JULY MEETING...

Plan to join us for the monthly meeting on July 13^th at 7pm in the cafeteria of BAMC in Menominee.  Some items on the agenda include: 

(a)    Field day review

(b)   Repeater antenna evaluation and discussion 

(c)    Summer picnic

(d)   Special event station

(e)    Nomination committee to appoint

(f)     M&M Foundation

(g)    Report on emergency government table-top exercise

(h)    other business

 

SPECIAL AUGUST PROGRAM… 

Tom, N8LHB, has made arrangements for radio club members to tour the Ameritech office after the August meeting.  That way if there are members who prefer not to do the tour, they can head for home. Because of security precautions, this is only open to club members, and not for guests. 

 

FIELD DAY 2000 REPORT...

Thanks to Dwight,W9YQ, another successful Field Day was enjoyed by many. Approximately one fourth of the membership made the journey to Dwight's Oconto County QTH, and participated in this year's fun.  All told, 18 persons, men, women, kids, showed up.  Many thanks to Dwight for the superb location. Operating chores were split among 11 different hams, with 592 QSO’s logged, besting last year’s W8PIF effort.  Our claimed score is 1700 points, and we should be eligible for 400 additional bonus points. Check out Ed’s Web site for pictures taken at the event at: 

http://community-2.webtv.net/KG8CX/

 

ELECTIONS APPROACHING...

Election of officers is held in September, and that means we need a nominating committee appointed at the July meeting.

ANNUAL PICNIC…

The Club’s annual picnic is scheduled for Sunday, August 13^th at Lake Noquebay Park in Marinette County.  The fun starts at noon, with food served at 1pm.  The cost is $5.00 for adults and $3.00 for children 6-12. Kids 5 and under are free.  Attendees who do not have a Marinette County Parks pass will also have to purchase a $2.00 day pass for their vehicles.  Reservations are required.  Please return the form enclosed in this newsletter. 

SPECIAL EVENT STATION/CORN ROAST...

We will once again be putting a special event station on the air in conjunction with our annual corn roast, picnic, campout, swapfest, etc. Jim, AA9PB has secured the great facilities of Green's Acres again this year.  The date is Saturday September 16th, the same date as the Peshtigo Historical Days.  Enjoy the big parade, then come to Green Acres for the rest of the day.  We will be operating the station from 12:00 to around 6pm, as stated in CQ and QST magazines.  Watch for more info coming in August  and September.

REPEATER ANTENNA NEWS...

We have ordered and received a Diamond dual band antenna, which will be installed on the tower when time and weather permits.  It may be in place by the time you read this.  The decision to order the Diamond antenna was made by the officers last month after noise made the repeater practically unusable. In fact a Skywarn net had to be moved to the Crivitz repeater.  We felt we could not wait the 6 or more weeks to get the specially-ordered commercial grade antenna, since the repeater is important for the Sunday and Skywarn nets.  The Diamond antenna is a dual-band model, and can later be used for the 440 repeater, as well as a backup on two meters. Jim, KC8DOA had planned a climb on his tower for the week of June 12^th, so we had the Diamond antenna shipped in. Unfortunately, the weatherman brought a period of high winds and stormy weather, and that, along with  busy schedules have delayed the installation of the Diamond Antenna.  A lowering of the repeater output power provided a temporary fix to the noise problem, at least on calm days, but reception was again poor for the July 2^nd net. We hope the Diamond antenna will be up by our next meeting, so we can determine for sure that the antenna is the sole cause of our repeater noise problems. We can then discuss a timetable for the purchase of the commercial antenna.

 

We now have over $500 in contributions to the repeater antenna fund.  If you have not yet made your contribution, a handy form is included in this newsletter.

POSSIBLE GRANT AHEAD...

According to Lynne, N8OSK, we may be eligible for a grant for repeater improvements from the M&M Foundation, because of the communications we are capable of doing within the community in support of public information and welfare in the event of major weather related and other disasters.   More information will be presented at the meeting.  This could be a great opportunity for us to get wide community exposure and support.  Come and find out at the next meeting.

 MEMBERSHIP DUES...

Member dues are still only $15 per member, and $7.50 additional for
family membership.   Remember, if there is a change in any of your information on the application/renewal form, please inform K8IR, so he can make the change on the club database.  Several of the members have upgraded, so be sure to let Jim know that. 

Dues can be accepted anytime now, either at a club meeting, or by mailing it to the club address:  M&M ARC, PO Box 1082, Marinette, WI 54143.  We remind all that dues are for our club year, which begins October 1, 2000 and ends September 30, 2001.  We would like all dues paid by Dec. 1. Thanks.

DOOR COUNTY ARC EVENTS COMING UP...

Summer is a busy and fun time for this group with many activities for its members.  A picnic was recently held, and three more major events are scheduled.  They are:  July 30, picnic at Jacksonport Park;  Aug. 16, Corn Roast at the QTH of K9KJM;  Sept. 9, Fish Boil at Egg Harbor Town Hall.  Their 2 meter net is held Monday - Saturday at 8am on the 147.210 repeater.  We look forward to seeing some of them at our August picnic.  The
connection between our clubs goes back many, many years, and includes much
fascinating amateur radio history.

