Prez Says. Hi, Everyone!

Transcription

1 Volume 61 Issue 8 August 2015 August 8th Picnic: (Note: No meeting this Month In this issue: Contents Prez Says... 1 Field Day VE:... 2 VE Examinations: Fox Hunting Season: July Issue Apology:... 3 Meeting Minutes: Meeting Schedule:... 5 MCRC Officers... 5 Elizabeth Park (MCRC Picnic Site):... 5 On-Air Activities:... 6 Join us for an eye ball QSO.. 6 MCRC WEBSITE Note: We are always looking for stories and photos for the Spark Gap. Please send them to the Editor. k.williams@ieee.org Prez Says Hi, Everyone! As I sit here writing this article to you, we are having daily rain along with a cool spell but, rest assured, I am sure it will be warmer soon. I hope everyone is enjoying their summer and rejuvenating themselves from our cold winter. Please don t forget that there is no formal General Meeting in August. Please join us at the MCRC Annual Picnic to be held at Elizabeth Park in Trenton on August 8th with a rain date of August 22nd. Listen to the repeater for Dale WA8FRD to give up-to-date information in case of rain. I want to thank KW N8FNC for his presentation on RFI & EMI Part 2 at our last General Meeting. Like last year, the preparation and effort that went into it was outstanding - Thank you KW! Also, a big Thank you to Stan K8SB for showing a You-tube video of our 2015 Field Day! MCRC Spark Gap I also want to thank KW for bringing back the August edition of our Spark Gap two years ago which had been on a hiatus for many years. Without a General Meeting in August, it is more important than usual to keep the lines of communication open between the board and the membership of our club. I mention the lines of communication for a very good reason. Your club and your board do not know your feelings if you do not participate and have your voice heard. I, for one, prefer eyeball QSO s (such as general meetings, board meetings, one-on-one meetings, etc.) rather than impersonal s and the like. I use s as an example because the sender can make statements without the benefit of listening to a rebuttal as in true communication. Of course, this type of communication is harder but it is the more mature way to go. Talking about having your voice heard, a good start would be at our September 11th General Meeting for Nominations for Election. Have your voice heard and nominate those who you would like to lead our club in the coming year. Please don t forget that this will be at our new meeting location in Wyandotte! Spark Gap is published monthly as the official organ of the Motor City Radio Club. Page 1 of 6

2 I would like to thank KW N8FNC for volunteering to sit on the Audit Committee again - this year as the Chairperson. Once again, a big Thank you goes to Bruce AC8KD for being Field Day Chairperson and his staff for doing such a great job. Do I have any volunteers to be Field Day Chairperson next year? If you are interested, please let me or one of the board members know so we can pass your name on to the new president and board members after elections. Once again, our November Dinner Chairperson has stepped down. The very good news is that our Club Secretary Chuck KD8WFS has stepped up and is running with the ball. As reported by Chuck, the 2015 ANNUAL DINNER will be held at the Lakes of Taylor Golf Course on Northline just east of Beech Daly. Although registration is free, we will be ordering off the menu and will receive separate checks. There are very nice seating arrangements in their library area which will give us plenty of room and allow flexibility in numbers. You can check out the menu on their website. Chuck, Woody, and I recently had lunch there and we think the food and ambiance is great. Woody N8MWQ has set up a registration tab in the Event Section of the club website so we can have an idea of how many folks to expect. As one member just told me after hearing of the arrangements, A dinner without drama ; I wholeheartedly agree! Thank you, Chuck! Enjoy the summer and make some HF contacts! Thank you again for your continued support of our club. 73, Bill AC8KO Field Day VE: On Field Day, June 27, 2015, it rained all day and night leading some to suggest that an emergency ark should have been built instead of tents erected and radio signals trying to get through the elements. But inside the Community Bible Church all was dry and even warm and quiet. Only two applicants showed up for an exam, while we had 8 VEs. One applicant, Jacklyn Rene Little came to succeed and scored a perfect score on her Technician exam. Results were one new tech has joined the ranks of amateur radio operators. Special thanks to those VE s who came out in the rain to enable us to have our session: Gary, W8GPR; Mack, KA8DOT; Bob, AC8DZ; Dale, WA8FRD; John, N8KAM; Woody, N8MWQ. 73: Don Novak, K8THU VE Examinations: Next VE Examination July 11, VE Schedule: Exams will start at 9AM and be at the Glenwood United Methodist Church in Wyandotte Ford Ave, Wyandotte, MI No advance registration is required. Our exams are every other month the second Saturday at 9:00 AM beginning in January each year and at FD in June. We also offer license renewal free for ARRL members, unless the license is a vanity call, in which case, the fee is $ , Don Novak, K8THU k8thu@arrl.net Thank You, 73, Don Novak, K8THU k8thu@arrl.net Don & XYL: Spark Gap is published monthly as the official organ of the Motor City Radio Club. Page 2 of 6

