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A. Data Base – We have been trying to update our database. We are going to delete those that are past due for the newsletter and call or send out letters to remind those whose membership dues have expired.

B. Emergency Test – First part of October. No one available to report on this.

C. Dates and Things to Think About – September 19^th, Public Awareness Day for Ham Radio. Jamboree on the Air in October. Bill, K0UB, will try and get a hold of Jim, N0SJ to see if he can possibly work something in on that. October 23^rd, Community Service Day at the Prairie Hills Mall. New Ham Night, possibly in March.

D. Club Brochure – Margaret, KB7ITR has been working on a threefold brochure with information on Amateur Radio, our club and activities. Thank you Margaret.

E. Christmas Party – Saturday after Thanksgiving. Not too early to mention. Mark your calendars.

Next meeting October 4, 2004.

Motion to adjourn made by Irene, WD0DAW and seconded by Sue, KB0NBU. Motion carried. Adjourned at 7:30 PM.

We had nice weather for our picnic this year. It was good to see everyone there. We missed seeing some of the regulars who couldn't come due to other commitments, harvesting or otherwise. It was nice that several of the youngsters won raffle items especially when it was something they really wanted. Again a big thank you to all who donated prizes or helped at the picnic. The new tents looked good and worked out well.
The 64 repeater site at Killdeer has been getting a lot of attention lately. On August 28th Joe drove up to the site with his trusty crew of Bill, Stan, Emil, Art and Glenn to check why it wasn't working. At this time the repeater was taken off line. Further treks up the hill were needed. September 1st Bill took Stan, Emil, Dick Hansen and Corky back to the site. They spent a windy afternoon up there cleaning and watering batteries. Turnbuckles on the guy wires were tightened. All came home weary with the news that more work was needed to be done next week. Sept. 9th Bill took Stan, Emil and Dick back up. More turnbuckles were put on to tighten guy wires and a charger was put on the batteries. It was determined that the power supply was defective. On Thursday the 16th Emil did the honors of driving. Bill and Dick went along. They took the charger off the batteries, installed another power supply and put the repeater back in service. For now it is winterized and working.
We've had several Hams stop by, too. John and Bonnie Stiles were in Dickinson the weekend of Aug. 28th for a meeting. Sept. 10th Kevin KA4NWS and Sally KG4NWS, both members of the YL system, from South Carolina stayed in Dickinson. We enjoyed their company at Happy Joe's Friday night and at the Dairy Barn Saturday morning. They got to see Leon's tractor which was at West Plains Implement. They left here quite impressed and determined to be back next spring so that they could operate tractor mobile.
Just a little reminder that Show and Tell is at the Mall on Oct. 23. The Christmas Party will be coming up on the Saturday after Thanksgiving so it isn't too soon to mark that on your calendars.
Finally, Best wishes for a speedy recovery go to Stan WD0DAJ who had heart bypass surgery on September 17th. There's better days ahead Stan!

Birthdays for October

Duane Splichal KBØIXX
10 - 04

Margaret Wieglenda KB7ITR
10 - 06

Lenny Mack NØDZN
10 - 07

Randy Jilek N7EEE
10 - 12

Erin Jilek KBØNCC
10 - 12

Paula Scheeler KCØFKL
10 - 14

Dean Williams KIØLL
10 - 14

Curtis Kittelson KCØHSR
10 - 16

Mark Tollefson WØZCM
10 - 17

Barbara Adams-Bleth KBØKFT
10 - 24

Vonne Tarnavsky NØHYQ
10 - 27

SB QST ARL ARLB022
ARLB022 FCC no longer issuing certain 2x3-format vanity call signs

The FCC has ceased issuing 2x3-format Amateur Radio vanity call signs that begin with the prefixes WC, WR, WK and WT (eg, WR1AAA, WC4ZZZ). The Commission has acknowledged that it erroneously granted more than 150 WR and WC-prefix 2x3 vanity call signs from 1997 through September 2003, when it began rejecting such call sign requests.

In the late 1970s, the FCC announced a new Amateur Service call sign assignment system. It provided four standard call sign groups, designated Group A, B, C and D, delineated by license class and issued sequentially with no backfilling. The FCC's Bill Cross, W3TN, recently told the nation's volunteer examiner coordinators (VECs) that the FCC also had a "Group X." These included WC (RACES), WR (repeater), WK and WT-prefix 2x3-format call signs reportedly reserved for special-use licenses.

The FCC stopped issuing repeater call signs in 1983 and ceased renewing RACES licenses in 2000. After the current vanity program began in 1996, several ham clubs sought new and formerly held repeater and RACES-type call signs. When the Universal Licensing System came along in August 1999, however, the FCC encountered some licensing system programming shortcomings, including the anomalous assignments of WC and WR-prefix 2x3 call signs as acceptable formats.

When the FCC implemented programming corrections that halted the issuance of Group X call signs in September 2003, it did not advise the amateur community. As a result, several amateurs who filed for 2x3 WC or WR-prefix call signs had their applications dismissed without any explanation beyond saying that the applicant's call sign choice was unavailable. That remains the case. The FCC has not indicated whether it plans to address the WC and WR-prefix 2x3 call signs it's already issued.

In a related matter, the FCC's new Amateur Radio vanity call sign regulatory fee of $20.80 for the 10-year license term goes into effect Friday, August 6. All applications received at the FCC on or after that date must be accompanied by the new, higher fee.

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