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The HOTLINE |
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Bearathon and FREE FOOD! |
by John Chamberlain, AC5CV |
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Interactive Google Map |
HOTARC provides radio
communications in support of this annual event that involves several hundred
participants and volunteers. This year’s Baylor Bearathon is scheduled
for March 28, starting at Fountain Mall on the Baylor campus in Waco. The
half-marathon (13-mile) run begins at 8:00 am. A shorter 5k walk/run
starts a few minutes later. As you can see from the map here, the course
follows Lake Brazos from the Baylor campus up to Lover’s Leap in Cameron Park,
and then back to the campus. Support for the course will officially end at
11:00 am, so you can be home in time for lunch!
The Baylor Student Foundation greatly appreciates our support, and is providing us with a free dinner before this month’s Club meeting. You read that right: FREE FOOD!! Come early (about 6:30 pm) and enjoy some good ham radio fellowship prior to our meeting and—did I mention—free food!!
The Google map here shows the information we currently have regarding the official course and rest stops (click the image). You can see that there are stations all over the Park, and the event administrators are requesting communications help at each of them. So, we need you!! Please contact Jim KA5QKL (see the Member’s Directory) to volunteer a few hours of your time.
And Jim is also busy planning the next event: the Race for the Cure on April 18—before our next meeting! Please contact Jim to volunteer to assist in this even larger event! Watch your InBox for developments.
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Technician License Classes |
by John Chamberlain, AC5CV |
If your friends or family
have an interest in earning their amateur radio license, tell them about
HOTARC’s license classes coming up Saturday April 18 and 25. For $30, we will
provide an excellent study text ($23 value), lunches and snacks, and hands-on
learning activities to bring the concepts to life. VEs will offer testing right
after the second class. And as you know, Morse code is no longer required! Send
them to our web site to register before April 4!
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President’s Corner |
by Rodney Baden, K5YKC |
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Rodney, K5YKC |
One Great Ham
This week was very sad for me. James Lang, K5VRJ SK and a Life Member of HOTARC, had his final day. Jim was laid to rest in Bruceville-Eddy on Monday, March 16, 2009. Jim and his wife were the VEs that made our Club flourish for 20 years or more. On one occasion of giving the code test, Jim told me that he had to send the code by beating on a 55 gallon barrel because of the applicant’s hearing problem. Guess what: the person passed! Jim and his wife, Alma AB5BA, were always doing things like that to help people get their ham radio license.
I traveled to Mexia one night to help them test several people. We stopped and had a nice dinner on the way and after several passed the test we had a nice talk with them. Jim and Alma were very nice to the ones that didn’t pass but encouraged them to study a little more and try again. We heard later that Corsicana hams passed them the next testing session they did. I could go on and on about all the special events, Emergency Management Exercises, and radio nets that they helped with over the years because of their love for Ham Radio.
Jim, I will tell you one thing, “You don’t need a radio to communicate any more.” You have run the Great Race and Won. So long good friend.
Rodney
Baden, K5YKC
HOTARC President
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For the Record... |
HOTARC Annual Meeting of Members
February 26, 2009
HOTARC’s February Meeting was called to order by Rodney Baden K5YKC Thursday, February 26, 2009 at 7:03 pm at the Kultgen Automotive Center of the TSTC Waco campus. Wayne Branscum KD5SMC, opened the meeting with a prayer.
Present were 17 full members, 1 family member and 6 visitors. Visitors were Aaron Bryant, Connor Humphries and Chandra Ford of Waco, Stacey Bolin of McGregor, Gerald Richmond N5ZXJ of Temple and Robert Hicks KA5BLB of Marlin.
A motion to approve the Minutes for the January meeting as published in the HOTLINE was recognized from Bill Feltenberger KD5UEW, with second by James Jud KA5QKL. The motion was approved by the members.
A motion to approve the January Treasurer’s Report as published in the HOTLINE was recognized from John Chamberlain AC5CV, with second by Ed Middlebrook KC5NT. The motion was approved by the members.
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The Treasurer Reports... |
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Heart O’ Texas Amateur Radio Club Beginning Account Balance $ 5,802.30 Income Dues 60.00 Interest 0.22 TOTAL Income $ 60.22 Expenses TOTAL Expenses $ 0.00 Ending Account Balance $ 5,862.52 Outstanding (as of 3-18-2009) Submitted by |
Committee Reports:
· ARES: Ed Hynan KC5KNI reported that we need to get our certifications completed in IS-100,IS-200, IS-700 and IS-800 if we want to be able to help in any type of emergency. Now is the time to get it done. If you wait till something happens then you are too late.
· Trailer: No news.
