February 2000 Minutes

Program - Bob KL7NL gave a program about AREA Amateur Radio Emergency Services. Bob also told of the CFARS Web Site www.members.tripod.com/kl7nl.

Door Prize Drawing - Kelly N4EWG held the door prize drawing. Harold KF4IUV won a nice set of Bencher Paddles. Bill KE4DER made a motion, seconded by Kelly N4EWG, to adjourn. The motion carried. The meeting was adjourned at 8:30 pm. There were 29 members and 4 guests present. Minutes submitted by Al N0PSH CFARS Recorder.

President’s Message - David KR4OE

You can take off your seatbelt now because the ride from here on out should be a breeze. I would, from here on out, like to just get you thinking about amateur radio and share my thoughts on what amateur radio is for me. After reading this take a few minutes and ask yourself what the hobby means to you. Well, amateur radio for me is a wonderful way to talk with and meet many wonderful people. I stress the meeting part. When I attend a hamfest I now know more people that are from other parts of the state than I do from home. How can this be you ask. Well I enjoy the HF Traffic Nets (both cw and ssb), the Tarheel Emergency Net and the statewide HF ARES Net. I can’t begin my work day without checking into the Possum Trot Net weekday mornings. Then there is the CFARS Evening Net held daily at 7:00 pm. On Wednesday nights come by and check in with me and tell me how your day went. About a year and a half ago, I got into county hunting and joined the Mobile Amateur Radio Awards Club (MARAC). I am attempting to work all 3076 counties on CW. We have several CFARS members who have worked them all on SSB and a couple of them more than once. Well that’s pretty much it on where I operate, however you never know where I will pop up on the bands. I work all HF bands except for 160 meters. You know it never ceases to amaze me that I can speak into the microphone or flap those Bencher paddles (which is more likely the case with me) and my voice or fist is heard on the California coast or by a Russian ham blocks from the Kremlin. Do you ever look back through your old log books or qsl cards and remember all those wonderful chats you had with a fellow ham? I have so many that come to mind but I will save them for another time. I will tell you what else still amazes me and that is standing on the beach using a HT with less that one-half watt on and using the Wilmington repeater to talk with the folks back in Fayetteville. Man that tiny little palm sized radio and talking to someone back in Fayetteville 120 miles away! Is amateur radio great or what? Besides operating there is the friendship and camaraderie experienced by members of our fraternity. I can’t imagine being a ham and not being involved in a club. For example, all the fun we have as CFARS members taking part in the club’s many and varied events (we have 2 walk-a-thons coming up), providing emergency communications during times of need such as Hurricanes Fran and Dennis and of course the event I enjoy most is Field Day! I could go on and on but I will stop because as I am typing there is another wonderful activity taking place on the repeater. It is wonderful to hear and it sums up the magic of amateur radio I am trying ot convey to you and at the same time get fired up all over again and make you experience that feeling you got had when you first got your ticket. Buddy KG4ABZ and John KF4WLB are working stations on 10 meters in Alaska, Hawaii, Japan and South America. Its Friday night and the ARRL International DX SSB Contest has just started. John is working them qrp and the excitement in his voice is contagious. John and Buddy are having an absolute ball on 10 meters as they are calling out frequencies over the repeater as they find DX stations. Do you remember those first contacts and the thrill you had making them? If so blow off the dust off the microphone or key and get reacquainted with the magic this hobby has. Get your red crayon and circle March 20 on your calendar. See you at the meeting. I am going to qsy to 10 meters before Buddy and John work them all. Hope they left some for me. 73 for now David KR4OE

Well the masses arrived on the morning of 4^th, some were there 30 minutes early ready to test. After the last person signed the candidate roster we had 39 applicants. The VE Team handled/graded over 60 elements and issued over 30 CSCE’s. The final tickets issued where 1 Extra, 2 General, 4 Tech Plus and 1 Tech. The large portions of the applicants were after the 4B element and with 14 taking the element 11 received a passing score. This was a great turnout of folks wanting to upgrade! This test session would not have happened without the 11 VE team members who donated their Saturday morning and part of the afternoon. Thank you for giving your time, effort and desire to help others in our hobby. 73’s Bob KL7NL

Candidates testing at the CFARS VE Test Session Some of the VE Team members grading exams