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September 2004
Back to the News Section
September 2004
MINUTES OF GENERAL MEMBERSHIP
MEETING OF SILVER SPRINGS
RADIO CLUB, INC.
August 16, 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, and Board Member Richard Cardinali, KG4TLE and Bill Miller, N6WGM. Vice President Tony Blalock, K4OCF, and Secretary Jeanette Frantz, KG4DJA, was late in arriving. A quorum was present.
The invocation was given.
The membership recited the pledge of allegiance, led by the Board.
Visitors were introduced and the membership introduced themselves.
The July 2004 minutes were not available at the meeting.
The Treasurer's report (as of July 31, 2004) was read. Upon motion made, seconded and adopted, the report was approved.
There will be no Oracle in August since the editor suffered a broken wrist
CHRISTMAS PARTY: Barbara will obtain menu selections, etc. for the White Swan. Upon motion made and unanimously adopted, the membership voted to hold its annual Christmas Banquet at the White Swan on December 5, 2004. The cost of the banquet will be approximately $18.00 per person.
HAMFEST: Silver Springs Radio Club will conduct a Hamfest event the second Saturday in December (December 11, 2004). Plans will be finalized in the coming months. Bill Miller and Tony Blalock presented a proposed layout for vendors inside Green Clover Hall.
ILLNESS: Donna Williams is in the hospital, having taken a severe fall.
There being no further business to come before the meeting, the meeting was adjourned at 8:15 p.m.
Jeanette Frantz, KG4DJA, Secretary
MINUTES OF MEETING OF
BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF SILVER
SPRINGS RADIO CLUB, INC.
August 2, 2004
The meeting was called to order at 7:30 p.m. Present at the meeting were President Bill Britt, KQ4UJ, Vice President Tony Blalock, K4OCF, Secretary Jeanette Frantz, KG4DJA, and Board Members Richard Cardinali, KG4TLE, and Bill Miller, N6WGM. A quorum was present.
The secretary's report was not available.
The treasurer's report was approved as distributed.
The Board discussed the Hamfest scheduled for December 11, 2004.
Arrangements are being made with a food vender to provide and sell food at the Hamfest.
There being no further business to come before the meeting, the meeting was adjourned at 8:15 p.m.
Jeanette Frantz, KG4DJA, Secretary
MINUTES OF GENERAL MEMBERSHIP
MEETING OF SILVER SPRINGS
RADIO CLUB, INC.
July 19, 2004
The meeting was called to order at 7:30 p.m. on July 19, 2004. Present at the meeting were President Bill Britt, KQ4UJ, Vice President Tony Blalock, K4OCF, Secretary Jeanette Frantz, KG4DJA, and Board Members Richard Cardinali, KG4TLE, Bill Miller, N6WGM, and Ernie O'Berry, K4OSM. The secretary's report was approved.
The treasurer's report was approved.
CHRISTMAS PARTY: Barbara Million, KE4ZTY, advised that the cost of the Christmas Banquet was going to increase - she has been in contact with the White Swan. She will have more definitive information to submit at the August meeting.
HAMFEST: The Hamfest was discussed in some detail, including a discussion over admission, tailgating, etc.
There being no further business to come before the meeting, the meeting was adjourned at 8:45 p.m.
Jeanette Frantz, KG4DJA, Secretary
MARION COUNTY AMATEUR
OPERATORS PROVIDE EMERGENCY
COMMUNICATIONS DURING
HURRICANES CHARLEY AND
FRANCES!
On August 13, 2004, Hurricane Charley swept into Florida, for a time threatening Marion County. Emergency shelters were established at Vanguard High School, Belleview Middle School, and Westport High School. After hurriedly battening down the hatches at home, amateur operators manned communications at both of these shelters and at the Emergency Operations Center at the Sheriff's Division of Emergency Management. Manning those communications operations were amateur operators Bill Parker, WB4GAA, Larry Rogers, N3LRH, Bill Britt, KQ4UJ, Bill Miller, N6WGM, Arnold Hansen, W3BPP, Tony Blalock, K4OCF, Russ Merkle, WB9GIU, Phil Frantz, KF4QIC, and Jeanette Frantz, KG4DJA.
Fortunately for Marion County, Charley veered from its original path and Marion County was spared its devastating winds.
Just three short weeks later, Marion County was again faced with a threatening hurricane - Frances. Shelters were again opened, four Special Needs, Westport High, Saddlewood Elementary, Madison Street Elementary, and Belleview High; in addition, four regular primary hurricane shelters were opened, Belleview Middle School, Ft. McCoy, Lake Weir High, and Vanguard High (which also served as a pet shelter).
For the better part of four days, Marion County was battered by Frances. During those days almost all of the shelters lost commercial power, as well as telephone service. Cellular service was also out, and virtually the only communication available was that provided by the amateur operators.
All through those long days and nights, the following amateur operators served as the only link between the shelters and the EOC:
Charles Hensley, KA0OGU, Ann Hensley, KB0ONT; Jim Jones, KD4HKY, Sara Jones, KF4IFS; Bill Miller, N6WGM; Dick Moss, KF4ML; Helen Hillman, KI4ALG; Clara Hatfield, KI4ALH; Jim Hatfield, WA3FJF; Phil Veverka, K4PJF; Tom Croy, KGNHC; Phil Frantz, KF4QIC; Jeanette Frantz, KG4DJA; Tom Bench, W4BTB; Bill Puckett, KF4QHT; Bob Dockus, WB8LPP; Dave Welker, WA2EJP; Ralpha Welker, WA2ENY; Tony Blalock, K4OCF; Bill Britt, KQ4UJ; Larry Rogers, N3LRH; Bill Parker, WB4GAA; Dan Brooks, KC2ACY; Jim Keele, K2SN (at Red Cross).
Thanks are also extended to a couple of ladies, Irene Veverka, KG4SLD, and Pam Croy, KI4ALK, who relieved their husbands at Belleview High School.
One might well ask whether our communications actually saved lives - and the only answer to that one is that a line of communication was open between the shelters and the Emergency Operations Center. If lives were endangered, there was a link to summon help. Your editor believes that amateur operators made a difference. And, after all, that is what amateur radio is all about - the communications that make a difference.
There is a definite need for more amateur operators - this time, we not only dodged a bullet with Charley, but we also dodged the worst part of Frances. We may not be that fortunate when the next hurricane comes through.
NOTICE
Due to the extensive amount of time which has been expended in emergency communications, many of our members have been involved in emergency operations/communications. For these reasons, this newsletter is somewhat shorter and does not have all the normal content.
Anyone who has any information for the Oracle should email it to the editor at oracle_editor@prodigy.net, or oracleeditor@prodigy.net.
Input into the Oracle is always welcome.
The Editor
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:
Ocala Radio Amateur's Candid Letter of Enlightenment
SILVER SPRINGS RADIO CLUB
P.O. BOX 787
SILVER SPRINGS, FL 34489
September 2004