DeFOREST
                         AMATEUR RADIO CLUB - K8GE
                                 PO Box 73
                         West Union, OH 45693-0073

                   SERVING SOUTH CENTRAL OHIO SINCE 1974

                                MARCH  2000
                    EDITOR: WB8IOW - Jerry S.  Paquette
                          http://www.qsl.net/k8ge

                          Vice President's Update

    Well here we are with another month gone by. Hope to see George
    (KC8HFV) back for next months meeting. As you know George has been
    ill and out of pocket for awhile. He is tough and he will make it
    back soon.

    I have set up a program with Bob Halley (K8YMI), of the Milford ARC.
    He will talk on Basic Satellite operation connected with ham radio.
    I have seen this program before and it is very interesting even if
    you know nothing about satellites. The program is set up for the
    meeting of May 9, 2000 at the senior citizens building. Be sure to
    mark your calendars. If there is any change in date I will put it
    on the repeater.

    At the March meeting, we decided to try to have a Special Event
    Station, set up at Adams Lake, honoring The Ohio Bicentennial.
    Kim is going to check with the Park Department to see if we can use
    the lake property. We had a Special Event there last year, and it
    turned out great, with a picnic to boot. The date of this event is
    set for August 13, 2000. I will announce this later on the repeater,
    also if there is any change in date.

    Well I think I will go outside and enjoy the sunshine for awhile.

                                                 73 for now, Ed KE8FK

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                                MINUTES OF
                          March 14, 2000 MEETING
                           Barbara Lock - N8HIA

    The meeting was called to order by our vice president, Ed KE8FK, at
    7:10 p.m.  Ed led the members in the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag.
    There were 20 members in attendance for the meeting.  Ed explained
    that George KC8HFV has been ill and could not attend the meeting.
    We all hope to see George back soon.

    Ed KE8FK, asked for the secretary's report, Dick W8ZFO, made the
    motion to accept the minutes as printed in the newsletter, Pat KC8LVE,
    second and the motion carried.

    Ed KE8FK, asked for the treasurer's report, and Marlene KC8JXE,
    read her report and passed the report around for the members to read.
    As of March 14, 2000, inflows $558.50, outflows $193.76, balance
    $2,543.71.  Roy KE4MZN, made the motion to accept the treasurer's
    report as read and Barb N8HIA, second, motion carried.

    Vice president, Ed KE8FK, gave his report, saying he had helped Jerry
    WB8IOW, with Ash Ridge site, but they have not completed all of the
    work.  Ed was liaison for the weather test tornado drill on March 7
    and 8, 2000.  We had the weather spotter training on March 7, 2000.
    We had a good turn out of people.

    On old business, Ed KE8FK passed out the list for field day committee
    and repeater committee.  He reminded all that the Marine's Run is
    still August 19, 2000.  We have not heard from the Lions yet as to
    whether we are to help with the July 4, 2000 parade.  We probably will
    have a float in the parade.  Ohio Bicentennial Special Event, we need
    to decide on a date so it can be put into the ARRL magazine.

    The dates would be August 6, 13, 20, and 27, 2000, for Sunday
    afternoon.  Roy KE4MZN suggested August 13, 2000, Pat KC8LVE, made the
    motion to hold the special event on the 13th of August, Marlene
    KC8JXE, second and motion carried.

    The topic of the month for May 9, 2000 will be Bob Haley K8YMI, to
    talk to us about satellite operations.  Bob is with the Milford
    Amateur Radio Club, Milford, Ohio.  George KC8HFV was to have had old
    radio equipment and anything pertaining to radio as his topic of the
    month for March.  Ed had brought two old books, one on antennas and
    one an ARRL handbook.  Jerry WB8IOW said he would do the topic of the
    month for April.

    Pat KC8LVE has the net for April, and Kim N8YWX, will do the net for
    her April 13. Barb N8HIA will be doing refreshments for April.

