M ay we as American and human beings mark the day in our

Utica Shelby Emergency Communications Association, Inc. Volume 28, Number 7, September 2012
USECA BOARD MEETING MINUTES
June 2012
Club Officers
President, Larry
W8SOX
Membership Sec., Ray
K8RDJ
Board Member, Walt
WB8E
Vice President, Pete
AA8GK
Recording Sec, Rob
NY8W
Board Member, Chuck
N8ZA
Treasurer, Gary Simms
WA8FEA
Past President, Bill
N8SA
Board Member, Alec
NF8X
NOTE: Name in RED indicates absent
Meeting called to order @ 6:53 p.m. by W8SOX Larry.
With no corrections, Gary made a motion to accept the
May board meeting minutes as printed in the Express.
Ken seconded and the motion carried.
Gary read the Treasurer's report.
Ken moved to accept the treasurers report, Larry seconded and the motion passed.
143 members
Swap: Chuck reported having a prospective venue for
our swap. This place would furnish and set up tables
and save us $500. The date would have to be moved to
earlier in October. We will need to scout out the location during an event over the summer.
Fundraising: N8WTT Gary reported that next week's
general meeting raffle will feature 11 prizes.
Field Day: The board discussed approving a budget.
Walt made a motion to approve $2000 for Field Day.
Ken seconded and the motion passed.
There was some discussion about how we should
charge for non-participating attendees.
At this time Gary made a motion to adjourn Ken seconded and the meeting concluded at 8:05 pm
T
ragic events all have their major anniversaries: the first, the
tenth, the twentieth, etc. Last year, marked the 10th anniversary of the attacks of 9/11. Somehow, I just don’t think the
media will hype the eleventh anniversary as they did last year.
M
ay we as American and human beings mark the day in our
hearts, thinking of the helpless people in the airliners, in
The Twin Towers, and the Pentagon. May we remember the
brave firefighters who died coming to the aid of others, even
though they knew the buildings were physically compromised
and failing. May we remember the Port Authority Police Officers
in and around The Twin Towers, directing people away from the
site, trying to maintain some semblance of order. May we
remember the brave utility workers who assisted the fire department in getting the power turned off to affected floors. May we
remember the brave passengers on United Flight 93 who recognized what was happening, formed a plan, then fought for their
airliner, saving only God knows how many people on the
ground. May we remember brave Betty Ong, a flight attendant
aboard American Airlines Flight 11, who called her company
using an flight phone, alerting them to what was happening on
her plane.
Respectfully Submitted,
Rob Lifton NY8W, Recording Secretary.
May we never forget the tragic events of 9/11.
Next Meeting: October 8, 2012
(Click Here for Map of Meeting Location)
Our 28th Year!
1
The USECA Express
9 / 1 1 : never forget.
VHF / UHF Nets
Officers and Committees
DAY
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
President Larry Stocking / W8SOX (586) 294-7718
Vice Pres. Ken Coughlin / N8KC N8KC@ARRL.Net
Recording Secretary Rob Lifton / NY8W (248) 797-2264
Treasurer Gary Simms / WA8FEA (586) 322-3124
Membership Sec. Ray Anderson K8RDJ (586) 979-4456
Board Member Walt Gracey / WB8E (586) 596-9547
Board Member Alec Beardsley / NF8X (586) 873-8841
Board Member Chuck Perushek / N8ZA (586) 557-4983
Past President Bill Chesney / N8SA (586) 468-0106
COMMITTEES
ARRL Liaison Bill / N8SA
Awards Manager Bob / N8ZY (586) 978-1682
Door Prizes –OPEN–
Editor Pete/ AA8GK (248) 433-7724 AA8GK@ARRL.NET
Field Day Chair Bill / N8SA, Steve / N8XO
Health & Welfare Rob / NY8W (248) 816-2222
Historian Jerry / K8CFY (586) 791-4484
Mailers/Sorters Joe / N8KA
Net Manager Bob / N8ZY (586) 978-1682
Photographer Wes / KD8DHS
Program Director Dan / N8ZBA
Public Relations Officer Ken / N8KC (248) 652-1187
Refreshments Walt / WB8E
Repeater Trustee Ken Coughlin / N8KC
Swap Director Larry / WB8SJD WB8SJD@ARRL.Net
Technical Director Jim / W1IK (586) 771-4135
Technicians N8SA, W1IK, N8ZA, K8RDJ, W1SKU
VE Testing Alec / NF8X (586) 873-8841
Webmaster Bob / N8ZY (586) 978-1682
CONTROL OPERATORS (*Phone #’s Above)
Jim / WY8I
Alec / NF8X
Rob / NY8W Chuck / N8ZA Jim / W1IK
Dan / N8ZBA
PROGRAMMERS
Jim / W1IK Brad / N8VI
USECA VE Testing
Testing will be the THIRD Monday of the
month from
September thru June. Alec,
NF8X, is the Contact VE. Pre-registration is
encouraged. Test fee is $14.00 cash (exact
change only). Examinees need to bring Xerox
copies of current license and un-expired
CSCE's, if any. There is no copy machine at
the test site. Official starting time is 7:00 PM.
