TheThe TIMETIME FORFOR SPECIALSPECIAL EVENTSEVENTS ParasiticParasitic ANDAND CLUBCLUB ACTIVITIES!ACTIVITIES! EmissionEmission Volume 37, Number 8 August 2011 In this 15-Page Issue... On The Air 2 A hamfest is where hams trade their old junk for new junk. Club Connections 3 News and views from all over... Help Needed For Bike Race 5 VE Test Sessions 8 Local Net Schedules 8 Shorts 9 Field Day in Indiana County 10 It was a rather eventful weekend... Out of the Box 11 In such an event a person never knows what situation they will be faced with... Shedding Light on the Subject 12 A dummy load is a piece of test equipment that absorbs RF energy. Lid's World 14 Electronic stuff works better with electricity! Calendar 15 August 2011 Amateur Radio Club Activities 2011: The Year of the Club ISSN: 2156-0080 SupportingSupporting AmateurAmateur RadioRadio ClubClub ActivitiesActivities heavy equipment, but clean yourself up meet other hams, and personally spend face On The Air before that spotlight turns on. Ham hygiene time with friends you only get to talk to on the by Joe Shupienis W3BC (or lack thereof) is a well-known topic on the radio the rest of the year! 22 Internet, and hams have gained a widely-held, I rode along with my Elmer and friends to the ith Field Day behind bad reputation as a smelly, obese, disheveled us, our calendars now turn to Warren Hamfest the first year I was a ham, group of old geezers who fear technology (and and it made a good Wspecial activities and Hamfests. soap). We encourage everyone to do their part to impression on me. I was help their clubs with special activities. These Your public presence can go a long way to just a kid and didn't have things don't just happen by themselves, it disproving that misconception, if you do your much cash so I couldn't takes many hands, including yours! part. The ARRL makes many informative buy any new rigs, but still, handouts and pamphlets available free of I came home with some When your club ventures into the public charge, and your club should order plenty of affordable goodies. arena, the spotlight is turned on... and it's these promotional materials. Beyond that, you I can think of nothing that focused on you. The people who see you will should make some of your own promotional form first impressions of Amateur Radio and compares to the materials featuring your club to hand out to excitement of the ride of radio amateurs based upon what they see. visitors. If you set a good example, you may be home from a hamfest, pleasantly surprised when some of them ask Whether indoors or outdoors, your setup filled with anticipation of putting your newly- about becoming hams. should feature your club's name and logo, so acquired treasures on the air! The miles people will know what they're looking at! At seem to drag by on that long ride home. Presenting yourselves as responsible, skilled events such as communications support for One way to come up with a little extra buying communicators who freely offer your parades or marathons, club apparel such as communication services to your neighbors power for those big purchases (and reduce hats, tee shirts, or jackets are appropriate the size of the mung-heap in your shack) is to and communities will serve you well when it attire for participants, and will go a long way take some “good stuff” with you to sell in the A hamfest is comes time for consideration of antenna to providing a positive image of club unity, ordinances and zoning issues. flea market. Once you have cash in hand, you where hams organization and reliability to the public. can pick up some “better stuff” to fuel that trade their Every special event is an exercise in public Remember to put your best foot forward—you anticipation-laden trip back home! It is for old junk for relations. Your club and Amateur Radio in only get one chance to make a first this reason I've long said that a hamfest is new junk. general stand to benefit, from the exposure impression! where hams trade their old junk for new junk! you get. But to keep those benefits from turning into “Bad Press,” you have to prepare [Note: If your club is in need of a logo, or ne other event that to do it right. When your club sets up in a would like to update your existing logo, I looks like it will be a lot of fun is public place, it's a good idea to always have would be happy to help you out with my the Multi-Club Picnic on Saturday, Oth someone friendly on hand to talk to