Next Meeting Minutes

DARC Monthly Newsletter
February 2009
Next Meeting
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Doors open at 19:00
Meeting 19:30
New York State EMO
Route 31, Newark, NY
Or try 146.685
For assistance try 146.745
RACES-ARES February 2009
Minutes
The Drumlins Amateur Radio Club, LTD
Meeting Agenda
DATE: 1/21/09
CALL TO ORDER: 1932 By President N2MLD
MEMBERS / GUESTS: N2RUS, N2MLD, K2OEQ, KB2VGI,
K2MPE, KC2JAL, W2EVU, N2DIT, KB2KBY, N2JC,
KB2ROP, KC2TCM, WD2STK, AB2F, KE4VHA AND
KC2SWZ
MINUTES: Motion to accept as printed in newsletter by
K2MPE 2ND by KC2TCM & CARRIED
NEWSLETTER: Thanks Jon.
to Jon for publication.
Anyone with articles, get them
Corrections: N2JC stated that he was listed as the contact person for DARC and expressed a desire for that responsibility to
be delegated to someone else. After some discussion KB2KBY
will assume the duties.
TREASURERS REPORT by KB2KBY: Motion to accept by
N2JC, 2nd by K2MPE & CARRIED
PUBLIC SERVICE: WD2STK reported that Feb 2, 2009
would be a Special Olympic event at Swain Ski complex.
BADGES!
REPEATERS: 146.745 Work in progress
144.950- all 3 working well
This is the topic for the month!
Can you tell by the picture of the badge? Hi! This month’s
article is to inform you the where, what, who, and when of getting a Wayne County Office of Emergency Management badge.
First, here is a thought! To be able to function as a RACES op
for the county EOC, it is best you have a
Continued on page 2
RACES NET SUNDAYS 20:45 146.685
Except for Holiday Weekends!
146.685 Good
RACES: No NET on Feb 1 “Super bowl Sunday,” The March
21 exercise will be preceded by a Saturday training class (details
to be announced) Reminder that The Badges DO NOT EXPIRE
even if the date does. Kudos to John and George.
ACTIVITIES & CONTESTS: NTR
VE TEAM: NTR
Continued on page 3
Page 2
The Drumlins Leaders 08-09
President
V-President
Secretary
Treasurer
Program
Program Asst
Director 3 yr
Director 2 yr
Director 1 yr
Sysop .745
Sysop .685
Newsletter
Club Trustee
Bob Taylor, N2MLD
Doug Peeso, KB2ROP
Russ Millspaw, N2RUS
Dave Taylor, KB2KBY
Jay Hamill, KC2TCM
Dave Taylor, KB2KBY
Jim Collinsworth, N2JC
Doug Gould, N2QK
Harold Spencer, W4ILN
Jeff Jenson, N2MKT
Bruce Blair, WB2QKO
Jon King, KS2JEK
Dave Taylor, KB2KBY
315-331-3982
315-587-2889
315-483-8924
315-597-4293
315-548-8589
315-597-4293
315-483-8136
315-633-4469
315-539-3819
315-483-1537
315-597-9731
315-524-2453
315-597-4293
to be. That includes your car and being on the road as well. If
you read the front of the badge you’ll see where this is possible.
Closed roads? You will need that badge! You will not be any
use to the public as a RACES member if you can’t get where
you need to serve.
If you already have a badge make sure you keep in a place that
is handy and readily available.
The EOC is doing their part to help the Drumlins. If you have no
badge you must do your part!
73 & 88, Dave KB2KBY
RACES-ARES from page 1
badge. This makes your entrance to the EOC for an event the
easiest. It will take about 15 minutes of your time if there is no
waiting in line. We have been assured by George Bastedo, the
Director of the EOC, you don’t have to worry about the expiration date on the back. As long as you are in the system it is not a
worry. The important thing is if you do not have a badge-please
-get one. The picture is the “what” by the way of the introduction! Hi!
The back of the badge there is a place for name, agency-RACES
for us-date issued, expiration card number and a curious item
“EOC authorized.” The yes or no for the authorization just
means if you have a free run of the EOC itself or if you will
need an escort. It is not a big issue and the badge gives you authority to be at the EOC, period.
Second, where do you get a badge? You must go to the Wayne
County complex just west of Lyons on 7368 Rte 31. The
Wayne County Jail you will see to the left from Rte 31 and there
is an older brick three-story building to the right. That older
building on the top floor houses the EOC. See the attached picture. To the right as you are facing the whole brick complex
there is a one-story temporary wood building. See the attached
picture of the one-story building. This is where records and
pistol permits are issued and this is where you will get your
EOC badge. There is a ramp and stairs from the front parking
lot near the west end of the EOC building to enter the temporary
building. There is a counter almost as soon as you enter this
temporary building and the ladies will help you. Just say you
wish a RACES badge.