Walk-ins are welcomed. Test site is at the
Mt.Clemens Elks Club (179 S.Main St. in
Mt.Clemens). Other VE test sessions can be
arranged— contact the Contact VE for details.
Click here for the
ARRL audio
news.
Our 28th Year!
TIME
NET
FREQ
SUN
1:00 PM
USECA / Information
147.180 +100 PL
SUN
8:00 PM
USECA / Traders/Tech Support Net
147.180 +100 PL
SUN
9:00 PM
HPARC / Info
146.640 +100 PL
SUN
9:00 PM
Garden City ARC
146.860 +100 PL
SUN-SAT
10:15 PM
S. E. Michigan Traffic Net
146.76 +100 PL
MON
7:30 PM
SATERN
147.180 +100 PL
MON
8:00 PM
MECA / Info
147.200 +100 PL
MON
8:00 PM
GMARC
443.075 +123 PL
TUE
8:00 PM
Digital
145.550
TUE
9:00 PM
Motor City Radio Club
147.240
WED
9:00 PM
ARPSC / Info
145.490
THU
8:00 PM
Macomb County RACES / ARES
THU
8:30 PM
LCARC / Info
147.200 +100 PL
147.080
HF Nets
DAY
TIME
NET
FREQ
MON
7:30 PM
LCARC / 15 Meter CW
21.165
MON
8:30 PM
LCARC / 15 Meter Phone USB
21.395
TUE
2300 UTC USECA / 75 Meter Phone LSB
WED
7:00 PM
USECA / 6 Meter Phone USB
50.140
THU
7:30 PM
LCARC / 10 Meter Phone USB
28.435
THU
9:00 PM
USECA / 15 Meter CW
21.140
FRI
9:00 PM
USECA / 80 Meter CW
3.570
FRI
10:00 PM
USECA / 10 Meter Phone USB
28.425
3.830 +/- QRM
Click above image.
“...soon as we could see clearly through our big, black
eye, man, we lit up your world like the Fourth of July.”
-Toby Keith
2
The USECA Express
9 / 1 1 : never forget.
Our 28th Year!
3
The USECA Express
9 / 1 1 : never forget.
USECA Support of Camp Ozanam
By Larry, W8SOX
As many of you know the last few years a group of us from the USECA club have been working on a GMRS
repeater for the CYO Camps in Port Sanilac, MI. It Started out with the Donation of a Repeater from
KC8WWE (Pete) and was built up around that. With Cell Phone coverage very minimal near the camps,
there was a need to get working radios with good coverage so that in the event of an emergency someone
could call for help and get someone to call 911 from a working phone. It also helps the camp counselors to
keep track of everyone or when they need supplies. Using mostly donated equipment and time, we were
able to get the repeater working in good order this summer just after the summer camps got started. A big
thank you to:
KC8WWE, Pete
N8ZA, Chuck
WB8F, Don
WB8SJD, Larry
N8WTT, Gary
KD8NCN, Paul
K8RDJ, Ray
W8IC, Phil
AA8GK, Pete
Maintaining and making the repeater better will be our goal now. With no budget we will have to depend on
donated equipment. If you have commercial UHF radio equipment or know of someone that is getting rid of
there commercial UHF radio equipment please let us know or let them know if they would like to make a donation. We can provide a donation form for tax purposes.