3 2015 Fox Hunting Season: Bruce and Woody were the Fox for the June Fox hunt. It is encouraging to note that the number of hunters that found the fox this time is up Fox Hunts Calls Miles Arrived POINTS 5/30/2015 Place 1st AC8KD N8MWQ N8FNC nd K8SB WB8AFO rd N8TDF N8SLJ KB8TOO DNF 1 4th K8HV JERRY DNF 1 FOX KC8OBH KC8PKY 3 6/20/2015 1st N8TDF N8SLJ nd K8SB WB8AFO rd W8KZP KB8TOO th K8HV DNF 1 FOX AC8KD N8MWQ 3 Join us for the next hunt on August 15 th! 2015 July Issue Apology: MCRC Members & Officers: Please accept my profound apology for the blunder in our most recent (July) Spark Gap issue. As I began assembling the August issue, I noticed that the 'Header' information, as well as the first page issue label in our July issue indicated that this was the June issue! I believe we all were so focused on the content, and the looming Field Day exercise that we missed this essential bit of formatting. A revised (Rev 1b) version with those problems corrected has been sent out electronically by Jim Baksa - KD8HFX to the members and he will replace the faulty issue in our archives. It is too late to send a paper version but, at least we can touch base with those who use the internet to communicate, as well as Ham Radio. I offer my profound apologies for this blunder, and request the forgiveness of all of the MCRC members. N8FNC: MCRC Spark Gap Editor. Spark Gap is published monthly as the official organ of the Motor City Radio Club. Page 3 of 6

4 Meeting Minutes: * Club Call W8MRM - Since 1934 Motor City Radio Club General Membership Meeting June 5, 2015 President Bill Loeber, AC8KO Vice President- W. Kirkman, N8MWQ Secretary Chuck Smith, KD8WFS Treasurer Dale Poblenz, WA8FRD Custodian John Roberts, N8KAM Trustee Jim Baksa, KD8HFX Trustee - John Roberts, N8KAM Parliamentarian B. Menning, AC8KD 1. Call meeting to order at 7:30 PM. 2. Club Roll Call: Members: Acknowledgement of Guests: Guests: 3 4. Minutes from last meeting: Motion _Bob AC8DZ _ Second _Gary W8GPR Approved 5. President s Report: Welcome 6. Vice President s Report: How to become a member 7. Secretary s report: Status Quo 8. Treasurer s Report: Without objection, accepted subject to audit. Sandy Pittman and Morley N8JU Marv Wier s estate sale netted the club a few dollars, KW N8FMC will be the audit chair. 9. Committee/Coordinator Reports: Education - Kimball N8FNC.: Space available at the Dearborn Heights Library or the Southgate YMCA for another Ham Radio class. Could run in October or November. Place, month and day of week yet to be determined. Looking for member input on deciding. Should be 6:30 to 9pm, for 5 weeks. We would like assistance in setting up and instruction. Fox Hunts - Bruce AC8KD. Next hunt on July 18th. Net Manager/Emerg. Comms/Custodian John N8KAM. Out of town, but status quo. Special Events/Publicity/ History Anne K8AE. Out sick. Best wishes Anne. V E program Don K8THU. Exam on Saturday the 11th. Plenty of VEs will attend. Spark Gap - Kimball N8FNC. Chuck KD8WFS will be backup editor for the Spark Gap while KW is in Europe attending conferences. Webmaster Jim KD8HFX. Working fine. Dale reminded us the website is paid ahead for 3 years. Field Day Bruce AC8KD. Survived! Rain and wind destroyed the food tent. Thanks to everyone who showed up to help with setup, teardown and man the radios. Special thanks to John N8KAM, tent captains Stan N8SB and Woody N8MWQ. Thanks to Gary W8GPR for the many miles he put on his car running errands for Bruce. Wet, mud, wind but, it all worked out. Thanks! Librarian - Ray KD8DPZ. Absent. KW N8FNC reminded everyone of the book 200m and Down available in the club library.. Good book and we should check it out. 10. Awards/Recognition: none 11. Refreshments: Coffee: Dale WA8FRD. Donuts: Bob AC8DK. Soda/Pop: Gary W8GPR. 12. New Members Announcements: Sandy Pittman no call sign yet, Walter Carter KD8LWC. Welcome to the club! 13. Unfinished Business: none 14. NEW/Old BUSINESS: Annual Dinner: Chuck KD8WFS. (November). With John s resignation, Chuck KD8WFS will assume responsibilities related to the club dinner. Keeping it simple and fun, no drama, we decided to hold the dinner at the Lake House Grill at the Lakes of Taylor Golf Course, located on Northline, just east of Beech Daly. Catering requires a minimum of 50, so we will order off the menu and cover our own bill. We will get a better selection. It will be less expensive, and more food. There is plenty of parking, a covered passenger drop off, and an elevator. We will be seated in the library area. Should be very comfortable with elbow room and cooler temps this time. Sign up on the club website so we can get a rough head count. You can check out the menu at this link - Club Field Trip? Ideas? Volunteers? Meeting Location Change effective 09/15! Pass the word! Program Presentations. (2015). Any ideas for 2016? Help the new president! Nominations. Bill W8KZP. Have candidates for all 4 positions. Contact Bill if you want to run for office. Club Picnic: August 8th. with a rain date of August 22nd. Dale WA8FRD. 15. Club/Board Announcements:. Board meeting: Thursday July 16th Big Boy, Wyandotte. Club Breakfast: Saturday July 18th Leo s Coney Island, Riverview. (Make Note: Location). Next meeting: Sept.11th. Nominations for Elections. Bill W8KZP. 16. Motion for a 15 Minute RECESS: Motion _Bob AC8DZ Second Ray N8TYA_ Y. 17. Program: RFI & EMI Part 2 for the Ham. KW N8FNC. Thanks KW for a very nice presentation. 18. For the good of the club? 19. Close meeting : Do I have a motion to adjourn? Ray N8TYA and Bob AC8DZ Spark Gap is published monthly as the official organ of the Motor City Radio Club. Page 4 of 6

