F E E D - P O I N T
| March | Vol. 15 No. 3 |
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As I write this on the second day of Spring, the windows beside me are still half obliterated by snow on the porch roof. On the north side of the house, snow has slid part way off the roof, and curled back toward the house with long, glistening, sharply pointed icicles angling in toward the house. The 13th Can-Am Sled Dog Races are now behind us. For 13 years the club has been providing communications for Can-Am. Everyone did a fine job and I think we did the best job ever this year. We appreciate each person who was able to help us. On page 3 you will find a list of those who gave their time to help out. Our March meeting had to be postponned from March 9 to March 14th because of the monster snowstorm that started on March 7. The heavy snow and the high winds turned out to be a problem for the last two 250-mile mushers. They were unable to finish. Both of them bogged down in the Dickwood Lake area.
| At the March meeting KW1C started his presentation on Iceland by asking us to close our eyes and imagine the feel of wind, the sound of waves , waterfalls, and steam. He said that is what you experience in Iceland. Marty visited Reykjavik, the smokeless capitol of Iceland. Smokeless because its heat and electricity are provided by geothermal heat. Fresh city air with no pollution. Geothermal hot water supplies many hot sulphur springs that are a delight to people wanting to relax. The Blue Lagoon is a famous spa in the capitol. Iceland has an abundant supply of free-flowing rivers that spawn salmon. Serious anglers visit for excellent fishing. Puffins, scarce and protected on offshore Maine Islands, are found in huge numbers in Iceland. They are hunted for food. Families camp out on high ground and swing long-handled nets to capture in-flying penguins. Gale Flagg 108 Franklin School Rd Fort Kent, Maine 04743 Phone: 207-834-6670 E-mail: galeflagg@sjv.net Next Meeting: Tuesday April 12th, 2005, Elections,Video Nadeau Hall, UMFK Alumni Conference Room |
| 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, March, 2005 |
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Start Time: 18:10 Members and guests in attendance: N7GLR, KA7VNR, N1PMS, N1FG, N1QMC, N1JHD, N1FRX, KW1C Secretary's Minutes: N1FRX made a motion to accept minutes as entered. N1PMS seconded.Passed. Passed Treasury Report: Balance $1150.28 + .91 interest + $120.00 Dues= March 15 Balance:$1271.19 Old Business: 1. Rocky Mt.: 13.50 volts at 14.23 Hrs March 14th. Voltage highly variable in the days before the dog races. No cause known. Rocky Brook and Maibec passed a lot of traffic simplex to take presure off the repeater during Can-Am. 2. 146.64 Report 13.14 volts at 12:15 Hrs March 14th. Repeater held up during the dog races for the most part. Slightly scratchy a few times. Thanks to N7GLR for turning off Echolink for the week before and during races. 3. Shall we raise the dues? N1FG commented that prices have risen a lot since the amount of dues was set at the founding of the club. Discussion followed. Balance looks pretty good for now in the treasury and we don't want to discourage anyone from joining or remaining as a member. N1FRX made a motion to table this matter for 6 months. N7GLR seconded. Passed. 4. Can-Am Communications Review All comments positive. Things ran smoothly. The hams from down state did a great job at Control Center and one went with Peter to the 30 mile checkpoint. |
Other:1.Card for new members WB1FTK and KA1SJV welcoming them to club. We hope
they will join
us at meetings. 2. N1QMC suggested
a computerized thank you certificate that could be hung on the walls of Can-Ham Hams.
New Business:
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| HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO:
| From 03/05 QST. Colorado Hams locate radio-collared missing research
bear with fox hunting techniques. Collar was supposed to be off the bear.KC0NRZ,
on hands and knees, in dense cover, found collar. Bear still wearing it!
| Jim Grandmaison 04-04 | Marty Bernstein 04-12 Finn Dummond 04-16 Wilburn Scott 04-25 Charles Ames 04-29 |
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| Page 3 | Feed-Point, March 2005 |
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Can-Am Communications were made possible with the help of many amateurs. N1JHD, N1RDE, and N1FG put up the club's antenna at Lonesome Pine on March 3. It was windy, cold, and blowing snow didn't help. It was done with one warm-up session. We hooked up the dual-bander Kenwood and got good sgnals from both repeaters. On March 4 AA1XD, KB1JDN, N1SDR, W1LEE with fiance Cathie Hinds, and N1MRT arrived from southern Maine. They put up another antenna. N1SDR then went with N1FG to her snowmobile. N1SDR loaded up antenna, radios and power supply, and drove to Black Lake Camp, piloted by George Pooler. N1SDR set up his antenna for Saturday. Saturday at the start, K1RLY, KB1JDN, W1LEE, and N1FG took turns announcing the start and number of dogs of all 90 teams. Cathie helped count dogs. N1PMS and N1SDR went to Black Lake Camp. KB1EBE went to the 60 mile checkpoint. KB1ELT and KB1ELU went to the look-out position on Village Street to give warning to control center about 30 mile teams coming in to the finish. Following is a list of the checkpoints and the hams at each. Portage: WA1YNZ, KA1CQX, N1WRX; Rocky Brook: KC1SE, KA1OOW; Maibec: N1HSQ, N1FG; Allagash: N1QMC, N1ZBX, N1ZHQ, N1JHD, NIPMU, N1RDE. | At control center at Lonesome Pine AA1XD and KB1EBE
shared Net control in 12
hour shifts. Those helping in 4-8 shifts were KB1JDN, N1MRT, KW1C, KIRLY,
N1SDR, KB1CLC. They were at control center or on look-out watch.
N1PMS helped at the lookout
through Tuesday morning, with N1FG at control Tuesday morning. The southern hams,
expected to stay
until Tuesday, but the big storm prompted them to leave Monday.
AA1XD and KB1JDN stayed Monday until I got back from Maibec.
They said the driving was terrible down as far as Patten. Thankfully, they all got home safely. |
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Heavy duty 40' galvanized steel tower, 16" X 16". Includes mounting hardware. Best Offer. N1FRX | Church Bulletin Bloopers
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F E E D - P O I N T March 2005 |
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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: Rotating |
| Treasurer: Steve Boomhower N1CHF |
| Public Information: Charles Ames, N7GLR |
| Technical Advisor: Steve Boomhower, N1CHF |
| 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. |