The OVARC E-Mail Newsletter - Okaw Valley Amateur Radio Club

Volume 1, Issue 1
OVARC E-Mail
The OVARC
E-Mail Newsletter
November
2009
The Monthly Publication of the Okaw Valley Amateur Radio Club
Just a Reminder…
CLUB MEETINGS
first Thursday each month
at 7:30 PM
KC Greenville Learning
Center
(Kaskaskia College)
209 N. Third St.
Greenville, IL 62246
CLUB NET
Sun. 9:00 PM - 147.165
Linked Repeater System
Inside this Issue
Jim Kramper To Speak 1
E-Mail Newsletter NEW 2
New Meeting Location 3
Minutes Summary
4
Christmas Dinner
5
HR2160 Gains
6
Net Control Schedule
7
FCC Wavier
8
VE Testing
9
Club Repeaters
W9KXQ/R
(PL 103.5)
147.165+
224.440KB9EGI
442.925+
Jim Kramper NøLSX at Nov. 5th Meeting to speak on:
Climate Change and Global Warning: What We Really
Know—
At the Nov. 5th OVARC meeting Jim
Kramper NøLSX, will be speaking on
Climate Change and Global Warning—What
We Really Know. Jim has been the Warning
Coordination Meteorologist at the National
Weather Service Forecast Office in St. Louis
since February 1992. He began his Weather
Service career in 1985, and has worked in
offices in Cheyenne, WY. and Little Rock,
AK.
As Warning Coordination Meteorologist he
oversees the public information program, with special emphasis on
severe weather. He actively promotes weather preparedness across
Missouri and adjacent portions of Illinois; acts as liaison between
state and local government, the media, and the National Weather
Service. Kramper started a campaign in Missouri in the mid 1990's
to expand NOAA Weather Radio coverage in Missouri by creating
cooperative ventures with the Missouri Rural Electric Cooperatives
and the State Emergency Management Agency. The result has been
the installation of over 20 new weather radio transmitters across
Missouri creating almost 100% coverage.
Kramper received his Bachelors of Science degree in meteorology
from Parks College of St. Louis University in 1979. He has received
national recognition for his work, receiving the award for
Outstanding Contribution to Public Education from the National
Weather Association in 1990.
Volume 1, Issue 1
OVARC E-Mail Newsletter
Page 2
E-Mail Newsletter Style Change
For the past several years, our monthly newsletter has changed
very little. This new format should not only be easier to read
but should hopefully be easier to edit and for those of you who
wish to print it, it should easier on the eyes. Photos will be an
additional part of the newsletter with a copy available from our
website as we roll into 2010.
Your comments and criticism will be greatly appreciated. E-mail me at:
[email protected]
Nov. 5th Meeting Location Kaskaskia College Greenville
Education Center 209 N. Third St. Greenville, IL 62246
Front Entrance
Volume 1, Issue 1
OVARC E-Mail Newsletter
Page 3
New Meeting Location for Nov. 5th Meeting
The November 5 meeting will be in a new location—the Kaskaskia College Center in Greenville (the building that used to be the location of the
hospital thrift store just south of the Dairy Queen on Third Street).
At the October 1, 2009 meeting Cary W4GRN reviewed some of the problems with our meeting location in the basement of First Bank. One problem is that the basement location is not handicapped accessible. Secondly, someone has to make arrangements and run cables to get Internet access there, which seems to be needed for more and more programs. Thirdly, when programs need it they have to bring and set up a
computer projector.
The Kaskaskia College location is handicapped accessible, and each
meeting room has Internet access and ceiling mounted projectors. Also,
there is a large parking lot on the west side of the building. And as Charley KA9NQL pointed out, it’s next door to the Dairy Queen for after meeting socializing. The particular room available for OVARC meetings may
change from semester to semester depending on the college courses
being offered at the KC Center.
After touring the location at the close of the October OVARC meeting,