    Jerry WB8IOW, Bill N8SND, Ed KE8FK, went to a weather meeting in
    Wilmington on March 4th.  The weather bureau is putting up a repeater
    in Otway, frequency 162.525, with 1000 watts.  It is to be hoped that
    it will reach areas that can not hear the weather alert system now.
    We will probably pick up some new counties after October.  These will
    include Bracken, Robertson, and maybe Pendleton.  Jerry gave a talk
    on recycling nickel-cadmium rechargeable batteries.  Jerry passed out
    the information to all on the batteries.  We will be able to take them
    to Wal-Mart to turn the batteries in for recycling.

    Kim N8YWX made a get well card for George KC8HFV, and all signed the
    card.  Lucius KF8RC suggested that we get a donation together for
    George and Linda KC8JZG, and put it with the card.  Pat went around
    and gathered the money for the card.  Pat KC8LVE did split the pot,
    and Marlene KC8JXE did the drawing, with Roy KE4MZN winning split the
    pot.  Lucius also suggested that we give the clubs half of the split
    the pot to George.  Jerry said as long as the money had not been
    deposited in the treasury that should be okay.

    Roy suggested that we give what he won plus the clubs to George.
    This is what was done, with Barb N8HIA and Ed KE8FK taking the card
    over to George and Linda. Kim gave Barb her certificate as member of
    the OSSBN and her paper work to go along with it.  Also gave her a
    new OSSBN roster for George.

    Kim brought the refreshment for this month, cookies with St. Patrick
    Day design's hand painted no less. Thanks to Kim for the cookies,
    they were delicious.

    A club member, Damon N8DAC, brought up the fact that there has been
    foul language used on the repeater.  Since there are children who hear
    the repeater on scanners and in the home where there are radios, it
    needs to be stopped.  People need to be reminded of the procedure and
    rules governing the use of the repeater.  Also there was discussion
    about the phone patch.  Lucius KF8RC made the motion that everyone
    should ID before and after they use the autopatch. Pat KC8LVE seconded
    and motion carried.  A letter will be sent out to the party in
    question, Ridney N8XGP, about proper use of language on the repeater.

    Roy KE4MZN, made the motion to adjourn the meeting at 8:00 p.m. and
    Pat KC8LVE second, motion carried.

                                                  73's
                                                  Barb N8HIA

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                         DeForest A.R.C. Birthdays
                             & SPECIAL EVENTS

                    04-01  TEST SESSION WEST UNION 9:30 AM
                    04-04  KB8NBI  Jack E. King
                    04-05  KC8HTX  Tristan J. Grooms
                    04-05  KC8LIC  Ronald K. Buhr
                    04-06  KB8RYG  Lawrence P. Lewis
                    04-08  W8FRD   Fred Hamilton
                    04-09  KC8CZD  Marty Hatfield
                    04-14  N4VGI   Bob Drake
                    04-14  KC8LIE  Sharon A. Buhr
                    04-15          Scott Rohrback
                    04-17          Carmen Payne
                    04-24  KB8SCW  Nadine Lewis
                    04-25  KA8VEE  Robert W. Ralston
                    04-27  KB8VPR  Joe Rogers
                    04-29  KQ4TN   Paul D. Whitehead
                    05-02  KC8JXD  Glenna Blackburn
                    05-04  N8JSZ   Tim Applegate
                    05-08  KB8SDA  Richard D. Swayne
                    05-14          Mary Jones
                    05-17  W8RCB   Richard C. Burnes
                    05-19  KC8LVE  Pat Ellis
                    05-25  KC8JZG  Linda Larter
                    05-26  KC8HFV  George H. Larter
                    05-26  KC8HZB  Thomas O. James

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                   West Union Wal-Mart is now accepting
                     used ni-cad batteries to recycle.

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                               NEXT MEETING
                         APRIL 11, 2000 - 7:00 PM

               ABCAP SENIOR CITIZENS CENTER, WEST UNION, OH
                        Across from the Courthouse

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                                   ARES

    The month of March has been a busy time, naturally it's time for
    watching the weather!  On March 7, 2000, we had a Weather Spotter
    Training at the Ohio Vocational School, West Union, Ohio.  The
    National Weather Service, Wilmington, Ohio, puts on the training for
    the DeForest Amateur Radio Club.  The training is for amateurs and the
    public.  The instructor, Sam McNeil, did a very good job and made it
    interesting for all of us plus being very informative.  Each year when
    we have the spotter training, it seems as if we learn just a little
    more about our weather around the country.  We had seventeen people to
    attend the training.  Thanks to all who came!  Lets hope we do not
    need to use our training as spotters, but feel sure we will sometime
    in the near future.

