARRL Headquarters and our Section
Managers has resulted in a Great Lakes Division policy change that takes effect May 1, 2022 and
applies to all future ARRL Sanctioning applications. The Great Lakes Division will grant ARRL Hamfest
Sanctioning to a maximum of two hamfest per sponsoring organization each year. These two must
be at least four months apart, putting each in a different season. The allowance of two is a
consideration made because of many shifted hamfest dates caused by the Covid 19 Pandemic. As
you are aware, ARRL contributes prizes to Sanctioned events, and this new policy exhibits fairness to
all of our hamfest sponsors.
HAMVENTION 2022: News directly from the Dayton Amateur Radio Assn.:
Hamvention in Three Weeks!
It has been an amazing and eventful three years since we had an in-person Hamvention. We are
now three weeks away from ending that
Covid-19 caused pause. In the spring of 2019 it never occurred to us that we might not be having
Hamvention for a while. As world events played out, we learned that public health officials and
other government officials would prohibit our meeting together to learn, visit, and have fun with our
many friends. Way back in March of 2020, none of us knew much about the pandemic that was
beginning to sweep across the world.
There was not a lot that we could do other than be law abiding citizens, trying to stay alive, and
doing our part to not spread the virus further.
Lots has gone under the bridge since then. Politics got involved. Friends died. Businesses suffered.
Kids were made to have school by Zoom. And amateur radio emerged as a way to stay connected
without spreading the pandemic.
We are finally to the stage that we can meet, see each other face-to-face, and continue our love of
learning everything radio. We can present the accumulated awards sponsored by Hamvention for
the last three years of winners. We can hear about many new ideas related to amateur radio in the
Forums, including the hams that made a difference in developing immunizations against Covid-19.
So, here’s to Hamvention! See you at the Greene County Fairgrounds and Expo Center in exactly 20
days! Buy your plane tickets, fill up the car with super-expensive gas, just get here!!
Rick Allnutt WS8G
Hamvention 2022 General Chair
Hamvention, an official ARRL Sanctioned Event, will be held Friday-Sunday, May 20-22 at the Greene
County Fairgrounds and Expo Center in Xenia, OH.
SCOTT'S STUFF: Comments from your ARRL Vice Director Scott, N8SY.
Scott’s Stuff - May Edition
I want to express my congratulations to John Ross, KD8IDJ for becoming the newest ARRL News
Editor! John is taking over the reins for Rick Lindquist, WW1ME who recently retired from this post.
As many of you know, John was my Public Information Coordinator for almost all of my time as
Section Manager for Ohio. He's gonna' do the Great Lakes Division proud for sure!
Have you heard the latest? The FCC is once again processing license applications and exam session
files, but the process has been slowed down some since the addition of the $35 fee started. Our
ARRL Volunteer Examiner Coordinator (VEC) Maria Somma has reported that the FCC Universal
Licensing System (ULS) electronic batch filing (EBF) system was down for several days. So, this will
mean that there will be some delays until they get caught back up in getting licenses processed.
Please be patient, they will get processed!
Shifting Gears... As I expressed last month "April showers bring May flowers and May flowers brings
the Dayton Hamvention!!!" Yes, there's now only 19 days left before Dayton!! Are you ready for this?
The biggest hamfest in the world is back, and you're not gonna’ want to miss out on the fun and
excitement of everyone getting back together. This year's theme is "Reunion." It's the 70th
anniversary so let's make this the best hamfest weekend ever!
OK, shifting gears again... Now, for all the contesters out there. May has contests. If you are
interested in just having some fun, here is a link to a schedule of all the contests for the month of
May...
https://www.contestcalendar.com/fivewkcal.html
Now speaking of contests... Well... This isn't actually a contest, it's an ARES Exercise but it's fun no
matter what you call it, Field Day is fast approaching. Yes, Field Day this year is June 25 - 26. Is your
club planning on participating? I sure hope so. As I have done for many years, I'll be out and about
visiting many of the Field Day sites once again this year! Where will I be? Who knows! My plans this
year is just to get in the car and go. So, how will I know where the sites will be? Simple, I will go to
those sites that have registered on the ARRL Field Day Locator! https://www.arrl.org/field-day-
locator There are already a bunch of sites listed on the map that I can go to. So, hope to see you at
Field Day!
That is going to do it from here this month. Stay safe and "Catch Me On The Air or at a hamfest!!!"
73,
Scott Yonally N8SY, Vice Director, Great Lakes Division
HAMFEST LISTING:
Here is the current listing of Great Lakes Division ARRL Sanctioned hamfests through May 2022.
Please note that all are subject to change, so please stay current by checking the sponsoring club's
web page before making your travel arrangements.
Be sure to invite your ARRL Officials as soon as your date is set.
Please feel free to reproduce and publish in your local Club Newsletter with credit to the source.
