www.cars.org Vol. XXIII, No. 1R January 2001 VE INFORMATION NEW SECRETARY FOR C.A.R.S. The C.A.R.S. VE team is set and ready to Steve Riley N8IS (formerly KC8GCA) has been appointed start offering sessions again at the Indepen- Secretary Pro Tem of the Cuyahoga Amateur Radio Society, by dence Town Hall, 6652 Brecksville Rd., Inde- the officers and board members due to Glenn Shore KG8MR pendence, OH. resigning the position of Secretary, as of January 1st, 2001. All sessions will start at 9 a.m. The doors Glenn has served C.A.R.S. well as Secretary and we hate to open up slightly before that time for everyone see him leave the position. Glenn will remain as an active to get their FCC forms filled out. The cost of member of C.A.R.S. the testing has gone up. This year the cost for Steve Riley volunteered to take on the job of Secretary and any FCC testing is $10. That means that you will fill that position until such time as we can hold and election. can take any or all elements for the initial cost We will be taking nominations at the January 17 meeting, and of $10. A retest of an element will cost another hopefully hold and election at the February meeting. $10 fee. The dates for the 2001 testing: January 14 March 11 FROM THE EDITORS’ DESK May 13 July 8 Russ Schneck, KC8IHS September 9 Monica Schneck, KC8IYM November 11 Well, if this were April, we could claim an April Fool’s joke When you come to a C.A.R.S. VE session (a real bad one), but since it is only January, we have to apologize bring the original plus a copy of your license for the previously sent out January WO. We totally misunder- and valid Certificate of Successful Comple- stood the suggestions that were given for a new look for The tion of Examination (CSCE); a picture ID Wobbly Oscillator. card; two pencils with erasers, a ballpoint or We have made a second attempt here, and have also included ink pen; and of course your money either in quite a bit a information that did not appear in the first issue. We check form made out to “ARRL/VEC” or apologize again for the errors that have made. Please let us try cash. again. The C.A.R.S. VE testing location is handi- We realize that there might be missing names and data in this cap accessible. But anyone needing special version. Please e-mail with corrections to [email protected]. attention or has a special requirement, please If we work together, we can make this newsletter an informative call 216-642-1399 at least two weeks prior to communication for our membership. the testing date given above. A new year .. a second new beginning ... Gary, NI8Z AR The Wobbly Oscillator is a monthly publication of The Cuyahoga Amateur Radio Society. Articles may be re- IN THIS ISSUE printed in any amateur radio-related publication provided that credit is given to the newsletter and the author. From The Prez’s Shack ...... 2 ARRL Letter Clips ............... 5 Submissions received by the end of the month will be Dayton Bus Trip .................. 2 Attendance in 2000............. 6 published in the following month’s Wobbly Oscillator. VEEP Views ........................ 2 GEARVAKf Bulletin ............ 6 Send articles by E-mail to: [email protected] or by Meeting Minutes ................. 3 Upcoming Events ............... 7 U.S. mail to: The Wobbly Oscillator, 3028 Southern Treasurer’s Report .............. 3 Executive Board ................. 7 CUYAHOGA AMATEUR RADIO SOCIETY Road, Richfield OH 44286 CUYAHOGA AMATEUR RADIO SOCIETY (Do not send dues to this address!) The Random Wire .............. 4 Standing Committees ......... 7 bus will be parked under the trees so that we can go back to the bus FROM THE PREZ’S SHACK to catch a wink or two, or to store all of that new and used gear that the Hamvention has to offer. Please do not delay! Get your I trust everyone had a Merry Christmas and I wish you and reservations in ASAP so that you will have a seat on this year’s bus your families a peaceful, healthy 2001. Thanks to the member- ... You can send your reservations to me several different ways. ship for giving me the opportunity to serve as the first President First you can do it by clicking on the Dayton Bus tab on the cars of CARS in the new Millennium, I look forward to an exciting web site or you can send me an e-mail to my address! and productive year for our Club. [email protected] or my personal address [email protected]. At this time I wish to thank Tom Wayne WB8N for a great If you do not have a computer you can call me at 330-225-6917 to three years of service as President of CARS and the cooperation reserve your seat. and help he is giving with the transition to a new President. P.S. The cost of the bus ticket at the time of reserving the bus Additionally, I am very happy to welcome Bill Koenig, AA8WJ was set at $30 but I was told that depending on the price of gas and Ron Borkey, K8VJG as newly elected board members, and re- we could see a five percent increase in the bus fare! elected officers Gary Dewey, NI8Z, vice president, Judy Crane, 73’ for now KC8FHE, treasurer, along with current board members Gordon Gordon Kolus, KC8IOU Kolus, KC8IOU and Terry Pillatt, KB8DTC. I am very sorry to report that Glen Shore, KG8MR, will not be able to serve as secretary because of new work and family commit- VEEP VIEWS ments. We will have nominations to fill the position of secretary at The audit of the treasury was conducted in December as a our January meeting and election at the February meeting. requirement of the bylaws. The treasury is sound and clearly in At the January 16 meeting I will be outlining several plans for good order due to the diligence of Judy Crane our current 2001, appointing a committee to revue our constitution and treasurer. For the membership’s information, dues comprise of bylaws, assigning other new committees as well as confirming, roughly 1/3 of the funds that were expended in 2000. Although adding too and changing some appointments on our existing after looking at all the transactions of C.A.R.S. operation we Committees. If possible PLEASE attend this meeting, your came up in the ‘black.’ This is a good thing because it means input is important to me. there is no need for a member assessment. We will be active during field day this year, and I am planning The Dayton Bus, one of the extras that is provided for all of at least two or three “special event days.” I would like to see better Cuyahoga County and local amateurs to take a one day trip to the planning and organization for some of our yearly events along HamVention or mecca of amateur radio is a break-even activity. with more support for the ARC & JOTA programs. The cost of the two phone patches, insurance, repeater operation, Our website is vastly improved, but still needs some fine a Hamfest, the newsletter all are part of C.A.R.S. yearly activity. tuning, I look forward to working with Greg Kopp, KG8O, on The 2000 annual Father’s Day Hamfest was almost rained out, these additions and changes. We will be taking a new direction but still was held due to participation of a few stalwart members. with our membership committee and I believe we can generate This is an activity that has lots of expenditure before cost renewed interest in CARS and recruit several good new mem- recovery. There is concern whether this activity makes sense for bers, membership has been dropping. continue. This year we need to clearly have a plan and work the While the WO is a good vehicle to present an overview of plan to see if we can “add value” to C.A.R.S. and the local what is happening, and hopefully excite your interest and desire amateur community with our annual Hamfest. to be more involved in club activities, for the complete picture As you will see in this issue, we are planning monthly you must come to our meetings and get involved! Ask me to be meeting programs. I have asked for input. From what has been appointed to a committee that interests you, suggest something received meetings have scheduled programs up to the summer new, get acquainted with new friends or renew old friendships, picnic months. We may have another “fox hunt” at one of our you will never know what you are missing if your not attending summer picnic meetings. But continue to forward you ideas of meetings. Last, but not, least we need and encourage any and all meeting program topics to me. constructive suggestions and ideas along with your participa- We have elected a new president. I hope you will consider tion in our planned projects. Enjoy and enhance your club, coming to our January meeting to support him and of course get please attend meetings! the year started off 599 or LOUD AND CLEAR. 73, de Bob, W8GC The January program will have a couple of interesting as- pects. We are going to have a fellow demonstrate some of the DAYTON BUS TRIP current capability of wireless modems.