Georgia Section On My Mind

January, 2007

Greetings, All. HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!

I don't suppose that it's ever intended as a compliment to be called "two-faced", huh? But at this time of the year, I think we're all kinda two-faced, in a manner of speaking. January gets its name from the Roman god Janus, who's usually portrayed as having two opposite-facing faces. Those ol' Romans really knew what they were doing when they chose that particular name for the first month of the year, didn't they? The cusp of each new year usually stirs in us an urge to look behind us at the events of the year that is slipping away, while making hopeful and well-meaning plans and resolutions for the year that rises in front of us. It's a time of taking stock, of experiencing a warm glow of satisfaction for the jobs well done, and for the acts of kindness expressed in friendship and love, and for feeling some pangs of regret and sorrow for those things and people who have passed from our lives. And yet, each new year always holds such promise, like a fresh piece of paper, just waiting for us to make our mark. Let's hope that in 2007, together we can make that mark a positive one.

It's a pretty good guess that most of the ham clubs throughout the state had a special Holiday party in December. Hope you all had a terrific time. My better half and I thoroughly enjoyed ourselves at all of the ones we attended. After missing it for the past couple of years, we were happy to get back to joining the annual December gathering of AM enthusiasts at the awesome shack of TOM KOCH, W4UOC. For show and tell, MARTY REYNOLDS, AA4RM, brought a very rare Japanese radio from WWII that was in excellent condition, and is one of only a very few... if that... still in existence, as most were believed to have been destroyed following the war. MIKE COMBS, K4LMS, wanted me to mention that he was successful in making an AM contact on one of Tom's (many) well-maintained vintage rigs. Looked like he was having quite a bit of fun doing it, too. (For sure, Mike did NOT have a "Lousy Modulated Signal".) As always, it was a fun gathering, marked by the swapping of some pretty terrific gifts, the swapping of some pretty terrific tales, (I'm sure they were all TRUE!) and all made possible by the fine hospitality of Tom and his bride, who thought I was very "brave" for being the only YL in the midst of the guys. But they were gentlemen, all, and accepted me as "one of the guys", except for the time or two when they warned me to "cover my ears"...

As we end 2006, I would like to thank each and every one of you who has made a difference in amateur radio this year, whether it was by teaching a class, serving as a VE, leading a club, working with ARES or RACES, mentoring a new ham, introducing Scouts and other youngsters to amateur radio, using your amateur radio skills for public service events, forming strong working relationships with our served agencies, or informing the general public about amateur radio. There is strength in numbers. Hams, working together, usually through organized clubs, can make a difference in the footprint we make on the collective consciousness of the general public. Every little bit helps. Thank you for doing your "bit".

Thanks, also, goes out to my better half, MIKE SWIDERSKI, K4HBI. He's the one who puts in all of those hours behind the wheel of our little red car to take us to events and meetings all over the state. His enthusiastic support truly is the wind beneath my wings. I couldn't do it without him.

OK, let's get on with it, and see what's been happening, and what's coming up right around the corner...

My new year's resolution? I'm gonna set a little time aside each day,
so at the end of the year I'll have a lot of extra time saved up."
STEVEN WRIGHT

(Oh, if only that were possible!)

This month's one-liners come to us from FRANKIE WOMACK. (Thanks, Frankie!)

If antibiotics contain anti-bodies, how can that be good for the body?

CLUB NEWS

ALBANY ARC --- In addition to sharing a festive holiday meal, along with some good fellowship and musical entertainment, the club's Christmas party was also the time for annual club elections. Congratulations to the following slate of officers for 2007: President- KEN ADAMS, K1KBA; VP- JOE WOODY, WG4JOE; Secretary- LEON PERRETT, K4GCR; and Treasurer- BOB SMITH, K4PHE. Best wishes for a great year.

ALFORD MEMORIAL ARC --- In addition to providing Christmas presents and Holiday joy to two deserving families this year, the club also provided some special Christmas cheer to a couple of their own club members. Congratulations to SCOTT HARTLAGE, KF4PWI, and his lovely daughter ANDREA, KG4IUM, who were both awarded Lifetime membership in the club.

