F E  E  D  -  P  O  I  N  T
The Official Newsletter of the St. John Valley Amateur Radio Association

October 2000                                                          Vol.10 no.10
Letter From Our President
Dear Fellow Hams,
    Who would have expected a major snowstorm on Oct. 10 with all the dire predictions of global warming? We had almost 9" of heavy, wet snow up at our location. Our roads were blocked by trees and limbs bent to the ground. Deciduous trees with leaves on them can't hold up to a heavy snow load, because their growth form is often not symetrical. They have the most branches on the side where they receive the most light, or they grow  very long branches towards an opening. This makes them unbalanced. There were a lot of broken limbs and tops. I was glad I had a good big spring on the dipole, as it sagged under the heavy snow that stuck to it.
     On October 15th, I climbed Mt. Carlton in New Brunswick. When we were driving out of the park I noticed an "Amateur Radio" sign soon after we turned on the black top road. It listed a frequency, which I suppose was that of the local repeater. Maybe we should look into a .64 and a .715 sign. I thought it was a nice idea. 
     On October 11th, I attended a meeting of the board of directors of Lonesome Pine. The board approved the use of their new timing room for our radio control center for the Can-Am races. One wall is a window that looks out at the finish area.

      There is a big pipe in the floor for running cables into the room. The room will be well insulated and electrically heated. There is only one door. It should be a good, quiet spot for the net control operators.  We hope you will mark your calendar for March 3,4,5, and make it a priority to help at net control during the Can-Am Sled Dog Races. Four hour shifts this year, means we need more of you to help. If some of you have more time, we need people at the checkpoints for longer periods of time. Sign up now to get your preferred time or place.

Address comments, questions, or suggestions to: 
Gale Flagg  R.F.D.#3  Box 250
Fort Kent  ME 04743 
Phone: 207-834-6670
E-mail: galeflagg@sjv.net



Next Meeting:
Monday, November 6, 6:30 PM
    Rock's Diner   Conference Room

Schedule of Coming Events

Date
Event 
Place
Contact
Sponsor
Time
Freq
SUN
Net
NB
VE1PIN
IRG
1930
147.300
MON
Net
Fort Kent
N1UYA
SJVARA
2030
146.64
MON
Net
Presque Isle
WA1YNZ
AARA
2000
146.73
Page 2                               Feed-Point, October 2000
Report Of October SJVARA  Meeting

Called to Order:  20:20  by N1UYA
In Attendance:
N1UYA, N1CHF, N1CGV, N1PMS, N7GLR, KA7VNR 
Secretary's Minutes:  N7GLR  made a motion that we dispense with the reading of the minutes. Seconded by N1PMS. Passed

Treasurer's Report: Sept. bal: $659.13, Interest $1.49,
                                    New balance: $660.62 
N1CHF gave the report. N1PMS motioned to accept and N7GLR seconded. Passed.

Old Business: 

N1CHF reported that all is fine at Rocky Mountain. The batteries are well charged. He also mentioned he might be going to check things out up there with N1LON and N1FCW.

N1CHF  said he plans to go to the Rochester Hamfest and pick up the new radio for Rocky Mountain.

N7GLR reported that he was unable to get Feed-Point on line. N1UYA will check to see what the problem is.
 


There was a discussion about the Harvest Supper. It was decided to stick with our original plan of going to Hotel Levesque in Riviere Du Loup on Sunday Oct. 22 at 11:00 AM. N1QMC will make reservations.

 New Business:  N7GLR has surveyed the members to see who belongs to the ARRL. For us to be affiliated, 51% of our membership must be ARRL. Right now, it is 50%. Our constitution
must not conflict with that of ARRL. N7GLR will send for the application from the ARRL.  Benefits of membership are money, inexpensive insurance, and many kinds of assistance.

K1HEL, Dick Higgins, has expressed an interest in joining our club. All present agreed to accept him as a member.

