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President's Message
Although I've read reports that El Nino might be cooling off a little soon, one sure can't tell it by the weather it's been generating over the last few weeks and even the last few days. Both East and West coasts have been getting hammered with mudslides and floods in the west, tornadoes in the southeast, and wind and rain in New England. I suspect we'll be seeing articles in QST and CQ in a few months about how hams have been helping the local authorities cope with weather related emergencies and disaster relief in those areas hardest hit. It's one of those traditions that puts amateur radio in the public spotlight. I wouldn't be surprised if much of the public believes that with the proliferation of cellular phones and the Internet that the emergency services provided by hams is going the way of the dinosaur. They are not thinking that many of these disasters come along with downed power lines and telephone lines as well as toppled cellular towers and overloaded circuits. Hams are going to be providing emergency services for quite sometime to come. Keep your batteries charged.
On another note, FARA is entering 'The Busy Period'. We're getting to that time of year where club activities start to pick up. Best way to stay informed is the FARA newsletter -- The Framingham Circuit. Our newsletter editor, Robert, N1UVA does an outstanding job every month in keeping us informed of upcoming events. To stay informed, make sure your '98 dues are paid. Some of the FARA events to stay tuned for are the ARRL International DX Contest on March 7-8 which we'll be participating in from the club shack; License-In-A-Weekend on March 27, 28 and 29; Flea Market on April 5; FARA- Night-Out on May 2; and Field Day the last full weekend in June.
Thanks to Pete, KA1AXY, for working on the club's linear amplifier - rebuilt coil and new tubes and a little more tweaking to be ready for the upcoming ARRL contest. 73
Jim, W1EQW
Warming Up for Field Day
by Dave Hoaglin, K1HT
It's not yet spring, but a ham's fancy lightly turns to thoughts of ... Field Day! This year the Field Day weekend is June 27 and 28, and W1FY will be on the air from Gerard's Turkey Farm, our gracious hosts for the past three years.
If you've participated in the past, you know it takes a lot of teamwork to make this operating event a success: tents, stations, towers, antennas, generators, operating, exams, publicity, and food! There's plenty of work, everyone lends a hand, and we have fun. But it all takes preparation. We'll have our first planning meeting on Wednesday, March 4 at 7:30 p.m. at the Club Shack. Please come and help put FARA Field Day 1998 on a solid footing.
Also, please mark the following Wednesdays on your calendar: March 25, April 8, April 22, May 6, May 20, June 3, and June 17. We'll meet at 7:30 to continue planning and to work on equipment and projects. We'll probably have a few work sessions on Saturday mornings as well.
Let's make this FARA's most successful Field Day!
ARRL International DX Contest
by Jim, W1EQW
Club President
FARA will be participating in the ARRL International DX Contest on March 7 and 8 from the club shack. We plan to get started at sunrise on Saturday March 7. (If
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