QCWA Peach State Chapter 49 February 2006 Newsletter MEETING NOTICE: SATURDAY February 21, 2006 High Noon Our next meeting will be at our usual location, Fire Mountain Restaurant, Norcross. The restaurant is just west of Peachtree Industrial (141) on Jimmy Carter Blvd (140). Meeting Minutes December 10, 2005 Present at the meeting were nine members, two spouses, one 'Friend' and one guest. Mike started the round-robin introductions and mentioned H&W status of some unable to attend. We passed around and signed four "missed you" cards to send to some members not in attendance. The October meeting minutes were accepted as published. Treasurers report of $479.38 in the club account. There was some discussion about the duties, etc. of the Secretary/Treasurer position. Main business at the meeting was the bi-annual election of officers. Prior to the meeting Jerry W3CDE and the three directors agreed to accept nomination to continue in their positions, pending any interest shown by other candidates. Mike K4HBI also agreed to accept renomination as president. David Bruse W4DTR was nominated for the Secretary/Treasurer position and accepted. David will be helped with his duties by friend Mark Wilson, WI1SON. The nominees were then elected by acclamation. Sandy W4RU also volunteered to continue as program chairman. Jerry will continue as Net Manager and Door Prize Chairman. Susan AF4FO will continue to make meeting reservations for us. Thanks and congratulations to the Chapter officers for 2006-2007: President Mike Swiderski K4HBI, VP Jerry Lofstead W3CDE, Sec/Treas David Bruse W4DTR and directors Frankie Womack W4BJT, Sandy Donahue W4RU and Fred Runkle K4KAZ. We still need a new newsletter editor and/or national journal submissions editor. A motion was made and passed allowing the new Sec/Treas to investigate having a club URL, web site, e-mail, membership advertising ideas, etc. Further info on these subjects will be forthcoming. The annual gift swap was a great success with Mike coordinating the gift exchange and acting as our Santa. All seemed pleased with their acquisitions. Thanks to all who participated. Respectfully submitted, Bob Lear K4SZ ------------------------------------------------ "Presidential Pontification" (or Da President Yaps!!!) The December QCWA meeting was definitely a good time with fun and fellowship, elections and gift exchange. The meeting was held at the normal location, Fire Mountain restaurant on Jimmy Carter Blvd, but in our new meeting room near the front door. Our next meeting is February 18 at Fire Mountain Restaurant, 12 Noon to eat and meeting to begin at 1PM. Chapter 49 elections were held at the December 10 meeting. One major change occurred, replacing the many years experienced Bob Lear, K4SZ, is our new Secretary/Treasurer. David Bruse, W4DTR. Continuing are yours truly as President; Jerry W3CDE as Vice President/Net Manager; Frankie W4BJT, Sandy W4RU, and Fred K4KAZ as the Directors. Sandy W4RU will continue as Program Manager and Doug KT4XF as Historian. You may notice the Newsletter/Journal Article Editor was not listed. We have not had a volunteer, yet. Again, Thanks Bob, K4SZ, for all the great Chapter 49 Newsletters and Journal Article submissions over the past many years. So if you can volunteer to take over this position, it sure would be appreciated. Otherwise the newsletter will become a part of history, and my incoherent drivel e-mails is all that you will receive in the future. Chapter 49 2006 tentative meeting schedule (One will be a Picnic meeting) follows. February 18 @ Fire Mountain Restaurant, April 15 @ Fire Mountain Restaurant, June 17, August 26, October 7, December 9 Please note a change from previous information. Due to a conflict with the Rome Hamfest, attended by a number of members, the October meeting date was changed to October 7. David, W4DTR, made a suggestion that will be discussed at our next meeting. The suggestion is: "What do you think of the idea of starting a Yahoo group for QCWA Chapter 49 with an email reflector? I could set one up and it's free." The Yahoo group has a lot of possibilities, any member who signs on can communicate with allthe other signed in Chapter 49 members for info distribution, swap,sell, etc. Please give it some thought for discussion at the meeting. If you cannot make the meeting, send me your comments and decision if