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The HOTLINE
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Bearathon: Job Well Done! |
by Jim Jud KA5QKL |
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The Baylor Bearathon for 2011 was run last weekend in great fashion. The weather cooperated fantastically, and HOTARC had 14 members in the mix, providing excellent radio coverage from start to finish.
Our “Bearathon Communicators:” Rodney Baden K5YKC, Larry Carlson KC5JWD, John Chamberlain AC5CV, Bill Cox W5JRM, Dave Cranfill KI4UJS, Bill Feltenberger KD5UEW, Jim Finch AE5WP, James Jud KA5QKL, Norris Martin KB5SLI, Ralph Ratta K9RWR, Mike Ross N5MVL, Tom Turnham KF5HBN, Terry Williams KD5KJU, and Glen Yerger KD5BCM.
As the saying goes “Represent!” ...and they did!! Thanks to all!
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President’s Corner |
by Rodney Baden, K5YKC |
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Reflections
I would like to thank all of you for your cards, phone calls, visits and prayers while I was in the hospital. Your really don’t know what the next day is going to bring. All you can do is the very best, and hope it was the right thing.
I don’t mean to tell you that it wasn’t scary—because it was! All the doctors and nurses buzzing around you is pretty unnerving. With statements like: “Don’t you think he looks better today?” or “His skin color is coming back and looks great. He’s doing fine.” What does all that low-level jargon mean? Is it supposed to make you feel better? Or are they just passing the time of day? So, anyway, I am getting better. By the way, all of my doctors did an outstanding job. They really do care.
A couple of reminders about upcoming events for which we can use your help. For starters please mark your calendars for the ARRL Field Day on June 25-26, 2011. Also the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure run is on April 30, 2011. And at the meeting we’ll hope to hear some Skywarn and Bearathon after-action reports. Thanks for your support for these events!
We’re seeking a new meeting location since Norris (our current host) has announced his retirement. Any ideas? Let’s discuss them at the meeting.
Rodney K5YKC
HOTARC President
Last Reminder: The “grace period” to renew your
HOTARC Membership ends March 31.
Please renew! Do it today via
our website! 
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For the Record... |
HOTARC
Meeting of Members
February 24, 2011
HOTARC’s February Meeting was called to order by Scott Hamilton K5ZOH on Thursday February 24th 2011 at 7:09 pm at the Kultgen Automotive Center of the TSTC Waco campus.
Present were 13 full members, 1 associate member and 6 guests. Our guests were Bill Bramlett of Waco, Alton Stone KF5HZK of Aquilla, Thomas Turnham KF5HBN, and from Baylor: Lizzy Davis, Jenna Bullock, and Allison.
A motion to approve the Minutes for the January meeting as published in the HOTLINE was recognized from John Chamberlain AC5CV, with second by Jim Judd 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 Bill Feltenberger KD5UEW, with second by John Chamberlain AC5CV. 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 $ 8,068.87 Income Dues $ 240.00 Donation 100.00 K5NCT equip auction 187.00 Interest 0.31 TOTAL Income $ 527.31 Expenses Paypal fees $ 4.63 TOTAL Expenses $ 4.63 Ending Account Balance $ 8,591.55 Uncleared
activity (as of 3/17/2011) Submitted
by |
Committee Reports:
· ARES: Skywarn is coming up on Saturday March 19th, basic training from 8:30AM to 12:00PM, and advanced training from 1:15PM to 3:30PM.
· Trailer: No news.
· Repeater: No news.
· D-Star: No news.
· Web page: No news.
· ATV: No news.
· Education: No news.
· Public Relations: No news.
· Special Events: The Bearathon is coming up on March 19th. Tonight’s program will discuss details.
New Business:
· Due to our host Norris Martin KB5SLI retiring from TSTC, we will need a new place to hold our HOTARC meetings after April. Any ideas? Please contact one of the Directors.
· Application for membership was received from Clarence Smith of Boerne, TX. A motion to approve the membership was recognized by Mike Ross N5MVL, with second from Larry Carlson KC5JWD. The motion was approved by the members. Full membership will be acknowledged when Clarence gets his new call sign.
Motion to adjourn was recognized from AC5CV at approximately 8:00 pm.
Tonight’s program was from Jim Judd KA5QKL and Lizzy Davis from Baylor Student Foundation on the logistics of the upcoming Bearathon race. We thank the Bearathon committee for providing a meal of chicken tenders for our meeting.
