News from the Sterling Park Amateur Radio Club (SPARC)

Hello SPARC'ers:

I have been given the illustrious task as the CLUB BLOGGER. As Secretary I am to maintain the club BLOGGER with the meeting notes after each meeting. What is a Blogger you ask? That is a good question. I did not know as well. Apparently, our really hip and network savy club president is really on the cutting edge of such things.. A BLOG'er is pre-made webpage of sort where text is added and the webpage is created without the user having any knowledge of HTML...webpage source code.

...so "On With the Show..."

Our May meeting was attended by 9 folks. Anyone who was not in attendance almost became a nominee for a club officer's position. Please read on.

Jim Purks had a presentation dealing with Historical figures of radio. Jim shared a historical perspective on significant figures that contributed to the development of radio. As a side hobby of Jim's, he shared his many hours of personal study and enthusiastic interest in the people that developed radio into what it has become today.

VA QSO Party:
Pres Gordon has spent many diligent hours determining the winners of the VA QSO Party. They are posted on the club's webpage. The trophies have been ordered. The awards will be presented at the Manassas HAMfest in June. Aside: There wasn't one entry for the digital operations award. This might be noted as we prepare for next years Party. The Party in general had an above average turn out. We suspect that Dennis's e-mail mention via ARRL means increased the awareness of the PARTY. Dennis is our ARRL Roanoke District Officer that has visited the club several times.

BURO Call:
John M. Resigns from the letter F. Replacement sought. SUN cycle low point has all band activity impeded.

FAR Call:
nothing reported.

Bank Call:
Tres. not present.... heh heh heh. Mr. President.

Nominations for Elections:
...No volunteers. No opposition. No new nominees. No contest. No changes expected. (...phew.)

Field day planning was initiated. Food, gear, schedules, stations 3A, GOTA and call sign issues were discussed. Permission has been already been obtained to use back side of Park High School. We have our elected official planning to attend. Press coverage will be requested via AF4MO. Status on generator has been requested. Attempts to accommodate the anticipated absence of Floyd W4RW was acknowleged and realized... Floyd (W4RW) was the essence of field day for every SPARC club member. His move to Kansas will certainly impact us this year. The call sign W4RW, the ribbon cable antenna ... (...pause)... the associated soldering gun to fix the ribbon cable antenna, all the extending cords, and cables will have to be supplied by other means.

Preparation purchases considered: Don and John are reassessing tarps and/or drop cloths to use as sides supplementing the club traps Clothes pins have been considered as a means to an end for support.

Clip from Jay Leno show - cw vs text messaging. Guess who won??

http://www.tarc.org/index.php?load=leno

Don Sambol, K7CS

Hi,

Another month has gone bye and I did not get as much done as I had expected. I did not get on the air at all this month. Too much going on. Oh well, there is always next month and Field Day is coming up.

We are wrapping up the 2005 Virginia QSO Party. Preliminary results have been posted to our web site. This has been a very successful Party. Participation was way up. Plaques will be presented at the Manassas Hamfest on 5 Jun 05. I hope that some of you can come out and join in the presentations.

We have three enjoyable activities for this upcoming meeting.
First, our very own famous radio personality, Jim, KF4PQL, discusses the very early days of Radio, Malone Loomis, and Gugiellmo Marconi. I admit I have never heard of Malone Loomis so I am looking forward to Jim's talk.

Next, we have field day coming up and this is the meeting at which we begin to formulate our plans for the big event. Our June meeting is just before Field Day, so I hope that we can do most of the planning at this meeting. Jim, KF4PQL, has already arranged for the use of the school land. Kevin, W4KLS, has volunteered his Yaesu FT 840 and "new" laptop. Please think about any changes we want to make this year from last so we can discuss them and still have time to make preparations. We are well on our way to another great Field Day.

Finally, we are nearing the end of the year and it is time to nominate officers for the next SPARC year. We will accept nominations at the meeting. (Notice how Jim, KF4PQL, has his name mentioned twice above.) Elections will be held at the June meeting.
See you at the meeting,

73,
Gordon, NQ4K

Hi,

Jim, KF4PQL, famous radio personality, has agreed to discuss very early days of Radio, Malone Loomis, and Gugiellmo Marconi at our next club meeting.

73, Gordon, NA4K