The ARRL 2007 National Convention, to be held in conjunction with the Huntsville Hamfest August 18-19 in Huntsville, Alabama, is getting closer by the second. Along with the many convention activities, an exciting forums schedule is being planned. This is your chance to learn about contesting, emergency communications such as D-STAR, public service, education and many technical issues.

Along with the presentations on the ARRL Stage in the ARRL EXPO area, the ARRL will also be presenting forums at the Hamfest. ARRL President Joel Harrison, W5ZN, will be moderating the ARRL Membership Forum. Come and learn more about the issues shaping Amateur Radio today. Meet ARRL President Joel Harrison, W5ZN, and other ARRL officials and staff. All are welcome!

ARRL Education Services Manager Debra Johnson, K1DMJ, will lead the two-part ARRL Education Forum. Part 1 is an overview of the ARRL's new Education Services Department. Topics will include the new ARRL mission statement on education, new licensing materials, enrichment courses and an update on ARRL outreach activities through the Education & Technology Program and Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS). Part 2 consists of a discussion about ARRL educational and instructional resources and ideas. What do you need? More educational kits? A better Web site resource center? An on-line collaboration site for instructors? More on-line courses? Instructors, teachers, on-line course mentors and others are all encouraged to participate.

ARRL Membership Manager Katie Breen, W1KRB will lead a virtual ARRL Headquarters tour. Amateur Radio entered a new era this year, and licensing changes have rekindled enthusiasm among many newcomers and inactive hams. Breen will lead you through a tour of ARRL's national Headquarters. Along the way, she will share stories of ARRL special event activities aimed at encouraging on-air activity among new and newly active hams, including real-time Web blogs and videos, Hello-Live! and the W1AW HF Open House.

ARRL Media and Public Relations Manager Allen Pitts, W1AGP, will talk about ARES and the Media - How to get attention for our best stories. Emergencies often gain the attention of newspapers and television media, and yet the good works of volunteers in the Amateur Radio Emergency Service are often overlooked. Our best stories are never heard by the public. This ARRL forum will discuss ways to help your public service activities capture the attention of the media.

ARRL DXCC Manager Bill Moore, NC1L, and ARRL Web/Software Development Manager Jon Bloom, KE3Z, will discuss DXCC and ARRL's Logbook of the World (LoTW). Do you enjoy the lure of DX (long-distance radio operating)? The pinnacle of DXing success is the ARRL DX Century Club, or DXCC award. Find out everything you've ever wanted to know about the DXCC program and ARRL's Web-based Logbook of the World (LoTW).

The Huntsville Hamfest's preliminary forums schedule is posted on the hamfests Web site.