Next meeting:  MON, NOV. 11, 2000  ROCK'S DINER CONFERENCE ROOM( downstairs, in the back, where we did the testing)

Adjourned: 19:13
Program: A Crossword Puzzle from QST was handed out. Help was given to N1UYA  in checking SWR of the new Outbacker antenna with the  new Icom 706 Mark II-G, installed by N1CHF. Thanks, N7GLR and N1CHF, for your help.

Submitted by: N1CGV

In Case You're Interested 
QSL COLLECTORS
Tony Riciki, W2VRK, would like to hear from hams interested in participating in an Internet trading club dedicated to collecting
pre-1939 vintage QSL cards. E-mail Tony at:  tpllrs@eclipse.net
 Happy Birthday
Please wish the following a Happy Birthday

Matt Albert t  11-07 

Dave Bishop 11-09

Charles Zafonte  11-25


 
 
 
Page 3                                         Feed-Point, October, 2000
Thanks

     Thanks to N1LON and N1FCW for tackling the big tree across the trail up to Rocky Mountain. N1LON climbed the tower and reports that everything seems  to be okay up in the radio room.

 Visiting Ham

    N1HUP, Ben, from Jefferson, Maine, was in the St. John Valley for the last two weeks. I talked to him first on .64. He asked about Rocky Mountain and did some tests with me from Allagash. He is glad Rocky Mountain is there, because they have no phone at the camp they are working on in Allagash. He will be back in  the middle of November for a couple of weeks. Listen for him. He has expressed an interest in joining our club.



HARVEST GET TOGETHER: SUNDAY OCT.22, HOTEL LEVESQUE,
RIVIERE DU LOOP, 11:00 AM. GOOD BUFFET MEAL.  MIGRATING GEESE.  JOIN US FOR A FUN DAY!
   HAM FELLOWSHIP 

The October Qst is full of editorials, stories, and letters about the 

friendliness of hams. The fact that hams talk to people half way around the world, connecting with someone who has probably grown up in a different culture and speaks a different language most of the time, helps to bring the diverse peoples of the world closer together: a step toward worl peace.

     On a more local level, nets keep hams in touch, and keeping in touch helps hams feel they are part of a team. That feeling helps to keep them active and ready to help in an emergency or during a community event. With all the things going on in our lives, perhaps it is hard to remember the rewarding participation in ham activities---like Kid's Day, Jamboree on the Air, parades, sporting events. The more we do publicly, the more we are likely to attract people to ham radio. We certainly could use more avtive hams.



 Welcome to Dick Higins, K1HEL, our newest member.

For Sale

Heavy duty 40' galvanized steel tower, 16" x 16" x 16". Includes mounting hardware. Best Offer.

Heil BM-10 microphone boom set   $35.

MFJ 451X  keyer  $35 Contact Charles Zafonte N1FRX  834-6273

A Bit of Humor
Student science fantasy and fiction  from Richard Lederer:
*One of the main causes of dust, is janitors.
*Rotation of crops is so that they can get the sun on all sides.
*Space is the final front tear. 
*American time is behind British time because America
was discovered later. *A litre is a lot of new born puppies
*Some people can tell the time by looking at the sun, but
I have never been able to make out the numbers.
Page 4                                                                Feed-Point,  2000

 
FEED-POINT
Published by the St. John Valley Amateur Radio Association and distributed free to members and friends of Amateur Radio.
Officers
President: Gale Flagg N1UYA
Vice President: Sandra Daigle, N1QMC
Secretary: Cheryl Boomhower, N1CGV
Treasurer: Steve Boomhower N1CHF
Public Information: Cheryl Boomhower  N1CGV
Technical Advisor: Steve Boomhower, N1CHF
Editor/Publisher/Printer
Gale  Flagg - N1UYA / Stan Flagg  834-6670 
Associate Editor/Web Edition
Steve Boomhower, N1CHF
Membership Information (Annual Dues):
Regular Membership  $ 12
Associate Membership  $ 6
Articles:
Articles may be submitted by anyone with a good idea, and may be re-printed only in their entirety and with credit going to this newsletter. 
 

Feed-Point
RFD 3 Box 250
Fort Kent, ME  04743