F  E  E  D  -  P  O  I  N  T

The Official Newsletter of the St. John Valley Amateur Radio Association

April, 2010Vol. 20 No.4
Letter From Our President


We still have patches of snow in places here, but I guess Spring is here. The Wood Frogs are singing and they have begun to lay eggs in our vernal pool, more than a week earlier than usual. Also, I have an area in the garden all prepared for planting the Texas onion plants that will arrive soon. This is more than a week earlier than I have ever had the garden ready for onions and garlic.

The certificates of appreciation for the Can-Am radio operators have been mailed or delivered. Several have responded that they think the certificates are outstanding. Stan did a good job on them.






We need to have someone go up to Rocky Mountain to get the paper work that is in the repeater cabinet to send to K1XI before his trip up here in July. Any volunteers? It would be a nice spring hike.


Gale Flagg
108 Franklin School Rd
Fort Kent, Maine 04743
Phone: 207-834-6670
E-mail: galeflagg@sjv.net


Next Meeting: Tuesday, May 11, 6:00 PM UMFK Nadeau Hall, Alum Conf RM
Schedule of Coming Events
DateEventPlaceContactSponsorTimeFreq
SUNNetNBVE1PINIRG2000145.130
MONNetFort KentN1FGSJVARA1900146.64
MONNetPresque IsleWA1YNZAARA2000146.73
Page 2Feed-Point, April, 2010
Minutes of April 13th, 2010 SJVARA Meeting


Start Time: 18:00
Members present: KA7VNR, N7GLR, N1FRX, KB1OWW, N1FG,N1QMC, N1JHD, KB1TBI, W1TCP, N1EVO.
ELECTION: N1FRX, Charlie, motioned to keep the same slate of officers. Motion was seconded by W1TCP,Peter and accepted by all. Charles (N7GLR) mentioned that we should check with ARRL regarding the legality of this type of voting since we are affiliated with them.

Treasurer's Report: Read and commented on by Charles Zafonte. Motion to accept the report made by Peter and seconded by KB1OWW, June. Motion was accepted by all.
Old Balance:$3365.64
Savings Account$3311.56
Deposit of dues$158.00
Interest on Savings:$1.86
Checking Account$54.08
New Balance:$3525.50


Old Business:
1. Rocky Mt.: Voltage 13.85 on April 13. Rocky Mountain still needs work. KB1OWW suggested taking the solar panel and batteries from the .64 repeater to Rocky Mountain and leaving .64 on 110. (N1FG said .64 panel not in good shape.) Gale still has not heard from Bill regarding the repairs to the tower on Rocky Mountain.

2. 146.640 Repeater: The 146.64 repeater still has static problem.


New Business:

1. Gale showed everyone one of the certificates which Stan made to be given to those who participated in Can-Am Sled Dog Races.
2. Field Day Does the club wish to participate or not and where should it be held? Holding Field Day at the college or at the Block House? At the Block House we would not need to put up a tent and there would be a place for those who wished to stay overnight. Also electricity is available there for such things as coffee, etc. Inviting the Canadian Hams was also brought up. Will we need to use the generator or not? Will the noise it makes disturb anyone in the area? This will be discussed further at coming meetings.

Charles showed QSL cards, explained the process of sending and receiving them and also the length of time it could take to receive the cards. Sending the cards via ARRL is less costly. The ARRL web site explains the process.

Club members enjoyed delicious pizza (Carl volunteered to get them) from Al's along with each other's good company.

Respectfully submitted by:

Sandra Sardo Daigle

Next Meeting: Tuesday, May 11th, 6:00 PM UMFK Nadeau Hall Almni Conference Room
In Case You Are Interested
Really Tiny Antennas: Engineers at the National Institute of Standards and Tehnology are working with scientists from the Univ. of AZ and Boeing Research and Technology to make antennas using metamaterials. They have discovered a way to make antennas that are 95% effective while being as little as 1/50 of a wavelength. The metamaterial, with highly unusual electrical properties, makes the antenna behave as if it were much larger than it really is, beause the antenna stores energy and re-radiates it. The metamaterials are much more "frequency agile". (May QST)
Page 3Feed-Point, April, 2010
FCC rule would allow employees to use HAM radios in government disaster drills

The Federal Communications Commission will accept comments through May 24 on a proposed rule allowing licensed amateur radio operators who are employees at hospitals and other organizations to transmit messages during government-sponsored emergency readiness drills.

Hospitals accredited by The Joint Commission must test their emergency operations plans twice a year, including how they will communicate in an emergency or disaster. Some hospital emergency plans include the use of amateur (or HAM) radios as backup when traditional means of communication fail. FCC regulations currently prohibit employees from operating amateur stations during drills without a drill-specific waiver from the agency. The AHA plans to comment on the proposed rule.

Contributed by KW1C
For Sale

14-element two meter beam mounted on a 10' tower section with rotor. Best offer over $100.00 N1FG at 834-6670
A Bit of Humor
Proof Reading Fails:
"Something Went Wrong in Jet Crash, Expert Says" No kidding, really? Ya think?
"Police Begin Campaign to Run Down Jaywalkers" Now that's taking things a bit far!
"Miners Refuse to Work after Death" No-good-for-nothing' lazy so-and-so's!
"Juvenile Court to Try Shooting Defendant" See if that works any better than a fair trial!

F E E D - P O I N T            April, 2010

Published by the St. John Valley Amateur Radio Association
and distributed free to members and friends of Amateur Radio.
President: Gale Flagg N1FG
Vice President: Gil Daigle, N1JHD
Secretary: Sandra Daigle, N1QMC
Treasurer: Charles Zafonte, N1FRX
Public Information: Charles Ames, N7GLR
Technical Advisor: Carl Pelletier, N1EVO and June Despres, KB1OWW
Editor/Publisher/Printer
Gale Flagg - N1FG / Stan Flagg 834-6670
Associate Editor/Web Edition
Charles Ames N7GLR
Membership Information (Annual Dues):
Regular Membership $ 12
Associate Membership $ 6
Articles may be submitted by anyone with a good idea, and may be re-printed
only in their entirety and with credit going to this newsletter.




FEED-POINT
108 FRANKLIN SCHOOL RD
FORT KENT ME 04743