February 1, 2009 Volume XIX, Number 2
21st Century L. A. R. S. Lines, the newsletter of the Laurel Amateur Radio Society, is published monthly as a service to its membership and to the amateur radio community.
Officers of the Laurel Amateur Radio Society for 2009 are: Peter Rock (KJ4ND) ........................ President Alan S. "PeeWee" Smith, Jr. (KF4ZUX) ...... Vice-President Stanley Baker (KD4ERF) ................... Sec./Treas.
Minutes of the January Monthly Meeting
The January meeting of the Laurel Amateur Radio Society was
called to order by its president Peter Rock KJ4ND on Thursday,
January 8, 2009, at 7:41 p.m., E.S.T., at the Fiesta Mexicana Restaurant
near the Kroger and Advance Auto Parts store opposite the new Dino’s
(formerly the Laurel Landing) at traffic lights #6 of the 192 By-Pass off
Exit 38 of Interstate 75 at London, KY. Fifteen were present for the
meeting to begin the new year of 2009.
As the first order of business, Peter KJ4ND called for the treasurer’s
report. The report showed that the Laurel Amateur Radio Society was
still in good shape financially in spite of the state of the economy.
Statistics indicated that the paid memberships had fallen off from
the previous year. However, this had been a trend that had been
observed in most locations during 2008. It is hoped that better economic
conditions will come about in 2009 and that club memberships
throughout the country will increase during the coming year.
The next item of business was the election of officers for 2009.
Peter KJ4ND called for nominations. James WA4HAR moved to keep
the current officers for the coming year. Dallas AJ4MP seconded the
motion. After several called for a vote on the motion, Peter KJ4ND
called for a vote. The motion passed unanimously with no objections,
and the officers elected for 2009 were as follows: Peter Rock KJ4ND – President;
Alan S. Smith, Jr. KF4ZUX – Vice-President; and
Stanley Baker KD4ERF – Secretary/Treasurer. This vote would include
Georgia Chandler KE4MAT – in charge of flowers and cards and
Tony Anders W4WXR- the Emergency Coordinator and SKYWARN
Coordinator for the club.
Next, Tony W4WXR gave an update on the SKYWARN project
and announced the new Southeastern SKYWARN Net scheduled for
8:00 p.m., local time, every Friday evening on the
146.925MHz (-)79.7 PL KG4LKY Repeater in Manchester, KY, linked
to the 444.275MHz (+)79.7 PL KF4IFC repeater in Corbin, KY, and
Echo Node 16883. Tony W4WXR noted that Mark planned to add a
weather module to the Corbin repeater in the future.
Stan KD4ERF planned to email a copy of the Southeastern
SKYWARN Net flyer to those on the L.A.R.S. distribution list and
to add information on the net to the L.A.R.S. Lines newsletter for
February 2009.
Peter KJ4ND shared his collection of QSL cards that he had
received during the Christmas holiday and shared with those present
some of the new digital methods of preparing and sending QSL cards.
The next Great L.A.R.S. Fox Hunt was discussed and because
of the threat of bad weather during January and February, it was
decided to plan the next Fox Hunt for sometime in March. The tentative
date for the Fox Hunt was set for March 21, 2009 with more
information to be available at a later time and announced on the
emergency nets and in the L.A.R.S. Lines newsletter. Also, Stan KD4ERF
would be notifying by email those who are on the L.A.R.S. email
distribution list. If you do not currently receive the L.A.R.S. Lines
newsletter by email and wish to be on our email list, please send
an email with the request to sbaker@sebaker.com .
Tony W4WXR moved to adjourn the meeting to a good session
of amateur radio discussion and finishing the great Mexican food at
the Fiesta Mexican. Dallas AJ4MP seconded the motion and Peter KJ4ND
adjourned the business meeting at 8:12 p.m., local time.