Camp Ozanam is an awesome organization that provides underprivileged children with a great camping experience. Won’t you, please, consider helping them with a charitable donation? CLICK HERE TO HELP
CLICK ON THE LINKS BELOW TO JOIN EITHER THE ARRL OR AMSAT
ARRL
AMSAT®
225 Main Street
Newington, CT 06111-1494
1-860-594-0200
Our 28th Year!
850 Sligo Avenue, Suite 600
Silver Springs, MD 20910
1-800-322-6728
4
The USECA Express
9 / 1 1 : never forget.
QST: Hazel Park Amateur Radio Club Licensing Classes
Technician License Class – Fall, 2012
Location: Macomb Intermediate School District Building
44001 Garfield Road
Clinton Township, MI 48038
(North of 19 mile on west side of Garfield)
Park on the north side of the building. Area map
Starting Date: Monday, September 10, 2012, for 10 consecutive weeks
Time: 7 – 9 pm
Technician License Manual: The book can be purchased from the instructor the first night of class. The
retail cost is $29.95 discounted to $25.00 – exact change would be appreciated.
Exam: The FCC exam will be held on the last night of class. The cost is $15.00 cash only – exact change
would be appreciated.
Pre-Registration: Desirable, so that we can order the proper number of manuals.
Instructor and Contact: Rich Urbano, KC8WPW, KC8WPW@ARRL.NET
General License Class – Fall, 2012
Location: City of Southfield Emergency Operations Center
26000 Evergreen Rd., Southfield, MI (Basement of the Parks & Recreation Center,
end of the Municipal Complex). Area map, Civic Center map, Directions
North
Starting Date: Monday September 10, 2012 for 12 consecutive weeks
Time: 7 – 9 pm
Technician License Manual: The book can be purchased from the instructor the first night of class. The retail cost is $29.95 discounted to $25.00 – exact change would be appreciated.
Exam: The FCC exam will be held on the last night of class. The cost is $15.00 cash only – exact change
would be appreciated.
Pre-Registration: Desirable, so that we can order the proper number of manuals.
Instructor and Contact: Wallace Murray, KE8HR, KE8HR@ARRL.NET
Thinking about getting your ham radio license? There are lots of online and
downloadable study guides available for free! CLICK HERE to see just one of them!
Our 28th Year!
5
The USECA Express
9 / 1 1 : never forget.
The Beginning of USECA
Compiled by Richard Brege, K8QLM, and Dick Mason, KA8BDG
H
ave you ever wondered as you looked around the room at one of our meetings just how all this came
about? Did you know that at one time we had a CB Division? Or perhaps, you had the same thoughts
as you read through the pages of The Express and saw the names of the founders / charter members and
honorable charters who are, or in some cases were, the people who had the vision to begin the club we have
today? Someone - and we can’t remember who - once said, “You can’t know where you’re going until you
know where you’ve been.” So, take a trip with us as we turn back the pages of history to when it all started.
We would like to thank all the members, both past and present, who furnished helpful information so that we
could put it all together. We do not claim that we have put the facts in the proper order and we may have
missed talking to someone who might have had additional historical information. What you see here has
been obtained from personal accounts and old records.
I
n the early years of USECA, 1981 to 1984, many Utica area hams were active members of the L’Anse
Creuse Amateur Radio Club. During that same period, a number of members from that club from the Utica
area suggested that a new amateur radio club should be organized for several reasons, including the
distance to the Mount Clemens meeting site.
D
uring an after-meeting coffee clutch at a Utica restaurant one night, a small group of L’Anse Creuse club
members discussed the matter of organizing a new amateur radio club in the Utica area. The proposal
was well received by those present. Additional meetings were scheduled and it was then resolved under the
direction of John Moor, KA8KTV. A search was instituted for a suitable meeting site for the fledgling organization and the new club moved forward.
