Happy Thanksgiving! Happy Thanksgiving ~ John Dyer, KM6DXY

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1 November 2017 In This Issue Happy Thanksgiving Annual Christmas Party Pack-a-Mania 2017 Pacificon 2017 ARRL Calendar of Events TARA Calendar of Events Important Information - Local Repeaters - Club Websites - TARA Officers & Committee s - TARA Meeting & Club Information - Membership Application Contact Us Visit us on Facebook! TARAtehachapiamateurradio Visit our Website! tehachapiareahams.yolasite.com Mail: Tehachapi Amateur Radio Association (TARA) P.O. Box 1681 Tehachapi, CA Suggestions or Comments Via Mail: The Dummy Load Attn: John Dyer KM6DXY P.O. Box 1681 Tehachapi, CA The Official Newsletter of the Tehachapi Amateur Radio Association Volume 1, Number 8 Happy Thanksgiving With Fall comes that special time of year we call Thanksgiving. It is a time that we can set aside a few moments and remember or acknowledge the things and the people we are Thankful for. I am Thankful to be a part of this club. I am Thankful for the people who contribute their time, energy and skillsets in service to the public. I am Thankful to those who help mentor our youth as well as new operators. I am Thankful to those who have taken on leadership roles within our organization; past, present and future. I am Thankful for every member of this club for being a valued part of our club. Without your support and participation our purpose would be mute. Finally, I am Thankful to all those who have served or are currently serving in our armed forces. Our freedoms do come at a cost and I Thank You for everything you have contributed to protect those freedoms. Happy Thanksgiving! Annual Christmas Party (2017) The holidays have quickly come upon us. It is amazing how fast time flies. We will be celebrating the Holidays at Gracian s Grill this year on December 16 th at 5:30pm (PST). The Christmas Party will be our meetings for the month of December so don t miss out. That includes the Board Meeting. Please be so kind as to R.S.V.P. to Laura Sherrod, KI6EOG, at (661) to let her know that you will be attending. There will be a gift exchange along with a raffle. Pack-a-Mania (Cub Scouts) Event The 2017 running of Pack-a-Mania was another huge success. The event, which is typically held near the end of October, was held during the weekend of November 10 th 12 th. T.A.R.A. was invited back again for our second year. As usual, they held the event (campout) at the Kern County Fairgrounds in Bakersfield. The actual campout location moved from near the Budweiser Pavillion to a large grass lot near Gate 28 and the intersection of Avenue P and Belle Terrace. While the vote is still out from participants as to whether or not the new location was better, I felt that it provided a better source of electricity for everyone and moved us a little closer to the activities. There certainly was plenty of room for all the campers and guests.

2 Via To: Pack-a-Mania (Cub Scouts) Event (continued) Subject: The Dummy Load Newsletter Or Click Here Brenda (KM6LVP) and I arrived at the venue at about 3:00pm and found Kevin Reilly (K6KTR) from the NASA club already there with his van almost completely set up. The main show started the following morning. While Brenda and I did not campout, we were back onsite to help the event organizers (Pack 950 and volunteers) with breakfast preparations. Ok, Brenda helped with the cooking and I drank coffee and stayed out of the way. When Phil (W6WBT) and Sylvia Dolber (KD6UUC) arrived be quickly went to work setting up our station. Andy Gutierrez (K6BVS) also brought his van and began to prepare his equipment. Brenda and I brought our Yeasu 8900R, recently purchased at Pacificon earlier in the month, along with by Buddipole mast and J-Pole antenna. Phil and Sylvia brought their dual band mobile radio and Andy covered the HF with his Icom rig. I couldn t begin to tell you what Kevin had set up in his van, however, I believe it may have included his Yaesu FTM-400DXR along with a weather station and security camera! Phil providing instruction to the Scouts As Scouts arrived to our station, Phil provided them with some information on Amateur Radio, a few sample scripts and demo microphones to prepare them for going LIVE on the air. The Scouts then moved over to our radio stations and lined up to speak to fellow hams in Tehachapi and the Walker Basin area on 2-meter and 70cm. Sylvia spoke with interested Scouts, siblings and parents about amateur radio and provided them with brochures and information on how to get involved. With the help of Skip Clark (WB6TXX / Walker Basin), Phill Turok (AE5PT / Bear Valley) and Valerie Mason (KK6WLQ / Bear Valley) every Scout was able to make a successful contact. We also made contact with Dick Brown (W6SLZ). After completing their contact on the air, Scouts were then given the opportunity to check-out Kevin s van as he explained the function, features and benefit of all the radio equipment in the van. The day came to a close for us around 3:00pm and the tear down was almost as quick as the setup. Special Thanks go out to Skip Clark (WB6TXX) and Phil Dolber (W6WBT) for arranging for the use of the Kern System of Repeaters and Dick Brown s (W6SLZ) repeater. We would also like to thank the owners of all the repeaters for allowing us the use their equipment. Dick Brown (W6SLZ) Lee Bouchard (KI6HHU) John Wilhelm (WA6KLB) Ron Thome (K6RET) Steven Hess (KC6KGE Jerry Garis (KK6AC)