-----Minutes by Stanley Baker KD4ERF
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< Weather Spotter Training Scheduled for the London, KY Area According to the information obtained from the web site of the Jackson office of the National Weather Service, two weather spotter training sessions have been scheduled for the London, KY area. Those two sessions are a follows with the second session on March 5, 2009 scheduled for the L.A.R.S. monthly meeting date. More information on the March 5, 2009 weather spotter training session will be available at the L.A.R.S. February monthly meeting scheduled for Thursday, February 5, 2009 at 7:30 p.m. at the usual club meeting place, the Fiesta Mexicana Restaurant on the 192 By-Pass in London, KY. We thank the Jackson Weather Service personnel for making these sessions available in the London area. February, 2009 - Upcoming Day City, State Time Location 17 London, KY (Laurel County) 6:30pm EST Laurel County Library Contact Information: Shawn Harley (606) 666-8000
March, 2009 - Upcoming Day City, State Time Location 05 London, KY (Laurel County) 6:30pm EST Fire Training Facility at the Bypass and HWY 229 Contact Information: Shawn Harley (606) 666-8000
Observations
The recent ice storm that narrowly missed the London area brought devastation to nearby areas to our north and west. We do not usually think of how just a few miles in the path of a storm can mean the difference between heavy ice accumulation, rain and heavy snow accumulation. The modern radar and spotter reports help the weather service to refine their predictions and save not only lives but also a tremendous amount of property from damage by giving residents time to prepare. We owe a lot to the personnel of the national weather service who go beyond the call of duty to protect us from the dangerous effects of Mother Nature’s severe weather. Thanks!!! Amateur radio operators helped a large number of people caught in the ice storm to our north and west. Many of our own amateur radio operators in this area were near their radio equipment and ready to help when needed. Thanks go to Tony W4WXR who relayed the weather service warnings and advisories in this area. If you have not attended or need to refresh your severe weather spotter skills, you should plan to attend a weather spotter class, presented by a representative of the Jackson office of the national weather service. It will not be long until the severe thunderstorm season arrives and the chances of tornado formation increases. You need to be ready to help keep your community safe and how to assist more efficiently in the case of severe weather events. Do not forget to check in on our Sunday evening emergency net at 9:00 p.m., local time, on the WD4KWV 146.61MHz repeater and the Southeastern SKYWARN Net on Friday evenings at 8:00 p.m. on the KG4LKY 146.925 (-) 79.7 PL repeater in Manchester, KY, which is linked to the KF4IFC 444.275 (+) 79.7 PL repeater in Corbin, KY, and Echo Node 16883. Plan to check in on these nets and help us be prepared for any weather emergency. Tony W4WXR reports: “I want to thank everyone that has been checking and look forward to trying some on air training pretty soon. We have been averaging about eight check-ins each night. We have been getting some good reports from distant stations so it looks as if we will be able to have some early warning for when the inclement weather does begin. Jackson Weather Office can copy the 146.925 machine direct and have us programmed into their radios.” “I would like to invite more people from area 11 especially to continue checking in to the net on Friday nights and would love some input on what might be a good night to have a simplex net. For those wanting to know if they are in district 11, I am including a map of those counties ( See the map on the L.A.R.S. web site at http://www.laurelamateurradio.org )” – from an email from Tony W4WXR. Our club meeting scheduled for Thursday evening at 7:30 p.m., local time, on February 5, 2009 at the Fiesta Mexicana Restaurant near the Kroger and Advance Auto Parts store opposite the new Dino’s (formerly Laurel Landing) at traffic lights #6 of the 192 By-Pass off Exit 38 off Interstate 75 at London, KY, will feature a discussion of the recent ice storms and the plans for future meetings. We hope to have more information available about our Southeastern SKYWARN Net and our activities related to that important program. We hope to have some additional information on our plans for Field Day in June. Come out and join us for a wonderful evening of amateur radio discussion and enjoy some of the great Mexican food at the Fiesta Mexicana!
�* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * L.A.R.S. February Meeting Scheduled for Thursday, February 5, 2009 The L.A.R.S. monthly meeting for February will be held on Thursday, February 5, 2009, at 7:30 p.m., E.S.T., at the Fiesta Mexicana Restaurant near the Kroger and Advance Auto Parts store opposite the new Dino’s (formerly Laurel Landing) at traffic lights #6 of the 192 By-Pass off Exit 38 off Interstate 75 at London, KY. Come out and join us for a great evening of amateur radio conversation and information.
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FCC Callsign Update for Region 4
Extra � AJ4NX
Technician, & General � KJ4JES
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Next Meeting Date: L.A.R.S. February Meeting The February 2009 Meeting of the Laurel Amateur Radio Society is scheduled on Thursday, February 5, 2009, at 7:30 p.m., E.S.T., at the Fiesta Mexicana Restaurant near the Kroger and Advance Auto Parts store opposite the new Dino's (formerly Laurel Landing) at traffic lights #6 of the 192 By-Pass off Exit 38 of Interstate 75 at London, KY.
Mid-Month Meeting: Thursday, February 19, 2009, at 12:00 noon, at Fazoli's on the 192 By-Pass at Exit 38 of Interstate 75 at London, KY.
