Welcome from the Section Manager

We would like to invite you to browse through the information listed here and take advantage of the services offered to you as a member of the American Radio Relay League. The ARRL Field Organization is here to serve you. If you have a problem, question or simply need more information, please feel free to contact anyone on the IL section staff. They will be happy to hear from you and will either answer you directly or steer you to the right person

ARRL Illinois Section Newsletter

January 2025

    Now that the holidays are past us, we can get back into spending some time on the air. This February 7 and 8 will be a good time to practice some critical skills. The state's Frozen Prairie exercise will be held both days. We as amateur radio operators will participate from 9 a.m. until Noon on both Friday and Saturday. Information on the activities can be found on w9ry.com.The activities will include HF SSB, CW and Winlink, 2 meters repeaters and simplex and digital (Fusion, DMR, D-Star, etc). There are activities for Technician through Extra.

   Please let your District Emergency Coordinator (DEC) or your local county Emergency Coordinator (EC) know if you can participate one or both days.

   The new Illinois State Combined Emergency Operations All Hazards Plan (that can be found on the arrl-il.org and w9ry.com websites) should be a document that is in your hamshack. Thanks to the superb effort of our Section Emergency Coordinator (SEC), Steve Warner WA9SWW, and the committee he assembled, Illinois now has a plan that can be used by those locations that do not already have their own plan. IEMA (Illinois Emergency Management Agency) will be sending it out to the Illinois Emergency Managers so they can use it as part of their emergency planning.

   We are starting the hamfest season and I look forward to seeing many of you at your local hamfests. The first one of the season was at Collinsville this past weekend. Unfortunately, due to a severe medical emergency that ended with me in a hospital stay for a few days, I didn't make it. I was slated to speak on what has been happening in the Illinois Section along with Steve Warner (SEC) who discussed the new plan. Thanks to Steve, he covered my portion of the presentation. I'm back home and recovering but have been put on limited duty for a few weeks.

   In the Section Manager's meeting this past week, we found out there are going to be some new distinction labels for hamfests. As soon as I know more, I'll let you know.

   DXCC is back up and operating. They have worked their way through the backlog.

   One of the systems that is still not operational is the Section Managers ability to send out emails to their respective Sections. It has priority status so hopefully it will be resolved soon. Until then, I'll continue the newsletter post on arrl-il.org.

   Do you know a young ham (16-25 years old) who may be interested in being our Section Youth Coordinator? If so, please let me know.

   Also, do you know a young leader who is passionate about disaster preparedness and community resilience? Encourage them to join FEMA’s Youth Preparedness Council (YPC).

   The YPC is a nationwide program that brings together young leaders who want to make a difference in their community and build valuable leadership skills. Council members serve for one year and collaborate on projects that promote emergency preparedness, participate in engaging discussions with FEMA leaders, and gain insight into careers in emergency management.

   Students currently in grades 8 through 11 may apply. Applications can be submitted in either written or video format by March 3 on FEMA’s YPC application page.

   I'm sorry to report, Ron Delpiere Smith, KD9IPO, will soon be permanently moving to Michigan for his new job. Ron has been a great asset as one of the Assistant Section Managers (ASM). He has been instrumental in making sure we had additional coverage at hamfests as well as offering help to local area hams. His participation and leadership will be missed. I've asked Ron to suggest his possible replacement as an ASM.

   I will soon have some new materials for use at hamfests. One that I am excited about is the new application for newly licensed hams. If they join the ARRL at a hamfest, I can immediately give them a new book to help them on their journey as a new ham. The materials (application and book) will be released soon.

   Finally, are you ready to win a brand new ICOM Dream Station? The ARRL has a sweepstakes. Details can be found at https://www.arrl.org/arrl-sweepstakes and how to enter. You get one entry when you sign up or renew. Two more entries if you set up auto-renewal, etc. You can earn up to six entries.

   Two questions I have been asked are, "What about me, I'm a Life Member?" and "I've already renewed for multiple years. How can I participate."

   In answer to both, you can make a donation to the Diamond Club or you can fill out a post card and mail it to the ARRL. Instructions for all the ways to enter are at the https://www.arrl.org/arrl-sweepstakes website.

73 and I hope to hear you on February 7 and 8.

Thom W9RY

ARRL Club Liability Insurance Information

ARRL is aware that some amateur radio clubs who had been insured by Marsh/AIG, a previous provider of the ARRL Club Liability Insurance Program, are receiving notices that their club liability insurance is not being renewed. ARRL discontinued its relationship with Marsh/AIG in 2011, but some clubs who had previously enrolled in the policies were still renewing with the old provider -- and not in the current ARRL program.

The current program administrator (since 2015) for the ARRL-sponsored Club Liability Insurance Program is Risk Strategies. ARRL has a strong relationship with the current administrator who understands the importance of local amateur radio clubs and will help clubs seek new policies. Risk Strategies also administers the ARRL Equipment Insurance Plan for members.

Clubs that are affected by the loss of coverage from the previous provider are encouraged to contact Risk Strategies. Please visit Risk Strategies online at arrlinsurance.com or by phone at 1-866-819-0209 (please leave a message and your call will be returned).

ARRL is not able to help them with questions on insurance and all questions should be directed to Risk Strategies.