Third, when is this permit office open? The office is open for
normal operation on the county scheduled day. But pay attention when the county offices are closed as that will be the permits building as well. Call ahead to make sure: 946-5790. This
number is under the Wayne County Departments. If you have to
travel a distance definitely call ahead. This will be your only
trip remember!
The Drumlins ARC’s mission for the public is emergency communications. One important part for that emergency communications is to have that badge so can get and be where you need
Club Address
Dave Taylor KB2KBY Club Trustee
228 W. Jackson St., Palmyra, NY 14522
Packet: Kb2kby-1 thru Newark Node
Email: KB2KBY@rochester.rr.com
Friday Luncheon
Cross Park at noon
Page 3
February Program:
The program is going to be a DVD on digital modes and
emergency communications.
I have the DVD from the Atlantic Division Digital Mode
Webinar.
"This presentation will focus on the use of the Narrow Band
Emergency Messaging System software (NBEMS), most
specifically on the main application in the software suite
named FLDIGI."
Should be pretty interesting, I've only watched the beginning
of it, don't wanna spoil my surprise for the meeting.. :)
73, Jay KC2TCM
Upcoming Public Service
Events
Special Olympics, Winter Games
Feb 7, 2009
Rochester Hamfest
May 30, 2009
Minutes from page 1
REMEMBERANCE: SK: K2SQI Passed, N2RMF passed,
KC2HUP passed
KC2TCM’s Grandfather (Trista’s father) passed. A card
was sent from the club.
OLD BUSINESS: Party on Jan 31. (35 to date)
March Rumblins
Deadline is
March 4, 2009
NEW BUSINESS: K2MPE reported that “OFFICIAL” The
Rochester hamfest location has been changed. Due to some local
politics, the Hamfest location is being listed as taking place in 2
different locations.
50/50 $7.00
ADJOURNMENT: K2MPE 2nd KC2JAL At 2010
If you have an article that you would like to share with the rest of the club, please submit them to me and I’ll work on getting it in the newsletter!
Email address: KS2JEK@rochester.rr.com
Snail Mail address:
6911 Furnace Rd.
Ontario, NY 14519-9704
Page 4
Calendar of Events
2-18 DARC meeting—1930, WC SEMO
3-18 DARC meeting—1930, WC SEMO
3-21 EOC Training—1930, WC SEMO
Note from the editor/webmaster:
The newsletter is uploaded to the website each
month, so if for some reason you didn’t get your
emailed or snail mail copy, you can get it form the
website. Also, check the calendar often as I do try
to keep it updated as I get info from Dave!
www.drumlinsarc.org
Upcoming Hamfests
March 7
Greater Buffalo Winter Hamfest
Lancaster Amateur Radio Club
http://gbhamfest.hamgate.net
April 18
Drumlins Hamfest
Newark, NY
http://drumlinsarc.org
May 9
Binghamton Amateur Radio
Association
http://w2ow.org
May 30
Atlantic Division Convention
(75th Rochester Hamfest)
RARA
http://www.rochesterham.org
June 13
Chaffee Country Hamboree
Pioneer Radio Operators Society
Springville, NY
Skyline Amateur Radio Club
Cortland, NY
http://www.skylineradioclub.org
July 18
RADIOCOM 2009
Utica Amateur Radio Club
http://www.uticaarc.org
Radio Club Contacts
Drumlins Amateur Radio Club Ltd. (DARC)
Bob Taylor, N2MLD
N2MLD@juno.com
Monroe County ARES
Jeff Wigal, WY7Q
wy7q@arrl.net
Rochester Amateur Radio Association (RARA)
Frank Schramm, WB2PYD
wb2pyd@arrl.net
Rochester DX Association (RDXA)
Paul Mackanos, K2DB
k2db@arrl.net
Rochester Radio Repeater Association (RRRA)
Brad Allen, KB2CHY
kb2chy@frontiernet.net
NY State RACES - HF NET
Sunday 0900
3.993.5kHz SSB/LSB
Rochester VHF Group (RVHFG)
Andy Flowers, K0SM
aflowers@frontiernet.net
XEROX Amateur Radio Club (XARC)
Ned Asam, W2NED
w2ned@frontiernet.net
Page 5
Now and Then
By: Harold Spencer
I was licensed in 1957= I was KN2JSL -K2JSL at the same
time. I was a Tech & Novice. Moved to Florida got W4ILN [ I
Love Nurses] =Moved back with K2JSL / Back to Fla. got
WA4WAJ [Work All Jerks} =Back to NY got
WB2HVK and ,back to South Carolina Got WD4BPV [By
Pass Valve]. I did not like a new call as I had been a ham for 35
years then. So I requested W4ILN and it was issued.
Hello Just showing my station 50 years ago (picture on page 4)
and NOW (picture on page 3).
