SQUELCH TALE
Central Missouri Radio Association KØSI 146.76(-) PL 127.3
June, 2006
The Central Missouri Radio Association is a not-for-profit Mo. Association. Check out our web site: http://www.qsl.net/cmra . If you have ideas for Web content, see Jim, WY0B. To submit articles, for this newsletter, contact N0AXZ, Bill, at the next club meeting, or at N0AXZ@arrl.net. Also, if you have any changes in your mailing address or E-mail, send it to N0AXZ.
CALENDAR for June:
Our regularly scheduled monthly meeting will be held at Boone Electric Coop on June 13 at 7:00 p.m.
Each Monday evening (except the Monday preceding the meeting or holiday) join with the members at the club station on Worley St in the Red Cross building basement.
Each Wednesday is Club Net at 9:00 p.m. If you're interested or willing to volunteer for Net Control or if you have questions, contact WM0H, Dewey.
If 2006 appears on your address label your dues have been paid for this year.
To renew your membership for 2006, see the treasurer, Bill Anglen, KCØACS, at the meeting, or mail a check for $20.00, ($25.00 per family) to: CMRA P.O. Box 283, Columbia, MO 65205.
Announcements
FIELD DAY - 2006
June 24, 2006
CMRA @ RBSP
Hamfests coming up
8 JULY 2006
Indianapolis Hamfest Association
Indianapolis, IN
Camp Sertoma
15 Jul 2006
Warrensburg Area ARC
Warrensburg, MO
Johnson County Fairgrounds
9th Annual Flea Market
Pioneer ARC
North Bend, NE
St. Charles Parish Center
16 Jul 2006
44th Annual Hamfest
Zero Beaters ARC
Washington, MO
Bernie E. Hillerman Park
6 August 2006
Cedar Valley ARC
Cedar Rapids, IA
Teamsters Union Local 238
20 August 2006
Kansas State Convention
Central Kansas ARC
Salina, KS
Salina Bicentennial Center
19 August 2006
CMRA Hamfest
Ashland, MO
Ashland Optimist Complex
For more info on hamfests see: www.arrl.org/hamfests.html
May Meeting Minutes
Meeting opened at 7:01 PM. Introductions went all around. The minutes were read and approved.
Treasurer’s Report:
Savings: n/a
Checking: $1,316.00
Old Business: Field Day was brought up, and Jim Lawler said that he hasn’t sent out any letters to city/county officials yet. He also wondered where he could possibly get a generator, trailer vehicle, and other things. More will be discussed on that during the June meeting. A reporter from the Tribune is scheduled to be at Field Day, as well as a KMIZ reporter.
New Business: Daniel’s father-in-law, a gavel maker, has donated a gavel for the club president’s use. Thanks to Daniel and his father-in-law for that.
We’ve added another new member to our club! His name is Glenn Glasgow, and his callsign is KCØWAT. Congrats to Glenn for joining the club!
The president brought up a discussion about purchasing a fireproof safe for the most important club records to be kept in. The club discussed this for quite some time, and a motion was made and seconded to look into the purchase of one. However, the motion and seconds were revoked and the issue was discussed some more. It was soon voted that a club committee would look over all the documents and decide which ones were most important to be kept (the important ones would include insurance papers, the club constitution, and so on). It was also voted that someone would become a club historian and store the rest of the documents (older copies of minutes and etc.); Mike (KØPAH) had offered to fill that position, and the club unanimously voted to approve him for it. Next month all of the papers available will be gathered together for the club committee to look over, and then the club will decide further on the situation in coming meetings. So just to clarify, the club has voted, at least for now, not to look into the purchase of a safe.
The hamfest was discussed as well. Daniel said that so far we have two venders, Memphis Amateur Electronics and Amateur Accessories. He also said that the hamfest has been added to the ARRL website, and will soon be in QST as well. Then Daniel handed out copies of hamfest flyers, and they were discussed. It was suggested that the GPS coordinates for the Optimist Club location could be added, and also that Mac’s repeater could be listed specifically as a backup and not just as an alternate. Several suggestions were brought up about advertising the hamfest, such as the Tribune, Rural Missourian, Columbia Missourian, and other sources of media.
Daniel briefly discussed prizes. It was suggested that maybe some World Radio & CQ Magazine subscriptions could be obtained, and that some Memphis Amateur Electronics gift cards could be offered. As well, the club voted to take $500 from the club’s bank account to put towards the purchase of a two-band handheld and a two-band mobile.
The club will need to borrow a PA system for use during the hamfest. There are several members (such as John, NDØN) who know where to get one, so that will be looked into shortly.
Lastly, Daniel said that the club would need to put down a $250 deposit for the Optimist Club’s rental. The club voted to take out $250 from the bank account for the deposit.
A 10-year-old radio and antenna has been donated for the club’s use. Not many details are known so far, so Dale will be checking them out soon. They could possibly be put in the auction or something; more details at the next meeting.
The club’s not-for-profit status has not been dealt with as of yet, so Dale will be checking with the Secretary of State’s office shortly. Since the club hasn’t renewed its status for quite some time, a new application will likely have to be filled out.
The meeting was adjourned at 7:54 PM. Mac showed off a spiffy-looking portable ham setup (HF rig, laptop, etc.), and then John Magnuson & Dale did a presentation on the history of Morse Code keys. Very interesting demos, very informative.
Guess that’s it for now. Hope to see everyone at the June meeting!
Until then 73’s,
Nathan KCØLCS
Ham Radio Operators Demonstrate Modern Capabilities &
Emergency Communications June 24-25
Newington, CT – Thousands of Ham Radio operators will be showing off their emergency capabilities this weekend. Over the past year, the news has been full of reports of ham radio operators providing critical communications in emergencies world-wide. During Hurricane Katrina, Amateur Radio was often the ONLY way people could communicate, and hundreds of volunteer "hams" traveled south to save lives and property. When trouble is brewing, ham radio people are often the first to provide critical information and communications. Showing the newest digital and satellite capabilities, voice communications and even historical Morse code, hams from across the USA will be holding public demonstrations of emergency communications abilities.
This annual event, called "Field Day" is the climax of the week long "Amateur Radio Week" sponsored by the ARRL, the national association for Amateur Radio. Using only emergency power supplies, ham operators will construct emergency stations in parks, shopping malls, schools and back yards around the country. Their slogan, "Ham radio works when other systems don't! " is more than just words to the hams as they prove they can send messages in many forms without the use of phone systems, internet or any other infrastructure that can be compromised in a crisis. More than 30,000 hams across the country participated in last year's event. (Re-printed from: www.arrl.org/pio/contact/2006/05/MainReleaseFD06.doc)