Greetings everyone, welcome to "Dale's Tales" for September 2017.

With the nominations now closed for the Great Lakes Division Awards, the Committee is now
reviewing the applications.  Thanks to so many for offering nominations for these awards.  Without doubt, the committee will have its job cut out for it as the selections are made from so many well-qualified individuals in Kentucky, Ohio and Michigan.  The following Division awards are under consideration:  George S. Wilson Lifetime Achievement Award; Technical Achievement Award; DX Achievement Award; Young Radio Amateur of the Year Award; and the Joseph J. Phillips, K8QOE, Newsletter Award.   The award presentations will be made at the Great Lakes Division Convention Banquet in conjunction with Great Lakes HamCon at Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn, MI on October 7 & 8.

Speaking of that, the Great Lakes HamCon and the ARRL Great Lakes Division Convention will be
upon us in a month.   We are pleased that our selection of Forums will bring some top-notch events to the Convention. On Saturday:

Opening Ribbon Cutting and Kickoff Session and ARRL Forum

Dan Romanchik KB6NU will present his Tech-in-a-Day License Class

The Ford Amateur Radio League will conduct FCC exams following the class

Marsha Fleming N8FE will host the gathering of the Young Ladies Radio League, the YLRL

South East Michigan DX Assn will host the DX Forum - Al K8SIX and Stan AC8W will moderate

The Ohio Section will host our Clubs Forum - Tom WB8LCD will be the moderator

The Mad River RC will host the Contesting Forum - Dave K8CC will moderate

Carl Leutzelschwab K9LA will conduct the forum on Radio Propagation

Joe Eisenburg K0NEB will host the forum Kit Building Techniques for Success

Tom Bosscher K8TB will conduct a forum on Fox Hunting, followed by an actual hunt on the MIS track infield

The Michigan QRP Club will host a forum on Operating QRP - Pete W8KS will moderate

Carole Perry WB2MGP will lead our 2017 Youth Forum

Yaesu will present a forum on their Fusion digital products - hosted by John Kruk N9UPC

In addition to all of these activities, Saturday's events will be followed by the ARRL Banquet featuring ARRL President Rick Roderick K5UR as the featured speaker.  Here will present the Divisions Awards and the banquet will be followed by an initiation for new members of the Royal Order of the Wouff Hong.

Sunday's activities includes these forums and events:

The Toledo Mobile RA will host a forum on operating from Museum Ships - Glenn W8MUK will moderate

Dan KB6NU will host the Forum on Operating CW.

ARES Forum hosted by the Division SECs

NTS Forum hosted by the STMs

Grand Prize Awards

The HamCon team really feels that a great cross-section of amateur radio activities is represented with this selection of forums and events.  The emphasis has been focused on learning activities, each session offering an insight to a particular facet of ham radio, ranging from sessions for new YLs, the latest in youth activities, plus information for both the new comer and the seasoned veteran.  You can stay up to date with the planned activities at:  glhamcon.org

TOM'S COMMENTS:  Comments from our Vice Director Tom Delaney W8WTD

We're all very aware of disasters this month as we watch the still-unfolding events in Texas.  It was interesting to check into a net last week and be asked "how well prepared are you to shelter in place for several days?"  The responses varied.  Some sounded quite ready, others not so much.  Those who didn't have enough preparation reluctantly agreed that perhaps they needed to do some more.  If you're one of those people, resources are available to help, such as "www.ready.gov." As a long-time Red Cross volunteer who has worked on disaster relief in a number of situations, and been in on even more planning exercises, I see the question for hams as having two parts.  First, of course, is keeping yourself and your family safe.  Some of that is just having the necessary items to either shelter in place or to evacuate to a place of safety when necessary.  And many of us have stand-by power for our radios, so we can communicate from home either for our own needs or for those around us. The second part is what a lot of dedicated ARES volunteers do --be prepared to help others, whether in your local community or someplace farther away.  And for that, you need the various go-kits that we all put together.  I was thinking about how my own "go-kit" has evolved over the years.  I finally took out the phone wires and telephone that have been in there a long time.  And the roll of quarters for that pay phone that may have still been operational on a corner somewhere.  Don't laugh.  At one point, those were important.  So now we have new tools, but we need to keep up with the times.  An annual review of what is in there is probably very useful for each of us to stay ready.  Maybe at your next club meeting everyone could do a "show and tell" of go kits.
We always inspire each other to think about that one item we've overlooked.

Ham radio has always had a component of public service.  We each need to do our part to be ready when the time comes.

73, Tom W8WTD Vice Director, Great Lakes Division HAMFESTING:  Here is the current Great Lakes Division ARRL Sanctioned Hamfest Schedule covering the remainder of the year.  These swaps have received their sanctioning approval from ARRL HQ at the time of this publication.  We have approximately 65 ARRL hamfests each year in the Division.  I do encourage each Hamfest Chair to register early for ARRL Sanctioning.  Be sure to invite your ARRL Officials as soon as your date is set.

9/9/17                                Grand Rapids GRAHamfest           Wyoming, MI
9/9/17                                Greater Louisville Hamfest           Sheperdsville, KY
9/10/17                              Findlay                                               Findlay, OH
9/16/17                              Richmond Fall Hamfest                 Richmond, KY
9/17/17                              Adrian                                                Adrian, MI
9/23/17                              GM ARC Trunk Swap                      Shelby Twp, MI
9/23/17                              OHKYIN ARS Hamfest                     Cincinnati, OH
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