members agreed to give the new location a try for the November 5th
meeting.
Nov. 5th Meeting Location Kaskaskia College
Greenville Education Center 209 N. Third St.
Greenville, IL 62246
Rear Entrance
Volume 1, Issue 1
OVARC E-Mail Newsletter
Page 4
Minutes Highlights for October, 2009
VE testing was conducted by Jim KF4NBG October 3 at the public library
in Highland.
Hope KA9NRW, John W9KXQ and Cary W4GRN cleaned out the cabinet
of the 440 repeater at the Greenville water tower off Idler Lane.
The repeater in Decatur has been disconnected from the linked repeater
system until their signal can be improved. Ken KK9N installed a decoder
to keep us from hearing the ID for the Carlinville system on our 2 meter
repeater.
Our Christmas party will be December 3 at Cunetto’s restaurant at the
south edge of Greenville on Illinois Route 127. Until recently what is now
Cunetto’s was Mabry’s.
The program for the October meeting was consideration of a different
meeting location at the Kaskaskia College Center south of the Dairy
Queen. It is handicapped accessible, has Internet access, and computer
projectors in each meeting room. One disadvantage of meeting at the
KC Center is that we may not be able to meet in the same room all the
time depending on the schedule of courses being taught at the Center.
The members toured the facility and agreed to meet there for the November 5 meeting. We will decide during that meeting whether to meet there
beginning in January.
Cary
W4GRN
Volume 1, Issue 1
OVARC E-Mail Newsletter
Page 5
Annual Meeting Christmas Dinner Dec. 3, 2009
OVARC
Information
Repeaters
147.165, 224.440, 442.925
2009 Officers
President
Hope Walker KA9NRW
[email protected]
Vice-President
John King W9KXQ
[email protected]
The Annual Meeting and Election of Officers for 2010
will be held at Cunetto’s on Thursday, Dec. 3rd.
Secretary
Cary Holman W4GRN
[email protected]
This is our annual Christmas dinner. We will meet at
6:00 PM with dinner being served at 6:30 PM.
Treasurer
Howard Wise N9GEQ
[email protected]
Repeater Trustees
John King W9KXQ
Don Stover KB9EGI
V.E. Team Coordinator
Jim KF4NBG
[email protected]
Net Manager
Clareen Dunn KB9BEB
Webmaster
John King W9KXQ
[email protected]
Website
http://ovarc.w9kxq.com
Look for the menu in Dec. Newsletter. Cost will be
about $20 per person. This is about the same cost as
last year. Bring yourself, spouse, significant other and
guests. We will have a fun evening of food and fellowship and maybe a surprise guest!
Mark Dec. 5th on your calendar now!
Cunetto’s restaurant (1745 S. State Route 127) is located on the south edge of Greenville. Illinois Rt. 127
& I-70 interchange (Exit 45 on I-70). Until recently, it
was Mabry’s.
Volume 1, Issue 1
OVARC E-Mail Newsletter
Page 6
HR 2160 Gains More Cosponsors
(Oct 22, 2009) -- As of October 14, five more Congressional Representatives -- Tom Latham (R-IA-4), Dana
Rohrabacher (R-CA-46), Scott Garrett (R-NJ-5), Candice Miller
(R-MI-10) and John Olver (D-MA-1) -- pledged their support for
HR 2160, The Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Enhancement Act of 2009, bringing the total number of cosponsors
to 30, including original sponsor Sheila Jackson-Lee (D-TX-18).
HR 2160 is also sponsored by W. Todd Akin (R-MO-2), Michael
Arcuri (D-NY-24), Roscoe Bartlett (R-MD-6), John Boozman (RAR-3), Madeleine Bordallo (D-Guam), Geoff Davis (R-KY-4), Bob
Filner (D-CA-51), Bart Gordon (D-TN-6), Brett Guthrie (R-KY-02),
Maurice Hinchey (D-NY-22), Michael Honda (D-CA-15), Mary Jo
Kilroy (D-OH-15), Zoe Lofgren (D-CA-16), Blaine Luetkemeyer
(R-MO-9), Thaddeus McCotter (R-MI-11), Charlie Melancon (DLA-3), Dennis Moore (D-KS-3), Bill Posey (R-FL-15), Bennie
Thompson (D-MS-2), Michael Turner (R-OH-3), Peter Welch (DVT), David Wu (D-OR-1) and Don Young (R-AK). Click here for information on how to encourage your Congressional representative to sponsor HR 2160. (From ARRL.org website)
OVARC E-Mail Newsletter
