AD5FU Selected as Delta Division Ham of the Year- John Nordlund, AD5FU has been selected as Delta Division Ham of the Year according to Henry Leggette, WD4Q ARRL Delta Division Director. John was selected for his hard work in preparing, organizing and instructing the Arkansas VE Super-Session Technician Licensing Classes and Test Sessions through the Arkansas Department of Health (ADOH) and Arkansas Hospital Associations microwave videoconference network. John was responsible for teaching the sessions in 2006 and again in 2008 in which nearly 300 new hams were licensed. The session in January 2008 netted 189 new techs and several new general class operators across Arkansas. The session has given areas of South Arkansas a boost in amateur radio activity and has helped revitalize some of the clubs in the area. Other amateurs involved in the Super-Session receiving letters of commendation form the ARRL included Arkansas Section Manager David Norris, K5UZ and Arkansas Section Emergency Coordinator J.M. Rowe, N5XFW for coordinating the overall effort; Joe Giddons, N5IOZ and Ron Lynch, K5NP for helping coordinate the VE teams; Dr. Paul Halverson, KR5EA, ADOH Director for sponsoring and allowing the use of the video facilities at ADOH; Tommy Black KE5JNR, ADOH for coordinating the hospitals around the state; Lynette Nordlund KD5QMD and Kayla KE5JYX (John’s XYL and Harmonic) for assisting in class material preparation. The awards will be presented at the Delta Division Convention in Knoxville, TN June 14, 2008. Congratulations John and all those involved.

ARVARF News-April- Our 400th issue. Wow! Is there anyone who remembers the very first issue? These newsletters not only tell everyone what is happening with our club but also bring back memories of all what your club has done in the past, from the multiple Field Days and Hamfests to so many other activities. As everyone knows I want to add to those activities and I’ve been working hard to get everything ready for the Extreme foxhunt. I do have some friends and possibly a professor or two coming to join in on the fun. We will start at 9:00 AM at the Hughes Center right beside the City Park. All you’ll need is a 2-meter receiver and its antenna and a vehicle. Hopefully we’ll find the fox before noon so we can enjoy a picnic afterwards. I invite everyone to come and join us.

If you have any suggestions e-mail me at soniapi@centurytel.net Sonia Picado KE5EIW President.= Pope Co, ARES/RACES- John Robinson of the
National Weather Service gave an interesting presentation for the Weather Spotter’s course in March. He had some new video and also told us about the “interesting” weather of 2008. Floods were the problem at the time and the NWS folks were running all over the state surveying water problems. Since then, we have had more tornadoes, so stay alert, anything could happen! Our April ARES/RACES meeting will be at 7:00 on April 22. We will talk about the upcoming Arkansas Nuclear One exercise in May. We will have a part in the exercise and I will have more details by the meeting. Then in May, Mike KE5EIY, is going to present a demonstration of packet via sound card. Packet is a great mode for public service communications, but the specialized Terminal Node Controllers are harder to find and more expensive now. Charles Shingleur demonstrated a simple modem that can be used with software for packet, and Mike will show us how to do it with just software and a sound card. Since most other digital modes can be operated with just a sound card, it will be good to know how to do packet also. I hope you will participate in the club’s fox hunt. This is not only fun, but has public service applications. This is severe weather season – be alert for threatening
weather and monitor the 146.82 repeater when appropriate.

73, Dennis W5RZ

ARKAN News

The Memorial Day Troop Train left the Springdale station at 8:00 AM on May 26th bound for Chester. It rained heavily during the morning and we were thankful we had things organized so we wouldn't have to be too concerned about the weather. Somewhere between Springdale and Fayetteville our 20 meter hamstick got whacked by a tree limb and came loose at the ball mount! When the train stopped in Greenland Scott KD5KZJ and Rob KE5RFL scampered up the ladder with a trusty adjustable wrench and made repairs within three or four minutes.

Batesville ARC News- April News- More Storms, More Flooding -Seems like the topic of storms and flooding was used in last month’s newsletter and here it is again! Our storm spotters are getting plenty of practice and have been doing a great job. The reports heard on the repeater during these recent events have been timely, concise, and professional sounding. Maybe next month we will be able to devote our time to other activities while giving our rain gear a rest. Summer Fun With the coming of warmer weather our minds turn towards those summer events such as Field Day and the Water Carnival. Plans are already being made for our club’s participation in these exciting events.

BCRO News

The next Tech class is scheduled for Sept 13th, 20th and 27th; it'll be a total of 15 hours of class time. We'll post more on this later. If you would like more information please send an email to Jay KCØCNB. The Tour de Cure for 2008 will be Saturday October 11th this year. Also, on August 9th there is a Diabetes Health and Wellness Expo at the Northwest Arkansas Convention Center. Superfest was held Saturday April 26 at the Jones Center for Families in Springdale. A good sized crowd attended ARRL Delta Division Vice Director Karl Bullock WA5TMC’s forum on Emergency
Communications as well as K5UZ’s ARRL forum in which WA5TMC also discussed Technology and the ARRL. Thanks to all on the hamfest committee for making this a successful event.

Fort Smith Area ARC News

Several members of the Fort Smith Area Amateur Radio Club participated in a disaster drill held at Chaffee Crossing on Thursday, March 27, 2008. Just after 9:30AM, the drill started when police were called to a mock crash that happened when a semi-tractor trailer hauling radioactive dirt to a landfill stopped behind stalled traffic on a busy highway. A City bus was unable to stop in time and slammed into the back of the truck. Moments later, a small automobile crashed into the back of the bus pinning that auto’s driver inside. Fire fighters were dispatched to render aid to the bus passengers who were decontaminated and transported by EMS to local hospitals.

The driver of the small car succumbed at the scene but the body (a rescue
dummy) had to be cut out of the wrecked car. The driver of the truck was uninjured but was contaminated with the radioactive material. While the chaos of the wreck was unfolding, a passer by stopped and took a container of the contaminated dirt. He later placed an explosive device on the container and left it on the doorstep of his former employer. This, of course prompted another police call and a response from the fire department’s bomb squat.  Ham operators provided an information stream to the hospitals and to other service providers. As always, these operators provided a great service and proved that amateur radio is ready to respond with its own equipment at a moment’s notice.

Field Day Cometh!

June 28 – 29 will be amateur radio’s largest operating event. Many clubs around Arkansas are making their Field Day plans and I want to encourage all clubs to participate. One encouraging sign is the unified “All Central Arkansas” Field Day effort in Little Rock to be held at the Arkansas School for the Blind. Members from CAUHF, CAREN and ArkRES Clubs are invited to come play Field Day. Other traditionally great Field Day efforts are being put forth at ARVARF in Russelleville, FSARC at Columbus Acres in Fort Smith, Ozark Wireless/ARKAN in NWA and Batesville ARC at Brock Mountain.

Arkansas Section Traffic Emergency Net: Monday - Friday at 7:00PM Monday, Tuesday - Friday 7:30 p.m. local.

ARES/RACES Net Sunday morning at 7:00 a.m. local, 3987.5 Khz.

Every Saturday - Worked All Arkansas Net 3987.5 Khz 7 p.m. OR earlier as band CONX permit!

Every Saturday - Arkansas DX Association Net 3815 Khz 10:00 AM

For past Arkansas News Summaries please visit the Arkansas Section portion of the arrl website at:

 Monthly Summaries

 Then select the month you wish to view.