    On March 7, 2000, the National Weather Service in Wilmington, Ohio,
    called a TEST TORNADO WARNING for Kentucky.  This test drill is held
    for schools, businesses, hospitals, and residence to test their plan
    out in case of a tornado.  This was a drill only and Greater Mason
    County Amateur Radio Association, Mason County, Kentucky did the test
    for the counties in their area, Mason, Lewis, and Bracken.  Kentucky
    test tornado drill had 10 amateur radio operators to check into the
    net.

    The next day, March 8, 2000 the National Weather Service in
    Wilmington, Ohio, called a TEST TORNADO WARNING for Ohio.  This test
    drill is held for schools, businesses, hospitals, and residence to
    test their plan out in case of a tornado.  This was a drill only and
    DeForest Amateur Radio Club, West Union, Ohio did the test for the
    counties in their area, Adams, Brown, Scioto, and Highland.  Ohio test
    tornado drill had 19 amateur radio operators to check into the net.

    I would like to thank all that participated in the drill for Kentucky
    and Ohio in our area.  These tests were for all of Kentucky and Ohio,
    with the National Weather Service working with the State of Ohio
    Emergency Management Agency.

    On March 12, 2000 Barb N8HIA checked into the ARES net for the first
    time since being upgraded to general class licenses. I told them that
    we held a weather spotter training class and had participated in the
    weather drill and gave them the total of check-ins. I am hoping to be
    able to check into the ARES net more often, to represent Adams County,
    as the Emergency Coordinator.

                                                   Barb N8HIA

                        ___________________________

                             ARRL TEST SESSION

    The DeForest ARC will conduct a test session Saturday, April 1, 2000
    at the ABCAP Senior Nutrition Center in West Union. Registration
    begins at 9:30 AM. All license classes will be available for test.
    Any special testing needs should be communicated to WB8IOW at
    937 544-3763 before the day of the test. Wheel chair accessible.

                        ___________________________

                              FIELD DAY 2000
                          PREPARATIONS UNDER WAY

    The official Field Day 2000 information packet now is available online
    in PDF format at the ARRL Contest Branch Web-site
    http://www.arrl.org/contests/announcements/fd/fdpack.pdf

    You can download this packet, which include the official rules and
    forms for FD 2000. To order the packet, send a SASE with three units
    of first-class postage affixed to Field Day Package, ARRL, 225 Main
    St., Newington, CT 06111.

    A new bonus point category has been added for Field Day 2000.
    Groups can earn 100 bonus points by setting up a demonstration of
    a "nontraditional" amateur mode, including APRS, ATV or SSTV.
    The bonus does not include modes for which regular QSO credit already
    may be earned (such as AM or FM on phone or packet, PACTOR, AMTOR or
    PSK-31 on digital). QSOs made via the demo station do not count toward
    the Field Day score, and the transmitter does not count toward the
    transmitter total. There are no rule changes regarding the special
    Novice/Tech Plus station. The Field Day participation pins also are
    back this year. To earn a pin, all you need to do is participate in
    Field Day--no minimum number of contacts to achieve or ARRL sections
    to work.

    The pin is for anyone active in helping to make Field Day
    happen--from the set-up crew and on-the-air operators to the
    covered-dish organizers and generator crew.

    Field Day 2000 pins are available now for $5 each. Send orders
    with payment to Field Day Pin Order, ARRL, 225 Main St., Newington,
    CT 06111.

    Early orders are recommended, since the 1999 pins sold out rapidly.
    Clubs and groups are encouraged to purchase their pins together.
    For more information on Field Day 2000, contact Dan Henderson,
    ARRL Contest Branch Manager, n1nd@arrl.org or 860-594-0232.

                                            Dan Henderson, N1ND

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            Please place ni-cad batteries in zip like sandwich
                bag when taking to Wal-Mart for recycling.