The OLD station from left to right. On Floor is a guitar
amp. == On the table reel to reel tape recorder ==On top of
recorder is a VTVM meter == Next on desk is a AMECO TX
62 am transmiter on top of it is VFO. CDR antenna rotor control.== ALSO lolly pop D 104.= Next is a Collins 75A4 == on
to of it is a RME 4 band tune able converter 10 / 6 /2 / 220
bands Now in the cabinet, Bottom 600L amp with a central electronics 2B exciter, The power supply and modulator was in the
rack.==Gray box is Band hopper VFO =
Heath kit SWR bridge = and a 6 meter converter.
I swapped a Hallicrafter SX28 and $100.00 for the Rack and
75A4.
New Station==ICOM 706 mark 2 G== MFJ 35 amp power supply ==Azden 2 meter on top=Next to P/S Icom 2100H 2 Meter = Alinco 2 meter HT.== Behind 706 LDG antenna
tuner. =Antennas -Butternut vertical and 130 foot wire. with
antenna switch on the right side.
Picture of my wife KA4IEV of 60 years. Spence W4ILN
Silent Key
Hello all,
On behalf of the N2HLT repeater group here I am
saddened deeply to make this announcement. Leon
Ingerick (N2HLT) passed away yesterday at home.
I tried to contact all that I could by phone, and for
those that I didn’t I am sorry. In speaking with his
wife, arrangements are being made at this time. As
soon as they are available I will let you know. This is
a great loss.
73'S my friend,
KB3DOL
John DeWitt
Rochester Hamfest Venue Change
For those that don’t know already, the Rochester Hamfest
is changing locations. It is also going to a 1 day event.
The new location for the hamfest will be the Barnard Carnival Grounds, which is located at 380 Maiden Lane,
Rochester NY. The date of the hamfest is the 30th of
May. The price has also changed. It is now $5.00/person
and 16 and under are Free. For more info, see
www.rochesterham.org/Hamfest.htm. You can also get to
it from our website www.drumlinsarc.org.
BAD “WX” DARC MEETING - CHECK 146.685 REPEATER
During the winter bad weather (WX) months-check the 146.685 repeater. Starting at 6:00PM for a usual
Wednesday night meeting there will be an announcement every 15 minutes on the quarter hour canceling the
meeting. Announcements will end at 7:30PM. Keep monitoring the repeater. If this is Saturday meeting,
which are at 10:00AM, the announcement will start at 8:30AM.and
end at 10:00AM. (The 685 has full back up emergency power.)
BAD “WX” DARC MEETING - CHECK 146.685 REPEATER
Page 6
2009 DRUMLINS ARC POST-CHRISTMAS DINNER
On Saturday January 31st the weather cooperated once again for the Drumlins ARC pos-Christmas dinner held at the Palmyra VFW.
The forecast was a little tenuous in the middle of the week but Mother Nature was kind once again. The big ‘nor easterner’ went
further east out in the Atlantic so the day and the evening meal was saved with easy travel.
The cooperation of Mother Nature meant the VFW saw the whole compliment of 38 Drumlin member(s) and/or XYLs and YLS signed up attending
the dinner. A new crew of VFW members themselves did the dinner this
year not the ladies auxiliary. The dinner guests arriving found the tables arranged in a nicer fashion, decorated with artificial flowers, and with silverware and napkins settings laid out ahead of time on the tables. It was a nice
touch and much appreciated by the quests. See the picture of the VFW crew!
Cathy, the third person from the left, was the contact person. Next year there
may be different choices to the menu we can pick according to Cathy but
there was little objection to the menu this time. The new roasted potatoes
went over well and the collection of food was once again very good. This
year it was self serve. We were cordoned off form the kitchen and old bar
area having the whole VFW hall to ourselves. It was nice and again it was a
nice touch!
Even though there was no entertainment this time (W4ILN couldn’t make this year unfortunately.), there was many a conversation
going on before, during the meal, and after the dessert. A few of the pictures will testify to the camaraderie of the evening. Many of
our new members came this year and joined in the fun. In fact we had ages from KC2QOL, age 10, to well lets say the ‘distinguish’
age of our ‘older’ members. (My older-older brother’s XYL says we getting older-not old. N2MLD was in the middle of the pack
of five siblings-three brother and two sisters. Yea-I am the baby brother. Hi!) Jan, my XYL, was very impressed that KC2QOL
was a licensed ham! Isn’t this a great ‘hobby’ or is it not! It sure is! Where else could you get such a wide expanse of age and life
experience under one roof and all getting together well! (You will note the word distinguished! Jan’s Dad always kidding would
say ‘extinguished.’ Hi!)