ARC of AUGUSTA --- Congratulations to DOUG PUGH, KE4JSJ, who was selected by the club as the 2006 Ham of the Year.

CONYERS ARG --- Elections were recently held to select the officers who'll be leading the club in the new year. Congratulations to President- JAMES WISEMAN, KF4ASC; VP- GERALD SIZEMORE, WB4INZ; Treasurer- TIM ROSING, KC4ELV; and Projects & Programs- GUY PUCKETT, AF4MN.

ELLIJAY ARS --- Congratulations to the following slate of officers, recently selected to lead the club into the new year: President- BOB BURDICK, NB8N; VP- DOW HOFFMAN, N4VYU; Secretary- DAVID BARLITT, KG4AWU; and Treasurer- DAVID FREDERICKSON, WB4HZG. SAM UNDERSHILL, K4SWU, will be the Chief Executive Officer, and both he and DAVE MEADOWS, K4LDI, will serve as Elmers to the incoming officers.

GATEWAY ARC --- Congratulations to the newly elected officers for 2007: President- DON COLLINS, KA4BSL; VP- DEAN DYER, KD4JDG; Secretary/ Treasurer- DIANA WHITE, KB4SNU.

GWINNETT ARS --- Congratulations to DAVID ADCOCK, KA4KKF, who was selected as the club's 2006 Ham of the Year. David has been a club leader for many years, and is very deserving of this special recognition.

KENNEHOOCHEE ARC --- Congratulations to the club's newest board members: TED WILLIAMSON, WF4W; CLARK MACAULAY, KE4RQ; and SID BISHOP, KB4QKZ.

NORTHWEST GA ARC --- Congratulations to this club's new team of officers for 2007: President- GROVER KEITH, KA5QFI; VP- BILL DICKERT, KD4EKZ; Secretary - ELLEN DICKERT, KD4NTF; and Treasurer- VIRGINIA BROCK, KF4NYH.

PAULDING ARC --- This club elected its new officers at its November 28 meeting, and unanimously elected President- AL MARTIN, KF4RPQ; Secretary- BRIAN KEAHL, KI4LZG; and Treasurer- TOM BURKHART, KI4MDU. ANDY PELTIER, KI4HVN, was elected to the 1st Vice Chair position. Congratulations, and best wishes for a successful year. The following news comes from the club's newsletter, written by Brian, KI4LZG: "PARC membership officially approved the creation of a PARC youth group already operating informally. Al Martin (KF4RPQ) and Sammy Graham (N4YDX) have setup a Youth Committee charged with expanding the amateur radio ranks through the recruitment of young people. Official naming has been left in the hands of the members. Everything from "Paulding Piglets" to "Hamsters" has been suggested - with mixed response from those in charge! The group's mission is to promote amateur radio at school and other places where they associate with others in their age group. They will then assist the potential new licensee in obtaining study materials and even arrange for testing sessions with the PARC VE Team. Cassidy Barrett (KI4QHX), Conner O'Keefe (KI4QHY), and Keegan O'Keefe (KI4QHZ), the now infamous "XYZ Boys" were tapped to head the Youth Committee under the guidance of their mother Alicia O'Keefe and father John O'Keefe (KI4HCV). Nicholas Hensley (KI4KWA) will assist them until the family moves to Germany in late January of 2007. Nicholas, our longest standing youth member, will then take charge of the project with the assistance of his grandfather, Sammy Graham (N4YDX)." Sounds like a terrific project, doesn't it?

SILVER COMET ARS --- Thankfully, there were no devastating hurricanes this year, so there was no need for the ARRL to conduct a huge toy drive this year. But members of this club enjoyed supporting the toy drive efforts so much the past two years that they wanted to continue to do something in the same spirit again this year. So they collected a large number of teddy bears and other stuffed animals, and donated them to the Dallas Police Department. Officers will carry them in their cars, and these little stuffed critters will be used to provide a great deal of comfort to children in stressful situations. (Isn't that a great idea?) The following slate of officers were elected to serve in 2007: President- LEE MCDANIEL, WB4QOJ; VP- SEAN SPARKS, W4JFL; Secretary- RON WEST, WB3ILX; and Treasurer- DAVE FULLER, K4DMF. Congratulations to them, and also to the two special hams who were selected as 2006 Ham of the Year: LES WILDING, K4OL, in recognition of his successful work in delineating the inherent problems of BPL to the local power company, which led to their abandonment of the BPL project in the Douglasville area; and RON WEST, W3ILX, for his tireless work as a helping hand, always there to help wherever help is needed, and always, as president Lee commented, "with a smile on his face".

