- New MOU with Red Cross Approved
- Board Adopts Position on 97.113
- ARRL Board Meeting Minutes Posted
- Board: Technical Consultants for Commissioners
- Ohio PRB-1 Bill has Hearing
- ARRL Receiving Applications for EPR Manager
- Ohio PRB-1 Bill has Hearing
- Assistant to EPR Manager Authorized
- Additional IT Programmer will be Hired
- Division Convention Seeks Sponsor
- Webinar: Club Legal Considerations
- The GLD in Print
- Tentative Schedule

+++ New MOU with Red Cross Approved +++

The ARRL Board of Directors has approved a new Memorandum of
Understanding between the American Red Cross and ARRL. The new MOU is
the result of lengthy negotiations between the two organizations.
Being discussed was a Red Cross requirement that Amateur Radio
operators who wished to serve as volunteer communicators agree to have
an extensive background check performed. The new MOU allows for
amateurs to avoid agreeing to such checking.

The new MOU includes an agreement by RC to accept the results of
criminal background checks performed by State or local law enforcement
agencies as well as checks performed by Mybackgroundcheck.com.

From the time negotiations for the new MOU began, the two organizations
had agreed that requiring criminal background on volunteer
communicators was reasonable. Unfortunately, the only mechanism RC
identified for having the checks done was through a service that
automatically required the volunteer to agree to multiple forms of
checks. These included manner of living and financial background
checks in addition to the needed criminal check. You may recall that
RC asserted they would have no more than criminal checks run on
communication volunteers regardless of the wording of the agreement the
volunteer was required to sign.

We on the ARRL Board did not believe it was appropriate to accept a new
MOU that included such an overly-comprehensive background check
agreement. Our goal was to make it possible for individual amateurs to
have three options available when considering supporting Red Cross
communication. These options were to agree to multiple background
checks and to agree only to a criminal background check. The third
option, of course, is to choose not to have a background check run and
not to be a volunteer.

This goal has been accomplished. Hams considering becoming RC
volunteers now have the full range of choice.

RC agreement to accept criminal background checks performed by law
enforcement agencies came with one provision. This is that any fee for
having the check done will not be paid by RC. The fee will need to be
paid by some other agency or by the individual volunteer. This should
pose no problem in situations in which criminal background checks are
performed on behalf of EMA or other civil agency with which the amateur
is a volunteer.

Conclusions: RC and ARRL have an active MOU once again. To volunteer
to provide support to RC as a radio amateur, the amateur will need to
undergo a background check. The background check may be done through
the RC at no charge to the volunteer; however, following this process
the volunteer will agree to being subjected to a variety of background
checks. Instead of having background checking done through the RC,
Amateur Radio volunteers my have the checking done by a State or local
police agency. Following this process, the volunteer will be required
to pay for having the checking performed provided the fee is not
already covered by EMA or some other agency.

It was refreshing to have RC change its initial position and to agree
to accept criminal background checks performed by duly constituted
civil agencies.

+++ ARRL Board Adopts Position on 97.113 +++

Throughout the past several months there has been much discussion over
the desirability of allowing employee-hams to perform training and
emergency communications work for their employers. The FCC has
responded to this discussion by liberalizing part 97.113 of the Amateur
Radio rules and allowing exceptions to the rule for
government-sponsored drills. Rather than have the Commission announce
rulemaking in the area without first receiving Amateur Radio input, the
Board developed a proposed modification of current rule.

Before taking action, the directors studied a report by a special
committee that was established at the Board meeting last July. The
committee reviewed 97.113 to determine the possible actions the Board
might wish to take. Three basic actions, including suggesting no
change in the rule, were presented to the directors. Petitioning for a
change was the action we chose following a healthy debate. We voted
unanimously to modify 97.113 (3) to read:

"(3) Communications in which the station licensee or control operator
has a pecuniary interest, including communications on behalf of an
employer, except that the station licensee or control operator may, on
behalf of an employer, participate in emergency preparedness and
disaster drills that include Amateur operations for the purpose of
emergency response, disaster relief or the testing and maintenance of
equipment used for that purpose. Amateur operators may, however . . ."