Field Day 2008 - Fun and Education For the Entire Family!!!
http://www.laurelamateurradio.org/field08/field01.html
IMPORTANT REQUEST
By Stanley Baker KD4ERF
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * If you are willing to be be placed on our �call list� for help with communications in area emergency situations and if you wish to volunteer your help in those situations, the Laurel Amateur Radio Society needs some contact information for you. Please email to Stanley Baker KD4ERF ( sbaker@sebaker.com or sbaker@laurelamateurradio.org ) the following information: 1) Your complete name; 2) Your call sign; 3) Your telephone number; and 4) Your email address. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
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IMPORTANT NOTICE
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L. A. R. S. Meeting for February 2009
The February 2009 Meeting of the Laurel Amateur Radio Society is scheduled on Thursday, February 5, 2009, at 7:30 p.m., E.S.T., at the Fiesta Mexicana Restaurant near the Kroger and Advance Auto Parts store opposite the new Dino's (formerly Laurel Landing) at traffic lights #6 of the 192 By-Pass off Exit 38 of Interstate 75 at London, KY.
Net Control Operators Needed
for the Sunday Evening Emergency Net
If you are a member of the Laurel Amateur Radio Society and would like to help out with the Sunday Evening Emergency Net on the 146.61 MHz repeater at 9:00 p.m., E.S.T., on Sunday evenings, the club is in need of more net control operators. If you are interested, please contact the club president, Peter Rock KJ4ND, the club vice-president Alan S. Smith, Jr. KF4ZUX, or the club secretary, Stanley Baker KD4ERF on the above repeater or via email at the addresses on this newsletter.
Reminder : The New Question Pools are online !!! The new question pools are now online via a link from the Laurel Amateur Radio Society's Home Page on the web at the following location: < http://www.laurelamateurradio.org >. These question pools apply to V.E. Testing sessions current testing sessions. If you plan to test in the near future you will want to check out these question pools. A CD if the question pools and a Morse Code program has been prepared and may be optained from the club secretary Stan KD4ERF via email request from the email link on the club wev site. Remember that the Morse Code requirement has been totally removed from the testing requirements as of February 23, 2007. For the latest information on the new FCC rules and regulations on the license classes, consult the ARRL web site at: < http://www.arrl.org > and the FCC web site at: < http://fcc.gov >. These sites contain the latest interpretations of the recent changes in the licensing structure for amateur radio in the United States.
Don't forget to check into the Laurel Amateur Radio Emergency Net on Sunday Evenings at 9:00 E.S.T. on the 146.61 MHz repeater. This is an excellent time to get to know more hams in the area and to prepare ourselves to react with amateur radio in case of an emergency situation. Peter KJ4ND coordinates the list of net control operators who call the net and appreciates greatly those club members that volunteer to work with him to call the net each week. If you would like to call the net, just contact Peter KJ4ND on the 146.61 MHz repeater.
I have received a few advertisements as of the date of this newsletter for starting the new Classified Advertisements section of the newsletter. If you have any equipment that you need to sell or trade, just email it to me or call me at the address at the end of this page. Just remember, no commercial advertisement will be accepted and that the editor reserves the right to refuse any listing not meeting the guidelines that the advertisement must be for amateur radio equipment and must not be commercial in nature. Also, it was passed that a classified section be developed in the newsletter and on the club web site for private listings of items that club members may want to buy, sell, or trade. All listings must be sent to the secretary/treasurer by the 20th of the month at the address on the back page of this newsletter or emailed to sbaker@sebaker.com by the 20th of the month. Items received after the deadline will not appear in the newsletter until the following month but can be listed on the web classified section during the current month. No commercial listings will be accepted and the club officers reserve the right to refuse any, or all listings not deemed to be in the best interest of the club. Items not relating to amateur radio will be refused. The listing will begin with the next issue of the newsletter providing that listings are received, but the listings will begin immediately for the web site.
In order to update the web page listing for our club members, I am requesting that you email me your correct email address. The easiest way to do this is just to send me an email at the following address: sbaker@sebaker.com . I will compile these addresses into a listing that will be placed on the club web site. Also, if any of our club members have web pages that you would like to have linked from the L.A.R.S. home page, just send me an email giving me the correct URL for the home page. Just remember that the L.A.R.S. Home Page is a family site and that links to pages that contain adult material will be refused.
Remember that we are now in the time of year in which severe weather events have taken place in the past in the local area. Keep alert and ready to use your SkyWarn Training if such a weather event takes place. The life you save could be your own! When severe weather threatens, do not forget to be ready to use your Skywarn Training received at the L.A.R.S. training meetings ! Come out and talk with Tony KI4VMN about our new Skywarn activities and see his new design for our Skywarn patches!!!! Also, hear the latest about the new SkyWarn project.
Have a great day, and see you at the next meeting on Thursday, February 5, 2009, at 7:30 p.m., E.S.T., at the Fiesta Mexicana Restaurant near the Kroger and Advance Auto Parts store opposite the new Dino's (formerly Laurel Landing) at traffic lights #6 of the 192 By-Pass off Exit 38 of Interstate 75 at London, KY.
Come out and join us for a great evening of of good food and great amateur radio conversation.