The meeting was called to order at 7:00 PM or 1900 hours by Ron AD7FV.
One guest was introduced, Ann (unknown last name), friend of Jerome Franklin, A7JFF. Ann is working of getting licensed.
Treasurer's Report:
The repeater fund to be pumped up another $500 with the sale of one of the old repeaters. The other old repeater is to be sold also.
Ron AA7RP is still working on linking the repeaters, but is very close to accomplishing that task. He indicated that a pl will be required on both repeater and that pl is 107.2 so don't forget.
Lloyd, N7GV reported that the radio club of Continental School ended last week. He said that next year looks to be a good one with many of the kids returning and also showing an interest in flying remote controlled planes.
Ken Van Horn, KE7VTW, who was in charge of the robot team reported that it had been an excellent year with their team defeating all the high schools in the area. They also placed 68 with a total number of 130 teams in the World Championship in Dallas.
Congratulations to all concerned.
Jon Otto AD7GS did his usual with telling us all what was happening on the web site. Some of the numbers reports are truly interesting and somewhat hard to believe. Jon obviously is doing a fine job and should be thanked by all of us for his hard work.
No one has volunteered to make a presentation on ARRL Log Book of the World.
Field Day will be 26- 28 June. Thanks to Anne Birch, W7IRL, for making arrangements with the fire department to use their facility again.
Still to be determined if or when we might have a booth at the sidewalk craft sale at Continental Mall.
Fall Picnic tentatively set for Thursday, 29 October at the Whitehorse Canyon site in Madera Canyon. Time 11:30 AM.
Arizona QSO Party Saturday 31 October.
White Elephant parade Saturday 31 October.
Christmas Banquet Wednesday, 9 December 2009 at Grill on the Green at Canoa Ranch Gold Club.
A wonderful presentation was made by Steve Baker, AD7WY, on Software Defined Radiosâ€"FLEX-5000A.
Meeting was then adjourned.
June 27th and 28th
Green Valley Fire District Headquarters Building
1285 Camino Encanto
Green Valley, AZ 85614
The front cover of my June 1956 QST shows a cartoon of Field Day as many of us used to know it. The participants are out in the woods setting up their big boat anchor equipment, stringing antennas in trees, starting the generator, and getting the tents and campsite ready for the big event. Ah, the fond memories: log sheets blowing away or getting wet from the rain, the generator so loud no one could sleep, the coffee full of coffee grounds, and best of all, the hordes of mosquitoes that would descend during the night to feast upon the hands, face, neck, and ankles of even the most dedicated AM and CW operators! Still, it really was fun!
As most of you know, Field Day is an annual event that exercises the ability of ham radio operators to set up radio stations all over the United States under less than optimum conditions and to operate those stations for at least 24 hours. The capability to provide communications in time of emergency without the normal sources of electric power, telephone, cell phones, Internet, etc., is vital in an era of increasing terrorist threat and even natural disaster.
Many ham radio clubs and groups still follow the scenario I described above. They will travel some distance to a remote area, such as a mountain top or camp ground, set up their tents and equipment, and operate during the entire 24 hours event.
Alas, I am sorry to tell you that we here in the Green Valley Amateur Radio Club, will NOT get to experience the delights of such a fine outdoor adventure. Instead, we will conduct our Field Day operations from the Green Valley Fire District Headquarters Building at S. Camino del Sol and Camino Encanto. They have air conditioning, a kitchen, toilet facilities, and we can go home to sleep in our own beds if we choose. Still, it was a difficult decision a mountain top, heat, and bugs, or air conditioning, a real bathroom, and great food. Hmmm. Your GVARC board opted for the latter. And, thanks to Anne Birch, W7IRL, we are able to use the facility again this year.
We will however, use battery and solar power to operate the radios. Bill Hooper, K6WWH, and Jack McGowan, AD7NK, have been working on a power cart that holds the batteries and distribution panel. And of course we will have a potluck on Saturday, shortly after the event begins.
Here are some important dates and times to remember.
Let's have a great turnout this year! See you there!!
Ron Gross, AD7FV