We had a couple of events for the evening. We had a nice big 50/50. W2EVU’s XYL was the first winner. She was able of nearly
cover the cost of her dinner. And, KC2EGP won the second drawing. Then the President of the Drumlins, N2MLD, presented
WA2SOK with a small award of appreciation as past “Drumlins Rumlins” editor. See the accompanying article about WA2SOK.
Many thanks to W2TRW who gets our post-Christmas date finalized with the
VFW each year. Without W4TRW, a member of the VFW post, our evening
would be less economical and cost the club considerable cash on top of the
meal. The meal is well worth the cost but the time spent together is priceless.
Even the non-hams have a good time! My XYL is a testimony to that sentence. She always says what a great bunch of people. The only problem is
getting around to be able to speak to everyone. Hi! It is nice to see club
members who are unable to attend a meeting during the year. Lets face the
fact-amateur radio is not just work and no play. We have a good social network as well. It shows when we get together just to gab and eat. Hi!
We’re a busy bunch us hams! But this is good and life is good. Many thanks
to those that attended and hopefully we can get a good bunch out for the annual summer ‘bunknic’-a.k.a. summer picnic at the SEMO bunker. Again
many thanks to Cathy’s VFW crew for a good dinner! CUL
73 & 88, Dave KB2KBY
DARC Treasurer
P.S. I managed to even get a couple of DARC membership renewals too at the dinner. This is the time of the year I catch memberships ‘snail mailing’ the RSVPs with renewal reminders for those a wee bit overdue. Hi! Thanks to the members who sent their
dues in!
Page 7
SPECIAL EOC TRAINIG CLASS
SATURDAY MARCH 21ST- 10:00AM
SEMO REGION 5
The March Drumlins meeting will be the usual third Wednesday night. In addition on Saturday March 21st,
John O’Toole, Radiological/HazMat Officer for the Wayne County EOC, will hold a special training class for
the Drumlins members at the SEMO Region 5 our club
location.
The class will be a BREW training or ‘basic radiation
worker training’ with an overview of Ginna and where
the mission is for the RACES group. Bruce, WB2QKO,
and I attended an EOC training class in early January
given by John. It was good! He knows his stuff, the
presentation was pertinent and the exercise was enlightening. The fact is we have the right people in the right
place who are actually doing something! John has a
good sense to humor too. He’s a X-Navy man who
worked on the nuclear subs. You have to have a sense of
humor to be at one time job like that. Hi!
One little item from that January training was very revealing. Contrary to
what we thought or never knew, RACES is THE primary communications
with the EOC and the radiological teams in the field during a Ginna drill.
It is right in the SOP! George Bastedo, the Director of the EOC, and John
are behind us 100% with RACES and our need to be there. We are being
supported!
John said, “In this modern day of technology and blackberries, there’s
nothing as comforting as knowing that with a generator and a radio, communications will be able to continue in the worst emergency.” THAT IS
RACES AND US, he’s talking about!
Obviously Ginna is the number one training event for the EOC. But
whether it is Ginna, a weather emergency, hazardous materials emergency
or the one that is unplanned, John knows we must be ready. (Sounds like
some of the hen pecking you have heard from me. Hi!) John e-mailed
me, “It takes information to handle the emergency whatever it is. If we
don’t have our normal information gathering means then any situation
becomes worse due to lack of information…. I know it takes multiple failures to get us there sometimes but you can’t lay the groundwork after the
fact. It must be in place beforehand.”
Well, this is the before hand! Please, be diligent and place March 21st on your calendar for this EOC training.
Support your RACES!
As John wrote me, “Remember O’Toole’s Law states that Murphy was an optimist.” I told you John had a
sense of humor. Hi!
73 & 88, Dave KB2KBY
Page 8
WA2SOK HONORED AT POST-CHRISTMAS DINNER
On January 31st at the Drumlins ARC post-Christmas dinner WA2SOK, Irv Walter, was honored for his service to DARC. Irv ‘retired’ as editor of the “Drumlins Rumblins” last year. Irv has been editor for the newsletter for a great many years. “14 years or so, I think. It could be more.” Irv says. Hi! It was hard to nail
down the years exactly as Irv is polite not to brag. He is a testament to the many members of the club who put
in ‘their time’ with little recognition to keep the club running. Modesty is also a
good trait of hams in the public’s service. We just get the job done!
President N2MLD, Bob, read off the citation on the plaque-to: (See all the pictures!)
IRV WALTER
WA2SOK
FB for your many years dedicated as
editor of the “Drumlins Rumblins.” TNX
73 Drumlins Amateur Radio Club, Ltd.
Congratulations, Irv!
In deed the newsletter editor spends a lot of time
on our monthly newsletter. Help is always needed
for articles from the club membership. So pay attention to those monthly newsletter deadlines emailed to you.
Once again, Irv! FB! You deserve the recognition
for your years of service to the Drumlins.
73 & 88, Drumlins Executive Committee
Page 9