A
fter scanning many pages of historical documents given to us by several members, we found the
minutes of the January 25, 1985, meeting and they shoed the election of officers. Elected were: John
Moore, KA8KTV, as President, Richard Brege, K8QLM, as Vice President, and John Wuestewald,
N8FNO, to Secretary / Treasurer. Our club’s name was selected, the annual dues set, and decided that the
club meetings would be held at Faith Lutheran Church on Shelby Road in Shelby Township. On February 5,
1985, charter memberships were declared to be closed as
of July 31, 1985. Our repeater frequency of 147.18 MHz
(+600) had been monitored by John Moore and several
volunteers for the previous year and it was found to be
inactive. Two days after the year was up, John Moore notified the proper authorities of our intention to use the frequency pair for a new repeater operated by the newly
formed Utica Shelby Emergency Communications Association. Membership was by invitation only and each new member contributed $100 to start the process of getting a
repeater on the air. Those are the people named in The
USECA Express club directory. Later, it was necessary to
collect additional monies to complete the repeater system
with the promise of a refund when the club became solvent.
The additional money paid was later refunded following a
motion made and approved at the October, 1987, meeting.
Join.
Prepare.
Serve.
Now.
Click here to learn more.
(Continued on page 7)
Our 28th Year!
-AA8GK
6
The USECA Express
9 / 1 1 : never forget.
USECA History (Continued from page 6)
I
t has been said that john Moore’s home on 21 Mile Road contained more equipment than NASA headquarters and if
lightning were to strike, it wouldn’t know where to hit! President Moore would have liked to have the repeater located
there, but in order to do so, he would have had to move out. Member John Pizzuti, WB8NHT, and his wife, Erma, came
to the rescue by offering their home at Burton and 21 Mile Road in Shelby Township as the repeater location. The necessary equipment was mounted on a desk large enough to land a 747, and heavy enough to require additional supports
in the basement under the desk to stop it from crashing through the floor. The desk, which was in a bedroom, took up
most of the room, but Erma was sympathetic to the cause and she willingly put up with the inconvenience. Erma had no
faith, however, in John’s support system and it became necessary for him to take over the operation of the washer and
dryer! Erma never again entered the basement as long as that desk was in the bedroom. The repeater antenna was
erected in John’s Backyard by club members, and on April 3, 1985, the repeater, complete with phone patch, went on
the air using the call K8QLM.
A
fter a few months of noisy repeater operation, it became apparent an equipment move was necessary. After
exploring several locations, arrangements were made to house the repeater at the Messina Trucking Company,
locating the antenna on their tower. Of the dozen members assembled on a Saturday morning to mount the antenna on
the tower, only one would climb the tower. Club member, Chuck Young, KA8WOT, made the 156 foot climb, hauling the
ropes and pulleys needed to hoist the antenna to the desired location. Chuck remarked that he thought he was in a
wind tunnel, and that he could see downtown Pontiac. Meanwhile, a large crowd had gathered at Erma’s Custard
Stand, everyone munching on Erma’s best custard while watching Chuck. The new antenna was safely raised and
secured before dark. Installation of the antenna was completed the following morning with Erma’s owner reporting
record weekend profits. The repeater was moved to the Messina location during the week of August 13, 1985.
A
s we cruise through the pages of the archives, we find many notations of memorable entries which shaped the
future of USECA. A motion at the meeting of Novermber12, 1985, split the Secretary / Treasurer job into two positions. Joe Paulson, WD8MFN, took over as Treasurer, and Richard Brege, K8QLM, became the Secretary, the minutes
reflecting that he “was to do his own typing.” Around the end of 1985, the USECA treasury was in need of additional
funds. During a club meeting late that same year, a motion was made and approved that USECA sponsor a pancake
and sausage breakfast in order to bolster the club treasury. Following a search for a suitable location, it was decided to
have the breakfast in the basement of the American Legion Hall on Cass Avenue in Utica. The planned all-you-can-eat
breakfast was advertised in several area newspapers in advance of the event. Response to the breakfast publicity was
very good and the receipts boosted the USECA treasury very significantly. 1986 saw the first issue of our newsletter
and our first Field Day. Our first swap meet at the Eisenhower High School was a complete success. Expenses for our
auto patch during the first month of operation came to $4.32 in long distance calls. The newly instituted Friday midnight
Hoot Owl Net, originally intended to be comical in nature, was a good reason to stay up into the early hours of Saturday.