Volume 1, Issue 1
Page 7
Regular Events
WorldRadio is now on-line including back issues to
it’s February 2009 debut. The online monthly publication takes the place of its predecessor the newsprint
version. Check out the August issue for up to date article. These are downloaded. Stop by and give it a try.
http://www.cq-amateur-radio.com/WorldRadio.html
If the Weather Net is
Active
Regular Net will not be held!
Club Meetings
Fourth Thursday of the month
at 7:30 PM,
KC Greenville Learning Center
(Kaskaskia College)
209 N. Third St.
Greenville, IL 62246
Visit Us on the
Web Site!!!
http://ovarc.w9kxq.com
Net Control Schedule
Clareen, KB9BEB
is our Net Manager. The Okaw
Valley ARC holds a
weekly net at 9:00
PM on Sunday
evenings. The net control stations are on a rotating schedule.
Nov. 1—W9KXQ-John
Nov. 8—KB9BEB-Clareen
Nov. 15—KA9NRW-Hope
Nov. 22--WB9SLM-Kris
Nov. 29—NO NET
Dec. 6 N9GEQ-Howard
Dec. 13—W9KXQ-John
Dec. 20 KB9BEB-Clareen
Dec. 27—NO NET
OVARC
P.O. Box 3
Greenville, IL 62246
Club Information, Dues,
Event Notices,
Ideas for Programs, etc.
E-Mail Newsletter
John King W9KXQ, Editor
Email: [email protected]
Articles, New Items,
Corrections, etc.
Volume 1, Issue 1
OVARC E-Mail Newsletter
Page 8
FCC Issues First Waiver for
Government-Sponsored Disaster Drill
On October 27, the FCC's Wireless Telecommunications Bureau
(WTB) granted the first waiver that allows amateurs
who participate in a government-sponsored emergency preparedness and disaster drill to communicate on behalf of their employers during the drill.
The waiver request was made on behalf of the
Commonwealth of Kentucky. That state conducted
a full-scale exercise on Wednesday, October 28, 2009 from 8 AM5 PM (EDT) to test their emergency response to the possible release of chemical agents at Blue Grass Army Depot, located near
Richmond, Kentucky. (From ARRL Newsletter)
OVARC E-Mail Newsletter
Volume 1, Issue 1
Page 9
Testing
Opportunities
Jim Thibeault KF4NBG
OVARC VE Team
Elen, ACØNF
Louis Latzer Memorial Library
1001 9th St.
Highland, IL 62249
Contact Jim KF4NBG
(618)-488-6411
[email protected]
Saturday Nov. 7, 2009 10:00 AM
Saturday Dec. 5, 2009 10:00 AM
Thank you to Helen, ACØNF
for sharing her format for this
newsletter using Microsoft
Publisher. Helen is the editor
of the St. Charles Amateur Radio Club
Rick, WØPC,
Helen’s husband
was helpful in getting Helen to share her format.
Thanks to both of you.
John, W9KXQ
Courtesy call or e-mail appreciated. Two forms of ID
required (one with photo). If upgrading, original, plus
copy of both license and any Certificates of Successful
Completion (CSCE’s) are required.
Contests
Changes for the 2009 November Sweepstakes
Amateurs throughout the US and Canada will take
part in the longest-running domestic contest, the 76th
ARRL November Sweepstakes. Since 1930, this tradition in Amateur Radio has brought out all kinds of
amateurs -- from seasoned contest veterans to neophytes, from long-time traffic handlers to operators
new to HF. The CW running of Sweepstakes takes
place next weekend, November 7-9, while the SSB
weekend is November 21-23. Each event runs from
2100 UTC Saturday until 0300 UTC Monday. All entrants may operate 24 out of the 30 hours.
New Members to the Club
Please Welcome:
No new members in November
IL Section Manager
Thomas Ciciora, [email protected]
Central Division Director
George “Dick” Isely,
[email protected]
Central Div. Vice Director
Howard Huntington, [email protected]
Okaw Valley Amateur Radio Club
P.O. Box 3
Greenville, IL 62246
Attn: John King
Inside This Issue:

Nov. 5th Guest Speaker

New Location For Meetings
November 2009

Annual Christmas Dinner
Okaw Valley Amateur
Radio Club

And Much More…
Want to become a
Ham Radio
Operator???
Amateur Radio Is…

Community Service
Contact us at
http://ovarc.w9kxq.com

Emergency Communications

Electronics and Communications Training
P.O. Box 3
Greenville, IL
62246

Local and International Friendships

A National Resource!