S.T.A.R.S. CLUB NEWS LETTER
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December 1999
It is with sadness that I start this Newsletter off with the announcement of Gerald-WB5MYM becoming a Silent Key. Gerald will be missed.
This has been a very successful year for the Club. We have grown to over 50 members and have one of the best repeaters in the area. I hear compliments quite often from Hams visiting the area regarding not only the coverage but the quality of the repeater. We have had our problems but that is the fun of amateur radio. A special thanks to Gene-K5OXZ for his help in getting it back on the air in record time. We are currently trying to get the GE Master II ready so that we can have a spare ready to go in a plug and play mode. The Club approved the purchase of a new controller with voice ID capabilities. We can then use the old controller with the GE and really be ready for instant (???) replacement.
Scott-N5TSL was elected Vice President for the coming year at our November meeting.
The official results of Field Day 1999 start on page 92 of the December Issue of QST. We didn’t come in first but we didn’t come in last either. We had a combined score of 1694 which was pretty good for a bunch of Amateurs having a lot of fun.
The September Picnic was an excellent outing. If you have Internet available there is a picture on the STARS Club web page: http://www.webspinners.futura.net/k7zqr/ I also try to keep the Member roster current and add other items that I think will be of interest to the Club members.
Do you have an idea for a Club Project? If so get with any of the Officers or bring it up at one of the meetings. Get involved and have more fun with YOUR Hobby. Want to write and distribute the Newsletter? Plan an event for the Club?
The other item of interest is the planning for the Y2K event that has some worried and others amused. The most serious part is for us as amateur radio operators to help relieve the fears of a communications breakdown involving some of the Community Activities. We have been contacted regarding standby for the Lonoke County Health Unit, St. Vincent Hospital Units and Office of Emergency Service. As plans are formalize Volunteers will be recruited to man certain Units. Further information will be forthcoming as more definite plans are established. If you are interested in participating, get in touch with one of the Officers.
I would like to challenge each Club Member to contact a former member, a new Ham or others that you may know and invite them to join our Club. Just think if everyone got a new member we would be well over a 100 strong. DON’T FORGET DUES ARE DUE FOR NEXT YEAR. They are still a bargain at $10 each or $15 for a family. These are the funds used to keep the Repeater working and provide for replacement of the Unit, feedline, antenna, or other items that need attention from time to time. How about paying your dues at our next meeting, December 19th, 8:00 a.m., at Shoney’s in Jacksonville. OR Mail them to:
STARS Radio Club P.O. Box 212 Ward, AR 72176
HAVE A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY AND HEALTHY NEW YEAR 2000
73s Eldon-K7ZQR