See you at the SRRC Special Event 11-12 DEC in Leonore!!!

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STARVED ROCK RADIO CLUB MEMBERSHIP FORM
 

RENEWAL __________ NEW MEMBER __________
 

NAME__________________________________________CALL________________
 

ADDRESS___________________________________________________________
 

PHONE ________________________
 

E-MAIL__________________________________ Static via E-mail only? Yes /No
 

LICENSE CLASS __________ ARRL MEMBER ? Yes / No
 

ADDITIONAL FAMILY MEMBER_____NON RESIDENT__________
 

MEMBERSHIP DUES AND FEES: Regular annual dues are $10.00 payable January
of
each year. Initiation fee for new members is $5.00. Non-resident Member
and additional family Member dues are $5.00. Dues for part year memberships
are prorated at 0.83 per month.

Complete rules are printed in the Constitution of the Club.

NOTICE: DUES AND FEES FOR EACH MEMBER MUST BE ACCOMPANIED BY
THIS FORM
PROPERLY FILLED OUT. FUNDS SENT TO THE CLUB WITHOUT THIS FORM
WILL BE
CONSIDERED DONATIONS AND WILL NOT BE CREDITED TO DUES ACCOUNTS.

TREASURER: MARK FORM SHOWING DATE MEMBERSHIP EXPIRES.
SEND FORM TO SECRETARY FOR PERMANENT MEMBER RECORD.

Bring this to the meeting at 7:30 PM the first Monday of the month or mail
to:

STARVED ROCK RADIO CLUB
PO BOX 198
LEONORE,IL.61332

STATIC 1999  Page 2
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WE have all been given a gift. For another year we have kept a large portion of our
radio spectrum. The premier justification for continued access to our piece of the
spectrum pie is, and always will be, public service.

Quoting from 47CFR97.401: When normal communication systems are overloaded,
damaged or disrupted because a disaster has occurred, or is likely to occur, an
amateur station may make transmissions necessary to meet essential communication
needs and facilitate relief actions.

This Holiday Season, give a gift to your community! Contact your local Red Cross,
Salvation Army and emergency services and make yourself and your skills available to
your community. There are Red Cross offices in Peru (223-0922), Ottawa (433-1909),
Princeton (879-2231), Streator (672-2682) and Mendota (539-5234). Put down the
STATIC and give them a call!!!

See you at the January 3, 2000 meeting! Happy Holidays –de kb9ezz@arrl.net

Are you looking for a unique way to usher in the year 2000? Why not work your way
through the "millennium crisis" with a dose of real brass pounding during ARRL Straight
Key Night 2000. The object of this friendly on-air gathering is to enjoy the art of
conversation using "straight" CW hand keys-no electronic keyers allowed! 0000-2359
UTC January 1, 2000. When participating in SKN 2000, instead of sending RST before
sending the signal report send the letters SKN to indicate your participation (and to
clue in any listeners). So when your computer suddenly dies and your cable company
crashes because of the Y2K bug, dig out the old brass keys and pound out some fun
for the New Year's celebration. - ARRL n1nd@arrl.org

SRRC December meeting summary

The QSL contest was won by N9PIB. Next month's station is KA1KGW, Springfield
MA. It was reported that the toilet and bathroom basin is fixed and working. The 40/80
M inverted vee is also fixed. There was a one hour plus discussion of the repeater. It
was decided to shut off the remote receiver for a week as a test. The proposed
by-law amendment was passed. Members trying to keep their by-laws up to date
should refer to the wording in last month's STATIC to correct their copies. We donated
money to "NEWSLINE", the ARRL band defense fund, and to the U of I extension for
the use of their room as a ham class. Eldon, KB9PZA exhibited the certificates and
QSL's for the special event station which he printed. He asked for, and was given ten
dollars in payment for this. A LOT cheaper than last year's printing costs! Eldon also
told us that he has changed the web site to make the addresses of members a
protected page. Ask him for the password! There was some more activity in the
insurance matter. It seems we had no theft coverage!! Now we do, but it cost us more
too.

An Amateur Radio License class will be offered in Ottawa starting February 3rd. The 9
week class will run 6 to 8 Thursday evenings at the LaSalle County Extension Unit ,
3101 N. Route 23. The text, Now You're Talking, third edition, contains everything you
need to know to pass the exams and is available at local libraries and radio stores.
Successful graduates will also earn one CEU. Studying will be easiest if you have
friend or relative as a study partner. The class is free, but you must register by calling
the Extension Unit at (815) 433-0707. Enrollment is limited, so register early.

VEs are needed for the test on Thursday March 30th. Please call kb9ezz at 433-2347

STATIC December 1999 Page 3
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Radiograms

--Number...every radiogram should have a number. Keep a sheet with a consecutive
list of numbers, beginning at 1, by your radio. When a radiogram is written, complete
all parts of the preamble except the number. When you send the radiogram, assign a
number to it from the number sheet, crossing out numbers on the sheet as they are
used and making a notation, after the number, of the station to whom the radiogram
was sent and the date. Most traffic handlers start with number 1at the beginning of
each year.

