News from the Sterling Park Amateur Radio Club (SPARC)

Emailed from K7DID:

The Alexandria Radio Club will be hosting an informal study group intent on passing the Extra Class exam at the Club's spring training session. Study dates will be the same as the regular licensing classes that will meet Tuesdays starting February 28th at 7:00 PM and continuing for 12 weeks. (Testing date is May 16.)

Please help spread the word to your club, friends and associates. The more, the merrier!

RSVP to K7DID at arrl.net

Thank you and Best 73,
de Deanna K7DID

Hi,

It seems strange having the January meeting this late in the month. But the time has gone by fast and I am looking forward to seeing all of you again.

I volunteered to give presentations on the Virginia QSO party to any organization requesting one. My first presentation will be at the combined North Shenandoah DX Association and Winchester Amateur Radio Society meeting on Friday, 20 Jan, in Winchester. I hope to report that these clubs enjoyed the briefing and will increase their participate in this year's event.

If we have time, I will show the briefing. There are some interesting statistics in it about last year's party.

The Virginia QSO Party preparations are coming along fine. Harry, KI4MSE, a new club member, is working on a log scoring program. Jim, AF4MO, is still working county and inndependent city coverage. We have emailed the ARRL cabform developer to see if they will develop on on-line entry form for our Party. We still need to discuss how we are going to contact hams in Virginia. fter our last meeting Don, K7CS, downloaded the FCC license files. Hopefully we will hear how far he has gotten.

See you at the meeting on Monday.

73,
Gordon, NQ4K

Hi,

This is a reminder that our regularly scheduled meeting for this month will not be held on Monday, 16 Jan, but will be held next Monday, 23 Jan.

I emailed all asking how folks did on the ARRL RTTY Round-up. I did 83 contacts for a score of 2296 on 80M. I really need to do something about my antenna.

Don, K7CS, wrote: I think I made around 130+ contacts, mostly on 40 meters with some on 20 meters. Of course that's with 400 watts and my verticals. I messed around some on 80 meters barefoot and picked up some of the local east cost stations. Had a couple good runs on 40 meters calling CQ. Not much on 15 meters. I heard Dick W2YE working Europe on 15 meters and I couldn't hear anything!!! I understand the plight of using inferior antennas. When I first moved to Colorado from AZ in 1979, I put up a 56' self supporting tower and TH6DXX. Sure was some good DX to be had then. Also did very well with my quad at 42' in AZ. Of course I I always loved QRO.

Bill, WF1L, wrote: I worked on it for a few hours, made about 27 QSO's, including 3 DX, while looking for the elusive Alaska on 80M. Family dropped in for a visit so gave up and went upstairs. I submitted with PVRC. Heard W2YE on 2 bands and could not work him on either one. Go figure..

That is all for now.
73,
Gordon, NQ4K

Foundation for Amateur Radio (FAR)
Meeting Minutes
December 14, 2005

The meeting was held at the Fire and Emergency Services building in Landover, Maryland. President Mary Morris (N4TCI) called the meeting to order at 8:00m pm.

Since the secretary was absent, Al Brown (KZ3AB) agreed to record and publish the meeting minutes.

The people attending the meeting introduced themselves. They were:

Chip Weems W4PBG Historical Electronics Museum ARC
Don Kirby KR3A Calvert ARA
William Hatfield W3QX Montgomery ARC
Mary Morris N4TCI Mt. Vernon ARC
Al Brown KZ3AB Maryland Emergency Phone Net and Antietam Radio Association
John Chitwood K3RGB
Dan Blasberg KA8YPY Laurel ARC
Hugh Katz K3HU Voice of America ARC
W Page Pyne WA3EOP Cheese Hollow ARC and
Antietam Radio Association

President Mary Morris (N4TCI) distributed the November 9, 2005 meeting minutes. They were approved without any corrections.

-- Treasurer's Report: John Chitwood (K3RGB) submitted the treasurer's report.

