QCWA Peach State Chapter 49 February 2005 Newsletter MEETING NOTICE: SATURDAY February 19, 2005 High Noon The name of our meeting place restaurant has changed but it is the same building and location! Our next meeting will be at Fire Mountain Restaurant, 7045 Jimmy Carter Blvd, Norcross GA. The restaurant is just west of Peachtree Industrial (141) on Jimmy Carter (140). 12 Noon to eat and meeting to begin at 1PM. 2005 Meeting Schedule The Chapter 49 meeting schedule for 2005 has been set. Saturdays February 19, April 9, June 18, August 27, October 22, and December 10 were chosen as our bimonthly meeting dates missing important hamfest and contest dates. One of the dates will be the annual picnic meeting and the location will be announced in the newsletter. All Chapter 49 Newsletters are on our web page www.mindspring.com/~w4gbu/qcwa.htm February Meeting Program notes courtesy of Susan AF4FO Lots of you are fans of the Technobuddy, BILL HUSTED, who not only writes a syndicated newspaper column, but who is also a ham, KQ4YA, who occasionally writes about amateur radio, as well. Well, this witty and entertaining fella will be presenting the program at the February 19 chapter 49 QCWA meeting, It's a real coup to get Bill to come to a meeting, so come on out and meet him Meeting Minutes December 4, 2004 The annual Christmas meeting and gift swap was held at Fire Mountain Restaurant in Norcross where 12 members, 2 'Friends' and 3 spouses gathered to enjoy the beginning of the Holiday season. $308 reported in the treasury. Several members had sent notes to President Mike K4HBI with their regrets for being unable to attend. We welcomed our newest member Morris Johnson KB4IT of Griffin at his first meeting. We also celebrated member W4OHA Bobby Canup's 74th birthday. All present who owed dues brought themselves up to date. Mike reminded the members that this will be an election year for all officer and BOD positions at the December meeting. Bobby Canup W4OHA volunteered to serve on the nominating committee. Doug KT4XF reported that with the closing of SciTrek the amateur station equipment will be going to Tech High School. After the fine meal, Santa's helper K4SZ handed out the gifts to one and all. It is with sadness that we report the October 2004 passing of our member Tom Falls K4IKV of Sharpsburg, GA. A donation was sent to the scholarship fund in his memory. His brother Eugene informed us of his passing after the last newsletter. Eugene is WB4AVK of Ft. Lauderdale FL and also a QCWA member. Chapter 49's thoughts and prayers go out to Eugene and the family. Chapter 49 is pleased to note that we had eight new members in 2004: John Benka KF6JG, Dave Burrows W9JWT (ex WB7CQK), Mark Fehlig WA6NGC, Dave Adanich K8WDJ, Randal DePriest N4AC, Gary Greene WA4TOL, Morris Johnson KB4IT, and most recently Ron Rogers WW8RR. Welcome to them all. Respectfully submitted, Bob Lear K4SZ, Sec/Treas Chapter 49 "Presidential Pontification" (or Da President Yaps!!!) WOW , TWO NAUGHT NAUGHT FIVE ------------------------2005 Where did 2004 go? Looking at the vehicles odometers and day planner calendar, I see lots of wonderful activities, lots of travel. G8 to the EMAG conference, hamfests across several states, club meetings all over GA, to seeing more of the state's back roads then most folks really need to, has been a great experience. But most of all, the tremendous fun and warmth of the folks we have met and had a chance to get to know or get reacquainted with again has been the best. The bi-monthly QCWA meetings have been a very welcome addition to our lives, the friendship and fellowship with the attending members have brought our lives closer and allowed us to share in their joys in a very wonderful way. Speaking of meetings, the 2005 Chapter 49 schedule is as follows: Feb 19, Apr 9, Jun 18, Aug 27, Oct 22, Dec 10. Of course the Dec 10 meeting will be the annual Holiday Party. During our October 2nd meeting, which was a blast (the annual Picnic/Parts Swapping/Shack Clean Out get together hosted by Annie and Jerry Lofstead Ch. 49 VP, W3CDE), Annie made a suggestion that seems absolutely wonderful. Instead of having the picnic meeting at the same location, let us make it movable. Since there are members that we dearly miss and they have not been able to get to the meetings, Annie proposed bringing the picnic meeting to them. The discussion suggested that the members bring a complete picnic feast, grill, paper ware, chairs, drinks, etc. to the members house (ie carport, backyard). The visited members would have to supply nothing but a place to set up and have fun. We have two wonderful members in the Sandy Springs area that are being considered for this year, although I have not contacted them directly - yet. I hope to get some feedback from the CH 49 members if this sounds good to you folks. Hope you all are doing well. I want to wish all the members and their families the Healthiest, Happiest, and most Prosperous New Year yet. Please keep the members of the QCWA family in your thoughts and prayers. Hope all stay healthy and if not, wish you a speedy recovery. Please keep us informed about your health, so we can put you in our prayers and let your friends know of status. Please remember that our February 19th meeting is to be held at the usual Fire Mountain restaurant. Please join us at this gathering. You ask what the program will be, well, I am not positive. But I have over heard whisperings between the conniving AF4FO (Susan) and W4RU (Sandy) that a local celebrity has been approached and the schedule is being verified. As we approach the upcoming hamfest season, the ham community will be climbing out of their operating positions and shielding their eyes like moles from the sunlight to peddle their wares or swap their latest lies and fables. After a long winter's