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             AMATEUR RADIO SPECTRUM BILL INTRODUCED IN SENATE

    The Amateur Radio Spectrum Protection Act bill now has supporting
    legislation in the US Senate. Idaho Sen Michael Crapo has introduced
    a bill that mirrors the house bill, HR 783. The Senate measure has
    been designated S 2183.

    "In introducing this bill, we want to do something for Amateur Radio
    in return for all the good it has done the people of Idaho and
    elsewhere in the US by providing a reliable means of backup
    communication in times of emergency," said Crapo, who pledged to work
    hard to push this bill in the Senate.

    Like the House version, the Senate bill, if enacted, would require the
    FCC to provide equivalent replacement spectrum should it ever be
    necessary to reallocate Amateur Radio frequencies for some other
    purpose. The new Senate legislation was introduce d with bipartisan
    co-sponsorship.

    So far, the House version of the spectrum bill has drawn bipartisan
    support, with 140 cosponsors to date, and has met with no opposition.

    However, Congress, and the all-important House and Senate Commerce
    committees have been preoccupied with non-telecommunications matters
    and the Amateur Spectrum Protection Act has not yet moved out of
    committee.

    The new Senate bill provides additional motivation for the Congress
    to consider the legislation.

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                                 Thanks to
                          The ARRL Letter Online,
                           Volume 19, Number 10
                         for 2 previous articles.

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                                WEEKLY NET

     The DeForest A.R.C. weekly net is held Thursday evening, 9:00 PM,
     all year, on the 147.00 MHz+ repeater. All check-ins welcome.
     Traffic, club news, information.

               ---------------------------------------------

            PLEASE REVIEW OUR NEWSLETTER SPONSORS ADS, BELOW

               ---------------------------------------------

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                                 FOODLINER
                             107 Walnut Street
                             West Union, Ohio

                          544-2643  or  544-5488

                           Chase Prather - Owner
                           Russ Grooms - Manager
                    Connie Bradford - Assistant Manager

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                               McDONALD'S

                              FAMILY OWNED
                              AND OPERATED
                               BREAKFAST
                             LUNCH - DINNER

                               WEST UNION
                                 RIPLEY
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             - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

                             Blake Pharmacy

                              Radio Shack

                          "On the town square,
                           in West Union, Oh"

                             (937) 544-2451

                       For special pricing, tell
                         Joey Traylor, you're a
                             member of the
                      DeForest Amateur Radio Club
                       & give him your callsign.

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                          C&D ELECTRONICS, Inc
                          Radio Shack  Dealer
                             1565 US HWY 68
                             MAYSVILLE, KY

                             (606) 759-5027

                                   or

                        toll free (888) 759-5027


                                MANAGER
                                 KC4UXD
                             CHUCK DOUGHMAN

                      "Experience the Difference"
               "You've Got Questions - We've Got Answers"

                              HAM DISCOUNT

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                             SOUTHERN HILLS
                                EYE CARE

                          DR. HOWARD L. COVERT
                        125 S. MANCHESTER STREET
                             WEST UNION, OH
                             (937) 544-3325

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                           CUSTOM ELECTRONICS
                              PEEBLES, OH
                              937 587-5122

                      OWNED AND OPERATED BY W8ZFO

                         SALES AND INSTALLATION
                                   OF
                     DISH NETWORK SATELLITE SYSTEMS

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                           J.D.'s AUTO REPAIR

              NAPA AUTO CARE CENTER - ASE CERTIFIED MECHANIC

                    4685 CHAPPARAL ROAD - WEST UNION
                             (937) 544-8586

              MONDAY - FRIDAY  8AM - 5 PM, CLOSED NOON HOUR
                          CLOSED SATURDAY & SUNDAY

                  OWNERS: JD - KB8VLF  & DEE - KB8VBH

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                       SOUTHERN OHIO DRIVING SCHOOL
                               PEEBLES, OHIO

                             (937) 587-3194 or
                              (937) 587-3837

                            First-Time Drivers
                            Adults and Students

                     Remedial for Adults and Students

                                  Owners:
                           Lyle Lambert (KC8DDY)
                          Jayne Lambert (KC8LUH)
                                    and
                          Karen Lambert (KC8LIA)

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                      EDITOR E-MAIL: wb8iow@arrl.net
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