SE DX CLUB --- The January meeting (and the January meeting ONLY) will be held at a new location, and on a different meeting night than usual. On Friday, January 19, the meeting will be held at 8 PM in meeting room M-100 at Southern Poly Tech in Marietta. BERNIE MCCLENNY, W3UR, will be giving a special presentation on the VU4AN, Andaman 2006 operations.

THOMAVILLE ARC --- Some people are adverse to change; others simply know a good thing when they see it. I believe it's the latter that spurred club members to elect president MIKE BROWN, KE4FGF, to his thirteenth consecutive term in office. Joining him are VP- WYNONA SADLER, KF4HSM; VP of Special Events- LAWRENCE MCCUTHIN, KC4LYC; Secretary- TERRY HUNT, K4HNT; Treasurer- BOBBY COOPER, N4KXL; and Newsletter Editor- BUDDY PEEPLES, WD4CJI. Congratulations, and best wishes for another fine year.

*** ARRL announces new electronic newsletter for clubs: A new monthly newsletter, ARRL Club News, will soon be available via e-mail at no charge to ARRL members. Designed to help invigorate Amateur Radio clubs and their activities, each issue will contain information and highlights for and about ARRL-affiliated clubs. "Although the first issues will be in text format, we expect to have the ARRL Club News available in HTML format so we can share photos and other exciting material from over 2000 ARRL-affiliated clubs," says ARRL Affiliated Club/Mentor Program Coordinator Norm Fusaro, W3IZ. The first issue of ARRL Club News will be out Wednesday, December 6. To subscribe, unsubscribe or change your address for e-mail delivery, ARRL members must register on the Members Only Web Site http://www.arrl.org/members/. During registration, members will have the opportunity to sign up for e-mail delivery of the ARRL Club News, The ARRL Letter, W1AW bulletins and other material. ARRL members already registered and logged into the Web site may subscribe to ARRL Club News by visiting the Member Data Page http://www.arrl.org/members/, scrolling down to "Which of the following would you like to receive automatically via email from ARRL?" and checking the box for ARRL Club News (monthly club news).

*** NOTE: With so many clubs holding their annual elections recently, now is a GREAT time for you to update your info on the ARRL database. HAS YOUR CLUB KEPT ITS INFO CURRENT WITH THE LEAGUE??? In looking through the database for Georgia's Affiliated and Special Service Clubs, I see that many have fallen behind in filing their annual reports, or in keeping their club's designation as a Special Service Club up-to-date. Some of you guys have changed your meeting place, or your meeting date, had elections, whatever, and have forgotten to make those changes. If you want new members to find you, you can make it just a little bit easier for them by keeping accurate meeting and contact information available to them online. Special Service Clubs can renew at http://www.arrl.org/field/club/forms/fsd7/renewal.html Annual reports, or any changes, can be made at http://www.arrl.org/field/club/biglist.html (And if your club is now listed in the "inactive" database, the filing of a report can get you back in the "active" file.)

Do electrons have a negative effect on society?

FIFTY YEARS

The Gwinnett ARS celebrated its thirtieth anniversary in 2006, and this milestone inspired long-time member HOWIE GOULD, W9HG, to do a little bit of reminiscing about his own fifty years of experience in amateur radio. His article appeared in the club's newsletter, and he graciously agreed to allow me to share his musings with you. I'm not sure why it is, but there's something nostalgic about the beginning of a new year that often sends us wandering down memory lane and remembering "auld lang syne". Hope you enjoy Howie's memories as much as I did.

With the GARS having 30 years of club experience I thought it would be appropriate to recall a piece of my 50 Years worth of the hobby beginning at the front end.

