SM: Susan Swiderski, AF4FO; ASM/South GA:
Marshall Thigpen, W4IS; ASM/Legal: Jim Altman, W4UCK; ASM/Webmaster:
Bob Smith, K4PHE; ASM/Youth Activities: Brittney Hancock, KI4WNY;
ASM/Youth Advisor: Andrea Hartlage, KG4IUM; ASM/ Scouting: David
Pearce,ABØNG; SEC: Jim Cote, N4PJR;
STM: Charles Pennington, K4GK; OOC: Mike Swiderski, K4HBI; TC: Jim
Worsham, W4KXY;
PIC:Norm Schklar,WA4ZXV; SGL: Bill Cherepy, WB4WTN; ACC: Robin
Cutshaw, AA4RC
Greetings, All!
So, are the stockings all hung by the chimney
with care? Better hurry! Santa's already paid a visit to LaFayette,
GA, and with his handy dandy drill, filled a need by drilling a
hole. Yup, it's true. Now, not many of us have visions of holes in
the wall dancing in our heads or have such an unusual item on our
wish list, but that's just what teacher JODY CARTER, KI4TVE,
of Rambler Middle School, has been wishing for, and that's just what
he got. Thanks to the brand new hole in his classroom wall, he and
his radio club students will be able to get on the air a lot more
quickly now. Gives them more of a sense of permanence, kinda like
putting the clothes into the dresser drawers, instead of living out
of a suitcase. So, congratulations to Jody and his students, not
only for getting that little round hole, but for the big round seal
of approval and support it represents.
When you were dragging out your Christmas
decorations this year, did you come across some interesting vintage
items? You know, those things you haven't actually used in decades,
but for some reason, keep stashing back in the attic year after
year? NED MOUNTAIN, WC4X, has been hanging onto a
vintage
1955 aluminum tree for years, and this year, he
decided to have a little bit of fun with it. Why not turn it into an
antenna? After sticking the 30 or so aluminum branches into the
trunk, he added a little inductance to the base, and was able to get
a match on 40M. Worked two stations in Ohio on the thing!
Pretty cool, huh? Ya just never know until you
give it a try...
Time to get serious about planning the 2008
statewide ARES meetings. As announced earlier, they will be held at
the Public Service training facility in Forsyth, GA, on January 26.
SCOTT ROYLE, KK4Z, has graciously taken the reins
on setting the agenda, but he needs YOUR help. If you want to make a
presentation or have a suggestion as to a topic you would like to
see covered, please send that information to him ASAP. You can reach
him at kk4z@arrl.net Thank you.
Another note on the statewide meeting. There will
be NO EmComm testing this time around. Time simply wasn't on our
side. Turns out, new test booklets are being released for all three
levels of the EmComm courses, and as of January first, this new
material must be used for any testing. That doesn't leave much time
for proper preparation, so we've decided to drop it. Also, after the
first of the year, the cost for taking one of these tests will be
increasing to $14, to bring it in line with VE testing.
GA clubs have been busy lately. Providing
communications for Christmas parades and various other activities.
Lots of parties. Lots of eating. Great fellowship. Elections. Hams
of the Year. A couple more clubs applied for ARRL affiliation. Busy,
busy, busy. If you have any news about your club's recent
activities, please send it to me before the end of the year, for
inclusion in the January newsletter.
SILENT KEY: I'm very sorry to announce the death
of GENE SPRAYBERRY, W9NXC.
Gene was the moving force behind the creation of
the GA Traffic and Emergency Net, and has been a much-respected
member of the amateur radio fraternity for many years. He will be
missed. Sincere condolences to his family and friends.
Well, folks, that's about it for now. May all
your Christmas wishes come true.
Until next time, this is AF4FO, signing clear.
Take care of yourselves. And each other. 73, Susan
QTC November: K8GA-121; K4GK-79;
WA4UJC-67; WB4BIK-30; K4BEH-14; K4BAI-3
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
