THE LOCAL OSCILLATOR - August 2003 - NOTE: An HTML version is avaiable at www.zianet.com/common/mvrc/index.html - TABLE OF CONTENTS COMING EVENTS PRESIDENT'S CORNER EQUIPMENT DONATION MEMBESHIP UPDATE COMING EVENTS Week days 6 m FM net 52.540 6:00AM Mon R&S Net 449.90 8:30AM Breakfast Wal-Mart 10:00AM WTRA Swap net 146.88 8 PM Wed Net 146.64 6:45PM round-table 52.525MHz 8 PM Aug 2 Saturday Breakfast Club House 8:00AM Aug 2 Program,business meeting 9:30AM Club House Aug 2 race 7:00AM Aug 13 1st Wed after 2nd Mon Directors at Club House 7:00PM Aug 22 - 23 Duke city hanfest see http://www.qsl.net/dchf PRESIDENT'S CORNER AD5LJ I have several items that I need to alert you to. First, we are rapidly approaching the time of the year (November) when we elect club officers. To expedite this, I am setting up a nominating committee to find candidates for the various offices for 2004. If you would like to serve on this committee, please drop me a note or let me know at the August business meeting. Second, please consider running for a club office. In November, we will elect a President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer and at least one and possibly two directors. If you have not been a club officer yet, please consider doing so, it’s a great experience. The only requirements are to be a member of the club and have enough free time to perform the job. Third, the current list of club members is attached to this newsletter. If your name is NOT on the list and you believe you have paid your dues, please contact me. Fourth, we need to consider the monthly socials that are currently being held at the New China Buffet restaurant. We had very poor attendance at the June social, only two people showed up. We cancelled the socials for July and August because too many of our members indicated they are too busy to attend. The next social is scheduled for the 2nd Monday in September. To better plan the socials, I would like each of you to answer the following questions and give the answers to me either by email, telephone, or in person. (see end of this newsletter for address.) 1. Do you believe the club should have a Monday social in addition to the regular Saturday Breakfast? 2. Will you attend the socials? 3. Should we continue having the socials at the China Buffet or go to another restaurant? If you want to move, to which restaurant? Finally, we need to have a workday at the clubhouse. We can use two groups of people, the first group to clean and dust the inside of the clubhouse and do some minor painting (the doors). The second group will work outside and cut weeds, pick up and haul off trash. I would like to have this workday on either 11, 18 or 25 October. We need volunteers. If you can help, please let me know. EQUIPMENT DONATION AD5LJ The club has received a donation from the estate of George Fariss (KF5GG). The club received a complete HF station including a Heathkit HW101 transceiver, SBE SB1-LA linear AMP, modulation monitor, multiband Yagi, antenna rotor, tower, and some accessories. We also received a large quantity of small parts and some test equipment. All the items are at the clubhouse if anyone is interested. MEMBERSHIP UPDATE AD5LJ There follows here a complete list of paid up members. Members in good standing as of 1 August 2003. K5LUI Baker,Larry WK5C Beakley,John AD5LJ Bennett,Robert K5JEB Blumkin,Manny K4BHL Bragdon,Dale W5UMQ Brown,Bill KD5UZC Brown,Donald KD5UZE Brown,Jonathan K5XY Burr,Alex KC5IEC Cabot,Lou KD5UCJ Chrisley,Billy KD5UZH Costigan,Allen KD5UZI Costigan,Frances N7KTR Cretin,Martin W5JRD Davis,Judy WK5I Davis,Rodney KD5PPP Deal,Robert KD5PUN Deal,Verna KA1NT Dovydaitis,V. KC5JCP Edwards,Terry WA7EPU Figgins,Dean K0SWK Figgins,Dorothy WA5QJQ Frazier,Lowell WM5Z Friis,Steven KC5TWD Frink,Elaine W4GEG Frink,Henry KC5MRI Gabel,Dorathea KC5MRN Gabel,Kolman W7DZG Glasscock,David KD5SSB Goddard,Brant KD5SSA Goddard,Sid WA2UCZ Gould,Ronald N5TQW Guganig,James N5WQ Hempfling,John KJ5Q Hempfling,Sandra KD5IKT Hickey,Bill KE5FF Hicks,Douglas W3FFB Hipkens,Ted AC5RI Horan,Steven KD5UZF Jack,Melonie KD5UZD Jellison-Brown,Diane KC5KWI Johnson,Charlotte KC5EVR Johnson,Richard KD5OHA Kopp,George KG5TC Kotovsky,Grant W5GX Kotovsky,Stan KD5OGY Langston,Arnold K5DI Larsen,Karl N5PK Lemons,Jack WA2NIJ Leverett,Jim KA2FVO Leverett,Marnie KD5SSF Linn,Timothy J. K1CQH Maguire,Mark W5YGR Miller,August KD5INC Mitchell,Ben KT4LT Mitchell,Ed KD5OHD Moffatt,Richard KD5SSJ Olsen,Cash KI5FJ Ostrowski,Joe K0RHW Pittman,Earle AB5FG Ream,Doug N5XRP Renneckar,Mel No Call Richards,Kent KI5LA Rollack,Ray KC5SKE Sacca,Brad N5RHM Savary,Charles AD5FE Schotzko,Henry N5HRI Schuhmann,Dave KC5KWL Schuhmann,Joy N5TXC Selinfreund,Marty W5HMS Summersgill,Ray N8UCZ Swain,Nancy KC5MRM Talbot,Carleton WA8FBN Trout,Art N5VXY Trout,Jodie KB5YMF Tryon,John W5SDV Waller,George K5BJW Weed,Bill W5TLU Welch,Charles W. K5DGZ Wood,Ralph BREAKFAST KD5SSJ Please join us for breakfast on Saturday, August 2, at 8am. The turn out continues to be about 20 and it seems to work out very well just before the business meeting. I've noticed that several members are on the high protein diet and that the bacon, sausage and eggs have been very popular, so much so that month before last and again last month I ran short, so I'll plan for a little extra. I don't think I can plan for 1/2 lb of bacon for each person that shows for breakfast, as one member suggested. I'll de-emphasize the biscuits and gravy and we'll continue the pancakes. I will stop preparing things on the griddle about 8:45am, so don't be to late. If you have any special needs or requests please send an email to me at casholsen@zianet.com and put in the subject line: MVRC breakfast. If you don't put something like that in the subject line you might just get some of the SPAM that I receive for breakfast. Look forward to seeing you on Saturday. MESILLA VALLEY RADIO CLUB BUSINESS MEETING MINUTES SATURDAY, JULY 5, 2003 The meeting was called to order by President, Bob Bennett, AD5LJ, at 9:45 a.m.. See attached log for attendance. General Announcements: Bob said we currently have 77 paid members. A list of paid members will be published in the next issue of the newsletter. All who have not paid have been dropped from the club roster and mail lists. Bob pointed out that no-one came to the June social dinner. It was generally agreed by the membership present that the dinners should be cancelled in the summer months. There will be no social dinner in July or August. Bob also reminded members of the upcoming hamfests in Tuthill (Flagstaff), July 26 and 27, Albuquerque on August 22 and 23 and Alamogordo on August 30. Jack Lemons, N5PQ, announced that Joe Knight, our ARRL District Manager, has retired due to poor health. Vice-President's Report: Doug Hicks, KE5FF, asked for ideas for the next meeting's program and Cash Olson suggested someone from the Weather Bureau (NOAH). Cash will call the director and see if he can set up a date. Secretary's Report: Marnie Leverett, KA2FVO, read the minutes. They were approved as read. Treasurer's Report: Rod Davis, WK5I, said his computer crashed and he has no report ready at this time. He will have one printed in the next Local Oscillator. Communications Report: Karl Larsen, K5DI, said that he and Karl Hess worked Field Day near Cloudcroft. They were somewhat hampered by frequent rainy spells. He also mentioned the successful Field Day event managed by Dave Hassall and members of his Builder's Group. The 4th of July race went well with 9 helpers. He is looking for someone to take over a new race, the River Run, to be held on July 12, as he will be out of town at that time. He has not received confirmation on the Mormon Run, July 19th or on a horse event scheduled for July 26 and 27. There is a race scheduled for August 2 at the university. That will conflict with our regular breakfast and club meeting, but it was felt that it is important to support the race and he will hope that workers will be finished in time for the meeting. Education Report: Bob said that 4 people have already signed up for the Tech Class scheduled for October 3, 4 and 5. Repeater Report: Brad was not present but Sid Goddard, KD5SSA, reported that a trip up Caballo was fairly successful, though they were not able to fully finish the job of putting new antennas up on the new tower. Some connectors still have to be attached. Coverage seems to be excellent. The antennas are at about 60 feet up the tower. The batteries have failed in the 64 repeater site. Richard Johnson will talk to Brad about a good source of new batteries. Special Events Report: Cash said there will be a breakfast in August and he is looking for some helpers. Revised Constitution and Bylaws: Bob passed out copies of a revised Constitution and By-laws. He pointed out that there are three important changes: one is a protocol for disposing of club property in the event of the club ever disbanding; one is lowering the committee membership numbers to reflect current membership trends; the third change is to allow non-hams to be associate members of the club. A discussion followed. Jim Guganig, N5TQW, moved and Carleton Talbot, KC5MRM, seconded that the constitution be approved. The motion passed. There being no other old business or new business the meeting was adjourned.. Respectfully Submitted by Marnie Leverett, Secretary MESILLA VALLEY RADIO CLUB BUSINESS MEETING MINUTES SATURDAY, JUNE 7, 2003 The meeting was called to order by President, Bob Bennett, AD5LJ, at 9:45 a.m.. Several new members were present. See attached log. General Announcements: Bob said we currently have77 paid members. He also announced the giving of a scholarship to Melanie Leaton, a sophomore at NMSU. He also passed around an article from QST about our classes with a picture of Cash Olsen. He