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May 2005

MINUTES OF THE GENERAL MEMBERSHIP

OF THE SILVER SPRINGS RADIO CLUB

April 18, 2005

The meeting was called to order by President Bill Britt, KQ4UJ, at 7:30 p.m. Present were Vice President Bill Miller N6WGM, Treasures Jeanette Frantz, KG4DJA, Secretary Richard Cardinali KG4TLE and Board members Maurice Schietecatte, W4CEO, Russ Merkel, WB9GIU. There were 30 members present and one visitor [Chris Dannelly W4GZQ].

The membership recited the pledge of allegiance, led by Bill Miller.

The membership introduced themselves.

The Board Meeting minutes of April 4, 2005 were read and approved.

The treasurers report was read and approved.

Announcements

Bill Britt noted that the new regional director of MARS was Jim Hamilton. He is planning a visit to the station and will seek any assistance his organization can provide to the MARS station. Bill Britt and others will meet with the new director.

Phillip Frantz, KF4QIC, membership announced that he has one applicant but the process has not been consummated.

Charles Hensley, announced that 15 students have successfully completed the technician Course and will test on May 9th. It was also announced that a new class for the Boy Scouts will start on may 23. This Saturday class will run for 10 weeks and will take place at the First United Methodist Church, Room 18.

Larry Phelps briefed on the program that will take place on April 19th at the Romeo. Club member Emily Cardinali KI4BIH will participate in the program.It was also announced that Tony Blalock, K4OCF, will conduct a program at Romeo for the students on April 28. Tony also mentioned that members of the radio club will participate in the Boy Scout Jamboree during the 3rd week of October.

There was discussion that the present facility may not be available for the December Hamfest. Several alternate sites were to be investigated. Bill Miller will oversee the investigation of alternate sites for the event. Several tangent repercussions of losing the faculty were also speculated upon.

Bill Britt announced that the computer approved last month has been operational in the radio shack. He also announced that the purchase was accomplished within budget guidelines designated for the purchase.

There was considerable discussion concerning the March of Dimes event for April 30. Bill Miller will oversee the operation. There were 15 volunteers to date for the event.

Johnny Williams K4ANJ received a check from VFW Post 4209 for MARS operations. The Post has been generous in its support of MARS operations.

Bill Miller asked if anyone had any photos or news clippings of club activities throughout the years. He continued his request for support for this project. Contact Bill Miller if you are able to supply any photos or news clippings of club activities throughout the years the club has been in existence.

There was no new business brought to the floor.

The meeting officially adjourned at 8:30 p.pm.

Richard Cardinali

Secretary

Minutes of Board of Directors Meeting

May 2, 2005

The meeting was called to order by Bill Britt KQ4UJ @ 7:36 P.M.

Attendance:

Bill Miller N6WGM

Richard Cardinali KG4TLE

Jeanette Frantz KG4DJA

Maurice Schietecatte W9CEO

Absent

Russell Merkel WB9GIU

Ernie O'Berry K4OSM

Guest:

Phillip Frantz KF4QIC, Membership Chairperson

Reports:

The treasure's report was submitted and approved.

The secretary's report was submitted and approved.

Discussion:

Jim Hamilton visited with Bill Britt on April 23 at the MARS station. Mr. Hamilton, the new MARS regional director. He shared a number of helpful items which can only enhance our operations.

Bill Miller reports that the Marion County Agriculture facility is being sort after for the December Hamfest. A this point the date has been "penciled in" and confirmation is anticipated prior to the May membership meeting.

Phillip Frantz reports that Henry Dannelly W4GZQ , a membership candidate has submitted his application, a copy of his license and check in consideration for membership. Carl Berry, KC5CMX also sent in his membership check.

Bill Miller announced that the March of Dimes event was flawless.

Adjournment was at 8:12 P.M.

Richard Cardinali

Secretary

FLORIDA HAMFESTS

May 2005

Compiled by Bill Britton KB4VOL/AAM4AFL

THESE LISTS ARE ONLY AS ACCURATE AS THE INFORMATION RECEIVED.

PLEASE SEND CORRECTIONS OR ADDITIONS--SEE BELOW. SEND PL FOR REPEATERS WHERE NEEDED.

DATE LOCATION NOTES

May 14
Titusville, At DAV Chapter 109; 435 Singleton Avenue, Talk-in on 145.490 PL 100, INFO: Bob, N6USP (352) 264-2622

May 28
Boca Raton. FREE! At Plum Park Plaza, 141 Northwest 20^th Street, Talk-in on 145.290, INFO: W4RIS (561) 483-9029

July 9
Largo, FREE! At 311 Missouri Avenue North, INFO: Len, K4BDP (727) 585-4736.

July 22-23
Milton, at Santa Rosa County Auditorium, On 191AA, Old Bagdad Highway, Talk-in on 145.490. INFO: Pearl, N4SGJ (850) 626-7014

Aug 13
Fort Pierce, at Indian River Community College, 3209 Virginia Avenue, Talk-in on 147.345 PL 107.2.

