ARRL Club Newsletter
December 18, 2009
____________________________________________________________
Norm Fusaro, W3IZ, Editor
IN THIS ISSUE:
+ WTARS Helps a Member Return To Airwaves
+ Dayton Hamvention 2010
+ ARRL Foundation
____________________________________________________________
WTARS Helps a Member Return To Airwaves
By Lee Towater, KF4NZV
E-mail: [email protected]
The West Tennessee Amateur Radio Society < www.wtars.org > is pleased
to announce the return of Gary King, W4WKZ, to the amateur radio
waves. Gary, who is legally blind, has been off the radio for almost
two years. Gary had been a very active part of the amateur radio
community. He was an active participant in the daily weather
reporting of conditions from his home in Medon, TN to the National
Weather Service in Memphis, TN. He has not been able to make reports
via ham radio due to damage to his antenna system nearly two years
ago.
The story began back in November 2008 when a long time friend, Bob
Alper, W6KT, came to visit Gary. He noticed the damage to Gary's 60
foot tower and antenna array. Gary, not being able to make the
repairs himself, was left with no way to use his ham radio equipment.
Bob quickly got in contact with Philip Julian, KG4NVN, the treasurer
of West Tennessee Amateur Society (WTARS) here in Jackson. Bob and
Philip worked together to make a plan for repairing Gary's tower and
antenna system.
During the summer heat of July 2009, a group of WTARS members
assembled at Gary's home to begin the repair project. The group mixed
and poured more than 880 pounds of concrete, by hand in a 5 gallon
bucket, to make a new base for the existing tower. During the next
four months a new antenna system and other tower installation items
were purchased.
On December 5, 2009, the group reassembled at Gary's home to
complete the repairs. Philip, KG4NVN, contacted local crane owner and
operator Randy Rushing of Rushing's Crane Service. Randy happily
agreed to bring his equipment out for the installation of the new
antennas. All of Randy's expenses were donated to the project which
helped tremendously due to the fact WTARS was operating basically on
a $0 budget for this project. Randy is known throughout the community
for his willingness to serve others during local emergencies and
disasters. Randy is a part of the Baptist Disaster Relief Ministry.
The group installed a Diamond X50 dual band vertical. This antenna
will give Gary the coverage he needs to reach the local repeaters and
ample simplex coverage. They also installed a home brew HF multi-band
wire antenna built by Randy Bennett, W4RFB. The wire antenna was
installed on a pulley system allowing for easy lowering and raising,
eliminating the need to climb the tower, to tune or make adjustments
as needed.
At the end of the day Gary was back on the air. WTARS has given
Gary back the joys he once had in the amateur radio hobby. WTARS
would like to give a special thanks to Philip Julian, KG4NVN, for
taking the lead on this project. Philip spent a countless number of
hours in preparation for this project. We also give a special thanks
to Randy Rushing of Rushing's Crane Service in Jackson, TN for
providing the bucket crane to complete the installation.
-----
From the Editor: The WTARS example above shows what a dedicated club
can do to assist fellow members and Hams. Even a quick, visual
inspection of an antenna system can save life and property. Maybe
there are hams around your club who could greatly benefit from simple
assistance so that they may fully enjoy all that Ham Radio has to
offer?
____________________________________________________________
Amateur Radio Clubs make a difference!
When it comes to reaching radio amateurs there is no stronger link
than to the hundreds of Amateur Radio clubs across the country. Now
as the application period for ARRL Foundation Scholarships is open
(until February 1, 2010), club newsletters and email bulletins to
club members are an effective and important tool to remind young hams
that there are more than 50 scholarships to be awarded in the spring
of 2010.
If your club membership has high schools seniors and adult hams
pursuing continuing education, remind them that the application
period for the 2010 scholarship awards closes promptly on February 1,
2010. All the information about ARRL Foundation Scholarships,
including application instructions and forms, can be found on the web
at www.arrl.org/arrlf. Candidates should review the descriptions of
all the scholarships and apply only those for which they qualify*.
Note that a recent transcript is required with all applications.
Another vital role your club can play in the scholarship program is
to encourage club members -- and the club itself - to make
contributions to the ARRL Foundation Scholarship Fund. Contributions
in any amount to the ARRL Foundation are an important source of
revenue to strengthen the scholarship program. New $1000 scholarships
are added every year and your club might think about sponsoring one
with an annual donation or by endowing an award with a larger gift.
Note: The William R. Goldfarb Memorial Scholarship is open only to
high school seniors who must complete the application for that award
and include a FAFSA or SAR based on the most recent family financial
information, along with a full high school transcript.
The ARRL Foundation is an IRS-designated 501( c)(3) organization
holding tax id
# 23-7325472. Contributions to the ARRL Foundation are tax-deductible
to the full extent of the law.
____________________________________________________________
Hamvention organizers have announced that the theme for the Dayton
Hamvention 2010 will be "Amateur Radio Clubs Worldwide: The
Lifeline." The event will take place May 14 -- 16, 2010 at the HARA
Complex in Dayton, Ohio.
< http://www.hamvention.org/index.php >
If you have never been to "Dayton" it is worth the effort to visit
the grand-daddy of all hamfests.
Many clubs coordinate travel and lodging for Hamvention so that
members travel together and enjoy the event with familiar friends. If
your club is considering an organized caravan or other group trip to
the event now is the time to make your reservations and start
planning your trip. Hotel rooms disappear quickly for this well
attended extravaganza.
ARRL Expo will be exhibited in the Ballarena hall. We hope to meet
and greet many ARRL members that weekend. See you there.
____________________________________________________________
Milestones
60 Years October
*W7
WWA Lower Columbia Amateur Radio Association W7DG
----
25 Years November
*W2
WNY Liverpool Amateur Repeater Club W2CM
*W5
WTX Amateur Radio Society at Texas Tech (TTU) K5TTU
*W6
EB Northern Alameda County ARES
*W9
IN MID-STATE Amateur Radio Club WA9RDF
----
50 Years November
*W4
NC Shelby Amateur Radio Club W4NYR
----
60 Years November
*W2
ENY Crystal Radio Club W2DMC
*W8
OH Tusco Amateur Radio Club, Inc W8ZX
----
75 Years November
*W4
TN Nashville Amateur Radio Club, INC. K4CPO
----
10 Years December
*W5
NM New Mexico Hamvention, Inc
WTX Lubbock Amateur Contest Club W5LCC
*W6
EB Red Oak Victory Amateur Radio Club K6YVM
*W0
KS Southern Plains Amateur Radio Klub
----
60 Years December
*W5
MS Hattiesburg Amateur Radio Club Inc W5CJR
*W9
WI M&M Amateur Radio Club W8PIF
*W0
IA Cedar Valley Amateur Radio Club Inc W0GQ
=============================================================================
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Radio--225 Main St, Newington, CT 06111; tel 860-594-0200; fax
860-594-0259; www.arrl.org. Joel Harrison, W5ZN, President.
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Page author: [email protected]
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