+++ ARRL Board Meeting Minutes Posted +++

The minutes of the January meeting of the ARRL Board of Directors may
be read at http://www.arrl.org/announce/board-1001/.

+++ Board: Technical Consultants for Commissioners +++

At its meeting in January, the ARRL Board of Directors voted to provide
active support to a US Senate bill that would enable FCC Commissioners
to add an additional consultant to their staffs. The bi-partisan FCC
Commissioners' Technical Resource Enhancement Act has bipartisan
sponsorship by Senators Olympia Snowe (ME) and Mark Warner (VA). The
bill, S. 2881, has been assigned to the Committee on Commerce, Science,
and Transportation.

The bill is intended to ensure each FCC Commissioner has a technical
consultant on staff. This clearly is not the case at present.

If authorized, the new, appointed positions will be open to electrical
engineers and computer scientists. These technical positions will be
in addition to the general consultant positions currently authorized to
each Commissioner.

+++ ARRL Receiving Applications for EPR Manager +++

The ARRL continues to solicit applications for the open position of
Emergency Preparedness and Response (EPR) Manager. Several
applications have already been received.

The job is based at ARRL HQ in Newington, CT. The successful applicant
will represent the League with government and non-government emergency
and disaster response organizations and partners for planning,
continuity and operational purposes.

Requirements for the position include holding a General Class or higher
amateur license, having a minimum of 5 years experience in ARES(r) or
equivalent and hold a Bachelor-level or higher degree. For further
requirements and a description of the EPR Manager position, go to
http://www.arrl.org/announce/jobs/. Interested amateurs should follow
the instructions on the Internet notice to apply.

+++ Ohio PRB-1 Bill has Hearing +++

Ohio State House of Representatives bill HB 212 received its second
hearing by the Public Safety and Homeland Security Committee on January
19. Section Manager (SM) Frank Piper, KI8GW, State Government Liaison
Nick Pitner, K8AP and bill ramrod Assistant SM Steve Katz, N8WL headed
the group that provided testimony on behalf of the bill. The
legislation awaits its third hearing after which it is expected to be
released to the floor of the House for action.

A companion bill was introduced into the Senate in December and is
awaiting further action.

Michigan SM Dale Williams, WA8EFK and his legislative team are also
working a PRB-1 bill through the Michigan House.

+++ Assistant to EPR Manager Authorized +++

Not content with obtaining a new Emergency Preparedness and Response
(EPR) Manager, the ARRL Board authorized a new position to support the
this manager. The new position will be filled after the new EPR
Manager has been able to determine the form of support needed.

+++ Additional IT Programmer will be Hired +++

The Board also authorized hiring an additional programmer in the
Information Technology department. With IT increasingly being a
critical function in the progress of greater numbers of projects, the
Board and Staff are committed to move backlogged projects. Linking
VUCC with LoTW will be among the first of these projects to move
forward. Other projects to facilitate awards projects and management
activity can be expected to follow.

+++ Division Convention Seeks Sponsor +++

The Great Lakes Division is looking for interested individuals, clubs
or groups to sponsor the Division Convention in 2011. The dates and
location of the convention as well as details of the program and other
features will determined by the sponsoring organization and the
Division Cabinet (Director, Vice Director, Section Managers and
Division Legislative Action Chair).

Organizations interested in learning more about sponsoring the 2011
Great Lakes Division Convention should contact Jim Weaver, K8JE, Great
Lakes Division Director at k8je@arrl.org.

