Newsletter of the QCWA Piedmont Chapter #126 - December 2007
Next Meeting: The next Chapter 126 Meeting will be held on Saturday, December 1, 2007 at Yarborough's Family Restaurant, 321 Margo Blvd, Lexington, NC 27295. Telephone (336) 956-7781. All members and guests are welcome.
When: Plan to arrive at 11:30am to socialize, dinner at 12N then business and program at about 12:45pm. Board members are requested to arrive at 11am.
Directions: For Internet mapping the address is above.
If coming from the South take Interstate 85 North then follow the split on to Rt. 52 North. From there take the Green Needle Road Exit, turn West then turn right on the Green Needle/Marco Blvd Service Road (Parallel to Rt. 52) to the restaurant. From the Northwest take Rt. 52/I85 Bus. South to the Green Needle Road Exit. Go West to Marco Blvd and turn right to the restaurant.
From the Northeast take I85 South and bear Right on to I85 Business South. I85 Bus. South and Rt. 52 merge. Stay on Rt. 52 South to the Green Needle Road Exit. Go West on Green Needle Road then turn right on Marco Blvd to the restaurant.
Program: Jeff Wittich, AC4ZO of Cary, NC will present a program on "Samuel Morse and his Code." Jeff is an avid key collector and CW enthusiast so the program should be a blast. Don't miss it!
Also, it is time to elect officers for 2008. If you would like to contribute please contact a current officer.
2008 Dues: Our dues for 2008 will be due on January 1, 2008. Please remit payment to Charles Swindell, WB4DCM 10809 Rondeau Woods Court, Raleigh, NC 27614. When paying your dues, please pay by check payable to Piedmont Chapter #126, QCWA. Our dues are still the best deal in town at only $7.00 per year. Thanks.
New Members: We are happy to report that the Piedmont Chapter #126, QCWA has acquired three new members. Robert McNeill, W4MBD, from Morehead City, NC was first licensed in 1946. James Morris, KA4MPP, from Woodleaf, NC was first licensed in 1980. William Finch, W4EHF, from Greenville, NC was first licensed in 1935. Welcome!!
Tidbits: The Chapter received a thank you note from Ham Hicks, KB4BR for the recognition and plaque we gave him for his efforts in successfully getting the Amateur Radio Antenna legislation passed and signed by Governor Easley. The new rules took affect Oct. 1, 2007.
John Covington, W4CC our Webmaster has placed some pictures taken by
Wayne,
W4HG at the Sept. 8 chapter meeting on our local chapter website.
http://www.qsl.net/qcwa126/
Look for the link Pictures. We
hope to make
more use of our website in the future. Thanks Wayne, we may have to
make you
the chapter's Official Photographer.
It was great to see so many new faces at the September meeting. We are glad to be able to put faces to the calls for the folks on our net. Our chapter membership covers a major portion of North Carolina. We hope you will join us at meetings and/or on the Saturday morning net to feel a part of our active organization. It was rather unnerving to think we had been at McCall's Restaurant just two weeks earlier before that airplane hit the restaurant. A member of the Raleigh Radio Club, KB4TKQ, flies his own 1947 Nation, the type of airplane in the accident. He got no end of questions as to his well being!
Jack, W4TJE has been enjoying operating during the 15 Meter band openings even though the propogationists hadn't seen it coming. He and Charlie, WB4DCM and maybe others enjoyed working the Sept. QCWA QSO Party.
It was good to see so many of our chapter members at the Memorial Service for Uncle Henry, N4UH in September.
K4HF dismantled his 30 year plus hamshack, had new paint and carpet installed and is now having to evaluate his stuff as to what stays, or what goes to the trash or the next hamfest. He doesn't look forward to the next move!
W4WXZ and WB4DCM have made great progress with their back ailments.
KI4DH has had knee surgery and awaits a progress report.
We are still looking for a Chapter Historian. Please contact an officer.
FYI - chapter member James Morris, KD4OM is now KQ4O.
Minutes of the last meeting: The Piedmont Chapter #126, QCWA met on Saturday, September 9, 2007 at McCall's BBQ Restaurant in Clayton, N. C. There were 26 members and guests present.
The Board met at 11:00 AM with the following officers present: Chuck Littlewood, President; Jack Emerson, VP; Billy Stewart, Treasurer; John Covington, Webmaster and Wes Jones, Director. Charlie Swindell, Secretary and Joe Brown, Director were excused.
The Board decided that our next meeting will be December 1 at Yarborough's Restaurant in Lexington, N. C. Jeff Wittich, AC4ZO of Cary, NC will present "Samuel Morse and his Code." Jack Emerson will check out possible meeting locations for March 22, 2008 such as Siler City and Asheboro. Several possibilities for meeting programs were discussed. Chapter 126 will have a booth at the Charlotte Hamfest in March 2008. Jack Emerson encouraged all to participate in the QCWA QSO Party. A treasurer's report was received. The chapter will send solicitation letters to new QCWA members in our area. Our webmaster reported that our newsletter, the QCWAcker on a link in our website. The chapter is seeking a volunteer to handle the project of updating the history of our chapter.
The general meeting began at noon. President Chuck offered grace, including our thoughts of "Uncle Henry, N4UH" (SK). A memorial service will take place at his church near Statesville, NC on September 17 at 1:00 PM. We then had a great meal either from the buffet or from the menu. Following lunch, we introduced ourselves.
President Chuck then asked our chapter member Ham Hicks, KB4BR to come forward. He reminded all present how Ham, with the help of some others, worked successfully to get H-1340, the Ham Radio Antennas Bill unanimously through the legislature and signed by Governor Easley, in record time. We, the ham community, all owed Ham a vote of thanks so Chuck Presented Ham with the National QCWA ROLL of HONOR PLAQUE, signed by National QCWA President John Johnson, W3BE. Ham and his wife Linda were surprised and pleased with this recognition.
The members of Coastal Carolinas Chapter 118 were recognized as well as several folks from around the Raleigh and Goldsboro area that joined us.
The 50/50 drawing was held and Carolyn Stewart, WA4LPN won $15 and John Covington, W4CC won the door prize of a 2007 ARRL Handbook. Chuck thanked Mary Jo Littlewood, K4MJL for doing all the administrative duties at the meeting. VP Jack reminded us of the December 1 meeting and the upcoming QCWA QSO Party. He also gave the 3rd quarter net report. Billy gave the treasurer's report. He also advised we have received a thank you note for our donation on behalf of N4UH. We received and acknowledgment for a contribution to the ARRL Diamond Terrace Fund. The chapter now has a "brick" for the new terrace in the name of the chapter.
The program was a 35 minute video of a tour of the 2007 Dayton Hamvention. Amateur Radio Video News, aka Gary Pearce, KN4AQ of Cary, NC produced the video. Many favorable comments were offered on a job well done. In addition, there were some old photos of ARRL League Planning Meetings in Greensboro, Asheville, and Myrtle Beach from 25+ years ago. That was the era when Vic Clark, W4KFC and W4ACY were active. You should have seen W4CC and K4HF then. There was even a Roanoke Division Newsletter when Chuck, W4WXZ was NC Section Communications Manager.
Following the program, folks were reminded of the excellent attendance today and of the December 1 meeting. Some of the members remained afterwards for photos by Wayne, W4HG.
Meeting adjourned at 2:10 PM.