WELCOME TO THE CHAPTER 11 NEWSLETTER.
This newsletter is updated monthly. Contributions are welcomed from all members. The chapter bulletin will highlight individuals in our club, amateur radio topics and activities. At this point nothing is definite about this newsletter. In the future we may find a better name for the bulletin. we are open to all suggestions.

A listing of the individual articles is in the index. Clicking on the subject in the listing will take you to that article.
Table of Contents
* President's Message for 2009
* Listing of Local Nets
* Treasurer's Report
* 2009 QCWA National Convention
* LATEST 2009 QCWA CRUISE NEWS NEW
*QCWA CRUISE/CONVENTION ON-THE-AIR OPERATION. NEW


PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE FOR 2009.
In January, I was on a cruise to Hawaii on the same cruise line as the 2009 QCWA National Convention. Not the same ship though. The Convention is going to be on Eurodam, thier newest ship. In the meantime, you can read more on the convention flyer. I have been in contact with the travel agency and with Larry McCalvy, WA9JMO, who is the National QCWA convention chairperson. The travel agency has provided some Holland America Cruise Line brochures which include a description of our ship the Eurodam and our cruise. Don't go by the prices in the brochure, we are getting discounts and credits for use on the ship. Larry has promised to keep me updated with the speakers and ham activities.

The best thing about a convention on the cruise line is all the activities for our non-ham guests - shows, dining, dancing, spas, sightseeing, or just relaxing. I'll post any information as soon as I get it.

Till then 73 de Al WB6IMX


LOCAL QCWA NETS
VHF: Saturday 1000 local time
146.850MHz PL 114.8
HF: Sunday 0930 local time
3907KHz

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TREASURER'S REPORT
DATE DESCRIPTION AMOUNT BALANCE
12/31/08 yr end balance $1199.28 $1199.28
01/22/09 New Chapter banner -$270.00 $929.28
02/19/09 1-yr member renewal $ 5.00 $934.28
02/19/09 1-yr member renewal $ 5.00 $939.28
02/21/09 5-yr member new $ 20.00 $959.28
03/13/09 US Bank Service Charge - $2.00 $957.28
04/06/09 1-yr member new $ 5.00 $962.28
04/16/09 1-yr member renewal $ 5.00 $967.28
04/16/09 5-yr member new $ 20.00 $987.28

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2009 QCWA NATIONAL CONVENTION


A printable version of the above article is available in Adobe PDF format at 2009 QCWA National Convention/Cruise


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News from Larry McCalvy WA9JMO

Members of the Virgin Islands ARC will be setup at the Crown Bay complex where the Eurodam docks. As you leave the ship to visit St. Thomas, the VIARC gang will be setup near the Costa Java restaurant. Costa Java is directly across from where we will leave the ship. Look for the VIARC banner. They also will be monitoring the 146.810 repeater as well as our simplex frequency of 145.000.They will have cold bottled water and sodas. The VIARC crew is trying to have some free maps showing the island and various points of interest. They will be setup and ready to go by 8 AM and hopefully stay most of the day.
The Crown Bay complex has really expanded and there are now a number of shops for you to visit. Rita, NP2AA, was on St. Thomas this last March and was rather impressed with all the new shops. Enjoy your day on St. Thomas.

QCWA Officers traveling with us
There will be four of QCWA’s elected board members in our Eurodam group; Past President John Johnston, W3BE; Vice-President Ken Oelke, VE6AFO; Director Val Erwin, W5PUT; and myself, Larry McCalvy, WA9JMO. In order to make them a little more recognizable should you have any questions or comments for or about QCWA, all four will be wearing dark blue name tag holders. Everyone else in the group will have white name tag holders.