--Precedence...every radiogram has a precedence, and it is normally "Routine" (R). It
is a separate part of the preamble and is transmitted as such, not as part of the
number. Other precedences are "Priority" (P), "Emergency" --never abbreviated, and
"Welfare" (W).

--Handling Instructions (HX) are used when the writer of the radiogram requires
special instructions in how to the handle the radiogram.

--Station of Origin is the call sign of the radio station from which the radiogram was
first sent by Amateur Radio, and is included so that handling stations will be able to
communicate with the originator if something interferes with the prompt handling or
delivery of the message.

--Check is the number of words and numerals in the text of the radiogram. Handling
stations should agree on the check before the message is considered handled.

--Place of Origin is the name of the town from which the radiogram started

--Time Field is the time the radiogram in (UTC) is received at the station that it sent.

--Date the month & day that the radiogram was filed at the originating station.

--Address is the complete name, street and number, city and state to whom the
radiogram is going--stress this when accepting a radiogram. The phone number should
be part of the address. In transmitting the message by CW, the signal AA is used to
separate parts of the address, and the address is followed by BT or "break" before
the text is started. Addresses with the words east, west, etc, should be spelled out in
full. Don't use suffixes "th," "nd"etc (example: 19 W 19th St should be 19 West 19 St.

--Text consists of words in the radiogram. No abbreviations should be used. The text
follows the address and is set off from the signature by another BT.

--Signature is usually the name of the person originating the message. The signature
follows the BT or "break" at the end of the text. The abbreviation "sig" is not
transmitted. After the signature, say "end" or transmit AR. If more is to follow, say
"more." On CW, use the prosign B. If there's no more, say "no more." On CW use the
prosign "N."

STATIC December 1999 Page 4
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Since I have only been a member of the SRRC for a short period of time (1 1/2 yrs) I
was very flattered to be elected president. Even though I was drafted into the position
I intent to do my best at fixing the problems that I see. Every month I intend to submit
a column to STATIC to outline a topic we can cover at the next months meeting. The
topic I would like to start with at the January meeting is membership requirements.
This topic is first because most people renew their membership by the March meeting.

In article II of the constitution there are four types of membership available: regular,
non-resident, associate, and honorary. We currently have around 88 members of all
types and out of those I would guess around 35 active members. I would like to
encourage more participation through membership requirements. The first step is to
raise the regular dues to $100.00 /yr. A credit of up to 80 points (dollars) can be
obtained by working for, and participating in, club activities. The following are some
examples of activities and points available.

--Working 1 shift at the Hamfest (30 points)

--Participating at field day (15 points)

--Special event stations (10 points)

--Being an officer (50 points)

--Being a committee chairperson (50 points)

--Being an active committee member (25 points)

--Giving a 15 minute presentation at a meeting (10 points)

--Attending a monthly meeting (3 points)

--Checking in on the club net (1 point)

These numbers can change and there will be flexibility. The points will be assigned
based on the relative value of the work to the club. Points can be banked for up to 3
years for people who have more time 1 year and not the next or people who get
involved in a big project and go over the 80 point maximum. The point of this change is
to encourage participation in all aspects of the club not to throw people out. The
vice-president will be involved in keeping track of the points and will assign point values
to tasks.

This change is not absolute and I hope people will think of other ways to encourage
participation.

--Mark KB9JTL

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I AM A NEW MEMBER OF YOUR RADIO CLUB

I see you at my meetings but you never say "hello"...
You're busy all the time you're there, with those you already know.

I sit amongst the members and yet I'm a lonesome guy...
the new ones are as strange as I, but you old members pass me by.

But, darn it, you folks asked us in and talk of fellowship...
you could just step across the room, but you've never made the trip.

Why can't you nod and say "hello", or stop and shake my hand?
then, go and sit amongst your friends, now that I'd understand.

I'll be at your next meeting, perhaps a nicer time to spend
Do you think you could introduce yourself? I want to be your friend.

–Anonymous

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Amateur Radio class to be offered in Ottawa starting in February.

An Amateur Radio License class will be offered in Ottawa starting February
3rd. The 9 week class will run 6 to 8 Thursday evenings at the LaSalle
County Extension Unit , 3101 N. Route 23.

Amateur Radio has survived the surge of cell phones, the Internet and all
the wireless wonders that fascinate people today. It's because Amateur Radio
is more than just a way to contact someone.

Amateur Radio operators are often recognized for their volunteer emergency
work. When a tornado ravaged Northeast Georgia their communication skills
became needed when power was knocked out and cellular telephone networks
soon became overloaded. Locally, Amateur Radio is used during weather
'watches', emergency drills and other public service events.

Today's Amateur Radio enthusiasts come from virtually every age bracket and
from every profession. Earning a license and operating a radio is a unique
skill, and people like the challenge.

You earn a license by passing two multiple-choice exams. Morse code is not
required. The class will use radio demonstrations and video presentations.
The text, Now You're Talking, third edition, contains everything you need to
know to pass the exams and is available at local libraries and radio stores.
Successful graduates will also earn one CEU.

Studying will be easiest if you have friend or relative as a study partner.
The class is free, but you must register by calling the Extension Unit at
(815) 433-0707. Enrollment is limited, so register early.