ARRL Sanctioned Hamfests through July 2022:
5/1/22 - Lucas County Trunk Swap, Toledo, OH
5/7/22 - Cadillac Hamfest, Cadillac, MI
5/20 to 5/22/22 - Dayton Hamvention, Xenia, OH
5/21/22 - GM ARC Trunk Swap, Shelby Twp., MI
5/28/22 - Scioto Valley, Piketon, OH
6/4/22 - Fulton County Swap, Wauseon, OH
6/4/22 - IRA Hamfest, Hudsonville, MI
6/5/22 - Chelsea Hamfest, Chelsea, MI
6/11/22 - Luce County Yooper Hamfest, Newberry, MI
6/11-22 - St Joseph Hamfest, Centreville, MI
6/18/22 - GM ARC Trunk Swap, Shelby Twp., MI
6/18/22 - Midland Hamfest, Midland, MI
6/19/22 - Monroe Hamfest, Monroe, MI
7/9/22 - Mansfield Mid Summer Trunkfest, Mansfield, OH
7/10/22 - Flying Beers, Ferndale, MI
7/16/22 - NORAS Fest, Elyria, OH
7/16/22 - GM ARC Trunk Swap, Shelby Twp, MI
7/17/22 - Van Wert Hamfest, Van Wert, OH
Division news
Dale Williams, WA8EFK
CONGRATULATONS to John E. Ross, KD8IDJ, of
Columbus, Ohio, selected by ARRL to be our new
national ARRL News Editor.
An Extra class licensee, for the past 10 years, John
has served as the Public Information Coordinator
for the ARRL Ohio Section. His background includes
journalist and broadcast engineer. An OSU
graduate, he had dual careers as Vice
President/Associate for Wilson Group
Communications, a Columbus-based public
relations, media relations, and crisis management
firm. He recently retired from AT&T after 28 years as
a Network Analyst. He is a US Army and US Army
Reserve veteran, and is a six-time recipient of the
President’s Volunteer Service Award for helping
disabled and homeless veterans.
John has been training with Bob Inderbitzen NQ1R
and ARRL Headquarters staff members of the
editorial team for the last few weeks. He has already
produced the last 2 editions of the ARRL Letter, and
ARRL Audio News. John will also produce news
content for ARRL’s website, and the “Happenings”
and “Amateur Radio World” columns in QST.
Submissions for The ARRL Letter and ARRL News
can be sent to John via news@arrl.org.
HAMFESTING: Continuing the discussion from last
month, I have had discussions with our three
Division Section Managers to cover some concerns
that have been expressed regarding Great Lakes
Division Hamfests. The first relates to what may
constitute a "Swap" or "Hamfest", versus what are
recently being called "Trunk" swaps. It seems most
swaps, at least when the weather is warm, are in
fact swaps involving a lot of sales from trunk,
tailgate, and personal tables in the trunk sales
areas. Furthermore, there is no real accepted
definition that covers what differentiates a "trunk
sale" from any other type of swap. Should it be a
limited number of sellers? Attendance? Available
lot size? Admission charge? Sponsor's choice? At
this point we are seriously considering no longer
attempting to define hamfests by a definitions as
"Trunk sales/swap" or not and will use a general
listing as either a hamfest (or a ham swap meet),
sponsor's choice for those two traditional naming
conventions. Your input is solicited.
The second matter arises as to the number of ARRL
Sanctioned hamfests that should be permitted each
season for a specific sponsor. Further discussion
with ARRL Headquarters and our Section Managers
has resulted in a Great Lakes Division policy change
that takes effect May 1, 2022 and applies to all
future ARRL Sanctioning applications. The Great
Lakes Division will grant ARRL Hamfest Sanctioning
to a maximum of two hamfest per sponsoring
organization each year. These two must be at least
four months apart, putting each in a different
season. The allowance of two is a consideration
made because of many shifted hamfest dates
caused by the Covid 19 Pandemic. As you are
aware, ARRL contributes prizes to Sanctioned
events, and this new policy exhibits fairness to all of
our hamfest sponsors.
HAMVENTION 2022: News directly from the Dayton
Amateur Radio Assn.:
Hamvention in Three Weeks!
It has been an amazing and eventful three years
since we had an in-person Hamvention. We are now
three weeks away from ending that
Covid-19 caused pause. In the spring of 2019 it
never occurred to us that we might not be having
Hamvention for a while. As world events played
out, we learned that public health officials and other
government officials would prohibit our meeting
together to learn, visit, and have fun with our many
friends. Way back in March of 2020, none of us
knew much about the pandemic that was beginning
to sweep across the world.
There was not a lot that we could do other than be
law abiding citizens, trying to stay alive, and doing
our part to not spread the virus further.
Lots has gone under the bridge since then. Politics
got involved. Friends died. Businesses suffered.