P
resident John Moore opened the May 13, 1986, meeting at 1930 hours. He had been seriously ill for a week and
found it necessary to use a bull horn to make himself heard. A few days later, after being hospitalized, he passed
away. The USECA Express for May and June, 1986, contained an article by the editor, Vance Dupris, WB8QNI, who
asked if we remember the ‘Great White Father of USECA’. All of our members did, and we all knew he would be sorely
missed.
(Concluded on page 8)
Upcoming ARRL Contests
Sep 8-10
September VHF QSO Party, Click HERE for more information on this QSO party!
Oct 15-19
School Club Roundup (SCR). Contact as many school radio clubs as possible. More HERE.
Nov 3-5
Sweepstakes, CW. U.S. and Canadians make as many QSO’s as possible. More HERE.
Nov 17-19 Sweepstakes, Phone. U.S. and Canadians make as many QSO’s as possible. More HERE.
11/30-12/2 ARRL 160 Meter Contest. W/VE stations make as many QSO’s as possible on 160. HERE.
Our 28th Year!
7
The USECA Express
9 / 1 1 : never forget.
USECA History, Conclusion (Continued from page 7)
T
he years following 1986 are a history lesson in their own right. Through the guidance and leadership of those
elected to office, and because of the actions of our membership, USECA has developed into one of the finest and
most active amateur radio clubs in the area. We are known nationally and shall continue moving forward with our
active membership.
O
ur first president, John Moore, believed a goal for USECA was to have the membership number well over 100, and
someday, have our swap at the Silverdome. The membership goal was reached long ago. Could the Silverdome be
next?
S
pecial thanks to John Wuestewald, N8FNO, who—when he was Secretary, compiled the minutes and other important paperwork and kept it all these years. John has instructed us to turn historical documents over to our club historian where it will remain a part of USECA’s history.
I would like to thank Ken Coughlin, N8KC, for getting me this article -Editor
Over the last 4 years, your Second Amendment
Rights have been threatened like never before.
Therefore, this November, VOTE FREEDOM
FIRST, supporting those candidates that support
your right to defend yourself and those you love.
Next, join the only organization in the country with
the clout to stand up to anti-gun legislation, the NRA. Click on the above image to get started!
Happy
Rosh
Hashanah!
Rosh Hashanah occurs on the first
and second days of Tishri. In
Hebrew, Rosh Hashanah means,
literally, "head of the year" or "first
of the year." Rosh Hashanah is
commonly known as the Jewish
New Year. This name is somewhat
deceptive, because there is little
similarity between Rosh Hashanah,
one of the holiest days of the year,
and the American midnight drinking
bash and daytime football game.
Click on the image to the left to
learn more!
Our 28th Year!
8
The USECA Express
9 / 1 1 : never forget.
Meeting called to order at 7:27 PM by Ken
as acting president (and a great performance
it was, too! - Editor)
Club Officers
Ken took a moment to recognize the
President, Larry
Membership Sec., Ray
Board Member, Walt
kitchen crew, but just a moment as the food
W8SOX
K8RDJ
WB8E
really wasn’t that great.
Vice President, Pete
Recording Sec, Rob
Board Member, Chuck
AA8GK
NY8W
N8ZA
New licensees and upgrades were recogBoard Member, Alec
Treasurer, Gary Simms Past President, Bill
nized, then ground into hamburger to be
N8SA
NF8X
WA8FEA
served before the September General MeetNOTE: Name in RED indicates absent
ing.
The microphone was passed around and all attendees introduced themselves, confessing
whatever malefactions they’ve committed in their lives.
N8TVI Scott made a motion to approve the May General Meeting minutes as printed in the
Express, N8KDL Doug seconded and the motion carried.
Gary summarized the financials, then absconded with the funds to Brazil.
Don, WB8F, moved that we authorize $2000 for Field Day, KD8HIZ Andy seconded and the
funds were approved.
New Business:
KD8HIZ Andy announced that we had a radio donated to the Packard Proving Grounds
and it is set up in the radio room as there was no room in the lavatory.
NF8X Alec announced the final regular USECA VE testing session before the summer
break will take place on Monday June 18th at the Elks lodge. This will also be the last
session using the current Extra class question pool before bleach is thrown into it.