· Repeater: Norris Martin KB5SLI reported that the .15 repeater is repaired and ready to be installed. A motion was made by KB5SLI with second from KA5QKL to pay the $27.40 in parts that it took to repair the .15 repeater. The motion was approved by the members.
· D-Star: No news.
· Web page: AC5CV reported that everything is running good.
· ATV: David Bush KC5UOZ reports that the repeater is working good. Skycam still needs to be serviced.
· Education: K5YKC reported that the Technician class will be held on April 18th and April 25th at the Salvation Army.
· Public Relations: No news.
· Special Events: James Jud KA5QKL reported that the Bearathon Race will be coming up on the 28th of March and the Susan G Komen Race for the Cure will be on April 18th. Volunteers are needed. We will have a Trailer Cleanup day on April 4th. The 2009 ARRL Field Day is soon approaching on June 27th and 28th.
New Business:
· A motion was made by KC5NT with second by KC5KNI to accept Robert Hicks KA5BLB as a Full Member. The motion was approved by the members.
Motion to adjourn was recognized from KD5UEW at approximately 7:48 pm.
Our guest speaker was Gerald Richmond N5ZXJ from KCEN-DT who gave some great information of how commercial digital TV works and troubleshooting tips for those of us that are having problems with it.
Submitted by:
Jeremy Neal KE5PRG
HOTARC Secretary
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by Ed Hynan, KC5KNI |
Bakers Dozen Weather Net
activation procedures remain the same. National Weather service will request
spotter activation when observed or potential severe weather threatens the
area. The net is automatically activated any time a severe thunderstorm or a
tornado warning is issued for McLennan County. As the storm season nears,
please be aware of conditions that could lead to net activation. Monitor local
television, radio, and the National Weather Service Weather Radio for potential
severe events. The net will be activated from the Waco-McLennan County EOC, or
by one of the ARES Net Control Stations until the EOC can be opened.
Things can happen fast when spotting. Since activation is a result of a warning, reports should relate directly to the type of warning issued. For severe thunderstorms: winds of more than 50 mph and any size hail (using coins for size) should be reported with exact location and time of occurrence. For tornados: wall clouds, wall clouds with rotation, funnel clouds, and tornados on the ground should be reported, again with exact location and time of occurrence. In the case of an actual tornado on the ground, direction and speed of movement are needed. Report any visible damage and/or injuries associated with either type of storm. All other weather related reports should be held until requested by net control.
Good training and continued excellent spotter participation should see us through the severe weather season.
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Last chance to renew your HOTARC membership! |
The HOTLINE is the monthly newsletter of the Heart O’ Texas Amateur Radio Club (HOTARC), Inc., a nonprofit corporation, chartered by the State of Texas and principally located in Waco. It is permissible to use any of the original material contained herein, provided proper credit is given to the source.
Edited and Published by John Chamberlain AC5CV, AC5CV@arrl.net
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2009 Board of Directors |
HOTARC 2009 Board of Directors
President: Rodney Baden K5YKC, 857-9760, K5YKC@arrl.net
Vice Pres: Terry Williams KD5KJU, 662-2438, pumpman_rpss@yahoo.com
Secretary: Jeremy Neal KE5PRG, 881-2123, JeremyLeeNeal@gmail.com
Treasurer: Norris Martin KB5SLI, 829-2138, KB5SLI@flash.net
Past-Pres.: Wayne Branscum KD5SMC, 857-3964, wbscum@grandecom.net
Director (2009): Mike Ross N5MVL, 836-1083, N5MVL@juno.com
Director (2010): Ed Hynan KC5KNI, 666-4873, KC5KNI@arrl.net
Director (2011): Ed Middlebrook KC5NT, 826-4053, KC5NT@arrl.net
145.15 MHz (input at –600 kHz, tone 123 Hz)
146.98 MHz (input at –600 kHz, D-Star)
442.875 MHz (input at +5.0 MHz, tone 123 Hz)
ATV: 421.25MHz (Cable 57), input 439.25 MHz (Cable 60)
Next session is scheduled for Saturday April 25, 2009 at about 4 PM. Location: Salvation Army Center on the southbound I-35 service road in Waco, just south of the 12th street overpass. Bring: 1) testing fee of $15 (cash only); 2) a photo ID (two for first-time licensees); and for already licensed amateurs: 3) current license and photocopy of it; and 4) photocopy of any relevant CSCE. Contact: Linda Hynan, AC5QQ at 666-4873 or Linda.Hynan@UTSouthwestern.edu.
Meeting NoticeThe next Meeting of HOTARC Members will be at 7:00 pm on Thursday March 26, 2009 in the Kultgen Automotive Center of the TSTC Waco Campus. Visiting hams, family members, and prospective hams are welcomed! |
It’s “special
event” season…
…practice for a real disaster.