The Radio Rose Rocks

ROUTE 66: Februrary 14, 2009

2009-02-09T20:05:00.000-08:00

146.985- PL141.3

Friday pm will leave OKC and go to Tulsa
Sat. am will drive from Tulsa to Kansas line. Celebrate. Then drive to the Texas line.
Returning to OKC Sunday or Monday.
73

Oklahoma Roads

2009-01-04T17:40:00.000-08:00

http://www.okladot.state.ok.us/

Into the community we go

2009-01-04T17:34:00.000-08:00

FIND THE LATEST ON TERRORISM

2009-01-04T17:31:00.000-08:00

http://www.mipt.org/

HEALTH MAP

2009-01-04T17:23:00.001-08:00

http://www.healthmap.org/en

OKLAHOMA EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION

2009-01-03T23:26:00.000-08:00

http://www.oema.us/public.html

08 Conference

http://okcemcert.googlepages.com/oklahomaemergencymanagement

GET THOSE FLU SHOTS

2009-01-03T23:21:00.000-08:00

http://laquetamc.googlepages.com/fluseasonokcvamcdrivethrough

Community Emergency Response Team training

2009-01-03T23:08:00.000-08:00

http://cert.trainings.googlepages.com/home

Contact Lester Wheeler for dates and opportunity for trainings

OKLAHOMA STATE UNIVERSITYat OKLAHOMA CITY

2009-01-03T22:55:00.000-08:00

http://osu.okc.em.googlepages.com/home

Oklahoma Emergency Management

2009-01-03T22:51:00.000-08:00

http://www.ok.gov/OEM/

REPEATERS

2009-01-03T22:25:00.001-08:00

File - Oklahoma Amateur Radio Clubs.txt
Posted by: "OKtraders@yahoogroups.com" OKtraders@yahoogroups.com
Thu Jan 1, 2009 1:57 pm (PST)

----- OKLAHOMA AMATEUR RADIO CLUBS 8 April 2007 -----

Ada Amateur Radio Club 147.285+
Contact: KC5TGA Charles 580-436-4425

AMERICAN AIRLINES AMATEUR RADIO CLUB (AAARC) 147.000+ no tone
Contact: KF5RD Pete 918 437 4846

Choctaw Amateur Radio Club 147.090+
Contact: N5ENQ Don 405-732-6749

Edmond Amateur Radio Society 147.135+ 443.425+
Contact: W1DY Wendy 405-720-2504 K5EOK@YAHOO.COM

Enid Amateur Radio Club 145.290- PL141.3 147.150+ 444.400+
Contact: KD5BA Al KD5BA@ARRL.NET

Hobart Amateur Radio Association 146.895- PL100
Contact: KE5BPL Steve 580-726-3493 KE5BPL@SBCGLOBAL.NET

Kay County A.R.C. 146.970- 146.730- 444.700+ PL88.5
Contact: W5HZZ Dave W5HZZ@ARRL.NET

Mayes County Amateur Radio Club 147.060+ PL88.5

Midwest City Amateur Radio Association
Contact: N5GTD George 405-741-0734 N5GTD@N5GTD.COM

Mid-Oklahoma Repeator Incorporated 146.670- 146.925-
Contact: N5KNU Jerry 405-844-1286 JSAMS@PRODIGY.NET

Oklahoma Central VHF Amateur Radio Club
Contact: WA5FWD Bill 405-354-5018

Oklahoma City Autopatch Association 146.820- (PL 151.4), 147.210+ (PL 141.3), 444.300+ (PL 141.3), 443.275 (PL 141.3)
Contact: AD5VL Paula SIEBERHAUS@COX.NET

Oklahoma DX Association
Contact: K5TT Jim 405-732-6131

Oklahoma VHF Society
Contact: NL7CO Don 580-595-2289 DROSS@SIRINET.NET

Pottawatomie County Amateur Radio Club, Shawnee City Hall
Contact: K5KXL Melvin 405-878-0023 K5KXL@SBCGLOBAL.NET

Quarter Century Wireless Association Chapter 63 Central Oklahoma
Contact: W5FLO Norm 405-737-0258

South Canadian Amateur Radio Society 147.060+
Contact: KD5DOB Bill 405-364-0847 KD5DOB@ARRL.NET

Southwest Oklahoma Amateur Radio Society KD5DTE, Indiahoma
Contact: N5UJB Jim N5UJB@SIRINET.NET kd5dte.net