3 Pack-a-Mania (Cub Scouts) Event (continued) I hope I didn t miss anybody. The Tehachapi Amateur Radio Association has been invited back again next year. We have had a great interest in Amateur Radio amongst the Scouts as well as their parents. Phil, Andy and Brenda helping Scouts to make a contact Pacificon 2017 If you have only one HamFest event that you can attend in a given year, Pacificon is one to put on your list for consideration. The event is held in San Ramon every October and spans 3days. The registration fee s are reasonable and special rates are available for your stay at the event hotel, the San Ramon Marriott. Don t wait too long to make reservations as the hotel fills up quickly. With a schedule full of seminars and vendors to visit picking up a few tidbits of knowledge will not be an issue. ARRL CALENDAR of EVENTS This page will be devoted to providing our members with events sponsored by the American Radio Relay League (ARRL). We will review the calendar on their website monthly and update the list below. You may also find information on their website at: November EME - 50 to 1296 MHz 4-6 Nov. Sweepstakes CW Nov. Sweepstakes Phone December Meter Meter 17 Rookie Roundup - CW

4 TARA CALENDAR of EVENTS This page will be devoted to providing our members with events sponsored by or involving the participation of our club. We will review the calendar on a monthly basis and update you accordingly. All dates are subject to change. November Breakfast (Mulligan Room, Bear Valley Springs) December Christmas Party, Gracian s 5:30pm 30 Breakfast (Mulligan Room, Bear Valley Springs) IMPORTANT INFORMATION This page will be devoted to providing our members with events sponsored by or involving the participation of our club. We will review the calendar on a monthly basis and update you accordingly. LOCAL REPEATER INFORMATION TARA APRS Digipeater No Tone KA6PTJ-3 APRS BVS APRS Digipeater: No Tone WA6LDQ-3 APRS BVS Repeater: Backup Freq Hz Tone Simplex W6SLZ Open Machine BVS Repeater: Hz Tone W6SLZ Tehachapi Repeater: Hz Tone KI6HHU Tehachapi Repeater: Hz Tone KG6KKV Tehachapi Simplex: No Tone Tehachapi Simplex: No Tone Open Machine Open Machine Overlooks Bakersfield Local Simplex Local Simplex ATTENTION: For those interested in monitoring dispatch for the Bear Valley Springs Police Department - All dispatch for BVSPD will be handled by the Kern County Sheriff s Department - KCSO Eastern Dispatch: KCSO East TAC:

5 CLUB & Other WEBSITES TARA TARA Facebook Page: AVARC BVSERT KCCVARC ARRL: WKCARES: TARA Officers and Committee s President: Phill Turok (AE5PT, phill.turok@gmail.com) 1 st Vice President: Dan Mason (AB6DM, imprezaspeed@yahoo.com) 2 nd Vice President: John Dyer (KM6DXY, km6dxy@arrl.net) Secretary: Valerie Mason (KK6WLQ, val3mason@yahoo.com) Treasurer: Sylvia Dolber (KD6UUC, sylviaquilts@gmail.com) Web Page: Dan Mason (AB6DM, imprezaspeed@yahoo.com) Facebook: Phil Dolber (W6WBT, w6wbt@arrl.net) TARA Meeting and Club Membership Information The Tehachapi Amateur Radio Association meets every second Thursday of the month at 7:00 PM (except for July - no meeting). Our meetings are held at the Mountain Aire Estates Activities Center, 600 South Dennison Road in Tehachapi, Ca. Drive in the entrance and the Activities Center is straight ahead. T.A.R.A. Member Annual Dues: Additional Family Member: $25.00/year $12.50/per person Club address: T.A.R.A., PO Box 1681, Tehachapi, CA Membership Application On the last page of this newsletter is a copy of our Membership Application. Please share this with any friends, family or neighbors that are either Hams or may be interested in Amateur Radio. Applications can and will be accepted at all club meetings. If you prefer, you may mail your application along with the applicable dues to the club Post Office Box as follows: Tehachapi Amateur Radio Association (TARA) P.O. Box 1681 Tehachapi, CA

6 TEHACHAPI AMATEUR RADIO ASSOCIATION MEMBERSHIP TYPE (Check all that apply) New Member Individual $25.00 / Year Renewal Family $12.50 / Additional Family Member / Year APPLICANT INFORMATION P.O. BOX 1681 TEHACHAPI, CA MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION Date of Application Call Sign License Classification / License Held Technician General Extra First Name Last Name Street Address Apt. / Unit City State Zip Code Home Phone Number Cell Phone Number ( ) ( ) Address Background Have you ever been convicted of a crime, felony, etc.? If so, please provide details below: No Yes Details: Other Memberships ARRL ARES RACES CERT OTHER Family Members in Household (Fill out only if completing a Family Membership) Call Sign Class (T/G/E) First & Last Name Age Amount Paid Cash / Check Date Approval Applicant Signature: Date: Revised October 12, 2017