Indiana County Amateur Radio Newsletter for the Month

July 2008 News Letter

Prepared - June 8, 2008

By: Darrell R. Norris - WA3AJQ

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A Silent Key (Taken from a recent ARRL bulletin)
Ronald A Parise, WA4SIR (SK)

Ron Parise, WA4SIR (SK) was instrumental in the development of the SAREX and ARISS programs. [Photo courtesy of NASA] Dr Ronald A. Parise, PhD, WA4SIR, passed away Friday May 9, 2008 after a very long and courageous battle with cancer. He was 57. Parise flew as a payload specialist on two space shuttle missions: STS-35 on Columbia in December 1990 and STS-67 on the Endeavour in March 1995. These two missions, ASTRO-1 and ASTRO-2 respectively, carried out ultraviolet and x-ray astronomical observations, logging more than 614 hours and 10.6 million miles in space. Parise was one of the first astronomers to operate a telescope from space, making hundreds of observations during the mission. Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) Chairman Frank H. Bauer, KA3HDO, said Parise's personal contributions to these two missions provided scientists with "an unprecedented view of our universe, expanding our understanding of the birth, life and death of stars and galaxies." First licensed when he was 11, Parise kept Amateur Radio at the forefront of everything he did, including his operations from space. During his two shuttle flights, he spoke with hundreds of hams on the ground. He was instrumental in guiding the development of a simple ham radio system that could be used in multiple configurations on the space shuttle; as a result, his first flight on Columbia ushered in what Bauer called the "frequent flyer era" of the Shuttle Amateur Radio Experiment (SAREX) payload. He was the first ham in space to operate packet radio. "His flight pioneered the telebridge ground station concept to enable more schools to talk to shuttle crew members despite time and orbit constraints," Bauer said. "In his two shuttle flights, he inspired countless students to seek technical careers and he created memories at the schools and communities that will never be forgotten. Ron was also the ultimate ham radio operator -- in space and on the ground."

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Club Activities

Keep in mind the ARRL Field Day is scheduled for June 28^th and 29^th Plans at our last meeting were pretty well finalized. Mowing the grass will take place the Wednesday prior to the weekend, set up will commence Friday night with a covered dish picnic scheduled for Saturday evening around 6:00 PM at the repeater site. Rusty O'Donnell, WB3EUQ, will arrange for the generator and Greg Kerr, N3PHF will call for the portable John. Dave Dzelsky, N3DZ, is taking the lead.

I wish everyone a successful weekend of "Hamming it up"

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If you know of anyone interested in amateur radio, please feel free to invite them to one of our meetings, we're always looking for new members.

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Our June meeting was Kim Frech's last as our secretary / treasure.
Kim has served in this position since 2005 and has done a great job.
Kim was issued a certificate of appreciation from the club.

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Thanks and 73's,

Darrell R. Norris - WA3AJQ

President - 05 / 06 / 07 / 08

Meeting Minutes - June 3 2008

President Darrell Norris,WA3AJQ, called the meeting to order at _7:30 _ PM local time.

Minutes from last meeting: ( May 6, 2008)

There were no additions or corrections to the minutes ?

Financial Report: Kim Frech: (Kim's Last Report)

There were no comments or concerns.

Rusty O'Donnell, WB3EUQ will take over the financial part.

Kim will have the addresses changed with REA and our insurance.

Darrell Norris, WA3AJQ, will revise our club data with the ARRL.

This was Kim's last meeting as secretary / treasurer.

Kim was awarded a club "certificate of appreciation" for her service as secretary / treasurer since 2005.

THANKS KIM !!

Old Business:

ARES: E.C. Robert Zugates, KB3JOF

Robert reported he had entered the WPA phone traffic net, they would appreciate our checking in from time to time.

Robert also noted that there are several ARES links on our web site, for anyone who would like a refresher course on handling messages and traffic.

Net Coordinator: Jerry Kiehl, WB3DUD

Jerry again, asked for Monday night net control volunteers.

Jerry also suggested we remove some people from the net call list since they rarely ever check into the net.

Darrell Norris, WA3AJQ, will be taking the net in July.

RACES: Rusty O'Donnell, WB3EUQ

Rusty indicated we have received all the new government furnished ham equipment except for two items.

ECHOLINK: Rusty O'Donnell, WB3EUQ

At the meeting Echolink was not in service however, since the meeting and the writing of these minutes, Echolink was put in service.

Repeater Operation - Elmer Sorisio, KB3WG (Not at Meeting)

Fred Maize, KM3M, moved we issue a formal 'THANK YOU" to Elmer for his services as our trustee, it was second by Dave Dzelsky, N3DZ.

Meetings - Darrell Norris, WA3AJQ

All members are encouraged to consider items for the meeting agendas and bring a fellow ham / member or a perspective ham to a meeting.

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The 50 /50 drawing was won by: Greg Kerr, N3PHF, Greg donated the money to the club.

Two tickets to the Somerset ham fest in July, were won by Jerry Kiel WB3DUD.

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New Business:

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THE HAM FEST IS NO LONGER AN ITEM FOR DISCUSSION THIS YEAR

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The next several items will be discussed at the time there scheduled :

VE Test - Bill McMillen, N3QM - October

Torrance Walk - May - Jerry Kiehl, WB3DUD
• Jerry Kiehl, WB3DUD checked with Torrance and was told there will not be a walk again this year. (2nd Year)

Field Day - June 28^th and 29^th
• Dave Dzelsky, N3DZ, will take the lead for field day. Grass has to be mowed, set up will be Friday evening and a covered dish picnic is being planned for Saturday night around 6:00 PM.
• Rusty O'Donnell will arrange for the generator.
• Greg Kerr will arrange for the portable John.

Club Picnic - September ?
• Darrell, WA3AJQ, asked Richard Stinson, KB3KBC, if they would consider having our picnic at their home again this year, he'll check with the his wife.

ARES Simulated Emergency Test - October ?

OPEN (Multi County) Breakfast - October ?

Christmas Party - December 14th at Hoss's

DVD - Video presentation on amateur radio: Cliff Miller, KB3AGT (Not at meeting)

Hot Dog Nights - Dave Dzelsky, N3DZ
• It appears Wednesday night hot dog nights will commence again soon. It was felt It wasn't necessary to have the building unlocked.
• Robert Zugates, KB3JOF will contact Elmer and remove his refrigerator from the building.

Show and Tell (Anybody / Anything)

Rusty O'Donnell, WB3EUQ, brought a High Q screwdriver dipole antenna. He plans to use to on field day.

Notes or comments?

Dave Dzelsky N3DZ had attended a seminar at the Butler ham fest, he indicated the ham fest was very nice.

Robert Zugates KB3JOF bought a very nice shirt with his call sign on it, at the ham fest.

Our membership now stands at forty one. Greg Kerr N3PHF was the last to join.

We had five guests at the meeting.

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY'S" for the Month

Dave Dzelsky, Elmer Sorisio and Alton Strong are celebrating birthdays this month. "HAPPY BIRTHDAY"

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Motion to adjourn by: Richard Stinson, KB3KBC and second by: Fred Maize, KM3M.

The meeting adjourned at: 8:18 PM. (Local time)

-- ICARC Meeting Attendance - June 3, 2008 --

Respectively Submitted by:
Darrell Norris WA3AJQ
President 05, 06, 07, 08

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