News from the Sterling Park Amateur Radio Club (SPARC)
The SPARC web site is at http://www.qsl.net/sterling.
Thursday, September 26, 2019
Meeting, Wednesday, 2 October, at 7PM
It is time for our October monthly club meeting. Wednesday, 2 October 2019, starting at 7 PM.
I had a good month in Amateur Radio. Worked a lot of FT8 and supported the technical class and examination session on 21-22 September. See our web page for the good results.
Refreshments for this month will be by Gordon, NQ4K. He promised more of the same boring stuff we always have.
Marty, NV3H, has coordinated for a presentation by Rick, N1RM, on one of his adventures titled "On The Rock - N1RM Clingstone Activation." I think Clingstone Island is in Rhode Island near the mouth of Narragansett Bay. The house on the island is almost as big as the island. Should be an interesting presentation.
We also have a few items of club business.
Sterling Festival is the weekend of 12 October. Planning for the booth is coming along nicely. We have been sending our separate emails on this subject. Please remember to help operate the booth or just stop by.
The Virginia QSO Party is coming up in March 2020. Now is the time we discuss rule changes. I think we have four we can discuss.
Larry and Kevin, WB0POH, propose to sponsor a plaque form "High Virginia Station, CW 160, and 80 Meter Operations Only." The idea being to encourage NVIS operation from VA.
Last year we allowed FT8 operation with the required exchange (SN and QTH). It has been proposed that we allow regular FT8 QSOs with signal strength and grid. Not sure how to score this because of missing QTH.
I proposed a bonus station scheme where all active stations could award bonus points to one operator. The number of bonus points would depend upon the rarity of the station QTH. I thought this might encourage hams to solicit operators in rare QTHs with the expectation of getting bonus points.
We also get the request to extend the hours to enable night time QSOs to California.
I think that is it.
We will put Dick, W2YE, on the spot by asking him for his opinion of the proposals.
We can also use some help with organizing the Party. Specifically, we could use some help in soliciting sponsor and funding for the plaques. .
We have one more item of business. As we have been making reservations for SPARC meeting, I noticed that we were unable to reserve the first Wednesdays of the month starting in January 2020. After a few months, I queried for the reason and was told that we can no longer use the first Wednesday, because the volunteers who open the building for us will be having their meeting on the first Wednesday and therefore there is no one to open and monitor the building. The second Wednesday is also problematic because another organization periodically uses the room on that night.
I have been defaulting to the first Tuesday of each month. We can discuss this at the meeting to see if the first Tuesday is acceptable to most people.
Finally we will close with a Tech Ten Talk from our Tech-Ten-Talk Team.
See you at the meeting.
73, Gordon, NQ4K
Wednesday, September 25, 2019
Sterlingfest - Saturday, 12 October
Planning is coming along for our booth at Sterling Festival. The Sterling Festival committee emailed a flyer (see attached).
Jim, N4FAF, volunteered to operate the booth for a few hours. Updated plan is on our website.
In addition, Duane, K4UW, said he could bring a battery. Several years ago, we used to bring a generator to run our radio. We had to have the correct spot so that we could position the generator away from the event to avoid noise pollution. Finally we decide ti would be easier to operate off of a battery.
Still looking for an antenna and a couple of more people to help operate the booth.
73, Gordon, NQ4K
Monday, September 23, 2019
Tech Class and Exam Session Pictures
We had a very successful weekend with both the tech class and examination. We had a good turnout of club members to support the effort. Once again I am amazed at how friendly and helpful our club members are.
We had 13 in the class and another 10 who just took the exams.
See pictures at https://www.qsl.net/sterling/Licensing/licensing.html
As always, please email any errors and omissions to me.
73, Gordon, NQ4K
Thursday, September 05, 2019
Embroidered Shirts and Patches and Badges
Some minor items from the club meeting last night.
Chaz, KK4TNO, mentioned that a local store does shirt embroidering of the SPARC logo on shirts. He was wearing one of the shirts and it looked very nice. The store is Safety Footwear and Apparel at 46950 Community Plaza, Unit 106. This is in the strip of shops behind the Chic-Filet on Ft 7. Embroidering shirts is $15 on shirts you buy from them. $25 for shirts you bring in. Chaz has already paid for the logo pattern.
Also, I have SPARC logo patches for $1 each or one for free when you join the club. I will try to remember to bring them to the next meeting.
Also, Red, N3TG, periodically makes an order for SPARC badges. If you are interested, see him at one of our meetings.
73, Gordon, NQ4K
Monday, September 02, 2019
Meeting on Wednesday, 4 September, at 7PM - REMINDER
It is Monday, only two days until our September club meeting.
I have my "show and tell" item picked out. An interesting piece of equipment. Something I got a few years ago from Jim, KF4PQL (SK). Been meaning to fixing it up, but have not gotten around to it.
I also have one additional item to sell. A red folding stadium chair. Got it at Field Day. Will let it go cheap. HI HI. Just kidding, Belongs to Paul, K4PDF. Hope I remember to give it to him.
I do have an accordion style sewing box I am going to put on craigslist later this week. Pictures attached. Homemade short legs and handle on an old box. If anyone wants it, let me know. Will let you have it for any donation to the club treasury.
See you at the meeting,
73, Gordon, NQ4K
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