+++ Webinar: Club Legal Considerations +++

Good friend and colleague Director Bill Edgar, N3LLR once again has
invited members of the Great Lakes Division to participate in a
webinar. This webinar will be of particular interest to leaders in
local clubs. The following is the announcement Director Edgar sent to
me:

"The Atlantic Division is conducting a webinar with three well
qualified attorneys doing a presentation for amateur radio club
officers or prospective club officers. This webinar presentation and
panel discussion will be led by ARRL Corporate Counsel, Chris Imlay
W3KD. Joining Chris as panelists will be attorneys, Bob Famiglio K3RF
and Mike Lazaroff K3AIR. This presentation will touch on legal issues
for amateur radio clubs or organizations. The panel will cover club
incorporation, liability issues, and legal issues for clubs.

"We will have a question and answer period after the presentation.

"To register for this webinar on Wednesday, March 6th from 9pm to
10:30pm, please use the following URL:

"https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/503665777"

+++ The GLD in Print +++

An oops. I copied a misspelling last month when I referred to Verle
Willingham. Verle may be a most willing ham, but his last name is
Winningham. I should have caught the error -- but didn't. He is,
indeed, K8VW. Verle also noted that many amateurs who belonged to the
defunct Firebird Net still congregate on 7.2775 MHz. Sorry for
perpetuating the error, Verle.

+++ Tentative Travel & Hamfest Schedule +++

Hamfests in the following list have received ARRL sanctioning as of
press time. Hamfests and other events for which a Great Lakes Division
representative is scheduled to attend are identified with the
representative's name. The schedule can be expected to be fine-tuned
in the future.

Patronize ARRL-sanctioned hamfests. Sponsors, please have your hamfest
sanctioned soon.

6 Feb: HARA Swap & Shop, Negaunee, MI
7 Feb: NOARS Winter Hamfest, Lorain, OH
9 Feb: Northern Kentucky ARC presentation - Jim
11 Feb: SW Ohio DXA presentation - Jim
13 Feb: Cherryland Hamfest, Traverse City, MI
13 Feb: IARC League Dinner Night, Mansfield, OH - Jim
14 Feb: Midwinter Hamfest, Mansfield, OH - Jim
21 Feb: Livonia Swap n Shop, Livonia, MI
6 Mar: Mammoth Cave Hamfest, Cave City, KY - Jim
18 Mar: Bellbrook ARC Annual Dinner, Waynesville, OH - Jim
20 Mar: Michigan Crossroads Hamfest, Marshall, MI -- Jim
21 Mar: TMRA Hamfest/Computer Show, Toledo, OH - Jay, Jim
3 Apr: ARGYL Hamfest, Lowell, MI
3 Apr: Lincoln Trail Hamfest, Elizabethtown, KY
10 Apr: JCARC Hamfest, Radio Show, Jackson, OH
17 Apr: Milford Swap & Shop, Highland, MI
18 Apr: Cuyahoga Falls Hamfest, Cuyahoga Falls, OH
25 Apr: Athens Hamfest, Athens, OH
1 May: Louisa Hamfest, Louisa, KY - Jim
1 May: Cadillac Hamfest, Cadillac, MI
14-16 May: Hamvention(r), Dayton, OH - Gary, Jim
5 Jun: Fulton Co. ARC Hamfest, Tedrow, OH
5 Jun: Carter Co. Hamfest, Olive Hill, KY
19 Jun: Milford Hamfest, Milford, OH - Jim
19 Jun: Midland Hamfest, Midland, MI
20 Jun: Monroe Hamfest, Monroe, MI -- Jim
8 Jul: Mahoning Valley ARA, presentation -- Jim
16-17 Jul: Board of Directors, Windsor, CT -- Gary, Jim
7 Aug: UP Hamfest, Escanaba, MI
25 Jul: Portage Hamfair, Randolph, OH
22 Aug: Cambridge Hamfest, Cambridge, OH
11 Sep: Grtr Louisville 'fest, Shepherdsville, KY
12 Sep: Findlay Hamfest, Findlay, OH - Jim
18 Sep: Central KY ARS Hamfest, Richmond, KY - Jim
26 Sep: Cleveland Hamfest, Cleveland, OH - Jim
30 Oct: Hazard Hamfest, Hazard, KY