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October 2004

MINUTES OF GENERAL MEMBERSHIP

MEETING OF SILVER SPRINGS

RADIO CLUB, INC.

September 20, 2004

The meeting was called to order by President Bill Britt, KQ4UJ, at 7:30 p.m. Present at the meeting were Officers, President Bill Britt, KQ4UJ, Vice President Tony Blalock, K4OCF, Secretary Jeanette Frantz, KG4DJA, and Board Members, Richard Cardinali, KG4TLE, and Bill Miller, N6WGM. There were 27 members in attendance. A quorum was present.

The invocation was given by Gene Layerd.

The membership recited the pledge of allegiance, led by the Vice President, Tony Blalock, K4OCF.

The membership introduced themselves.

Upon motion made, seconded and adopted, the Minutes of the July 19, 2004 and August 16, 2004 General Membership and Minutes of the August 2, 2004, Board of Directors' Meetings were approved as published in The Oracle.

The Treasurer's report was read and approved.

MEMBERSHIP: There were no new membership applications this month.

CHRISTMAS PARTY: The annual SSRC Christmas Party will be held Monday, December 6, 2004, at the White Swan Restaurant, located at 5000 Northwest U.S. Highway 27. The menu choices are stuffed cornish game hen or prime rib, with a salad, vegetable and desert. The cost per member is $18.00. The annual event will begin at 6:30 p.m. for a social gathering, with dinner served at 7:00 p.m.

HAMFEST /TAIL GATE: Silver Springs Radio Club will conduct a Tail Gate/Hamfest event the second Saturday in December (December 11, 2004). Setup plans have been formulated and will be implemented, with the help of ALL the membership. Sign-up lists will continue to be circulated. Bill Miller and Tony Blalock have been attending all of the HamFests in Central and North Central Florida. The Melbourne HamFest was, however, cancelled due to the impact of Hurricanes Frances and Jean.

OFFICER/BOARD MEMBER ELECTIONS: Election of 2005 Silver Springs Officers and Board Members will take place in November. All nominations must be made before the end of the October General Membership Meeting. Richard Cardinali, KG4TLE, agreed to serve as Nominations Chairman. He will pick two other committee members and, hopefully, have a slate of officers to present at the October General Membership Meeting.

There being no further business to come before the meeting, the meeting was adjourned at 8:45 p.m.

Jeanette Frantz, KG4DJA, Secretary

October 2004

Compiled by Bill Britton KB4VOL/AAM4AFL

Oct 16 Jacksonville,
At the Morocco Auditorium, 3800 St. Johns Bluff Road, Talk-in on 146.700, INFO: Larry, W1LR (904) 272-1472 (CANCELLED)

Oct 23 Titusville.
FREE! At DAV 109 (NEW LOCATION) 435 Singleton Avenue, Talk-in on 145.490, INFO: Bob, N6USP (321) 264-2622

Nov 6 Tavares
At Lake County Ag Center (NEW LOCATION) HWY 19 South, Talk-in on 147.255 (PL) 103.5, INFO: David, KR4OW (352) 357-3485

Nov 13 Largo.
Largo @ Chester's Electronic Supply, 311 Missouri Avenue North, Talk-in on 146.850 (PL 127.3); INFO: Len, K4BDP, len@ij.net

Nov 20 Miami
FREE! At Physics Parking Lot, University of Miami, Talk-in on 146.865 (PL 103.5); INFO: Bill, WA4TEJ (305) 264-4465

Nov 27 Okeechobee
at Agriculture Center, on US 441, 1.5 miles N. of SR-70, Talk-in on 147.195; INFO: Al, AD4RZ (863) 467-0516

Dec 4/5 Tampa Bay Area
At Manatee Convention Center, Palmetto, FL, US 301 at Haban Boulevard (3 miles W of I-75 Exit 43); Talk-in 145.430; INFO: Fred, N3BUL (813) 672-3337

Dec 11 Ocala - FREE!
At Green Clover Hall, in Government Complex on SE 25^th Avenue; Talk-in on 146.610 (PL 123.0); INFO: Bill, N6WGM, n6wgm@cf.rr.com

For a complete listing of Hamfests in Florida, please visit the Florida Ham Website at its new location, http:// bellsouthpwp.net/k/b/kb4vol.

EDITOR'S APOLOGY AND

RETRACTION

Your editor extends a heart-felt apology to Tom Croy, KG4NHC, and Phil Veverka, K4PJV. In the last issue of The Oracle, these two members' call signs were incorrectly cited. These two members have donated many hours of their time to emergency communications, manning the Belleview High Special Needs Shelter during Hurricanes Frances and Jeanne. Gentlemen, your hours were long and unrelieved, but your efforts are greatly appreciated.

Because we are all volunteers in the emergency communications efforts, we frequently take on tasks such as this newsletter after working all day. Fatigue is a natural creator of error! Your Editor.

HURRICANES FRANCES AND JEANNE

WREAK HAVOC IN MARION -

EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS

MADE A DIFFERENCE

The past couple of months have whizzed by, bring with time Hurricanes Frances and Jeanne. A lot of property damage did occur in Marion County and is still occurring every day. Your editor drives approximately 13-14 miles to and from work each day. Hardly a day passes that somewhere along the highway, another tree is observed to have fallen. Many homes were destroyed and many were severely damaged.

Flooding is widespread and the water remains high in many locations. Pastures and homes were flooded in Frances and with Jeanne a bare two weeks later, massive amounts of rainfall have increased that flooding.

Fortunately for Marion County residents, we did not have the high hurricane force winds that those in neighboring counties have suffered.

During both of these terrible storms, amateur operators have manned the storm shelters and provided communications between those shelters and the Emergency Operations Center at the Sheriff's Department. At times those amateurs have operated under extreme circumstances.

