We’re having a bit of difficulty getting the combined July_August QFQ (newsletter) out to the distribution list. However, it is available as a download (”pdf”) on the QFQ page at the beginning of the 1st paragraph.
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES: We had a relatively small monthly club meeting last night (Aug. 4th). Attendance is always a bit thin at this busy time of year. Avi Freund [K1AKF], our PIO and Volunteer Coordinator noted two upcoming Amateur Radio Operator volunteer communication events as:
Saturday, September 4th. Northfield Labor Day Foot Race. The race starts at 10:30 a.m. and is a 5k run/walk. We meet at 9 a.m. in front of the Northfield Savings Bank on Depot Square Park (route 12) to map out a strategy and then go to our respective positions.
Sunday, September 26th,Waterbury Crop Walk. The Crop Walk is a fundraiser for the Waterbury Food Shelf and world wide relief services. The walk is a 3k walk that starts and ends at the Waterbury Congregational Church, just north of the intersection of South Main and Stowe Streets. The walk continues counterclockwise around River Road, Route 100 and back onto Main Street. This walk has been supported by amateur radio operators for the past seventeen years. Walk begins at 1. Volunteers assemble at the church at noon.
Until we get Avi’s e-mail linked as “thepio@w1bd.org”, please e-mail me to get in touch with Avi and other volunteer coordination.
As in the past, due to the 1st Wednesday in July coming on the heals of “Field Day”, Independence Day Celebrations, and summer vacations for many members, there will be no CVARC meeting the first Wednesday of July. We will, however, meet the 1st Wednesday in August (August 4th) at the Steak House on the Barre Montpelier Road (usual hours 5:00+ for early bird specials for dinner, 6:30 to start the meeting).
Per recent tradition, the CVARC Newsletter (QFQ) will not be published this month. Rather, there will be a combined July/August edition at the end of July. This will allow time for submission of pictures of “CVARC Field Day 2010″, hopefully concise notes regarding submitted pictures, and a brief write-up of attendees’ recollections of this year’s Field Day.
Briefly, Field Day was a success! Jenn Adams [KB1TDG] did an awesome job coordinating, cooking, and serving food. Steve Board [KA1LHZ] led the charge with antennas, wires, power cables, networked laptops for contact logging, and everything else he could transport as a tractor trailer load in his Volkswagen. The usual suspects (too numerous to mention briefly) came through with the load-in, set-up, break-down, and load out. More information, pictures, and write-up in the July/August QFQ. Thanks to all who made it happen.
Thanks to research, efforts, numerous e-mails, and phone calls by Wayne Dorsett [WA1YNE], and great assistance by the ARRL, CVARC has a new FCC issued “Special Events” Call Sign. The impetus for obtaining the new call sign was Wayne’s careful reading of the Field Day GOTA station requirements. Wayne had mentioned this issue in previous years but, apparently none of us heard, or remembered it.
In short, the Field Day GOTA station is required to have a separate call sign from that used by the “club” for Field Day. Once used by the GOTA station, it must be used for the duration of Field Day. There are other requirements but, that’s the bottom line. Although we may use this new call sign for other “Special Events”, the only current intent is use for the GOTA station which will be the LEPC/CERT trailer brought by Wayne Whitelock.
OK, enough detail. Our new Special Event call sign is:
KB1UJG [Kilo Bravo One Uniform Juliet Golf]…[NOTE: Originally posted as WB…, my error, KB1NGQ]
As they say, the check (or license in this case) is in the mail! Any ideas for an acronym for the call sign? “We Be One Using Just GOTA” comes to mind but that’s pretty stupid! de KB1NGQ
Volunteers are still needed for this Sunday’s “VCM”, especially:
“…a critical need for a Trail Bike Operator. Such an operator must
be very capable on a bicycle and on a radio (both at same time!). The job
is to follow the last official runner in the race and advise NCS on their
pace and location. It is a very slow ride so you needn’t be a bike speed
merchant. Can anyone do this?”
Anyone wishing to volunteer, especially to meet the above need, please contact w1sj@arrl.net or me and I’ll get you in touch with Mitch Stern. de Tom KB1NGQ “theprez@w1bd.org”
Due to the good graces of Allen Wilde N1IOE, and Tom Girardi WA1YNU, taking their unpaid time, at my request to re-install the “PA”, find the problem (blown fuse), and get the 146. 625 repeater back on the air, the repeater is just that, back on the air!. Regardless of anyone’s opinion of the “nets”, and any other issues, “.625″ is back. Although the repeater is back, its being down and the “nets” has cost us our most valuable technical resource, Allen Wilde [N1IOE], and has been tearing the club apart. Complete conjecture, fantasy, and bias have attempted to lay blame on Allen for the failure of the repeater. Although the repair has been delayed for many reasons, some of them mine for not being able to get to the repeater site when previously arranged with Allen, the problem was technical, NOT political. The political issues regarding the repeater use are my fault in leadership. I have allowed this to go on far too long, listened to and weighed all of the rants and raves, uninformed conjectures, “surveys”, and all members’ (and non-members’) thoughts, rather than take Draconian measures. Until the May 5th meeting, my last post stands. There will be no nets on the 146.625 repeater, other than the “CVARC Sunday Night FM Net”. End, No More!
In the interest of resolving the contention on the CVARC, Inc. 146.625 MHz “W1BD” Repeater, the following “Steps” are being taken:
1) Allen Wilde [N1IOE], CVARC’s Repeater Technician and “Repeater Committee Chair” will correct any technical problems with the repeater and get it “back on the air” at his earliest convenience.
2) When the 146.625 repeater is restored, any “Nets”, other than the CVARC Sunday Night FM Net are not to be held until the Membership raises and decides on the issue of appropriate “Nets”.HOWEVER, any contacts, QSO’s, and “Round Tables”, especially during “drive time”, inclement weather, and such are encouraged, using appropriate Amateur Radio protocol.This issue will be brought before the membership during the May 5, 2010 meeting.All Members are welcomed, and encouraged to participate in the meeting.
3) The course of CVARC is set by the duly elected Board of Directors, as motioned and ratified by the membership, not by unsolicited surveys, however well meaning.The membership may, at any notified meeting, motion and vote on their confidence in any member of the board.
For our members and friends who may be close enough to make the drive, please see:
2010 Portland Area Wireless Association Hamfest Saturday, [Sorry, some error with the 1st post of this, check for details. Date is March 26-27th] http://www.pawa-maine.org/