Submitted by:
Jeremy Neal KE5PRG
HOTARC Secretary
BDWN: What to Report |
by Ed Hynan, KC5KNI |
The Baker’s Dozen Weather Net (BDWN)
Our primary storm season (Spring) is just around the
corner. The BDWN is normally activated on a direct request from the National
Weather Service (NWS) Office in Fort Worth. The amateurs of Central Texas have
always been here to support this request. The Net will be activated on the
HOTARC 145.150 repeater (tone 123.0) and the HOTARC club call sign W5ZDN
will be used by Net Control. The physical location of Net Control is normally the
Waco-McLennan County Emergency Operations Center in the basement of the Waco
City Hall.
What Can You Do To Help?
Continue to monitor the weather the same way we always have as amateur spotters. Be aware of the pending weather conditions—through Weather Radio and or local TV and Radio broadcasts. Check in to the Net when it is activated—indicating your call sign, name, location, and whether you are fixed or mobile. Remember your safety during Net operations is the most important consideration. Whether fixed or mobile, always have a plan to get to a safe location—in other words, always have an escape route and don’t hesitate to use it. Should you move because of safety concerns or have to go off the air please notify Net Control as soon as it is safe to do so.
Normal activations are for severe thunderstorms and/or tornados. These activations (Warning for McLennan County) are usually based on Doppler radar observations and are indicated as such in the warning text. Once a warning is issued, NWS requires verification of the warning criteria. This is where we come in as trained Amateurs, along with police, fire and EMS personnel, we provide this important verification.
What To Report?
· Tornados on the ground
· Funnel clouds
· Wall clouds—with or without rotation
· Beaver tails
· Strong inflow areas
· Winds in excess of 50 mph
· Any hail reports (use coin sizes or diameter of the hailstone in inches, ball sizes can be used for large hail)
· Water flowing over roadways (4 inches or more), and
· Any damage, injury or deaths associated with the above criteria.
The above are the critical criteria reports that are needed at NWS ASAP. Net Control will relay them to NWS. Reports of rainfall not causing flooding, winds less than 50 mph, or other conditions that do not meet the severe criteria, while important, should be saved and passed to Net Control on request. Don’t feel that because you have checked in that you have to report. Many spotters will check in and then will not be heard from again during the net—as none of the severe criteria occurred at their location. Please advise Net Control if you must “check out” of the net for any reason. Also, know that Net Control will not direct specific routes for mobile spotters to follow. Net control may ask for spotters to move towards a specific area and this movement should be by the safest route as determined by the mobile spotter.
Keep up the great support that you have always provided to NWS, thank you for attending SKYWARN, and above all be safe in your spotting activities.
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Race for the Cure: Volunteers Needed! |
by Jim Judd,
KA5QKL |
Once again, it’s time for the Susan B. Komen Race for the Cure: Saturday April 30. Same as last year, there will be three races in one: 1-mile, 5-km, and 10-km. This is really more of a headache for the race organizers than for us. We still must provide communications at all the rest stops.
I definitely need you to
volunteer to help with this big special event. So, please contact me as soon as
you can to indicate your availability to participate for a few hours on the
morning of Saturday April 30. Thanks!
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
HOTARC 2011 Board of Directors
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2011 Board of
Directors |
President: Rodney Baden K5YKC, 857-9760, RBaden@hot.rr.com
Vice Pres: Scott Hamilton K5ZOH, 717-0755, drpshamilton@gmail.com
Secretary: Jeremy Neal KE5PRG, 881-2123, JeremyLeeNeal@gmail.com
Treasurer: Norris Martin KB5SLI, 829-2138, KB5SLI@flash.net
Past-Pres.: John Chamberlain, 855-7731, AC5CV@arrl.net
Director (2011): Larry Carlson KC5JWD, 662-4106, LMCarlson1@att.net
Director (2012): Clint Anderson AE5CA, 855-5080, AE5CA@grid-em11.com
Director (2013): Larry Bush W5NCD, 848-5155, lbw5ncd@gmail.com
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 March 26, 10:00 AM. Location: Baylor’s Rogers Engineering and Computer Science Bldg (#70 on the map), Room 210. 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 24 in the Kultgen Automotive Center of the TSTC Waco Campus. Meetings generally last about 75 minutes consisting of fellowship, general Club business, and an interesting program. Visiting hams, family members, and prospective hams are welcomed! |
Special Events season is here!
Come join the fun and use your radios!