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Greetings, All.
Better get your rest now, while you
can, because Field Day, one of the most fun, sleep-deprived events of the year,
is almost here! The latest listing of sites that will be operational here in
Georgia this year is posted on our
www.arrl-ga.org website, under "news". This list includes several additions
to what was in the June newsletter, as well as one change of location: the
Thomasville ARC have decided to hold their Field Day activities at the Pavo
Civic Club. If you still haven't decided where you want to go to enjoy this
year's operating extravaganza, check out the list. And have fun!
While checking out our website,
you'll find several other items of interest there. Also, under news, you'll find
an interesting item from the Newton County Radio Club's newsletter with the
story on an old QSL card. Very interesting. On the Home Page, if you scroll
down, you'll find a link that will provide you a list of up-to-date emergency
frequencies that may be used this Hurricane Season. Very useful. Under Piglet
News, you'll see a message from ANDREA HARTLAGE, KG4IUM, about Kids Day,
and about the various categories in which you may have won a GA Section
certificate. I know that one young man, 14-year-old CHRISTOPHER EVANS, KI4FUJ,
grandson of AL HIGGINS, W4VFZ, put in a tremendous amount of effort this
year, both in his attempts to promote the event and in the amount of hours he
spent on the air. Kudos to him for all of his hard work, and to his grandfather
for all of his support. Also, under Piglet News, you'll see a blurb and pictures
of 10-year-old JUSTIN FAIRCLOTH, who recently earned his technician
license. As you browse through the website, you should see a lot of recent
additions and changes that have been made. Many thanks to BOB SMITH, K4PHE,
for all of the work he's put into the site, and to each of you who have been
sending items our way to post. (Don't forget to send him a few captioned
pictures from your Field Day adventures this year.
k4phe@bellsouth.net)
CHRIS EDWARDS, AE4XO, shared a
couple of items for this mid-monthly summary. First, he reported that the hams
in middle GA pooled their resources again, with members of the Middle GA Radio
Association and other clubs in the area putting together a successful
cooperative effort to support the Rock and Roll Marathon in Macon earlier this
month. He also said that ROBERT COPELAN, WB4DHC, has set up a WinLink
registration site for people all over the country who are planning to use
WinLink at Field Day this year.
http://winlink-fd-2006.ham-radio-op.net
Talking about WinLink, I asked DAN
HENDERSON, N1ND, about the viability of clubs using WinLink 2000 to send
their FD message to me, since I'd heard that several groups do plan to have it
set up at their site this year. The bottom line is: "The messages can be sent
via ANY APPROPRIATE METHOD, PROVIDED THEY LEAVE THE FIELD DAY SITE that is
claiming them for credit VIA AMATEUR RADIO." So, since WinLInk is actually
Pactor 3, this would qualify, as long as it actually leaves your field day site
via RF. You can send those messages to
af4fo@winlink.org However, they MUST be in the required NTS format to count.
(FYI: Dan also said that WinLink does NOT count as a non-traditional mode.)
Many thanks to all of you who
responded to FEMA's request as detailed in the email sent out last week. Last
Thursday, my better half, MIKE SWIDERSKI, K4HBI, and I had the privilege
of visiting the FEMA regional office to meet with folks there to discuss the
"grand plan" for amateur radio operators. We are talking about VOLUNTEERS here.
The major goal is to establish and maintain HF communications between the RRCC
(Regional Response Coordination Center, AKA "EOC on steroids") and all of the
state EOCs in the region. This will require teams of volunteers in each of these
states. (TN, KY, NC, SC, FL, AL, and GA) The need is for "qualified, resourceful
creators", who can help build the HF capabilities for FEMA, as well as
volunteers who live near the various EOCs and the RRCC, who could staff the
station 24/7 during a disaster, "babysit" the ALE traffic, as well as handle
basic trouble-shooting challenges that may arise.
One announcement regarding a new EC.
JEFF COLE, N4XGI, who has been serving as EC in Glynn county for the past
few months, has found it necessary to step down, but he is passing the reins
into the capable hands of DAVID LITTLE, KD4NUE. Many thanks to both Jeff
and David.
DAVID ZISKIND, KE4QLH, has
been coordinating the communications for the Peachtree Road Race for a multitude
of years now, and he reports that he is still in need of some more volunteers
for this huge 4th of July event. If you can help, please contact David at
ke4qlh@arrl.net
Mike and I will be heading to south
Georgia this year for Field Day, and are looking forward to visiting some of you
folks in the Augusta, Savannah, and Jesup areas. Those of you with APRS can
follow the progress of our little red car as we zip around the state, if you'd
like, but don't be looking too closely at our rate of travel, now! I've been
told that those things LIE! (AF4FO, and we'll be transmit only)
OK, folks, I think that's about it
for now. Until next time, this is AF4FO, signing clear. Take care of
yourselves. And each other. 73, Susan
QTC May:
N4VAD-132; AF4NS-93; K4WKT-48; K4BEH-20; K4GK-14; K4BAI-11; KR4JI-6
No trees were
killed in the sending of this message. However, a large number of electrons were
terribly inconvenienced.
ARRL Georgia Section
Section Manager: Susan K. Swiderski,
AF4FO
af4fo@arrl.org
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