you would participate in the reflector via email for relay to the attending members. The response via email has all been positive. This will not replace the newsletter, if we can find an editor. Special thank you to Frankie, W4BJT, and his MATPARC friends for repair of the 145.41- metro area repeater used by Chapter 49 members for our weekly Wednesday night net at 8 PM local. So please dust off the VHF gear and join us. Also remember to check in with the Saturday 9 AM Chapter 49 net on 3857.5 Please keep the members of the QCWA family in your thoughts and prayers. See you all soon, VY 73 Mike Swiderski, K4HBI ------------------------------------------------------------ VP and NET NOTES Good winter day to all of the QCWA Chapter 49 members and friends. I sure hope all of you have found your winter woollies for the cold days. Just wait, we will see some "real snow" here this winter, before June 30th... All has been well with the 3857.5 Khz and 145.410 Mhz nets. Great participation on the Saturday morning nets. GREAT NEWS!!!! Frankie W4BJT has got the new transmitter in place in the Bell Tower and some folks are working on the 440 Mhz repeater also. We have WATTS!!! lots of 'em. No gold stars for time outs any more either. Super signal and covering the area very well. Activities are in the mill to get a remote receiver site up in due time also. Doug KT4XF has been checking in with his QRP 300 MiliWatts and doing a fine job. If you can get on 2 Meters, come join us on Wednesday evening. A great big THANK YOU to Frankie W4BJT for his persistence in following through and not getting discouraged, or letting problems slow him down in his quest to get the machine up and operating properly again. Thanks Frankie. As the winter progresses, crude oil stocks rise, gasoline supplies in storage rise, natural gas in storage rise and so do the prices... Hummmm /I wonder what's going on here... /I hope to see as many of you as can make it to the meeting at Fire Mountain and DO NOT forget your appetite! 73 Jerry W3CDE, VP & Net Manager ---------------------------------------------- This info about the QCWA National convention was forwarded by K4HBI for the NL: Greetings To All! The QCWA National Convention-2006 Web Site is now up for everyone to discover. Please take a few moments to check out what we have planned for you and your friends. You can find it at: http://www.qsl.net/ve6afo Click onto "Hosts For QCWA National Convention 2006", on the home page, which brings you to the convention information. Remember - this is a convention for everyone - not just QCWA members. We plan to provide a great venue for all to enjoy and make socializing a good habit! While surfing the web site, if you can suggest any ideas for improvement, clarity, etc. - please let me know at ve6afo@rac.ca Thank you and enjoy! 73, Ken Oelke - VE6AFO, Chair QCWA National Convention - 2006 -------------------------------- QCWA Chapter 49 2006 Calendar February 18 QCWA 49 meeting 25 Dalton Hamfest March 11 Charlotte Hamfest 16 Kennehoochee Hamfest April 15 QCWA 49 meeting 28 SVHFS Conference May 6 Greenville/Spartanburg Fest 17 Dayton Hamvention June 3 Atlanta Hamfest 10 June VHF QSO Party 17 QCWA 49 meeting 24 Field Day July 8 Gainesville Hamfest August 18 Huntsville Hamfest 26 QCWA 49 meeting September 1 Shelby Hamfest 9 Sept VHF QSO Party October 7 QCWA 49 meeting 21 Rome Hamfest November 4 Stone Mtn Hamfest December 9 QCWA 49 meeting ------------------------------------------- Chapter 49 Dues Notices K4SZ has been working on the club records to hand over to the new Secretary/Treasurer David W4DTR. Dues notices have been sent out to those who are affected. Response so far has not been good. Repeated here in this NL in hopes you'll see your call: Chapter 49 dues expired 12/31/05 for K8WDJ, WA6NGC, W4RH, W4PBV, W4DG, K4PRF, WA4EGV and KB7UV. Dues are 1 year $5, 2 years $8.50, 3 years $12.00 or Lifetime $60.00 (if lifetime Nat). Make check payable to QCWA Chapter 49 and send to: David Bruse W4DTR, 3332 Crossfield Lane, Duluth GA 30096 --------------------------------- QCWA PEACH STATE CHAPTER 49 Web address: www.mindspring.com/~w4gbu/qcwa.htm 2006-2007 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:David Bruse W4DTR 770-623-0149 w4dtr@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 ( MATPARC repeater) Chapter 49 QCWA HF Net Saturday 0900 3.8575 Mhz.