During Hurricane Jeanne, Dunnellon High School lost commercial power. Unfortunately, that school is not equipped with generator power. That meant there was no water, it was dark in the school, there was no air conditioning, and the sewer lift station pump does not function without electricity. The amateur operator at this shelter, along with a few others put buckets outside to catch water to flush the toilets. Unfortunately, without electricity (or generator power) the pump for the lift station was inoperable, and the situation, to say the least was very bad. The amateur operator and other volunteers secured a generator and hooked it up, providing a few lights and water.

While your editor does not have a complete list of those who volunteered their time and effort during Hurricane Jeanne, those of you who did so definitely made a difference. To simply say "Well Done" seems somehow inadequate, but that "Job Well Done" is heart-felt.

Many of those who left their homes and went to the shelters expressed their appreciation. Your editor is quite certain those 911 operators in the Com Center at the Sheriff's Department appreciated the fact that this additional communications burden was lifted by the amateur community.

These efforts have been much appreciated by those in Emergency Management, the medical teams, and the Marion County School System. Recognition is sweet, indeed! Let's hope the county is not reminded by another hurricane!

Amateur operators are urgently needed to serve as net control stations for the Silver Springs Radio Club radio net held each Tuesday evening at 7:30 p.m. At the current time, there are only two or three net operators, including your Net Manager. Therefore, operators are needed to make the weekly radio club net possible. If a few more operators would agree to serve, a definite schedule could be arranged to ensure that the net is covered every week. Your participation is important.

Anyone interested in participating should contact Jeanette Frantz, KG4DJA, at 489-0571 after 6:00 p.m.

Thank you.

SILENT KEY

Pablo Neiman, W6URZ, became a silent key approximately two weeks ago.

Our sympathy is extended to Barbara, KE4ZI, for her loss.

HamFest

Silver Springs Radio Club

Saturday, December 11, 2004

Green Clover Hall

8:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

All members are urged to sign up to contribute their efforts to this worthwhile event. A full-fledged HamFest has not been held in Ocala since the 1950's.

This is YOUR Club. Please be a participant!

Sign up now!

Your Officers and Board Members

SILVER SPRINGS RADIO CLUB

CHRISTMAS BANQUET

December 6, 2004 Monday

White Swan Café

5174 NW 26^th Lane - (1 mile west of I-75, just off US-27)

Social 6:00PM, - Dinner 7:00PM

Drinks - available

Mark your calendar for December 6^th , Monday, for the

Annual Christmas Awards Banquet and with it a Chinese Auction

Bring a BROWN (Grocery) PAPER BAG un-wrapped gift (man-woman)

In the range of $3.- $5., please avoid gag gifts.

Our total meal cost is $18.00 per person, including tax and tip.

MAIL CHECK WITH FORM or BRING TO NOVEMBER MEETING.

Hope to see you there. For questions contact:

Barbara at 694-5744, or E-mail to funyet2@earthlink.net.

MARS TRAINING CLASSES

Anyone interested in attending MARS Training Classes, please contact Bill Miller, N6WGM, or Jack Scott, N4NWT.

Their telephone numbers are:

Bill Miller 873-2017 email n6wgm@cfl.rr.com

Jack Scott 622-4447

CLUB MEETINGS are the third Monday of each month 7:30 PM at Green Clover Hall in the Marion County Government Complex on Southeast 25th Avenue. Coffee & Doughnuts are available.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS meetings are the first Monday of each month, 7:30 PM at Marion County Facilities Management Office.

K4GSO, club station, Green Clover Hall, is available to all members. Phone number is 620-7210. Contact Ken, KF4QID at 489-0571.

MARS, club station located at 161 Oak Circle, Silver Springs Shores. Phone number is 680-1528. Contact Bill KQ4UJ, at 694-1605.

LICENSE TESTING, on the second Monday of each odd number month, except July, 7:30 PM at Green Clover Hall. Call Jack Scott at 622-4447.

RADIO NETS are conducted over the club repeater, K4GSO, on 146.610 MHz (-600).

LADIES AUXILIARY. Sunshine - Provides flowers and get-well cards for members or members' family. Also orders SSRC logo shirts and caps, Barbara Million, KE4ZTW, 694-5744.

NOTE: For change of address or corrections (with SSRC) contact the Membership Chairman.

SSRC NET, every Tuesday at 7:30 (local time). Contact Jeanette at (352) 489-0571.

MERT (Marion County Emergency Radio Communications Team) NET, every Thursday at 7:30 p.m. LOCAL time. Contact Charlie Lord, NR2F at (352) 489-9185.

Repeater Trustee,(146.610)Bill KQ4UJ, at 694-1605;

President Bill Britt, KQ4UJ 694-1605

V. President Tony Blalock, K4OCF 622-4960

Secretary Jeanette Frantz, KG4DJA 489-0571

Treasurer John O. Williams, K4ANJ 685-2038

Trustee Bill Britt, KQ4UJ 694-1605

Board Members:

Richard Cardinali, KG4TLE 690-7500

William Miller, N6WGM 873-2017

Ernie O'Berry, K4OSM 732-0374

Oracle Editor: Jeanette Frantz, KG4DJA 489-0571

Oracleeditor@prodigy.net

Membership Phillip Frantz, KF4QIC 489-0571

Ladies'

Auxiliary Barbara Million, KE4ZTW 694-5744

Email: funyet2@earthlink.net

Silver Springs Radio Club Website:

Silver Springs WebSite

Ocala Radio Amateur's Candid Letter of Enlightenment

SILVER SPRINGS RADIO CLUB

P.O. BOX 787

SILVER SPRINGS, FL 34489

October 2004