Prepared - February 10, 2007
By: Darrell R. Norris - WA3AJQ
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This was taken from a recent ARRL publication.
President George W. Bush has written the ARRL to recognize the just-ended Hello Amateur Radio public relations campaign and to extend "greetings to all those celebrating 100 years of voices over the airwaves."
The president said the centennial of Reginald Fessenden's landmark Christmas Eve 1906 voice broadcast "opened the door for technological advances" that improved the lives of people around the world.
"I appreciate all who work in radio, and I am grateful to the Amateur Radio operators who provide emergency communications that help make our country safer and more secure," President Bush wrote. "Your good work strengthens our society and represents the American spirit."
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ARRL / FCC
Circle Friday, February 23, on your calendar. That's when the current 5 WPM Morse code requirement will officially disappear from the Amateur Radio Service Part 97 rules. On or after that date, applicants for a General or Amateur Extra class Amateur Radio license no longer will have to demonstrate proficiency in Morse code. They'll just have to pass the applicable written examination. Federal Register publication January 24 of the FCC's Report and Order (R&O) in the "Morse code proceeding," WT Docket 05-235, starts a 30-day countdown for the new rules to become effective. Deletion of the Morse requirement - still a matter of controversy within the amateur community - is a landmark in Amateur Radio history.
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When deadly tornados struck Central Florida early Friday, February 2, Amateur Radio volunteers turned out to assist emergency managers and relief organizations to supplement communication and offer other support. The National Weather Service (NWS) rated two of the three twisters as EF-3 events -- 160-165 MPH winds -- on the new "Enhanced Fujita Scale." Since they hit in the early-morning hours, the tornadoes took many residents by surprise. They left behind a landscape of downed trees and extensive structural damage in at least four Florida counties and claimed 20 lives -- most within the tornado's first two minutes, authorities say. Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) and SKYWARN volunteers were active in Lake, Seminole, Sumter and Volusia counties -- all designated as federal disaster areas.
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The FCC has resumed processing new Amateur Radio vanity call sign applications. An initial stab at whittling down the backlog began February 8 -- five weeks to the day after the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau (WTB) issued the last vanity call sign prior to the resumption. The Commission stopped processing new vanity call sign applications received on or after December 18 while it readied the Universal Licensing System (ULS) http://wireless.fcc.gov/uls/ vanity application software to accommodate a December 15 rule change to discourage the filing of multiple applications for the same call sign. The FCC has continued to accept new vanity applications and to process vanity renewals. A WTB staff member, speaking on background, told ARRL the Commission could wrap up backlog processing and be back on track by next week.
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We sent requests to numerous members and some non-members to determine how many might be interested in upgrading their current licenses from Tech to General since code is no longer a requirement, we had about three people responded. Considering the response, we will not be considering upgrade classes, for now.
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Jerry Kiehl, WB3DUD, will be conducting our regular meetings for March and April.
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Robert Zugates, KB3JOF, our ARES Emergency Coordinator, is now accepting applications for ARES membership, the applications are available on our website: www.qsl.net/w3bmd
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Thanks and 73's
Darrell R. Norris - WA3AJQ
2005 / 06 / 07 Club President
Minutes from last meeting: (January 2, 2007)
There were no additions or corrections.
Financial Report:
There were no comments or questions.
ARES:
Emergency Coordinator: Robert Zugates, KB3JOF
Not in attendance
Net Coordinator: Jerry Kiehl, WB3DUD
Line up net control operators; review and update the monthly call sheets as necessary and forward the updated sheets to our web master for posting.
Jerry reported for Robert and requested we include Jessica Dean from the Red Cross as a speaker in our March meeting agenda.
Robert would also like to schedule someone from ARES at an upcoming meeting. Jerry passed out ARES applications to be completed and returned. The application is necessary even if you had completed one previously.
Darrell, WA3AJQ, mentioned that Dave Dzelsky, N3DZ, had taken pictures of most members a few years ago for ARES identification cards. These pictures should be available somewhere.