visitors. design services. A good logo is a constant August 6 . This year, it's being hosted near Nothing is a bigger turnoff to the public than representative of your club, and can be used Pine Grove Mills by the Nittany Amateur seeing one or two hams yelling into to good effect on coffee mugs, certificates, Radio Cub of State College. All hams in microphones, with their backs to the visitors and apparel. Drop me an email, if your club is central Pennsylvania are invited to share a and nobody else around to explain what's interested. —Joe] pleasant time with friends, old and new! going on. f you've never been to a So, it looks like August is shaping up to be a Speaking of turn-offs, I shouldn't have to say hamfest, what are you waiting for? busy month with special events, hamfests, it, but please, PLEASE pay attention to IThere's no better way to see for yourself picnics and even a contest or two! So much bathing and grooming! Sure, it's easy to work the latest Amateur Radio technology, and fun and so little time... Decisions, decisions! The Parasitic Emission up a sweat stringing antennas and lugging maybe pick up a gadget or two for your I'll see you...On The Air! hamshack. Hamfests are also a great way to August 2011 previous meeting were approved as read. The Attendance: The Quad-County treasurer's report in the amount of $582.79 Amateur Radio Club KA3FHV, WB3EQW, W3KWT, W3DWR, W3BC, was approved on a motion by KA3FHV KB3SVW, W3TM, KB3FPN, KB3OUG, N3PUQ, 33 An ARRL Special Service Club C seconded by KB3VWX. C 1975 Serving Clearfield, Jefferson Elk And K3JE, AB3NK, Bev Hudsick, K3EDD, N3NWL, Cameron Counties Since 1975 Old Business: N3UDN and KB3WBT. l Lars, KB3WBT, gave a brief report on the l u Meeting Notice special event station on August 13th. W3DWR Help Wanted for Special Event u August 19, 2011 commented on his idea of a picture of the Saturday, August 13 drive-in's marquee featuring information on b August Meeting: The August meeting will be ark your calendars for b the special event station. Lars then put on his th. held on Friday, August 19 at 7:30 pm in the Technical Specialist hat and outlined steps Saturday, August 13 We will be meeting room of the Clearfield County 911 setting up a special event station taken to help KB3VWX with extreme (S-9) M Center, 911 Leonard Street in Clearfield. and information stand for the public at the electrical interference at his location. C Super 322 Drive-In on US 322 east of C The president of the Young Joe, W3BC, commented on the coverage of Woodland. Ladies' Radio League, an our Field Day operations by WJAC TV. Be ready to man the station for an hour or two o international organization of o female radio amateurs, Lois W3DWR mentioned that we still have to name and also have a great time viewing all the Gutshall WB3EFQ will an Official Emergency Station, that the phone wonderful classic, vintage and exotic cars that n present a very interesting line has been disconnected and that the will be on display. n program for and about lady hams. YLs, XYLs, Super Summer Picnic will be held on August More information is on our website, qcarc.org 6th. men and women, boys and girls of all ages, n n hams or not, members of any club and non- New Business: Quad-County ARC Information members from all over are invited to attend President Doug Rowles W3DWR e this very special program. Don't miss it! Doug, W3DWR, suggested that we renew our [email protected] e membership in the Western Pennsylvania Please check the Quad-County ARC website at Vice H. Deforest Murray, III W3TM qcarc.org for the latest information. Repeater Council. Dues are $15.00. A motion President [email protected] c to that effect was made by KB3LES and c August Breakfast: 9:30am, Saturday, August seconded by KB3SVW. Ed Hinkle, K3EDD was Secretary Jeff Rowles KA3FHV [email protected] 13, Sid's Sub Shop, Old Town Road, Clearfield t mentioned as a possible club representative t to the WPRC meetings. Treasurer Dorothy Morrison N3PUQ i [email protected] i Minutes: July 15, 2011 Joe, W3BC, reported on the technician Executive Don Jewell KB3LES o o By Jeff Rowles KA3FHV licensing classes which just started. He also Board Lars Kvant KB3WBT (SM7FYW) suggested that we appoint a QSL manager for Ed Morrison K3JE he meeting was called to Joe Shupienis W3BC n the club. WA3UFN, Bryan, suggested that we n order at 7:33 PM by President reserve the Sportsmen's Pavilion for next Bryan Simanic WA3UFN W3DWR, Doug.