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

Hello,

We have a unique adventurous travel opportunity for an interested amateur radio operator or two. We would appreciate your help in spreading the invitation and helping us.

My husband Rob is competing in his 20th Race Across America, an organized 3000 mile cross-country bicycle race, this summer. He is KD4DRL and I am N4VXQ. We drive our motorhome and van to the race start in California where we join our support crew for the race back across the country (with him on the bicycle!) Through the years we have had ham radio operators on our support crew from all across the country. This year, Life has gotten complicated and busy for all of our former ham operators and none of them are available so we need to recruit a ham operator or even two for this year's support crew. I thought I would start with updating our radio equipment, rent new vehicles, and then try to recruit someone here in Florida to join us. This is purely an athletic endeavor - not for profit - so we are not able to pay wages, however, we do cover all travel expenses to and from the event, all lodging, food, and promise a rewarding adventure and fine memories. The race begins in San Diego, CA June 19, travels through Arizona, Colorado, Kansas, Missouri, Ohio, Indiana, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, and ends in Atlantic City, NJ June 28. Any interested party would need to be available from June 15 until June 29. For more info:

www.raceacrossamerica.org

www.kishkrew.com

(all on Krew page are from 2004 and are returning except for 4 persons. We need to update that page. We have an experienced, well-balanced 11 person crew of: me as crew chief, an assistant crew chief, an auto mechanic, a bicycle mechanic, a massage therapist, physical therapist, drivers, and a cook & bottle-washer!)

Additionally, Kish Krew will be supporting Rob in Europe Sept 2 - 13 in a similar style cross country race called LeTourDirect. www.letourdirect.com This ham operator would be invited to join us in Europe as well, again with all expenses paid.

I have just purchased four new ham radios and antennas to be used during both events - two Yaesu FT-2800M for the motorhome and support van and Yaesu FT-60R Yaesu VX-2 handhelds. We are open to suggestion and most appreciative of help and advice.

If you know of anyone who might be interested and available to join us for these events, or even just one of them, we would appreciate your input. It really is a great opportunity for a young person who has not yet been able to travel the country or for anyone interested in cycling. Or someone who is interested in putting to use the new technology such as APRS. Since Rob and I and others we have had on our Krew have not had the expertise of APRS or the equipment, we have simply relied on simplex ham communication and separate use of Garmin GPS units for navigation. We can do so again this year as well but are always open to learning something new.

We request that any interested party contact me at this e-mail address. I would be happy to supply references and contact information of our crewmembers.

With Much Appreciation,

Brenda Kish N4VXQ, Port Orange, FL

HAMFEST

December 10, 2005

The Silver Springs Radio Club's HamFest has been moved from Green Clover Hall to the Marion County Agriculture Center. The dates and times have not changed, but there's considerably more room at the Ag Center and the location has been confirmed.

Many thanks to Ernie O'Berry, K4OSM, for his efforts in obtaining the locale.

Now, let's get behind this effort and make this event a smashing success!

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FLORIDA SCANNER LAW MAY

HAMPER AMATEUR OPERATORS

INVOLVED IN

EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS

Dear Fellow Radio Amateur,

I am sending you a copy of the Florida Statutes concerning having a scanner in your vehicle(s).

I hope you will include this in your web site and club news letter. Your callsign was the latest "contact". Please "forward" to your club's new "contact" or webmaster.

This was prompted by a few incidents during the past year's hurricane season. Many individuals volunteered many hours and they used their own equipment. During this time a few law enforcement officers became curious as to how a non-law enforcement individual could monitor police and other radios. Needless to say, it became necessary to offer a few long-winded explanations without any supporting substance.

Please refer to Section 3 which sites the exemption.

I have placed a folded copy of the law in a sealable sandwich bag. This is kept in the glove compartment of each vehicle at my home. If I must use my daughter's car, even though I never intend to do so, I will have a copy with me at all times. Ideally it would be great to have a copy in your wallet but I found this to be too cumbersome.

State of Florida Mobile Scanner Law Source:

FLORIDA STATUTES (1995) - Title 46, CRIMES; Ch. 843, OBSTRUCTING JUSTICE; §§ 843.16 .

843.16 Unlawful to install radio equipment using assigned frequency of state or law enforcement officers; definitions; exceptions; penalties

(1) No person, firm, or corporation shall install in any motor vehicle or business establishment, except an emergency vehicle or crime watch vehicle as herein defined or a place established by munincipal,
county, state, or federal authority for governmental purposes, any frequency modulation radio receiving equipment so adjusted or tuned as to receive messages or signals on frequencies assigned by the
Federal Communications Commission to police or law enforcement officers of any city or county of the state or to the state or any of its agencies. Provided, nothing herein shall be construed to affect any radio station licensed by the Federal communications Commission
or to affect any recognized newspaper or news publication engaged in covering the news on a full-time basis or any alarm system contractor certified pursuant to Part II of Chapter 489, Operating a Central
Monitoring System.

