At our April member meeting, SPARC welcomed ARRL LAX Section Manager Diana Feinberg, AI6DF. Diana has served the local ham community as section manager since 2016 and in numerous other capacities before that. She is currently president of the Palos Verdes Amateur Radio Club, and she was formerly president of the 220 Spectrum Management Association of Southern California. She has chaired the Los Angeles Area Council of Amateur Radio Clubs, served as the chair of the HAMCON hamfest, and has been active in the Los Angeles County Disaster Communication Service.
Diana opened by discussing what is new with the ARRL both nationally and locally. Topics included:
- How to know when the digital editions of ARRL magazines are available.
- The fight to protect radio spectrum from high-speed trading systems.
- ARRL membership numbers in LA County.
- A program that helps members locate sources of RFI (hint: check your dimmer switches first).
- Patterns of volunteering.
The second part of her presentation was titled “Surprises in Amateur Radio.” It covered the aspects that make our hobby unique, including the constant improvement of its equipment and development of new modes such as the M17 standard.
As a gesture of our thanks, we presented Diana with a bag of Li’l Sparky’s Blend whole beans (actually the Lost Parrot Blend from Jones Coffee Roasters).
UPCOMING EVENTS
ARRL SSB Rookie Roundup, 4/21
For the purposes of the event, a Rookie is defined has having been first licensed in the current calendar year or the previous three calendar years, regardless of license class. You can also be a Rookie if you haven’t made any contest contacts on the contest mode (in this case, SSB).
May Meeting, 5/1
We’ll be discussing CW and Morse code. Do you have an interesting Morse key, bug, or paddle? Bring it in for a show and tell.