 IMPORTANT DATES…

 Aug.  5, U.P. Hamfest in Escanaba
Aug. 10, regular club meeting
Aug. 13, Summer picnic at L. Nocquebay
Sept. 14, regular club meeting , elections
Sept. 16, Special event station/corn roast at Green's Green Acres campground
Oct. 12, regular meeting, new officers take over
Nov. 9, regular club meeting
Dec. 14, Christmas party TBA

BIRTHDAYS/ANNIVERSARIES...

Congratulations this month go to Al & Sally Mans on their anniversary, July 1.
Birthday greetings go to:  2... Ed Engleman, and Arde Nelson; 3... Bob Osier; 5... Lou Parkansky; 7... Bob Johnson; 15... Tanya Parkansky; 30... Terry Dobrzenski

SPECIAL NOTE…

 A hard copy edition of this month’s newsletter is being sent to all club members because of the forms for the picnic and antenna fund.

 CREDITS…

Thanks to Peninsula Office Equipment of Menominee for printing this issue of The Ground Wave.

 

 

MARINETTE AND MENOMINEE AMATEUR RADIO CLUB MINUTES

 

The June 8, 2000 meeting of the Marinette and Menominee Amateur Radio Club was called to order by President Jim K8IR. Jim introduced KB9WKD Renelle Schaffer who recently got her ham call letters.

The minutes for the May 13, 2000 meeting were in the Groundwave and accepted as printed. The Treasurer's report was presented with a balance of $82.92 in the checking account and a balance of $583.49 in the savings account. Total assets of $666.41. Tonight donations of $51.00 for antenna fund and $21.00 of it was from the club raffle. At the present time we have a total of $302.00 for the antenna fund. A motion was presented by Arde KA9WAR and seconded by Larry N9OSF. All in favor of accepting the Treasurer's report.

Ed reported that he did talk to Jim KC8DOA about the repeater antenna problem with the wind and noise. Jim reported that he does have a sway bar that may help out with the repeater problems that occur when it is windy out. All we need is someone to go up the tower and install the sway bar. Installation of a new antenna will not take place until August when the tower crew reports in. The club had approved getting the $600.00 antenna plus shipping earlier this year and it was decided to order the $600.00 antenna at this meeting.

K8IR reported that Robert Johnson AA8UT requested that his lifetime membership in the club be cancelled. He is not the Robert Johnson whom Lynne thought he was. Lynne also reported he is not a member of the club this year.

The raffle idea was brought up again at the meeting again and once again are we Wisconsin or Michigan. Call letters and repeater in Mi and P O is in Wisconsin? Question brought up on cost . Lynne will check this out for Michigan on what it would cost  for having raffles. Other sources of income would be to raise the membership fees, put a donation slip on the front page of the groundwave for the antenna fund, and add a surcharge to help pay for the new antenna. Another idea was brought up by Lou W2PY that the ones who attend the fish frys donate the money towards the antenna fund. K8IR remarked that we should keep on reminding the membership that we are still taking donations for the antenna fund.

Ed reported that for the Sunday net checkins have been averaging well over 20 each week.

 

OLD BUSINESS:

K8IR presented a short report about the trip to Dayton, Ohio for the hamvention.

 

NEW BUSINESS:

Field Day this year will not be held out at K0SN's place as planned this year as he will not be available that weekend. Field Day will be held at W9YQ's QTH. Information will be on Ed's website on how to get to Dwight's place.

The special event station is scheduled for September 16 using the call letters of W9M. Information has been sent to CQ and QST per KG8CX. Nothing has been finalized on the location yet.

Ed KG8CX and Lynne N8OSK attended the tabletop exercise with the WPS/Marinette County Dam Emergency Action Plan along with Renelle Schaffer representing the club. A report was given by Lynne at the meeting. June 20 is the next date for the above exercise.

K8IR reminded everyone that next month a nominating committee will need to be formed to get a slate of officers for August and voting in September. The new officers take over in October.

Meeting adjourned at 8:22pm

Submitted by Gary W Luthardt KG9AD, Secretary

Persons in attendance at the meeting:

Gary Luthardt  KG9AD
Ed Engleman  KG8CX
Jim Callow  K8IR
Lynne Rynish  N8OSK
Arde Nelson  KA9WAR
Bob Schrader  AA9GZ
Paul Drees  WC9E
Dave Arnold  W8DXX
Larry Buchholz  N9OSF
Jeff Rymer  N9PQU
Dave Cunningham  KB9WBP
Renelle Schaffer  KB9WKD
George Benoit  N9UGG
Louis Parkansky  W2PY
Dwight Bosselman  W9YQ
Tom Rynish  N8LHB
Eric Janssen  KG9GH
Keith Tonn  N9PQV