April 2003 Ground Wave

APRIL MEETING AT BAMC…

Our meeting for this month will take place on the 10th, 7pm in the cafeteria of BAMC in Menominee. A VE test session will be held at 5pm the same evening. Remember, we still have use of the meeting room through our May meeting. Then we hope to have other facilities available for our use.

VE TESTING SESSION…

Our next test session is scheduled for Thurs. April 10th, 5pm in the cafeteria of BAMC. We will be testing our radio class students, plus anyone else who would like to upgrade or anyone wishing to become a ham radio operator. Contact Paul, WC9E, or Jeff, KE9S if you are interested in testing, or know of someone who would be.

We are also in need of volunteer examiners. If you can help out, let us know. Remember, the cost for taking a test is $12, plus a copy of your FCC license (if you are already licensed), copy of the CSCE (white paper), and two forms of ID.

FISH FRY ON AGENDA FOR APRIL…

Our next fish fry has been set for Friday, April 11th at Little River Country Club in Marinette. Social interaction begins at 6pm, with dinner at 7. Bob, AA9IB, is in charge of arrangements, so give him a call if you plan on attending. You can also give your RSVP on the Sunday net. Bob would like to have a final count by April 7th. We already have a good crowd signed on, so consider joining us for the evening.

CLUB MEMBER RECEIVES NEW CALL…

Congratulations are in order for Val Hallam, as she just received her ham radio call KC8WAI. Val is very active in the local Red Cross chapter as chair of the Disaster committee. That makes 4 club members who are either a Red Cross board member or active within the organization in various volunteer capacities that have ham radio licenses.

WISCONSIN QSO PARTY REPORT…

Many of our members headed to the QTH of Tom, K0SN on Sunday March 9^th to compete as a multi-operator entry in the Wisconsin QSO Party. The Bay Area Wireless Association Station, N9KI logged a total of 1401 QSO’s in the 7 hour contest along with a total of 121 multipliers (counties, states, and provinces). It appears the group will fall just short of the 348,000 point record established in the category last year by super station W0AIH. The local contesters, looking for another battle, were surprised to find W0AIH didn't enter the multi category this year.

MICHIGAN QSO PARTY ON THE HORIZON…

Our local contesters are looking forward now to the Michigan QSO Party to be held on Saturday April 19^th (yes, the day before Easter). A group is planning to again do a multi-operator entry under the club’s W8PIF callsign. Jeff, KE9S, is planning a return to Iron County for an operation from that rare county, while Jim, K8IR and Ed, KG8CX are planning another tour of the UP mobile, hopefully activating 11 counties from Keweenaw to Mackinaw. For more information on the contest, see the web site at

http://www.miqp.org/

DOOR CO. REPEATER BACK UP TO FULL POWER …

The 147.210 repeater is now operating at full power - with a rejuvenated 300 watt amp - and a new Yaesu repeater on line. It had been running at less than 10 watts for some time now, with a crippled amp. Since that has now been repaired, the coverage area now is one of the best in NE Wisconsin.

NEW MEMBER READY FOR APPROVAL…

Joe, N9LLA, of Luxemburg, WI, has submitted an application for membership. He will be voted on at the April meeting. He is very interested in Skywarn communications, and wishes to become active with our group.

We also greet our newest members, Earl, KB9DSV from Abrams, and Bill, WA8WG, Porterfield. Welcome aboard.

SKYWARN TRAINING SESSION WELL ATTENDED…

A good showing of M&M ARC members attended the session on March 13 at the River Cities Chamber of Commerce building. Twelve were in attendance, and found the training session to be extremely helpful. Thanks to the meteorologist from Marquette for the excellent program.

Another session will be held in Peshtigo on Friday April 11 at the city hall there. The Green Bay office will take charge of that one.

SEVERE WEATHER SEASON HERE…

The statewide Tornado Drill is coming up on Thursday as part of Severe Weather Awareness Week in Wisconsin. As in the past, we will activate the Skywarn net on the 147.000 repeater some time during the early afternoon on April 10th upon instructions from the Green Bay NWS office. If you are available and can respond, please do so.

We look for another great response, as this sets the stage for the severe weather season, and a way to test our emergency response.

The 146.835 Abrams repeater may also be activated, and if you are closer to that system, you can check there as well.

SKYWARN PROCEDURES…

As before, the call for activation will come from the Green Bay or Marquette office. KG8CX, or another assigned net control will immediately activate the SKYWARN net on the 147.000 repeater. The Abrams 146.835 repeater will also be activated and handle all Oconto county reports. We will also use the 147.330 Stephenson, 145.470 Crivitz, and 444.075 repeaters as backups if needed.

The same repeaters and procedure will follow any communications emergency where our services are required.

All operators who have participated in SKYWARN operations in the past are encouraged to continue in that capacity.

For your information the following members have major roles in any communications activation.........

- - - Marinette County Emergency Services Director: Erik Lowman, KB9ZQX

- - - Menominee County Emergency Services Director: Marge Bramschreiber

- - - Marinette/Oconto County ARES/Amateur Radio Coordinator: Jeff Rymer, KE9S

- - - Menominee County ARES/Amateur Radio Coordinator: Lynne Rynish, N8OSK

- - - Skywarn Net Control: KG8CX or other appointed individual

and, of course, all ham operators who choose to take part. We are grateful to you for your dedication.

WITH SADNESS WE REPORT…

Roger Christ, KB9EUV recently passed away. He had taken classes with our group, and was licensed by our team. He was a member of the club for many years, but had been inactive on the air since the mid 90's. He was a veteran Menominee High School teacher retiring in the early 80's. Condolences go out to his family.

We also announce with sadness, the passing of Barbara Benoit, XYL of club member George Benoit, N9UGG on March 30^th. We’ll all miss Barb, and our condolences go out to George and his family.

SUNDAY NET SUBSTITUTES APPRECIATED…

Because of the Wisconsin QSO party on March 9 lasting until 7pm, KG8CX was unable to run the net at its allotted time. Thanks to John, KB9VXJ for offering to fill in for NC. Everything ran smoothly. Because of K8IR's work on the WI QSO party, he was unable to run the ARRL audio news. Enter KC9CTK, Ben, who jumped in and ran the news portion in Jim's absence. Thanks to both for filling in to insure the net continued to operate in the usual efficient manner.