Dear Fellow Hams,
The New Year is well started, and I hope it is a happy one for all with lots of interesting  radio contacts.

We are having a most unusual winter so far. The mild temperatures and lack of snowfall are a mix that pleases some and is bad news for others. I am sure no one minds saving on heating fuel, but some sectors of the economy are missing the great number of snowmobiles that came so early last year. Dog mushers seems to be optimistic. There are 29 teams entered in the Can Am 250 mile race.

Looking at the January QST (ARRL's Official Journal) I have found many interesting bits of information. Of great interest to me is the number of radio ads picturing youngsters  and the article on "The Big Project".  ARRL is still looking for pilot schools. The schools will be given radio equipment for a school station. The ARRL Amateur Radio Education Project presents a complete classroom curriculum, as an enrichment program, or as a before or after school activity. If you know a teacher who might be interested, please tell them of this project. There is a photo of 6th grader of  Katie LaFramboise, (pigtailed and enthusiastic), KD7NPN, who attends the Franklin Elementary School  in Kirkland, Washington. She got her technician license in June.
 
 

Do you have unused radio equipment of any kind? You can donate it for a tax break  for you and a learning tool for kids. The ARRL will take it, and so will www.wb2jkj.org
 

The WB2JKJ group, The  Radio Club of Junior High School 22 in New York city will arrange for shipping. "Radios you can write off---Kids you can't".

The National Weather Service in Caribou will call me to hold Sky Warn nets in every major snow storm. The first Sky Warn Nets were On January 13, evening, and January 14, early morning. 

                                                                     N1UYA , Gale
 

Address comments, questions, or suggestions to: 
Gale Flagg,  108 Franklin School Rd.
Fort Kent,  ME 04743 
Phone: 207-834-6670
E-mail: galeflagg@sjv.net

Called to Order: 18:40
In Attendance:  N1UYA,   N1PMS,  N7GLR, KA7VNR, N1JHD,
N1QMC
Secretary's Minutes: N7GLR motioned to dispense with the reading of minutes. N1PMS seconded. Passed
Treasurer's Report: December  Balance: $182.16 + $24.00 dues + $4.50 donation + $10.50 9913 Coax sold +  .29 interest = Jan. Balance of $221.45.

Have you paid your dues yet? We need you as a member to continue our ARRL Affiliation and to continue the work of the club.

Old Business:
Rocky Mountain: Rocky Mountain is giving a strong signal but is not responding to the code for battery voltage. That may be a problem with the tones my radio is sending. N1JHD & N1UYA will test Rocky Mountain when we get a stretch of sunny weather. N1JHD will try the battery code with his radio.

The 146.64 Repeater:  batteries are low. The repeater is not responding to the codes for battery voltage. N1CHF recommends we use .64 sparingly  or not at all until the batteries gain enough voltage. (See page 3 for more information.)
 

N7GLR showed us a Popular Communications magazine, and mentioned some Air, Marine and Military frequencies that can be heard. 121.5 and 243.0 were two mentioned.

N1UYA presented cards for Belltronics in NH, a new radio repair outfit.

Program: Short video on Amateur Radio in Emergencies

Next meeting: TUESDAY. Feb. 5, 6:30, Grindle Conference Room. UMFK
Adjourned: 17:35
Submitted by: N1UYA

Here are N1CHF'S responses to my questions:
146.64 batteries:
   They may be old, but we have no way of knowing how they were treated. The regulator is homemade, like everything else of mine. It's independent of the repeater though. I believe there may be a couple of reasons why they're not charging. First, they're huge! Perhaps more than the panel can handle. Although it maintained them before, it may be having trouble bringing them back up from being so low. Again, the sun is low, and the panel is aimed higher than the one at Rocky. Thirdly, I'm not sure that the actual reading is quite as low as what it's telling you. 
   Both repeaters will be 30 watts. The power is adjustable. No need to run them at full power. .64 is now 30 watts.  Rocky Mt. is now 25 watts.

 The 100 watt  and 40 watt Motorola Trade
The 40 watt radio will replace the present .64 radio, which was originally built for .715.  Right now, .715   is using my repeater which is made up of a bunch of parts I had lying around.
                                                             73, Steve
 

DON'T FORGET!
 CAN AM DOG SLED RACES 2002, 10TH ANNIVERSARY
      The dog races will be held March 2,3,4,5
      Please save the date and give all the time you can. Our club is now pressed for providing enough operators. We have made a statewide appeal for help. If you want  to be at control center or a certain check point , please tell  N1UYA now. galeflagg@sjv.net

N1YQU For Sale Items:

I have a Yaesu FT 840 HF Transceiver  good on 160 through 10 meters. Excellent condition. Three years old. Great for a new hams first radio or make a good second rig for someone. Asking $400 with stock mike.
Don Peary, N1YQU

Heavy duty 40' galvanized steel tower, 16" x 16" x 16". Includes mounting hardware. Best Offer. 
Heil BM-10 microphone boom set   $35.
MFJ 451X  keyer  $35 Contact Charles Zafonte N1FRX  834-6273

* Mushrooms always grow in damp places and so they look like umbrellas. * Most books say the sun is a star. But it still knows how to change back into the sun in the daytime. * The cause of dew is through the earth revolving on its own axis and perspiring freely.