* After the latest tally of expenses for FARFest 2005, the Foundation suffered a net loss of approximately $500.

* Unfulfilled Auto-Call magazine subscriptions will be returned by the end of the calendar year.

* The State of Maryland is unable to process our application for a sales tax exemption on future items to be purchased for FARFest because of various bureaucratic reasons. Resolution of this misunderstanding is in the works.

-- Executive Vice President's Report: William Hatfield (W3QX) reported that the Foundation is more financially stable now than it has been in several years.

In addition, Edward H Herbrechtsmeier (K3QX) is building a replacement web home page for the Foundation and Jason Foster (N3PRZ) will be working on the FARFest web page.

-- ARRL Report: Al Brown (KZ3AB), Assistant MDC Section Manager (ASM) reported that MDC Section Manager (SM) Tom Aberbethy (W3TOM) has been elected to the position of Atlantic Division Vice Director. A new MDC Section Manager is to be named.

-- FARFest: FAR VP for FARFest, Dan Blasberg (KA8YPY) announced that he is finalizing the design of the FARFest 2006 tickets. FARFest 2006 will be held Saturday and Sunday, September 9 and10 at the Montgomery County (MD) Agricultural Center in Gaithersburg, Maryland.

-- Survivor's Assistance: Dan Blasberg (KA8YPY) reported that Robert T Finger (W9GE) is handling the survivor's assistance program for the Foundation in Maryland. He is working to sell equipment from two estates and one amateur radio operator who is unable to use his equipment and wants to donate the proceeds to FAR scholarships.

Old Business

-- By-Laws: There has been no progress on modifying the by-laws.

-- Elections: Candidates for office:

President - Mary Morris (N4TCI)
Executive Vice President - William Hatfield (W3QX)
Vice President - Dan Blasberg (KA8YPY)
Vice President - Hugh Turnbull (W3ABC)
Vice President - Diane Zimmerman (AA3OF)
Secretary - No candidate
Treasurer - No candidate

(Note: John Chitwood (K3RGB) reluctantly accepted the position as temporary Treasurer and agreed to "do the work until a replacement was found and elected.")

The acting secretary, Al Brown (KZ3AB) cast one vote for the nominees and the slate of candidates was elected by an acclamation of the majority.

New Business:

-- There was no new business.

Announcements:

-- The Historical Electronics Museum Amateur Radio Club (HEMARC) will be conducting a Technician Class amateur radio course at the Historical Electronics Museum in Linthicum, Maryland for 10-12 weeks beginning on Tuesday, January 10, 2006 at 6:30 pm. There is no fee. For information, contact: Les (WR3X) at 410-787-0341 or via email at .

-- The NIMS IS-700 for Amateur Radio course is scheduled for Saturday, December 17 from 9 am to 1 pm. For info or to register, contact: .

--Hamfests---

* Maryland Mobileers Annual Hamfest. Sunday January 29th (Super Sunday) from 8 AM till Noon at the Odenton Volunteer Fire Department, 1425 Annapolis Road (Route 175) nine miles east of I-95. $5 Admission.

* Wednesday February 1 is the BARC Free Minifest. This is held in the Exhibition Hall of the Maryland State Fairgrounds in Timonium MD. No charge to enter and buy or to sell but a hat is passed around amongst the sellers for a donation to the sponsor. Starts roughly 5 PM. Most activity in the 6:00 PM-7:30 PM time frame and the lonely vendors may be there until 8:00 or 9:00 PM.

* Feb 19 - Frostfest in Richmond, VA

* Feb 26 - Winterfest in Annandale, VA

* March 25-26 - The Greater Baltimore Hamboree at the Timonium Fairgrounds in Maryland


The meeting was adjourned at 8:55 pm.

The next Foundation for Amateur Radio meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, January 11, 2006 at the Lee Center in Alexandria, Virginia.

Everyone is invited to attend.

Respectfully submitted,
s/E. Allen Brown
E. Allen Brown, KZ3AB
Acting Secretary