Kids were made to have school by Zoom. And
amateur radio emerged as a way to stay connected
without spreading the pandemic.
We are finally to the stage that we can meet, see
each other face-to-face, and continue our love of
learning everything radio. We can present the
accumulated awards sponsored by Hamvention for
the last three years of winners. We can hear about
many new ideas related to amateur radio in the
Forums, including the hams that made a difference
in developing immunizations against Covid-19.
So, here’s to Hamvention! See you at the Greene
County Fairgrounds and Expo Center in exactly 20
days! Buy your plane tickets, fill up the car with
super-expensive gas, just get here!!
Rick Allnutt WS8G
Hamvention 2022 General Chair
Hamvention, an official ARRL Sanctioned Event, will
be held Friday-Sunday, May 20-22 at the Greene
County Fairgrounds and Expo Center in Xenia, OH.
SCOTT'S STUFF: Comments from your ARRL Vice
Director Scott, N8SY.
Scott’s Stuff - May Edition
I want to express my congratulations to John Ross,
KD8IDJ for becoming the newest ARRL News Editor!
John is taking over the reins for Rick Lindquist,
WW1ME who recently retired from this post. As
many of you know, John was my Public Information
Coordinator for almost all of my time as Section
Manager for Ohio. He's gonna' do the Great Lakes
Division proud for sure!
Have you heard the latest? The FCC is once again
processing license applications and exam session
files, but the process has been slowed down some
since the addition of the $35 fee started. Our ARRL
Volunteer Examiner Coordinator (VEC) Maria
Somma has reported that the FCC Universal
Licensing System (ULS) electronic batch filing (EBF)
system was down for several days. So, this will
mean that there will be some delays until they get
caught back up in getting licenses processed.
Please be patient, they will get processed!
Shifting Gears... As I expressed last month "April
showers bring May flowers and May flowers brings
the Dayton Hamvention!!!" Yes, there's now only 19
days left before Dayton!! Are you ready for this?
The biggest hamfest in the world is back, and you're
not gonna’ want to miss out on the fun and
excitement of everyone getting back together. This
year's theme is "Reunion." It's the 70th anniversary
so let's make this the best hamfest weekend ever!
OK, shifting gears again... Now, for all the
contesters out there. May has contests. If you are
interested in just having some fun, here is a link to a
schedule of all the contests for the month of May...
https://www.contestcalendar.com/fivewkcal.html
Now speaking of contests... Well... This isn't actually
a contest, it's an ARES Exercise but it's fun no matter
what you call it, Field Day is fast approaching. Yes,
Field Day this year is June 25 - 26. Is your club
planning on participating? I sure hope so. As I have
done for many years, I'll be out and about visiting
many of the Field Day sites once again this year!
Where will I be? Who knows! My plans this year is
just to get in the car and go. So, how will I know
where the sites will be? Simple, I will go to those
sites that have registered on the ARRL Field Day
Locator! https://www.arrl.org/field-day-locator
There are already a bunch of sites listed on the map
that I can go to. So, hope to see you at Field Day!
That is going to do it from here this month. Stay
safe and "Catch Me On The Air or at a hamfest!!!"
73,
Scott Yonally N8SY, Vice Director, Great Lakes
Division
HAMFEST LISTING:
Here is the current listing of Great Lakes Division
ARRL Sanctioned hamfests through May 2022.
Please note that all are subject to change, so please
stay current by checking the sponsoring club's web
page before making your travel arrangements.
Be sure to invite your ARRL Officials as soon as your
date is set.
Please feel free to reproduce and publish in your
local Club Newsletter with credit to the source.
ARRL Sanctioned Hamfests through July 2022:
5/1/22 - Lucas County Trunk Swap, Toledo, OH
5/7/22 - Cadillac Hamfest, Cadillac, MI
5/20 to 5/22/22 - Dayton Hamvention, Xenia, OH
5/21/22 - GM ARC Trunk Swap, Shelby Twp., MI
5/28/22 - Scioto Valley, Piketon, OH
6/4/22 - Fulton County Swap, Wauseon, OH
6/4/22 - IRA Hamfest, Hudsonville, MI
6/5/22 - Chelsea Hamfest, Chelsea, MI
6/11/22 - Luce County Yooper Hamfest, Newberry,
MI
6/11-22 - St Joseph Hamfest, Centreville, MI
6/18/22 - GM ARC Trunk Swap, Shelby Twp., MI
6/18/22 - Midland Hamfest, Midland, MI
6/19/22 - Monroe Hamfest, Monroe, MI
7/9/22 - Mansfield Mid Summer Trunkfest,
Mansfield, OH
7/10/22 - Flying Beers, Ferndale, MI
7/16/22 - NORAS Fest, Elyria, OH
7/16/22 - GM ARC Trunk Swap, Shelby Twp, MI
7/17/22 - Van Wert Hamfest, Van Wert, OH