Lets see now it was 50 years ago that I was a young man and had made the decision to be a ham radio operator. Trouble was I was intimidated by the process of the travel to downtown Boston to the Custom House Federal building which housed the FCC engineer in charge. I thought I knew the Morse code well enough and I had a good knowledge of the Ohms law and other stuff as I was making a living at that time in the home electronics business commonly known as TV repair.

Heck a name of the one and only business computer in those days was IBM and no reference to digital phones, TV games, MP players or digital cameras. But an eight transistor portable radio was the talk at the beach. AM radio was still interesting but FM radio was even bigger with all that Hi Fidelity Stereo stuff they promoted.

So it was in those days that yours truly made a big step for mankind and headed into Boston Mass one Monday where the best of the best FCC engineers in charge was waiting to run that code machine by me at a high rate of 5 WPM speed, boy that was a challenge for a young guy who knew beans about the Morse code but I knew it stood between me and talking to other Novices with the same problem which was awkwardness and fumbling fingers let alone a deaf ear for all those tones broken up in dots and dashes. I figured the written test was a snap once I
got by that code machine.

I sat outside a closed office door sitting with strangers who were there for the same thing and I recall very little introductions were given as we all sat and concentrated to hear our name called. It seemed like hours later that I was called and a not so smiling man greeted me and pointed to a chair and table where upon was seen a black looking object with a hand key beside it.

The man leaned over as there were no introductions to his name and he said "are you ready" in very stern tones, and he had a disinterested face showing no emotion whatsoever, I swallowed and said softly "yes" but with apprehension of what was forthcoming, so nervous were my feet I could not stop them from shaking. The man slid a piece of blank paper and pencil in front of me and said "copy what you can" and he started the code machine. I don't recall how much I copied or how much of it made sense but I finished the tape.

The man took my paper, looked at it and then slid another paper that had printed matter on it in front of me and said "send this sentence" I did and he listened for a few seconds and stopped me from sending, all the while my heart was racing as though it would pop out of my chest and the man showed no emotion so I could not tell if he was pleased with my performance or not. After a few minutes of waiting the man slid the Novice test in front of me and knew I had passed the code as I found this out from others who had taking the exam. I did the test and the man took it and told me to wait outside the room. After what seemed hours my name was called by the man's Secretary who told me I passed and that I could leave but no paperwork was given to me.

About 3 months after I took the Novice exam my license came in the mail and I hurried to my little space in the pantry where I had set up an empty Orange crate for my operating table which held a home brew crystal controlled transmitter using a 5763 tube driving a 6146 output tube with a B&W 5 band output tank circuit PI network to tune into a long wire antenna strung around the rooftop soon to be known by my neighbors as the thumper as key clicks got into a lot of audio devices. I was settled on 80 meters on a very popular Novice frequency in the middle of a summer afternoon not knowing a thing about band conditions, skip, noise, fading, etc, and called my first CQ.

"CQ CQ, CQ, DE KN1HHN". I sent this a few times and of course 80 meters in the early day time is nothing but noise. I adjusted my super regenerative receiver to peak and listened to the noise. I called a few more times and then all of a
sudden out of the speaker came the loudest tones "KN1HHN, KN1HHN, DE KN1HDY, KN1HDY, K".

Come to find out this was a ham living a couple of miles from me and so we met each other after a fashion and became life long friends.

There have been up and down cycles with ham radio as with all other things we do in our lifetimes, we will all remember the day we got our first license and we will remember the phase radio was in when we entered into the hobby, it will be the things that attracted us to the hobby that will be with us for a lifetime and for those of us who stay for 50 years we will have cherished memories of spending endless hours chatting with those who may still be here or passed on to a become a silent key. There is more than one book of ham radio experiences in 50 years of spinning the dial, the far away places that I contacted putting my imagination to work forming a picture of who I was talking to and their surroundings. The big Chelsea Mass fire I covered, the missionary in Nepal, the Englishman sitting out in the bush in his tent in Africa, The priest in China, the Saudi Arabia prince, the endless hours of phone patches with the Navy service men on the ice at the south pole and on and on. Each book has its own special place in my ham library and I hope many of you will find your book filled with cherished memories as you journey across the bands and compile an
endless line of contacts awaiting you.

If all the world is a stage, where does the audience sit?

