NARTE News Selected On-line Articles
Volume 18 Number 2 Summer 2000

Headquarters Highlights: June 2000
Changing the Guard
We welcome Ms. Laura Holmberg as Operations Director. Laura has been with NARTE for eight years and is no stranger to NARTE operations, having served as Web Master and FCC Testing Director. She has been acting Operations Director/co-Director with Susan since January 2000. She assumed full responsibility as Operations Director on May 16th.
In mid May Susan Stillwell, our Operations Director for the past nine years promoted herself to stay-at -home-mom. Her newly arrived daughter was the cover girl for the Winter edition of NARTE News. Susan became Operations Director when the operation moved from Salem Oregon to Medway. She was instrumental in setting up and organizing a new office and staff, implementing procedures to assure long term financial health, and staffing convention booths. She developed a “convention kit” of six boxes of standard materials, supplies and devices that dramatically simplified set up and operation of a convention booth. She also masterfully selected the “blinking light” iNARTE pins, the luggage tags and other gratuities that attract so many attendees to the booth each year.
Susan leaves behind an exemplary record of service and dedication to the concepts under which NARTE was founded. Susan has agreed to make herself available as a consultant and do whatever is necessary to make a smooth transition. Even so she will surely be missed.
Laura is a graduate of Northeastern University and holds a bachelor of Science in Art. Laura has learned the business of NARTE from the ground up. She has worked in all departments and is committed to the efficient administration of NARTE’s affairs and focused on long term prosperity and integrity. She has implemented programs to reinstate members, spearheaded new software that reduced preparation of the membership directory from three weeks to one, redesigned the web site such that traffic increased more than 700%.
We are truly pleased that Laura has accepted this opportunity to lead the NARTE staff.

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Future Board Meeting Dates
Meeting dates for the NARTE Board of Directors are: October 14, 2000, May 5, 2001(which includes the annual membership meeting), September 29, 2001.
All meetings will be at NARTE Headquarters, Medway MA.

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NARTE Signs MOU with ARRL
NARTE President Jim Wickham and American Radio Relay League President Jim Haynie, W5JBP, signed a Memorandum of Understanding between the two organizations on May 5, 2000.
See photo and article here
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Board to Tighten Ten Question Requirement
The Board of Directors has reviewed the requirement for submission of ten questions as a part of the process for certification. In the past, staff has received questions and solutions over a wide range of quality. The practice has been not to reject the questions because the application only required a “best effort” on the part of the applicant. The Board was not satisfied that this approach added to the competency assessment. The Board felt that a competent practitioner should be able to write ten questions and accompany each of those questions with a solution that is carefully researched and documented.
The Board therefore directed headquarters staff to tighten the specifications for question submission and tasked the Academic Committee of the Board to clarify and refine the ten question requirement.

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NARTE/IEEE EMCS Negotiating MOA
The Electromagnetic Compatibility Society (EMCS) of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) is the world leader in defining the body of knowledge for electromagnetic compatibility. In November, 1999, iNARTE proposed entering into an agreement with IEEE EMCS for mutual support. The concept was enthusiastically received. An ad hoc committee of eight EMCS Board members was appointed to assist in developing the MOA and a first draft was presented at the March EMCS Board meeting in Scottsdale AZ. A second draft was presented at the IEEE EMCS Board meeting in Montreal in June.
The purpose of the MOA is to serve as a framework within which both organizations may support programs or events intended to foster and promote technical awareness, education, and achievement in electromagnetic compatibility.
It has been proposed that NARTE and EMCS will exchange technical articles, in order to encourage and broaden interest, understanding and appreciation of electromagnetic technology. IEEE EMCS will assume responsibility for the accuracy and adequacy of the examination question file used to assess competency of certification candidates. iNARTE will continue to administer the certification process . The two organizations will cooperate in the development of curricula for certifying technical personnel and practitioners.
At the June EMCS Board meeting, several key administrative issues were identified. It is anticipated that these will be resolved prior to the August Board meting and that the MOA will be proposed for adoption at that time.

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Wireless Program
NARTE is offering certification for engineers and technicians who install wireless systems not requiring a license by the FCC. iNARTE wireless certification is based on the requirements found in FCC Part 15 regulations which limit the installation of some systems to professional installers. This new certification is a cross discipline approach, covering telecommunications certification, EMC, computers and safety. The grandfather period for this new certification will end in February 2001.

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Student Chapter
NARTE's first student chapter is forming at North Carolina A&T State University. Certificate will be presented by Russell Carstensen to Dr. John Spurlin at North Carolina A&T State University in September. iNARTE executive Director Russ Carstensen and Board Member Lawrence Behr will present the chapter charter to Dr. John Spurlin, Chairman of the Electronics and Computer Technology department, in September.
Student members include any attendee at a college, university or technical school interested in telecommunications , and /or EMC and/or ESD, intending to enter or learn more about these professions and the opportunities they offer. The fee for student members is $20.00.

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Demonstration of Continuing Competency
NARTE has not adopted a position either in favor or in opposition to members having to periodically demonstrate continuing competency in their chosen field. iNARTE does require demonstration of continuing practice in the EMC and ESD programs. An article in NARTE News published about a year ago drew an even split in responses opposed and in favor. The Board needs to begin deliberations on policy either requiring or not requiring any such demonstration.
A dialog was opened on the issue of mandatory demonstration of continuing competency. The initial discussion centered around definition of what constitutes evidence of competence, who will do it, and how to obtain the evidence. It was pointed out that the Society of Broadcast Engineers, the American Society for Quality and others have continuing competency requirements. In those organizations members must periodically certify to a point system relating to their level of membership. Such things as attendance at conventions, papers presented, and the like qualify for a number of points. Meeting the continuing competency requirement does not appear to be a problem to satisfy if the individual is at all active in the field. There is not any re-examination and the requirement does not seem burdensome.
The discussion did not conclude with a new requirement. The staff was tasked to examine what other organizations are doing and to draft a proposal for the board’s consideration in October.


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