KB6NU's Ham Radio Blog

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December 2016 Michigan Section News

Posted: 16 Dec 2016 12:55 PM PST
http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/kb6nu...m_medium=email


Here are some select items from Larry, WB8R, our esteemed Section Manager:
Hamfest at Michigan International Speedway

We have assembled our management team and are beginning the process
ofÂ*putting the pieces together to form our parent organization, which
willÂ*be known as the Great Lakes Amateur Radio Association, which will be
aÂ*501 (c) (3) corporation. We have settled on the dates of October 7 andÂ*8,
2017 for our event at MIS.

In the past couple of months I have visited 8 club meetings to talkÂ*about
the event and am very pleased to report all clubs were veryÂ*positive and
excited about the event. I have more club meetings toÂ*attend in the next
2-3 months to complete the process of getting theÂ*assistance that we need.

Flyers and other documentation are under development and will beÂ*available
for distribution soon. Stay tuned for more information asÂ*this exciting
event comes to life.
I think this could be a very interesting development, and I look forward to
seeing more detailsDan
Michigan Distracted Driving Bill

The Michigan Distracted Driving bill that was known as HB 6857 will
beÂ*reintroduced in the 2017 Legislative session under a new number. WeÂ*will
be monitoring the bill to ensure that our ability to operate ourÂ*equipment
from our vehicles is not affected.
Michigan State Parks on the Air (MSPOTA)

Beginning in the spring of 2017, MSPOTA will run through 2019
andÂ*incorporate Michigan’s 107 State Parks, Recreation Areas, Scenic
andÂ*Memorial Sites. Our target date for startup is March 1. Starting
priorÂ*to that is problematical in that Park Staff would be limited.Â*MSPOTA
goes beyond “pulling up and keying up” as it is aÂ*cooperative program
between Michigan amateur radio operators and DNRÂ*Parks & Recreation
Division to mutually promote one another’sÂ*interests.

MSPOTA is designed to allow regional and statewide activationÂ*opportunities
throughout the event and is coordinated with other MDNRÂ*Parks & Recreation
Division programs. Â*The event will feature aboutÂ*fifty parks available for
activation in each of the three event yearsÂ*with some parks active
throughout the entire event.

The schedule is being finalized and will be available after the firstÂ*of
the year. MSPOTA’s online logging, scheduling and award trackingÂ*system is
currently being assembled. We will be seeking local clubs toÂ*sponsor parks,
act as QSL bureaus and tend to parks local to them.

MSPOTA is sponsored by The Northern Michigan Amateur Radio Service
TeamÂ*(NM8RT).

For MSPOTA news and progress or to volunteer to help, please visit
theÂ*“MSPOTA” group on Facebook or email Will at . Many thanks
to W8WDR for this informational update and many thanks toÂ*the MSPOTA
development team for working so hard to bring this funÂ*activity to the hams
of Michigan.
When this effort got going, I was enthusiastic about it. Im less so now.
For one thing, only a third of the parks will be activatable at any one
time. About a third of them the first year, another third the second year,
and the remaining parks the third year. No plans, as far as I know, are
being made to continue this event beyond the third year. I think thats
going to create a lot of confusion among both the activators and the
chasers. Im hoping for the best, though.

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