Our visit to the Arecibo Observatory
Two 50-passenger buses and a 24-passenger mini-bus will meet us at the dock as we leave the ship in San Juan. The 109 group members that have signed on for this special tour will be issued Orange wrist bands with their name and Arecibo Observatory visit typed on the band. Please attach it to your wrist, purse, camera bag, or hand carry it onto the bus. You will need it to board the buses. Our Arecibo host, Hector Camacho, assures me that we will have a wonderful time. Weather permitting the tour will include some out of door visits – that will include some of the more interesting highlights I am told. This, I believe will provide and excellent opportunity for pictures and videos – bring your cameras!!! Several of our cruising members have asked for a ride from the buses up the hill to the observatory. I have passed on these requests to Hector. If you have some difficulty walking and getting around, you might want to consider a wheel chair. They are only available (I have been told, unless you bring your own) from Care Vacations at 1-877-475-7827 for about $75 for the week. A call to them will have the chair waiting for you in your cabin on the Eurodam when you board. You can use it in our ports of call and on the ship. I am still working on the lunch menu and trying to find out what the programs will be, but again I have told they will be very nice. Pick up your name badges, convention pin and Arecibo wrist band in the Eurodam lobby I am still working on the exact location where the QCWA Welcome desk will be set up. I have been told in the lobby near the Purser’s station. I will be there by the time you board; you might want to come see me first, before the ship staff assists you in finding your cabin. Normally you have to wait a while before your luggage is delivered to your stateroom. If you miss me in the lobby for some reason, my cabin is on the Upper Promenade deck cabin number VD- 4146 and I should be reachable by 2-meter radio on our cruise frequency of 145.000 MHz. Setting up HF schedules and working the bands I have had several requests for times to set schedules or check into nets, as well as operating during the evening and very early morning hours. At this point there seems to be ample time to meet these requests and allow others to use the HF stations when they are open. I will have logs at each station and a list of time blocked if someone has requested a certain time block for a schedule or net check in. Anyone making a W2MM contact, may request a certificate of contact by sending a QSL or post card to: Gary Harrison, KØBC, P.O. Box 251, Bolivar, MO 65613-0467. There is no charge for the certificate. This offer is valid for anyone on the ship using W2MM and the person on the other end of the W2MM QSO. I will have a color sample of the certificate at each station along with the contact information for Gary Harrison, KØBC our cruise certificate custodian. Please wear your name tags while operating the radios. Our group is the only one authorized to operate on the Ham bands. We will be using three ICOM HF stations – an IC-7600, an IC-7200, and an IC-7000. We will have the hand microphones for each and a desk mike for each radio. CW operators need to bring their own key. Anyone familiar with these radios and anyone else that would like to help set them up will be greatly appreciated by me. QCWA Cruise newsletter number Eleven Menus for the Arecibo Observatory Trip Since time if a factor, I have selected 40 Chicken Breast and 40 Roast Beef Sandwiches – both with salad; two Veggie sandwiches; 14 Chicken Breast and 13 Skirt Steak wraps – both with salads, chips, water, and sodas. Hopefully we can work out the eating details within our touring group.

Our Private Cocktail Parties
Our two private cocktail parties will take place on our two days at sea – Sunday and Thursday between the hours of 3 and 4:30 PM, I believe. I will confirm this time with the hotel staff on board the Eurodam and should have that information and everything else set up by the time you visit me for your QCWA Cruise packets. And the times, location and any other details will be listed on our Flip Chart which should be permanently located where you will be picking up your packets. If you miss me for some reason, stop by cabin VD-4146 and I’ll have your QCWA Cruise packet there. There will also be door prize drawings, at the first cocktail party (I hope). I need to arrange for a microphone and a couple of other things which should not be a problem. You do not need to be present to win a door prize. The first three prizes drawn will be cash and I have several other items of interest. If you have anything you would like to throw into the kitty, please bring it along – if you have room in your suitcases. Requesting certain times to operate on the HF Bands. I have had several requests for time slots. This should not be a problem. If you have a request or would like to operate in the late evening or early morning hours, please coordinate that with me on the ship. The radios are available 24/7 but I would like to have those folks selecting the late evening/early morning hour to keep an eye on the gear or I will put the radios away until the next morning. Each HF station will have a framed certificate of contact, the information on how each W2MM QSO participant can receive their own certificate, and a log book. Cash rebate from your cruise. At this time, there appears each of us will be getting a cash rebate – not that much but enough for a dinner and maybe a drink. I am not sure of the amount at this time. So it looks like I will be mailing each of you a check just before Christmas. I need two things from you to assist with this rebate. (1) please check the address I have for you on my master list to make sure it is correct; and (2) tell me who is in your group and who to send the rebate check to.

An Antenna Deal for someone.
At the conclusion of our cruise, the Comet CHA250B is available to anyone wishing to purchase this antenna at a very special price. The boxed antenna weighs 14 lbs, is 6 inches by 6 inches by 67 inches. And if you are flying home and wish to purchase this item, I can arrange to ship it, UPS to your home. Give this some thought and let me know on the ship if you are interested.

Our Group Picture
I am going to try and arrange for a group picture for Sunday morning about 8:30 AM at a location to be determined. I hope to meet with the ship’s photographer when I get on the ship to see where the picture should be taken. I will hopefully tell you when and where as you pick up your packet; it will also be listed on our flip chart. The group picture should be the cover of the Spring 2010 QCWA Journal. 96 hours from now we will be leaving the port and sailing the high seas in search of adventure and a great time.

73,
Larry


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QCWA CRUISE/CONVENTION ON-THE-AIR OPERATION.


Shipboard QCWA HF operators will attempt to operate on the following bands/frequencies +/- QRM as conditions allow:
  • 17 Meters: CW: 18.080 MHz SSB: 18.135 MHz
  • 20 Meters: CW: 14.050 MHz SSB: 14.240 MHz
  • 30 Meters CW: 10.130 MHz
  • 40 Meters CW: 7.050 MHz SSB: 7.230 MHz
  • 80 Meters CW: 3.540 MHz SSB: 3.835 MHz


CERTIFICATES: Anyone making a W2MM contact, may request a certificate of contact by sending a QSL or post card to: Gary Harrison, KØBC, P.O. Box 251 , Bolivar , MO 65613 -0467. There is no charge for the certificate. (This offer is also valid for anyone on the ship using W2MM)

note: The above frequencies were selected in order to also allow General Class licensee access. We will also be listening for those simply calling: " CQ CQ QCWA Cruise".
note: Probably the best time for a contact with the west coast will be 4 to 6 in the morning or evening PDT but W2MM will be operating at all hours. Will try 40- and 20-Meter bands, primarily.





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