mentioned that in July they will be making some changes in the regular Wednesday night net, to make it more challenging, perhaps doing it on simplex or mobile only. He also announced plans for a new experimental net which will be held on a simplex station, 144.220, on Thursday evenings at 8:00 Education: Tim Linn passed out card sized reminders of protocols for making phone patches on 146.64. He also announced the classes to start in September. Jack Lemons asked about more extra classes and Bob said that at this time we are not planning any until next year. Tim also asked if any members would be willing to share their expertise on some aspect of ham radio with new members. He would like to refer new students and new hams to some member of the club willing to share his or her experience. Field day: Bob said there will be two opportunities for club members to work Field Day. Dave Hassall is going to set up a station at the Pan Am Center at NMSU and is looking for operators and loggers. No one needs to bring equipment. He hopes to be on air for 24 hours. Also, Karl Larsen and Karl Hess will be going up near Cloudcroft to operate QRP and camp out. Races: A sign up sheet for the four races to be held in July was passed around for volunteers to sign. The races will be the 4th of July, the Burn Lake run on July 19, the Mormon Pioneer race on July 26 and a summer fun run on Aug. 2. There was no report from the secretary as no one took minutes at the last business meeting. Treasurer's report: Rob gave the treasurer's report. See attached. Our financial situation is good due to the sales at the Bvean Feed and a large donation that came in for educational purposes. Constitution and By-laws: Bob called to everyone's attention the revised constitution and by-laws that went out in the newest Oscillator. He said they would be discussed in the next business meeting and voted on in August. He noted that there are three significant changes. One is the addition of associate members. Also the new requirements for committee sizes is decreased. Most important is the additional language telling how club assets would be disbursed if the club ceases to exist. There was a question about dues for associate members and Bob said that would have to be looked at. Bob said that there are two significant changes that occurred about 1991. One is that before that membership was determined by a membership committee who screened all applicants and voted on them. The other subject that was taken out of the constitution was a rule on how to remove members from the club, which the board rejected. Special Events: Cash asked for volunteers to help with breakfast in July. Marnie and Rod volunteered. Cash had no report to make on planning for a special orientation opportunity for new hams and new members. He will work on that this month. Donations: Jack Lemons, N5PK, brought in an amplifier donated by Kenneth Law, W7HMF. Buildings and Grounds: Bob said the outside painting is finished except for the two doors. After the monsoon season, he will want to do a major clean-up job in the yard. Several new e-mails need to be forwarded to Karl Larsen: Jack Lemons' and Jim and Marnie Leverett's.. The meeting was adjourned at 10:20 a.m. Respectfully Submitted by Marnie Leverett, Secretary UNCLASSIFIED ADS FOR SALE: Weather Satellite Picture Receiving Station, complete, as new. Receives weather satellite images in real time from both geostationary and polar orbiting weather satellites. Visible, IR, and color. Call or e-mail for details and equipment list. Bill Johnston, K5ZI, 505-382-7804. k5zi@arrl.net BACK PAGE The newsletter is always looking for articles and notes of interest to the members of the Mesilla Valley Radio Club. Please send them to Alex. F. Burr, K5XY, Editor, MVRC Local Oscillator, 695 Stone Canyon Drive, Las Cruces, NM 88011. Small personal ads from members will also be published. It would be helpful if submissions would be made in a machine readable form. MSDOS disks are welcome. Files can also be sent to the Internet address aburr@aol.com. The club maintains a web site at http://www.zianet.com/mvrc. OFFICERS Pres Bob Bennett AD5LJ 382-0148 rbennett@zianet.com VPr Doug Hicks KE5FF 522-2683 domad1@msn.com Sec Marnie Leverett KA2FVO 522-0347 Tres Rod Davis WK5I 522-6833 rodstree@peoplepc.com B'rd Alex. Burr K5XY 522-2528 aburr@aol.com Mike Homer KC5SKF kc5skf@zianet.com Karl Larsen K5DI 524-3303 k5di@arrl.net Timothy Linn KD5SSF 521-0486 timlinn@sprynet.com Cash Olsen KD5SSJ 382-1917 casholsen@zianet.com Brad Sacca KC5SKE 382-4380 shiekyerbouty@msn.com JOIN THE CLUB To join the Mesilla Valley Radio Club, renew your membership, or to support the repeaters, please complete the form below and send it with dues ($25 single, $35 family per year) to: Treasurer, MVRC, Box 1443, Las Cruces, NM 88004. Name: Address: Call: Class of License: Phone: E-Mail Address: ARRL Member? Yes? No?