(2) As used in this section, the term: (a) "Emergency vehicle" shall specifically mean:

1. Any motor vehicle used by any law enforcement officer or employee of any city, any county, the state, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, or the Armed Forces of the United States while on official business;

2. Any fire department vehicle of any city or county of the state or any state fire department vehicle;

3. Any motor vehicle designated as an emergency vehicle by the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles when said vehicle is to be assigned the use of frequencies assigned to the state;

4. Any motor vehicle designated as an emergency vehicle by the sheriff of any county in the state when said vehicle is to be assigned the use of frequencies assigned to the said county

5. Any motor vehicle designated as an emergency vehicle by the chief of police of any city in the state when said vehicle is to be assigned the use of frequencies assigned to the said city.

(b) "Crime watch vehicle" means any motor vehicle used by any person participating in a citizen crime watch or neighborhood watch program when such program and use are approved in writing by the appropriate sheriff or chief of police where the vehicle
will be used and the vehicle is assigned the use of frequencies assigned to the county or city. Such approval shall be renewed annually.

(3) This section shall not apply to any holder of a valid amateur radio operator or station license issued by the Federal Communications Commission or to any recognized newspaper or news publication engaged in covering the news on a full-time basis or any alarm system contractor certified pursuant to Part II of Chapter 489, Operating a Central Monitoring System.

(4) Any person, firm, or corporation violating any of the provisions of this section shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor of the second degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.

73,
Carl Zelich, AA4MI
E-mail: AA4MI@ARRL.NET

ACTUALLY, THE STATUTES HAVE BEEN MODIFIED SEVERAL TIMES, AND RATHER THAN WASTE TIME COMPARING, I DOWNLOADED THE TEXT OF THE STATUTE FROM "STATUTES ONLINE" (Your Editor).

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HURRICANE SEASON WILL

SOON BE UPON US!

Yes, the hurricane season will soon be here. We can only hope that Florida will be spared this year, but the likelihood is that Floridians will once again be faced with hurricane(s).

MERT Members last year manned the various shelters opened throughout Marion County, including a shelter at Dunnellon. Conditions at that school ultimately proved that it is not properly equipped to serve as a storm shelter.

All of us must remember the events of last Summer and Fall and be prepared to answer the call if emergency communications are needed.

Being away from home during such a storm is never the most pleasant event. However, last year proved that telephone lines are frequently down as a result of high winds and fallen trees, and cell phones are usually not operational.

The amateur operators serve a very vital need and are often the only line of communication between the Office of Emergency Management and the Shelters.

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MARCH OF DIMES

WALK-AMERICA

On Saturday, April 30, 2005, many amateur operators gathered at the various aid stations designated by the March of Dimes to provide communications for this worthwhile event. Those who served are to be commended. Bill Miller, N6WGM, and Dick Moss, K4ML, cleaned up the Club's Emergency Trailer and Bill delivered it to the grassy area just west of the Ocala Star-Banner parking lot.

Those who participated are as follows:

Station Call Name

#1 N6WGM Bill Miller

#1 KG4DJA Jeanette Frantz

#2 W4CEO Maurice Schietecatte

#3 K4OCF Tony Blalock

#4 KC4Q Charles Hensley

#5 KU4RY Syl Phaneuf

#6 KG4NHC Tom Croy

#7 W4SVO Mark Luhrman

#8 KB9HD Lou Gorski

#9 KI4HUK Terry Sparks

#10 KC5CMX Carl Berry

#11 WA2EJP Dave Welker

#12 KG4HQO Gerald Ford

Gloria James:

KG4EYU Jessica Ezell

Standby:

KI4HUG Walt Hill

Many, many thanks to all of those who contributed your time and effort to make amateur communications a tremendous success.

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Silver Springs Radio Club, Inc. 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 Green Clover Hall, at the Marion County Government Complex. K4GSO, club station, Green Clover Hall, is available to all members. Contact Bill, KQ4UJ, 694-1605. 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 Jeanette Frantz, KG4DJA at (352) 489-0571 Repeater Trustee,(146.610)Bill KQ4UJ, at 694-1605 President Bill Britt, KQ4UJ 694-1605 V. President William Miller, N6WGM 873-2017 Secretary Richard Cardinali, KG4TLE 690-7500 Treasurer Jeanette Frantz, KG4DJA 489-0571 Trustee Bill Britt, KQ4UJ 694-1605 Board Members: Russ Merkle, WB9GIU 624-2285 Ernie O'Berry, K4OSM 732-0374 Maurice Schietecatte, 245-1038 W4CEO Oracle Editor: Jeanette Frantz, KG4DJA 489-0571 Oracle _editor@prodigy.net Membership Phillip Frantz, KF4QIC 489-0571 Ladies' Auxiliary Barbara Million, KE4ZTW 694-5744 Email: funyet2@earthlink.net Silver Springs Radio Club Website: http://www.qsl.net/ssrc/   Ocala Radio Amateur's Candid Letter of Enlightenment SILVER SPRINGS RADIO CLUB P.O. BOX 787 SILVER SPRINGS, FL 34489 May 2005