ARES NEWS

*** STATEWIDE ARES MEETING coming up on January 27, at the Public Safety Training Facility in Forsyth. For ARES leadership, members, and ALL who are interested in the role of amateur radio in providing emergency communications. DEADLINE for registering to take an EmComm test is December 31. If you want to take a test, please let GREG TILLMAN, N4VAD know ASAP, so we can order sufficient materials. www.gaares.org

*** The ARRL is seeking data on mobile emergency communications vehicles: The League's National Emergency Response Planning Committee (NERPC) continues to invite responses from clubs or groups having access to an emergency communications vehicle (ECV). An initial appeal was included recently in The ARES E-Letter http://www.arrl.org/FandES/field/ares-el/. If your group has an ECV and has not yet participated in the survey, please have someone take a few minutes and be a part of this effort. The Committee's response to the ARRL Board is due in January. A number of responses have been received to date, but the Committee wants to collect as much information as possible to develop its report. As of November 29, clubs and groups had entered 29 ECVs into the survey database. Most ECVs are owned by individuals or local governments, 14 have portable repeaters onboard and another 25 have their own power generators. This information will help determine what assets are available and help in planning for future disasters. To participate, visit the Emergency Communications Vehicle Survey Web site http://www.bullock.org/nerpc. Thank you for assisting in this project!

*** OHS/GEMA SOC DRILL HURRICAINE DRILL--DECEMBER 13,2006

Georgia Office of Homeland Security DEC LOWRY ROUSE, KM4Z, advised there would be a 2006 annual Hurricane drill for Georgia. Communications through out the state from and to various locations one of those being the JOC in Jesup. Multiple stations thru out the state were set up and other stations were asked to have comms set up at their local EMA. Those participating were Chatham Co., Gordon Co. EMA, Jesup Joint Operations Center as well as NCS operators for ARES for nets.

The Georgia Section ARES Statewide Net was activated on December 13, 2006. This drill was for training and to provided backup traffic delivery to all stations.

At 9:00 A.M. an informal net called into session on 3975 kHz. NCS K4GK Charles Pennington.

Most stations had good signals on 80 meters. 40 meters was much better for communications into the Atlanta area from the South.

From Jesup the signal on 80 meters from the SOC was weak as if from a mobile station, however On 40 meters it was much better for the SOC with good strong signal. Using 40 did complicate communications for stations nearby. I feel that several antennas need to be tested at the EOC for best performance for its environment.

Several winlink messages were sent to and from SOC to this station and JOC with no reported problems using telnet, telpac and pactor modes.

At 9:50 A.M. a formal net was called into session on 7275 kHz NCS WQ4T James Howard. Did manage to pick up some out of state stations which could be used for relay purposes if needed.

At 9:55 A.M. WA4UJC Charles Davis assumed NCS on 3975 and maintained communications.

A message was passed from Gordon County EMA to N4VAD advising shelters were open and manned per Dir. Cortney Taylor. A reply message was delivered confirming delivery of message.

At 10:38 A.M. Chatham County EOC declared they were standing down and their mission was complete from the Chatham Co. EMA Officials.

At 11:36 A.M. Sent a message to SOC that most stations have now stood down and would stand by for any other traffic from SOC. KK4Z from SOC advised they were briefing and going to lunch and would be on stand-by if needed. No further requests were sent and this station stood down.

KK4Z Scott Royal of ARES MAT Team DEC set up winlink operations at SOC sending and receiving messages thru out the state.

K4AES Tom Holcomb maintained voice operations on 80 and 40 meters from SOC.

K4GK Charles Pennington, WA4UJC Charles Davis NCS for voice ARES Net 3.975 good propagation most areas had pretty good signals.

WQ4T James held ARES Net on 7.275 with good propagation across state. Had good comms with Savannah, Jesup, Milledgeville area from his location but difficulty with SOC due to close proximity.

K4SDJ Steve Jonas set up station for Chatham Co. EOC and Aux to EMA.

Net control stations: K4GK, WQ4T, WA4UJC
QTC: (HF voice nets ) 2
Man hours used: 20

Participants: N4VAD, K4GK, KK4Z, K4SDJ, WA4UJC, KB4PYR, N4BOY, WX4GMA, KD4IQ, WQ4T, W0YCF

Information obtained for this report from multiple reports submitted to me. Any mistakes or oversights are merely accidental.

