Here's an update on major events taking place in the Southwestern Division...

Right Now: The 2003 ARRL Southwestern Division Convention website is "on the air". Check it out and download a registration form at: www.hamcon.org The Convention theme is "Focus Back on the Volunteer". Come on, get with it!

Right Now: The ARRL is surveying its membership regarding which future on-line ARRL Certification and Continuing Education (C-CE) courses hams would be most likely to take. The list of possibilities ranges from antennas to VHF/UHF operation. The Web-based survey is now open for input. The survey period will end October 27. Log yourself into the members-only web page and visit http://www.arrl.org/members-only/cce/ccesurv.html

Right Now: ARRL VHF/UHF Contesting and Awards Survey. Your input is requested on the topic of improving VHF/UHF/microwave contests and awards. To participate, download the survey form: http://www.arrl.org/contests/announcements/vhf-survey.pdf Then select the answer that best matches your position or situation. Please feel free to extend your remarks (use additional pages if necessary). Your detailed comments are very important. Then mail the form to ARRL Headquarters.

Oct 17-20: The national Girl Scout Convention will be held in Long Beach from October 17-20 at the Long Beach Convention Center. The convention is aimed at GSA adults - council administrators and leaders, troop leaders, and Senior Scouts. There will be an Amateur Radio exhibit in the foyer that will be visited by 15,000 convention attendees. If you are willing to help staff the Amateur Radio exhibit, please contact Carina Lister, kf6zyy@arrl.net

Oct 19-20: Scouting's annual Jamboree On The Air (JOTA) takes place Saturday October 19 through Sunday October 20 local time. For the first time, ARRL is requesting that any club or individual planning to be active during the 2002 JOTA activity register on the "Youth Skeds" page on the ARRL Web site. The idea is to provide a database of scheduled JOTA activity in advance of the event to help more scouting groups to participate in JOTA 2002. Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Brownies and Venture Scouts soon will take to the airwaves in an effort to communicate with each other via Amateur Radio. More info at: http://www2.arrl.org/FandES/ead/jota.html

Oct 19: Tucson Hamfest (ARCA/ARRL) held at the Pima County Fairgrounds, Houghton Rd, Tucson, AZ. For more info visit www.hamsrus.com or call Cliff Hauser, KD6XH at 520-744-9095.

Oct 26: Cochise ARA Fall Swapfest, held at the CARA Club site, 2 miles south of Hwy 90 on Moson Rd in Sierra Vista, AZ. More info at http://www.qsl.net/k7rdg/EVENTS/Upcoming/2002swap.htm

Oct 26: It's baaaaaackkkk, the venerable W6TRW ARC Swapmeet. More info at http://www.w6trw.com/swapmeet/w6trw_arc_swapmeet.htm Don't forget the VE sessions conducted at each TRW Swapmeet, 10AM in the cafe in Bldg S. Scott Swanson, K6PYP, and a dedicated group of volunteers are there every month. More info at http://w6trw.com/ve_testing/ve_testinghtml.htm

October 26: ARRL San Diego Section Picnic, 10AM - 4PM, at Pine Valley County Park, Area #3, 28810 Old Hwy 80, Pine Valley. Burgers, hot dogs and soda provided, bring a side dish. For more info contact Kent, K6FQ, 619-575-1964 or k6fq@arrl.org

November 2: ARRL San Diego Section Ham Radio Roundup, 10AM - 2PM, at the Kearney Mesa Rec Center, 3170 Armstrong St, Kearney Mesa. Pot luck dinner at 12 Noon. Contact Kent, K6FQ, 619-575-1964 or k6fq@arrl.org

Have you written to your Congressman/woman to ask him/her to become a co-sponsor of HR 4720, the bill to apply PRB-1 antenna coverage to CC&R's? So far, J D Hayworth (R-AZ) and Ken Calvert (R-CA) are the only Reps signed up in our Division. Please write today. All the info and a sample letter are at: http://www2.arrl.org/govrelations/hr4720/

What's the Diamond Club? Well...? Give up? Swing by and check it out at https://www.arrl.org/forms/development/donations/diamondclub/

That's it for this edition folks. But stay tuned for future updates from your ARRL Southwestern Division Team.

Art, W6XD Tuck, NZ6T Director Vice Director w6xd@arrl.org nz6t@arrl.org