nap, I am so looking forward to meeting with the friends of the hobby, as I search for the item that I do not really need, but still can not live without. The statewide ARES meeting will be on Jan 15 at the Training Center in Forsyth Ga. The Gwinnett Amateur Radio Society is sponsoring their annual FREE admission TECH FEST/ Chili cook off on Jan 22 at St Marguerite D'Youville on Gloster Rd near Hwy 29 in Lawrenceville. The event will run from 11 AM until 3 PM and all are welcome. On Feb 26 the Dalton Ga hamfest will kick off the state hamfest activities. Please consider the blessings you have been given, including the QCWA Chapter 49 Family. Again, Thanks Bob, K4SZ, for the great Chapter 49 Newsletter. See you all soon, 73 Mike K4HBI VP NOTES: HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!! Well, we now have a new year to look upon us. The great weather is fine now, but! when is the ICE storm coming?? We had a fun time at the annual Christmas Party and gift exchange in December. Even though they were looking for us to leave early so a football team could use OUR area. Can you imagine that, putting football above QCWA and HAM Radio!!! Some intestinal fortitude on their part. But we finished on time for them. We have been having great turn out's for the Saturday morning 80M net. We are now back on the MARTPAC 2 Meter repeater on 145.41 MHZ on Wednesday evening at 8:00 PM local time. I am again asking everyone who has 2 Meter capability to join us on the 2 meter net. The repeater seems to have the best sensitivity in years (with no explanation why!). For a little while, we still have a minor overheat problem but it has not been a problem. I was the one who got the "Gold Star" award on Wednesday night for overheating it. I hope everyone has a healthy new year this coming year. There were 10 Silent Keys that I personally know of in the Southeast in December of 2004. A very bad month. Remember, Do Not wait for the next ice storm to do your antenna work, try the warmer weather while we have it. Looking forward to the next meeting at FIRE MOUNTAIN. See you all there Jerry W3CDE VP & Net Manager Extraordinaire... Cook and Bottle Washer Secretary Treasurer/Newsletter Editors Notes: DUES: By local dues expiration date of December 31, the following members need to catch up with their dues and then extend for whatever period desired. Regardless of these expiration dates, all listed have been carried as members in good standing and have been receiving all Chapter Newsletters and information available. We want to make clear that the overdue time WAS NOT the fault of the individuals. We are not doing this to single anyone out, only to get you and the chapter up to date with dues. It was suggested by one of our members some time ago that putting the names and call signs in the newsletter makes the holder notice more than sending out due bills!! However this observation is now suspect since only ONE member responded by mail to the above call for dues since the last newsletter. All attendees at the last meeting owing dues paid up then. I run the list again as we have more members overdue than we have in good standing. Not a good position for the club to be in. I will send individual notices if I don't start hearing from these folks, just in case we have changed e-mail addresses that I am not aware of. Expired 2001: W4TL Terry Jones, NV4U Ron Gill ($12 + renewal) Expired 2002: AB4HR Charlie Akins, W4PBV William Duckwitz, KB7UV Andy Funk, K4HCA Harold Hairston, N9ENG John Kludt, W5SNX Dick Ray, W4GBU Guy Shields, WA0HQQ Al Tirevold. ($8 + renewal) Expired 2003: W4OCH Layton Carson, W4RUL Vic Farr, W4GAL Gary Liljegren, W4ALJ Ron McDaniel, W4IH Bob Rosenthal. ($4 + renewal) Expired 2004: KG4CFP Lenny Batson, W4ZPG John Clowe, W9BKJ Wayne Flickinger, K4GYH Jim Washburn, KE4AK George Clement, WA6NGC Mark Fehlig. (renewal) All the past due amounts will be satisfied with $4 per year whether one, two or three years owed. The usual rates of $5 for one year, $8.50 for two years and $12 for three years for 2005 and up renewals. Please send your checks payable to "QCWA Chapter 49" to the usual address shown below or I will be able to collect dues at the February meeting. Thank you all. Bob Lear, Sec/Treas Ch 49 PO Box 1269 Dahlonega, GA 30533 73 Bob K4SZ HAMFEST CALENDAR: Feb 26 Dalton, Mar 19 Kennehoochee, Apr 23 Calhoun, May 20 Dayton OH, Jun 4 Atlanta, July 9 Gainesville, Aug 13 Ellijay, Aug 20 Huntsville AL, Sept 3 Shelby NC, Nov 5 Lawrenceville. FIELD DAY: June 25/26 Now you have the Chapter meeting dates and important hamfest dates for our area to mark your calendars for the year, so no excuses about missing meetings and such. I have made up a new Chapter 49 membership form and Jerry helped me get in it .PDF format. I hope to have it on the web page soon. Then if any members identify a possible new member they can direct them to the QCWA National Web page www.qcwa.org for a pdf national application form and also to our chapter web page www.mindspring.com/~w4gbu/qcwa.htm for a pdf chapter 49 application. Probably faster than getting me to mail one out, but of course I will still do that anytime an application is requested. QCWA PEACH STATE CHAPTER 49 Web address: www.mindspring.com/~w4gbu/qcwa.htm 2004-2005 CHAPTER OFFICERS President Mike Swiderski K4HBI 770-449-0369 k4hbi@arrl.net VP/ Net Mgr Jerry Lofstead W3CDE 770-979-5500 w3cde@arrl.net Secretary/Treasurer Bob Lear K4SZ 706-864-6229 k4sz@arrl.net Executive Committee: Fred Runkle K4KAZ 770-945-6326 runkle@charter.net Frankie Womack W4BJT 404-767-5382 w4bjt@mindspring.com Sandy Donahue W4RU 404-315-1443 w4ru@arrl.org NetManager Jerry W3CDE using the K4VN Chapter 49 Club Call: Chapter 49 QCWA VHF Net Wednesday 2000 145.410- MHz (Back on the MATPARC repeater) Chapter 49 QCWA HF Net Saturday 0900 3.8575 Mhz.