De GREG TILLMAN, N4VAD

** CONGRATULATIONS to two new ECs: in Madison county, it's JOSHUA SEYMOUR, KF4KGD, and in Pike county, it's CHARLES CLARK, KD4ONL. Many thanks to both of them for accepting these leadership roles.

** Here's an interesting site that you might like to check out. Thanks to COOPER MORRIS, WZ4PZD, for sharing the info. www.emcomus.org

If you buy a set of drums, will there be repercussions?

ARES REPORT DE DSEC STAN EDWARDS, WA4DYD

The following is reported for November 2006:

Membership: 1,264 Change since last month: +6

Total Net Sessions: 133
Drills, Tests, Training Sessions: 105 Man-hours: 1,105
Public Service Events: 10 Man-hours: 212
Emergency Operations: 5 Man-hours: 51
Misc. Events: 40 Man-hours: 241

Total Events: 160 Total Man-hours: 1,609

Reporting by District:

West Central 100.0%
Metro Atlanta 81.8%
Northwest 38.5%
Northeast 33.3%
Central 22.7%
Southeast 21.4%
Southwest 15.0%
East Central 0.0%

Total Reporting 25.9%

The following jurisdictions reported for November: Baldwin, Bartow, Bibb, Camden, Charlton, Clarke/Madison, Clayton/Henry, Cobb, Coweta, DEC for Central, DEC for GPB, DEC for NWS - Peachtree City, DeKalb, Dodge, Douglas/Paulding, Effingham, Floyd, Forsyth, Fulton-North, Grady/Thomas, Gwinnett, Hall, Houston, Lee, Morgan, Murray/Whitfield, Muscogee, Newton, Polk, Rockdale, Toombs, Towns, Walton, Wayne, Wilkinson, and Worth.

If you try to fail and succeed, which have you done?

NET REPORT DE STM JIM HANNA, AF4NS

PUBLIC SERVICE HONOR ROLL

** CONGRATULATIONS to LOUIS HANDBERRY, KR4JI, for 12 consecutive months on the PSHR.

STATION ACTIVITY REPORTS

Traffic handled (QTC):

** CONGRATULATIONS to SID HUTCHINSON, WB4GGS, for BPL (Brass Pounder League) recognition: 247 messages received, and 257 sent, for a total of 504.

*****NOTE: Don't forget the South CARS net, which meets every day from 8 AM until 10 AM and again from noon until 2PM, on 7.251 MHz. A friendly, welcoming group of folks. Especially great company while on the road. I understand that a Trader's Net meets on this same frequency on Wednesday mornings at 10 AM.

***** Other GREAT nets:
QCWA: Saturdays at 9AM on 3.8575 MHz
SE 6M SSB Net: Sundays at 9 PM on 50.145 MHz
SE AM Net: Tuesdays at 7:30 PM on 3885 kc (AM nets ALWAYS meet on kcs...)
Hole in the Wall Net: Wednesdays at 9 PM on 50.135 MHz

"In days of old, when ops were bold and sideband not invented, the words were passed by pounding brass,
and all were quite contented." Anonymous

SOUTHEASTERN VHF CONFERENCE

This year's conference is coming back to Georgia! Always a fantastic event. Stay tuned for more information, but as for now, it's time for a CALL FOR PAPERS:

Call for Papers
11th Annual Southeastern VHF Society Conference
April 27th and 28th, 2007
Atlanta, Georgia

The Southeastern VHF Society is calling for the submission of papers and presentations for the upcoming 11th Annual Southeastern VHF Society Conference to be held in Atlanta, Georgia on April 27th and 28th, 2007. Papers and presentations are solicited on both the technical and operational aspects of VHF, UHF and Microwave weak signal amateur radio. Some suggested areas of interest are:

* Transmitters
* Receivers
* Transverters
* RF Power Amplifiers
* RF Low Noise Pre Amplifiers
* Antennas
* Construction Projects
* Test Equipment And Station Accessories
* Station Design And Construction
* Contesting
* Roving
* DXpeditions
* EME
* Propagation (Sporadic E, Meteor Scatter, Troposphere Ducting, etc.)
* Digital Modes (WSJT, etc.)
* Digital Signal Processing (DSP)
* Software Defined Radio (SDR)
* Amateur Satellites
* Amateur Television

In general papers and presentations on non weak signal related topics such as FM repeaters and packet will not be accepted but exceptions may be made if the topic is related to weak signal. For example, a paper or presentation on the use of APRS to track rovers during contests would be considered.