5 2015 Meeting Schedule: The following is the overall plan for Motor City Radio Club Meetings, Activities and Presentations for Note: Some meeting plans are subject to change and we may take advantage of special opportunities to make changes if particularly interesting options present themselves. August 8 Club Picnic / Rain Date August 22. September 11 Officer Nominations: Bill W8KZP October 2 Elections + "Hints & Kinks", Stan K8SB HINTS AND KINKS SHOW AND TELL A reminder that at the October meeting we will be presenting our Hints and Kinks Show and Tell program. Please contact Stan, K8SB with your information about your presentation before September 15. K8SB@ARRL.net ( ) November 14 Annual Dinner! John K8DHH (No Meeting) December.4 -.Christmas Celebration & New Year Goals Members with suggestions for meeting topics and presentations should contact our President with details. Bill Loeber, AC8KO president@w8mrm.net Elizabeth Park (MCRC Picnic Site): Ponies Elizabeth Park, the oldest unit of the Wayne County Park System, is located on the Detroit River and is linked to the City of Trenton by bridges. The Park occupies 162 acres and formerly known as "Slocum's Island." The Park is presently owned and operated by the Wayne County Parks Division. The Park, valued at more than $1,000,000, has been landscaped and provided with field stoves and picnic tables. A 3-lane concrete road, intersected by numerous drives and paths circles the island, linked with the mainland by a vehicle bridge and three footbridges. A large concrete dock on the Detroit River serves as a landing for both large passenger craft and speedboats.. Though the City of Trenton does not use the park for any organized recreation programs, thousands of residents in the area use the park each year for summer picnicking and launching small boats into the Detroit River. MCRC Officers President Bill Loeber, AC8KO president@w8mrm.net Vice President Woody Kirkman, N8MWQ vicepresident@w8mrm.net Secretary Chuck Smith KD8WFS secretary@w8mrm.net Treasurer Dale Poblenz WA8FRD treasurer@w8mrm.net Custodian John Roberts N8KAM Trustee(s) Jim Baksa KD8HFX for W8MRM John Roberts N8KAM for W8GTZ Parliamentarian Bruce AC8KD Committee Chairs V.E. Liaison Don Novak K8THU k8thu@arrl.net Net Manager John Roberts N8KAM netcontrol@w8mrm.net Education Dave Metz III KC8OBH QSL Manager Jim Baksa KD8HFX k8sak@arrl.net Spark Gap Editor Kim Williams N8FNC k.williams@ieee.org Associate Editor Chuck Smith KD8WFS vtx2ultra@yahoo.com WebMaster Jim Baksa KD8HFX webmaster@w8mrm.net Associate WebMaster Woody Kirkman, N8MWQ webmaster@w8mrm.net Publicity Anne Travis K8AE k8ae@arrl.net See W8MRM.NET for the full listing Spark Gap is published monthly as the official organ of the Motor City Radio Club. Page 5 of 6

6 The Longest ARRL Affiliated Club In Michigan Motor City Radio Club P.O. Box 1337 Southgate, MI Visit Us on the Web at: Forwarding Services Requested On-Air Activities: MCRC 2 Meter Net: Join us every Tuesday night at 9PM for the Motor City Radio Club 2 meter net on the PL 100 Wyandotte Repeater, or use Echolink WY8DOT-R. CW (QMN) Traffic Nets: Net Name MHz Days Time Michigan Net 3563 Sn-F 18:30hrs Michigan Net 3563 Sn-F 22:00hrs Digital Traffic Nets: Net Name MHz Days Time- Mode Michigan Digital Traffic Net (MIDTN) 3583 Tue, Thurs, Sat Fox Hunts: Following Club Breakfast! 20:00hrs Olivia Join us for an eye ball QSO MCRC Membership Picnic: August 8, 11:30AM Rain Day: August Elizabeth Park 3975 W Jefferson Ave Trenton, MI MCRC Club Breakfasts August 15, 9AM: (3 rd Saturday of Each Month) Fox Hunt to follow immediately after! Leo s Coney Island Restaurant Fort St. Riverview, MI MCRC Board Meetings: August 20, 7:30PM (3 rd Thursday of Each Month) Big Boy Restaurant 3366 Biddle Ave. Wyandotte, MI MCRC Special Events: Announced on the MCRC web site at Spark Gap is published monthly as the official organ of the Motor City Radio Club. Page 6 of 6