News from the Sterling Park Amateur Radio Club (SPARC)

Hi,

Another month has gone by and it is time for the March meeting. We have a full agenda for the evening.

I did not do much for the past month. I missed all the contests. Antennas still down. I did however set up a special event station our our church and several young men came by and were able to make contacts. It was a lot of fun, but my station is still in pieces in the basement.

Refreshments will be provided by Mark, KI4OBT.

Frank Gentges, K0BRA, will visit our meeting and discuss Software Defined Radio. Thanks to Bud, W4KSN, for contacting Frank and arranging for the visit.

Finally, we will spend some time discussing the Virginia QSO Party. This is the final meeting before the Party and we have several things to discuss. This includes a final effort to solicit participation from hams in Virginia, organizing the club station, etc.

See you at the meeting,

73, Gordon, NQ4K

Our monthly SPARC meeting was held Feb 3rd at the Claude Moore Community Center. Fourteen members were in attendance.

The meeting kicked off with member introductions and discussion of our ham activities since the last meeting. Dick, W2YE, announced that he completed all the requirements for the WAS Triple Play Award (he is recipient #377). This award requires a voice, CW, and digital QSO with all 50 states and further requires that they all be confirmed on Logbook of the World. Congratulations, Dick!!

Reports were provided by the treasurer, secretary, and QSL bureau manager. Dick, W2YE, says that he has 4 letters available and is looking for volunteers. Mark, KI4OBT, reported that the annual report and fee has been filed with the Virginia State Corporation Commission.

The primary business discussion was on the upcoming Virginia QSO Party. Bud, W4KSN, reported that fliers have been mailed to all Virginia Clubs. Mark, KI4OBT, prepared an article for the Virginia Section web site and it is online at http://www.aresracesofva.org/. Gordon, NQ4K, has completed the first club presentation and several more are scheduled for February and March. Red, N3TG, will ask the Virginia Section Manager to send an e-mail to all Virginia Hams. Dick, W2YE, will send an announcement via a number of club e-mail reflectors and Henry, K2BFY, will make announcements on some of the traffic nets. Jim, AF4MO, is organizing the calling campaign.

The meeting ended with a video on the recent DXpedition to Desecheo Island. It gave us a taste of tropical weather in this snowiest winter on record.

The next meeting will be March 3rd, 7:00 PM, at the Claude Moore Community Center.

Hi,

I like a little history and often wondered when SPARC started, who were the founding members, when we picked up the QSL buro, and when we started to sponsor the Virginia QSO Party. Our web site has good record from about 2001 forward, but nothing older.

Duane, K4UW, a SPARC member from almost the beginning of the Club, has volunteered to be our historian, gather some of our history, and have it posted to our web site.

If you have any materials on the early activities of the club or contacts to past members, please pass them along to Duane.

Please all wish Duane good luck in this endeavor.

73, Gordon, NQ4K