RACES: Robert Zugates, KB3JOF
Robert Zugates, KB3JOF indicated at a previous meeting that the county is in the process of designing identification cards.
Robert reported the county is aware he is temporarily replacing Rusty O'Donnell, WB3EUQ, as RACES officer.
Jerry Kiehl, WB3DUD, reported that Robert is considering giving up RACES.
Let's hope Rusty, WB3EUQ, returns to the area.
ECHOLINK: Robert Zugates, KB3JOF
Robert would like to move ECHOLINK to his home but he indicated he will wait until February when Rusty, KB3EUQ, should know if he's going to return to the area,
Repeater Operation - Elmer Sorisio, KB3WG
Not in attendance
Mall Display: Robert Zugates, KB3JOF
Not in attendance.
Board Meetings - Darrell Norris, WA3AJQ
At the January meeting Darrell passed out the duties / responsibilities of board members as set forth in the club By-Laws and expressed hopes that our board would be more active in 2007.
Darrel reported we are another board member short since Al Fister, N3ZFZ, has not paid his 2007 dues.
50 /50 drawing was won by: Jerry Kiehl who donated it to the club.
T H A N K S J E R R Y !!!
Potential activities for 2007
M S Walk - April?
VE Testing -- Bill McMillen, N3QM
Not in attendance.
1st Saturday in April & October,
Torrance Walk -- May?
Darrell, WA3AJQ, asked if the Torrance people would know who to contact since Rusty may not return to the area.
Rusty O'Donnell, WB3EUQ, told Darrell at Saturday breakfast 1/27/07, that they contact him by his cell phone.
ARRL Field Day -- June?
Club Picnic -- September?
Richard Stinson, KB3KBC, feels we can have our club picnic at his home this year but reminded everyone he works Sunday mornings. It would be nice if we could establish a date for the picnic. Why can't we consider a Saturday ??
Sheetz Coupons -- September?
Ham Fest -- October?
It was agreed by the members present, to remove this item from the agenda.
Multi County Breakfast -- October?
We will again plan to have a multi county breakfast this year.
Darrell, WA3AJQ indicated he will Email Ed Wilbert, N3LFB, from Butler County to let him know we're interested. We will consider this for October.
Christmas Party -- December?
Consider Blue Spruce or somewhere else?
There was disappointment expressed with Hoss's. We were in the small room again and had a limited menu.
Upgrade Classes for Tech's to General Licenses? Kim
Kim mailed out letters to numerous members she thought might be interested In upgrading their Tech class licenses since code is no longer a requirement. Robert Zugates told Darrell Norris he had received only about three requests. We will not consider scheduling any classes.
Letter to Chauncey Ross - Indiana Gazette Kim Frech
Kim reported she had mailed an appreciation memo/with attachments, to Chauncey.
Notes or comments?
If you know of anyone that would be interested in becoming a ham or would like to join our club, please invite them to our meetings.
Robert Zugates, KB3JOF, has been appointed ARES Emergency Coordinator.
Darrell indicated If anyone has any ideas or something they would like to schedule for one of the future meetings, please submit your request to any one of the board members to be placed on the agenda.
Darrell will be traveling to Florida, Jerry Kiehl will be filling in as president at the next couple meetings, Darrell expects to return the end of April and should be at the May meeting,
Motion By: _ Larry Freeman Second: Richard Stinson
ADJOURNED At: 8:00 PM. (Local time)
ATTENDANCE:
| Darrell Norris WA3AJQ | Larry Freeman N3LT | Dennis Whitson KB3LBQ | Terry Carnahan KB3JOD | Richard Stinson KB3KBC |
| Ron Carnahan KB3JOE | Steve Kuser KB3JNZ | Kim Frech ------------ | Jerry Kiehl WB3DUD | Linda Kiehl ----------- |
| Marcia Malcolm KD4ITP | Dick Malcolm KA3IYT | Fred Maize KM3M | Dave Dzelsky N3DZ | Alton Strong N3PHL |
Respectively Submitted by:
Kim Frech, Secretary / Treasurer
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