The deadline for the submission of papers and presentations is March 2, 2007. All submissions should be in Microsoft Word (.doc) or alternatively Adobe Acrobat (.pdf) files. Pages are 8 and 1/2 by 11 inches with a 1 inch margin on the bottom and 3/4 inch margin on the other three sides. All text, drawings, photos, etc. should be black and white only (no color). Please indicate when you submit your paper or presentation if you plan to attend the conference and present there or if you are submitting just for publication. Papers and presentations will be published in bound proceedings by the ARRL. Send all questions, comments and submissions to the technical program chair, Jim Worsham, W4KXY at w4kxy@bellsouth.net. For further information about the conference please go to www.svhfs.org.

What is the output of a vacuum pump?

SECTION NOTABLES

Congratulations go out to HAROLD BELL, K4HB, who recently added VU7LD, Laccadives Island to his list of DX contacts, which put him over the top and into the elite category of DXCC Honor Roll. As reported by CHARLES PENNINGTON, K4GK, on the Milledgeville ARC reflector, "The DXCC Honor Roll is considered the top award and one of the most difficult in all of amateur radio. Within thirty miles of Milledgeville, only a handful of amateurs have ever achieved this award since its beginning in 1934. A few of them are Paul, N4PN; Bob, K4BM; and Gordy, W4PTH (SK). Now, HAROLD BELL, K4HB, has achieved this difficult status with the working of VU7LD, Laccadives Islands. Harols did with only wire antennas, in 12 years and 2 months of chasing DX. Congratulations to Harold, one of the world's top Dxers."

Why do fingers and toes wrinkle in the bath, but not the rest of the body?

GEORGIA PIGLETS (AKA YOUNG HAMS)

DECEMBER 24 - JANUARY 8 --- 0501Z- 0500Z. Special Event Station K1D, for Kids' Day, and for Amateur Radio Awareness. 21.273, 14.273, 7.257. QSL to W1DAD. (NH)

JANUARY 7 ---1800Z- 2400Z. KIDS' DAY

Call "CQ Kids Day." The suggested exchange for Kids Day contacts is first name, age, location and favorite color. It's okay to work the same station more than once if the operator has changed. Suggested frequencies are 14.270-14.300, 21.380-21.400 and 28.350-28.400 MHz. Contacts via VHF repeaters are okay too, with permission from the repeater owner. Observe third-party traffic restrictions when making DX QSOs http://www.arrl.org/FandES/field/regulations/io/3rdparty.html

The League asks everyone taking part in Kids Day to complete a short survey and post comments afterward http://www.arrl.org/FandES/ead/kids-day-survey.html. Doing this provides access to download the certificate page, or participants can send a 9x12 self-addressed, stamped envelope to Boring Amateur Radio Club, PO Box 1357, Boring, OR 97009.

NOTE: Kids, as long as there is a properly-licensed control operator supervising you at the rig, you can make HF contacts in this fun event.

JANUARY 15-24 --- 0700Z- 2400Z---Special Event Station K1D, for an elementary school demonstration. (CO) 14.265, 7.265.

JANUARY 20 --- 0600Z- 1400Z--- INTERNATIONAL UNITED TEENAGER CONTEST. CW/SSB. For operators under 18 years of age. Sponsored by Radio-TLUM Ukraine. For more info, please see www.sk3bg.se/contest/utcont.htm 

FEBRUARY 12-16 --- SCHOOL ROUNDUP

**** DEADLINE for submitting ARRL Foundation scholarship applications is coming up on February 1. www.arrl.org/arrlf/scholgen

**** Other scholarships are also available through the Foundation for Amateur Radio. See www.amateurradio-far.org

What if they had a race just for nice guys? They can't all be last, can they?