Rob made a motion that Bill's tagline be changed from "Who Cares?" to "Bite Me!"
Chuck seconded and the motion passed unanimously. We still haven’t collected enough
money to bail Bill out of jail. Please donate generously. Then again, ‘WHO CARES?’
56 Attendees signed in because their wives threw them out of the house for the night.
Does anyone read this damned thing?
Andy, KD8HIZ, moved to adjourn and N8TVI Scott seconded. The meeting concluded at
7:48 pm
U S E C A GENERAL M E E T I N G M I N U T E S
June 2012
Respectfully submitted by NY8W Rob, Recording Secretary.
A FREE WAY TO HELP CAMP OZANAM!!!!! PLEASE READE THE INSTRUCTIONS BELOW. CAN YOU
BELIEVE THAT A MOUSE CLICK CAN ACTUALLY HELP OUR FRIENDS AT THE CYO CAMPS!?!?!
Our 28th Year!
9
The USECA Express
9 / 1 1 : never forget.
Annual Membership Dues: Regular: $25, Family $35, Mailed Printed Newsletter: ADD $10.00
New Member applications MUST be mailed to: USECA, P.O. Box 46331, Mt. Clemens, MI 48046
MAKE CHECK PAYABLE TO: USECA
ALL mailed-in applications MUST include a self-addressed stamped envelope
Allow 4-6 weeks for processing
USECA reserves the right to accept or reject New or Renewal Memberships
Upcoming Events in 2012
Date
Time
Event
Sun, Sept 9
8 am - 12 pm
Findlay Swap
Sun, Oct 7
8 am-2pm
Location
Hancock County (Ohio) Fairgrounds, 147.15 Talk-in. MAP HERE
The NEW AND
NEW LOCATION!!! CLICK HERE FOR DETAILED MAP Talk-in on the
IMPROVED USECA USECA Repeater, 147.18 MHz, +100. MORE TABLES, MORE
SWAP
VENDORS, BETTER LOCATION, FOOD and FELLOWSHIP!
The USECA EXPRESS is published monthly (except July and August), by the UTICA SHELBY EMERGENCY COMMUNICATION ASSOCIATION, INC., of Macomb County, Michigan. Club meetings are held on the second Monday of each month
(except July and August), 7:30 p.m., local time, at the Elks Club, 179 S. Main (between Church and Robertson),
Mt. Clemens, Michigan. Visitors are always welcome. Articles for the EXPRESS should be submitted to the editor no later
than one week before the club meeting for publication in the following month’s edition. The articles within are those of
the author and not necessarily endorsed by USECA. Material contained in the EXPRESS may be reprinted
provided credit is given to the USECA EXPRESS and the author, except material published by permission of a
copyright holder.
Our 28th Year!
10
The USECA Express
“Oh, God….
Your ocean is so big, and my boat is so small.”
Don’t Forget The USECA SWAP!
Sunday, October 7, 2012, 8 am - 2 pm
UFCW, LOCAL 876 Hall
876 Horace Brown Drive, Madison Heights, MI
Talk-in, USECA Repeater, 147.180 MHz, +100 Hz PL
ATION!!!!!
Non-Stop
CLICK HERE FOR GOOGLE MAP
The USECA EXPRESS
First Class Car, Seat 07A
$25/yr reg. Memb., $35/yr reg. Memb. w/mailed Express
This ticket for The USECA EXPRESS entitles the holder to another non-stop adventure in Amateur Radio via
the September 2012 issue. The holder of this ticket is not, however, restricted from participating in one
of the many great activities sponsored by the USECA organization!!! Fall is a great time to get outside,
exercise, play radio, take in the fresh air, and be happy to be alive!
1 s t Class
WARNING: Eating this ticket may cause injury or death. Offer not valid in Hawaii, Ohio, or North Korea. Use only as
prescribed. Your mileage may vary. Call your doctor immediately if your enthusiasm for amateur radio lasts longer
than 4 hours after reading The Express. Amateur radio and amateur radio equipment may cause dizziness,
euphoria, dry mouth, hyperventilation, profuse sweating, hot flashes, bankruptcy and / or divorce. But, WHO
CARES? After all, IT’S RADIO!!!
147. 180 MHz +100 PL
NEW LOC