F  E  E  D  -  P  O  I  N  T

The surprise this morning is a foot of snow blanketing our QTH. Its heavy and wet and very white. Trees with leaves are bent low, especially the birches. All of a sudden it's winter. Just yesterday I finished cleaning up the garden and emptying most flower containers. Flowers were still blooming!(16 inches before it quit snowing!)

Conditions for 2-meter work have been strange the last few weeks. Mostly I have no problem getting into the Presque Isle Repeater, 146.730-. There have been several mornings when I have not been able to hold the repeater. WA1YNZ noted that we have not heard the Nova Scotia repeater come in over .73, which we usually do in spring, summer, and fall.

The Jamboree on the Air for the scouts was a big success. Many of the stations used Echolink. I talked to a Scout Master in the Philipines after his scouts had gone to bed. He was trying to get Echolink set up for the next day. I talked to several scouts camping in the Big Bear Lake area of California and some of the scouts from Presque Isle. Was hoping to talk to some Australian scouts in the evening, but our internet service failed completely. Unfortunately it was not restored until Monday morning. Pioneer informed us that it was caused by usage overload, and assured us it would not happen again. Pioneer, when Stan suggested overload as the cause, said that was not possible. However, after they looked into it, they found that was the cause!

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Our October meeting was well attened. VE1PIN came with VE9GLP, president of the Edmunston Radio Club. There were discussions about possibly linking 146.640 with the Edmunston Repeater in order to have more listeners on .64 in case of a call for help. We need to find out if there is a space on the .64 controller.

On October 22nd I was driving into Presque Isle about 16:30. I asked for directions on 146.730. Almost at the same time a call came over the repeater for a weather report. KB1MNT was up in the woods in Allagash (I think) and was aking for a weather report. There were two hams that reponded to his call. KB1MNT wanted to know how soon the rain was coming, because they had a brook to cross to get out. I couldn't help but wonder if he might have tried our repeaters first and got no response. How many of you are listening on a regular basis?

A few people have given me their ARRL Membership forms. Before I send them in I want to give any others who want to join a chance to do so. If you want to renew or join through the club, please do so now. We do get to keep a percentage of the membership, because we are ARRL affiliated.

"I'm volunteering with the group working to weatherize homes here in the county for the Keep Me Warm project. We've got 400 homes to be weatherized, mainly seniors, and need 101 - 3 person teams to accomplish the work on the weekend of 28, 29, 30 and 31 October. Unfortunately the word was slow getting out and I just got involved. At present we have 20 teams registered. If you would get the word out on your nets that help is needed... preferably teams of 3, a bunch of senior citizens will greatly appreciate it. People interested in helping should call Theresa Denbow at Senior Sense, 764-6185 in Presque Isle - she will take care of signing people up to help. There is a .34/mile reimbursement per team up to 50.00 for travel. The teams will be working in their local areas. Volunteers can work any or all the 4 days they wish. The weatherization supplies will be picked up at the NG Armories in Houlton, Presque Isle and Fort Kent. If anyone has any questions call me at 540-1172 in PI."

Thanks, Max Soucia, N1KGS

Bill Cobb, N1MZM, Interim Maine Director of the Forest Fire Look Out Association, asked for some photos of the Rocky Mountain Tower and the building at the top. The Daigles sent me one of the tower and one looking down from the building through the entrance doorway. Bill appreciated those, but would like photos of more of the inside. If any of you have any of those, please let me know. The FFL is interested in preserving the look out towers and buildings. http://www.firelookout.org

Our November Meeting will be our annual Harvest Meal. This year it will be at Hotel Levesque in Riviere-Du-Loup, Sunday November 6 at 11:00 AM. The club has been there before and it is a favorite place for us. The club members have always enjoyed the elegant Buffet Brunch. There are so many different foods offered that it is mind boggling. The food is presented artistically and is delicious. We hope to see many of you there. If the price of gas has you worried, I suggest car pooling. We'll look for Snow Geese after we eat.