THIS 'N' THAT

*** In 2007, Jamestown, the first English settlement of the New World, will be celebrating the 400th anniversary of its founding. The QCWA Vic Clark Chapter 91 will be offering a special Virginia Quadricentennial Award certificate for those stations who make contact with 25 different Virginia stations during the year. For details, see www.homepage.mac.com/rrucker/qcwa/chapter91.html or page 96 of the January QST

*** MARK AULICK, KF4MLT, will be teaching a FREE ham radio class for technician licensing at the Chatham County Health Department, at 2011 Eisenhower Drive in Savannah, on January 21 and 28, 8:30 AM until 2:30 PM, with a VE session to follow the class on the 28th. Kf4mlt@arrl.net 

*** Here's a cool website with info on D-Star repeaters, courtesy of ROBIN CUTSHAW, AA4RC. Click on individual repeater call sign to get details on that repeater. http://www.jfindu.net/dstarrepeaters.asp 

*** The ARRL's very successful "Hello" campaign has been a celebration of the 100th anniversary of voice over radio, based on Reginald Fessenden's Christmas Eve, 1906, broadcast. I can personally vouch for the fact that CLIFF SEGAR, KD4GT, is no grinch, but he sent this interesting article that raises serious questions as to whether or not this legendary event actually happened, or is just that... a legend.

http://www.rwonline.com/pages/s.0052/t.437.html

Why does the phone have to ring when you call the Psychic Hot Line?

UPCOMING EVENTS

JANUARY 1 --- 0000Z- 2359Z. Straight Key Night

JANUARY 7 --- 1800Z- 2400Z. KIDS DAY

JANUARY 13 --- Tech Fest, at St Marguerite D'Youville Catholic Church in Lawrenceville. FREE. The event will kick off with a tailgating Hamfest at 8 AM, with the indoor fun starting at 10 AM (set-up at 9) until 2 PM. Lots of FREE food, including a chili cook-off; 3rd annual QLF contest; demonstrations on various modes of amateur radio, and more. Always lots of fun. (See www.gars.org for directions)

JANUARY 13-14 --- 1800Z Jan 13- 0600Z Jan 14. NA QSO Party (CW) For details, see www.ncjweb.com/naqprules.php

JANUARY 20-21 --- 1800Z Jan 20- 0600Z Jan 21. NA QSO Party (phone) For details, see www.ncjweb.com/naqprules.php

JANUARY 20-22 --- 1900Z Jan 20- 0400Z Jan 22. VHF Sweepstakes. See page 98 of December, 2006 QST, or www.arrl.org/contests

JANUARY 27 --- Statewide ARES meeting (See www.gaares.org for details and directions)

JANUARY 27-28 --- 0000Z Jan 27- 2359Z Jan 28. CQ WW 160 M CW Contest. (phone contest will be on February 24-25) www.cq-amateur-radio.com/index.html

FEBRUARY 9-11 --- SE Division Convention, Orlando Hamcation and Computer Show, Central Florida Fairgrounds.

FEBRUARY 12-16 --- 1300Z Feb 12- 2400Z Feb 16. School Round-Up. See page 50, January QST, for details.

And don't forget to mark it on your calendar NOW! That's the FIRST GA Hamfest of 2007, the Dalton Hamfest, coming up on FEBRUARY 24.(North GA Fairgrounds in Dalton, 8AM)

If you started out with nothing and have most of it left, can you call yourself successful?

SILENT KEYS

FRED RUNKLE K4KAZ
SIDNEY TATUM W4FJD

Sincere condolences to their families and many friends. These fine men will truly be missed

Well, folks that's about it for this month, and since I'm writing this in the waning days of December, I can also say, that's about it for this year, too. All the best to each of you for a blessed and healthy new year. Until next time, this is AF4FO, signing clear. Take care of yourselves. And each other.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

"One thing I can guarantee you. You may not be a great deal wiser from my talk today,
but you will be a great deal older." MELVIN HELITZER

(You could say the same thing about some of these newsletters!!!) Take care.

73, Susan af4fo@arrl.org   (Send me your news and tech tips!!)
ARRL Georgia Section Manager

No trees were killed in the sending of this message. However,
a large number of electrons were terribly inconvenienced.

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