F E E D - P O I N T
| July, 2006 | Vol. 16 No.7 |
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Good Ole Summer time! The warmth, lush vegetation, colorful flowers
and the butterflies they attract, fresh fruit and vegetables, and long hours of
daylight. The black fly numbers have dwindled. The Reed Canary grass and Timothy
are very tall this year. I have discovered a great way to exercise Ty, the cat. I
drag a long piece of one of those grasses behind me, wiggle it, and Ty will run
after it, so I can run, too. Otherwise Ty is distracted by everything and goes at
a snail's pace. Twenty meters has been open sporadically. I actually made contact with KJ5KV one night. Some nights I can hear people on 40 meters and 20 meters. At other times there is just noise. We are at the low point in the sunspot cycle so I guess we can't expect very good conditions for quite awhile.
| The testing materials for our testing session on August 5th have arrived. KW1C is securing a room for us to use for this testing session. I have not heard from anyone else that they are a VE. We could use another VE. If one of the three VE's should not be able to be present on a testing day, we would have a problem. Each testing session is required to have 3 VE's. A problem has developed with the Rocky Mountain Repeater. It is not getting good charging. N1JHD and N1EVO have been notified. I have contacted N1CHF and he expects, and hopes, it is a fuse that has blown. The information he sent has been forwarded to N1JHD and N1EVO. Hopefully, the problem will be taken care of soon. Gale Flagg 108 Franklin School Rd Fort Kent, Maine 04743 Phone: 207-834-6670 E-mail: galeflagg@sjv.net Next Meeting: Saturday, August 12, 11:00 AM Picnic Cross Lake Boat Launch and Picnic Area. Details on page 3. |
| Schedule of Coming Events | ||||||
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| Date | Event | Place | Contact | Sponsor | Time | Freq |
| SUN | Net | NB | VE1PIN | IRG | 2000 | 145.130 |
| MON | Net | Fort Kent | N1FG | SJVARA | 1900 | 146.64 |
| MON | Net | Presque Isle | WA1YNZ | AARA | 2000 | 146.73 |
| Page 2 | Feed-Point, July, 2006 |
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Start Time: 18:01 Members and guests present: N1FG; N1EVO; N1PMS; N7GLR; KA7VNR; KA1SJV; WB1FTK Secretary’s Minutes: N1PMS moved to accept minutes as posted and N7GLR seconded. Treasurer's Report: N1FRX
Old Business: 1. Rocky Mt.: 12.33 volts at 11:16 Hrs July 11. N1FG said we need someone to go check it out, although there have been perpetual clouds lately which could cause the voltage drop. 2. 146.64 Report: 13.28 volts at 11:16 Hrs July 11. N1FG said it was in good shape, although need to check Damp Rid. 3. Tour De La Valley: Please don’t forget we need help for this. They are counting on us to keep track of the bikers. It will be held on Sunday, August 20th. N1EVO updated us on his talk with Rachel. She knows the route the bikers will be taking in general, and will have a definite route map this week. N1EVO will notify N1FG when he plans to ride the route so they can test radio communications from all points. After N1EVO gets a map, then we’ll know where we are supposed to be. N1EVO mentioned to check in on the Monday Night Net. 4. Other: None. New Business: | 1. The August Picnic Meeting: Date selection: 5th, 12th, or 19th! N1FG
announced the picnic will be held Saturday, August 12th, with the rain date
being Sunday, August 13th. The time is 11:00 AM, and the location is
Cross Lake picnic area. N1FG will bring her canoe and asked KA7VNR
to bring her kayak. The picnic will be pot luck, and N1FG asked to
let her know what you plan on bringing, so we’ll have a good selection of food.
2.What Can We Set Up for the Picnic for any interested Public; Part of ARRL’s “Hello”: Following are some suggested possible locations for an ARRL display for the interested public: N1FG suggested we could set up an ARRL display at the August picnic meeting. Some members felt it was too remote an area to get a good response from the public. N7GLR suggested checking on setting up an ARRL display at the Aroostook Mall. N1EVO suggested setting up an ARRL display in front of the Fort Kent Shop N Save; maybe at Bee Jay’s Restaurant during the Musky Tournament; or speak at the Fort Kent High School or UMFK. He will also check with Timothy Rioux about the Cub and Boy Scouts interest in a Ham Radio class. A question was asked, “What does the Presque Isle Club do to promote ARRL?” N1FG said she will check it out. 3.Other: N1FG said Saturday, August 5th, is when the next testing will be held at the hospital in the medical library. Will check with KB1NIC on time to hold testing. N1FG wants to find one more VE who would be able to attend testings. N1EVO mentioned that there is a new Tech test on the web now. There was a discussion among members of various antennas. N1FG mentioned she finally heard KJ5KV, an Echo Link contact in Louisiana, on 20 meters. N7GLR suggested showing a DVD of an old black and white movie title, “Phantom from Space”, showing the FCC and their encounter with aliens from outer space. N1FG said we’ll schedule a showing of it at a future meeting. Adjourned: 18:52 N7GLR motioned for adjournment and N1PMS seconded. Submitted by Diane Elrich, KA1SJV |
| Happy Birthday | |
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| Perseid Meteor Shower: The meteors will originate in the NE. Best viewing is predawn. 75 meteors per hour at peak rate. Swift-Tuttle is the associated Comet. | Gil Burgoin 8-19 Claudette Burgoin 8-31 Louis Albert 9-06 |
| Page 3 | Feed-Point, July, 2006 |
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Testing Session Saturday, August 5. Time and place still to be determined. The SJVARA Club Picnic will be Saturday August 12th 11:00 AM at the Cross Lake Picnic Area. Pot Luck. Notify N1FG about what you will bring for the sake of variety. KA1SJV has signed up for an apple pie and paper plates and napkins. Canoe, horseshoes, Kayak, and more. Family and friends invited. Tour De La Valley Sunday August 20. We have been asked to provide radio communications for this event. Please offer your help for this event. Contact N1FG for more information. Aroostook Adventure Race Saturday, August 26th. Lots of ham radio operators are needed to cover this three stage race: Biking, Hiking, and Canoeing.
| The SJVARA has received an invitation to participate in the parade for this event on Saturday September 16th 11:00AM in Fort Kent. The parade will have a Scarecrow Theme. Would this be a place for some publicity for the club? Hams dressed as scarecrows? Something to think about. This might also be the time to set up a ham radio demonstration in Fort Kent. There were some ideas for this sort of demonstration at the last meeting.
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Heavy duty 40' galvanized steel tower, 16" X 16". Includes mounting hardware. Best Offer. N1FRX. Yaesu VX-5R Excellent condition. Mic, charger, two batteries, DC cord, manual. Best Offer. N1FG | Mixed Metaphors collected by Richard Lederer *"If we don't stop shearing the the wool off the sheep that lays the golden egg, we'll pump it dry." *"He's been a sore thumb in my side." *"He's not the one with his ass in a noose." |
F E E D - P O I N T July, 2006 |
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| 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: Sandra Daigle, N1QMC |
| Secretary: Diane Elrich, KA1SJV |
| Treasurer: Charles Zafonte, N1FRX |
| Public Information: Charles Ames, N7GLR |
| Technical Advisor: Carl Pelletier, N1EVO |
| 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. |