Mar 2015

O P E N
.
M I C
A NEWSLETTER OF THE
RUNESTONE AMATEUR RADIO CLUB, W0ALX
w
W0ALX
ewww.w0alx.org
RARC, 2301 S Le Homme Dieu Drive NE, Alexandria, MN 56308
Alexandria Rpt: 146.790-
442.025+ (88.5)
Sauk Centre Rpt: 147.255+
MARCH 2015
RUNESTONE AMATEUR RADIO CLUB
MONTHLY MEETING
MARCH 21, 2015
10:00AM
GLENWOOD STATE BANK, ALEXANDRIA
PRESIDENTIAL SPLATTER.......
March is more than half over, warmer weather is in
sight. It is almost time to repair antennas damaged over
winter. The old saying is to work on antennas in the
harshest weather, they will work better. I have an 80
meter dipole that was damaged do to high power and a
center insulator not rated for such power. In the middle of
a snow storm, I dropped the antenna and preformed a
temporary repair. Raising the antenna to its 40 foot
height, one foot from the top, the support rope broke. In
slow motion I watched the antenna tumble to the ground.
(So much for non UV resistant rope that I was going to
replace in the spring). I don't plan on repairing my
antenna until warmer weather arrives. For my other three
wire antennas, new polyester rope will replace the
polystyrene that was only going to be up for less than a
year. I learned a lesson...do it right the first time.
Wayne - wa0ebz
2015 RARC OFFICERS/DIRECTORS
PRESIDENT WAYNE WA0EBZ
VICE PRESIDENT NORM W7ISD
TREASURE NORM W0KCJ
SECRETARY JIM KB0INZ
DIRECTOR(2015) NORM W7ISD
DIRECTOR(2016) BILL KG0DX
DIRECTOR(2017) JOHN W0JAR
INFORMATIVE AND INTERESTING
PROGRAM COMING MARCH 21:
QSL Cards – Please bring to the meeting - Your QSL
Card (if you have one). Bring along (any of the
following) -The 1st QSL card that you received, most
colorful, exotic, unique, ugly, DX, memorable, etc.
Tell us a story about one or any of them (if you
remember the QSO).
There will also be a 8 1/2 minute video, aired on Ham
Nation #151, about QSLing.
UPCOMING EVENTS:
Mar 9,16,23,30: 7pm 2 Meter Net, N0RCL NC
Mar 21: 8am Breakfast, The Depot, Alexandria
Mar 21: 10am RARC Monthly Club Mtg,
Glenwood State Bank
Apr 6,13,20,27: 7pm 2 Meter Net, KD0UTA NC
Apr 4: 8:30am Breakfast Truckers Inn, Sauk Centre
Apr 18: 8am Breakfast, The Depot, Alexandria
Apr 18: 10am RARC Monthly Club Mtg
Glenwood State Bank
Apr 18: 9-1 Brainerd Hamfest, Armory
RUNESTONE ARC MEETING MINUTES
FEBRUARY 21, 2015
President Wayne WA0EBZ called the meeting to order at
10am. Present were: Dick N0CE, George N0RCL,
Roger KD0UTA, Wayne KD0AAA, Wayne WA0EBZ, John
W0JAR, Mike W0MKE, Wayne WB0KUG, and Bill
KG0DX.
Minutes from January meeting were recognized and
approved. KG0DX agreed to take notes as Jim KB0INZ
was unable to attend. There was no Treasure's or
Trustee Report as W0KCJ was ill. Additionally, there
were no reports for Education, Technical or Public
Information as these positions are not filled.
Old Business:
Board of Directors will review the RARC Constitution
and By-Laws for revision. BoD meetings will be held in
April, July, October and January.
KG0DX gave a short report regarding the development
of ham radio and Douglas County Law Enforcement,
specifically the installation of an 80 meter antenna at the
watershed.
W0JAR brought the group up to speed regarding
developments on the Community Partners committee for
which he is our liaison.
New Business:
WA0EBZ reported that Tom KD0MOM is available to do
Skywarn training for our group (and others) if there is
sufficient interest. Limited response and no volunteer to
head up this activity.
KD0AAA solicited volunteers to meet on the repeater
on Sunday evening at 7pm to talk with scouts working on
their Radio Merit Badge.
KG0DX briefly outline the club's participation in this
years Minnesota QSO Party.
WA0EBZ reported on the St. Cloud Cabin Fever
Reliever on February 14.
WA0EBZ announced the beginning of a new portion of
our meetings to be called DX CORNER. Members and
visitors are encouraged to describe their radio activities
for the prior month. Noted were activity in Solomon
Islands, Laos, Juan Fernandez, Cocos Island and Lord
Howe Island. The International Space Station canceled
its Slow Scan TV transmissions this weekend due to time
constraints. Noted the upcoming ARRL CW DX
Contest,the CQ 160 SSB Contest, the North American
RRTY Contest and working K1N Navassa Island.
WA0EBZ asked that hams bring QSL cards to the next
meeting...see program notes in another part of the OM.
N0CE pointed out that any club equipment that he had
will be stored at the repeater site on Viking Tower.
Meeting adjourned, KD0UTA / KD0AAA, approved.
Respectfully submitted, Bill KG0DX
Spanky and Our Gang: Mike KA0KKE-Stillwater, Kieth
NA0T-Rogers, Wayne WA0EBZ-Osakis, Henry K0HAS-Lino
Lakes, Bill KG0DX-Sauk Centre, Kieth AG0H-Maplewood
2015 NET CONTROL ROSTER
MONTH
JANUARY
FEBRUARY
MARCH
APRIL
MAY
JUNE
JULY
AUGUST
SEPTEMBER
OCTOBER
NOVEMBER
DECEMBER
NET CONTROL
N0CE
W0KCJ
N0RCL
KD0UTA
KB0INZ
KG0DX
KD0MOM
(who volunteered?)
KG0DX
W0MKE
W0KCJ
KD0AAA (1st & 3rd Mon)
$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
REMEMBER, YOUR DUES WERE DUE.....
as of January. Look at www.w0alx.org click on Members
and note if your name indicates Paid 2015 (far right
column). If it's open, you haven't taken care of it yet.
Dues are $25 for individual, $35 for family, $20 for
associate and $5 for student.
Please send remittances to Norm Yeutter at 2301 S Le
Homme Dieu Drive NE, Alexandria, MN 56308. Your
club needs your financial support to maintain its
activities, and your participation support to sustain its
viability. Thank you on both accounts. Better yet, come
to the meeting on March 21 and give Norm your dues
payment. We appreciate your commitment to the RARC.
$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
PICS FROM THE ST. CLOUD HAMFEST.....
just a couple mugs, WA0EBZ (Osakis) and NA0T (Rogers)
Dave W0DGZ(St Cloud) slurpin' up the Stearns Style Chili
Girl Scouts with their February Cookie Sales Program...
Greg W0GW (Stillwater) our Dakota Division Director......
John K0CQW (New London) and Kieth KC0VFP (Andover) ….”wanna buy something? of course they work!”
….kinda tired by this time of the day.....
….every hamfest parking lot has at lease one of these.....