South West Independent Repeater 147.045+ 147.255+ 146.715-
Contact: KB5LLI Terry 405-247-7575 SWIRA@SWIRALINK.COM

Tecumseh Amateur Radio Club KD5WAV
Contact: K5LUO Bill 405-598-3310 BDCROW@VALORNET.COM

Tri-State Amateur Radio Group W5OKT 147.315+ PL88.5
Contact: NW5OK Jim 580-994-6118 W5OKT@CNECONNECT.COM

Tulsa Amateur Radio Club 145.110- PL88.5 443.850+ PL88.5
Contact: W5GGW Gregg W5GGW@ARRL.NET

Tulsa Repeater Organization (all with PL88.5) 146.880- 146.940-
146.805- 444.100+ 444.725+ 444.950+ 145.010digi 421.250atv
Contact: WB5VST Ben 918-396-1651 WB5VST@TULSAHAMRADIO.ORG

University of Oklahoma Amateur Radio Club 146.880-
Contact: W5JA Jud 405-325-4480 OUARC@OU.EDU

NETS

2009-01-03T22:21:00.001-08:00

File - Oklahoma Net.txt
Posted by: "OKtraders@yahoogroups.com" OKtraders@yahoogroups.com
Thu Jan 1, 2009 1:57 pm (PST)

----- OKLAHOMA NETS -----

2m Insomnia, Nightly 10:30pm 147.075+ PL131.8 Elmore OK
2m Ada 5 wpm CW Net, Mon-Fri 9:pm 147.285+
2m American Airlines, Sun 9:pm 147.000+
2m EARS Edmond, Mon 8:pm 147.135+ 443.425+
2m NICUNet, Mon 8:pm 147.060+ PL141.3 Norman W5DNA Melody
2m KC5DBH Check-in and Trader's Net,Delaware County 146.985 PL110.9;AC5JV, George
2m WARS, Mon 8:pm 147.140+ PL192.8
2m EARC Enid, Mon 8:pm 145.290- PL141.3 KC5SII Dave
2m Broken Arrow ARC, Mon 8:pm 146.910-
2m Kay County Ponca City, Mon 9:pm 146.970-
2m ARES Kay County, 1st Mon 9:30pm 146.730-
2m Rogers County Wireless Association, Tue 7:pm 147.090+ K5JJ John
2m ARES Cleveland County, Tue 8:pm 147.060+ PL141.3 KD5DOB Bill
2m Ada Net, Tue 8:pm 146.285+
2m OIDAR Blackwell, Tue 9:pm 146.310-
2m N5LEZ Net, Tue 9:pm 147.120+ PL192.8
2m ARES Stephens County, Tue 9:pm 146.730- K5WPN Wade
2m ARES Tulsa, Tue 9:pm 146.880- PL88.5
2m Wheatstraw, Wed 9:pm 146.010 N1LPN Linda
2m W5HXL Memorial Net, Thu 7:pm 147.105+ 146.985+ PL141.3
2m Duncan, Thu 7:pm 146.730- Chisholm Trail ARC
2m OCAPA Net, Thursday 7:30 pm OKC 146.820- PL151.4 NO5X John
2m Tulsa ARC, Thu 8:pm 145.110- PL88.5 443.850+ PL88.5
2m Mayes County ARC, Thu 8:pm 147.060+ PL88.5 Lloyd
2m MORI Tech Net, Thu 8:30pm 146.925- 146.670- PL192.8
2m SW OK SWOT, Thu 9:pm 144.250 Lawton
2m Ardmore (SOARESSS ) Southren Oklahoma Amateur Radio Emegency Services
Mon Nights 8:00 p.m. Wed 9:30a.m. 146.970 - no tone
Every Tuesday Eyeball 5:00 p.m.Red Cross in Ardmore
2m T-Town Talkers, Fri 9:pm 145.110-
6m Ragchew Net, Tue & Fri 8:pm-9:pm 50.150 MHz N5VVV Steve
10m Fred's Memorial Net, Wed 8:pm 28.446 MHz K5JVS Jack
30m ARTS CW, Sat-Sun 7:am 10.120 MHz (CW) WB5NKD Pat
40m OTN Slow CW, Daily 5:20 pm 7120.65 KHz (CW) WB5NKC Arley
40m ARES Oklahoma, Sun 2130z 7260/3900 KHz Based on conditions KL7MA Dean
40m ARTS CW, Mon-Fri 7:am 7052 KHz (CW) WB5NKD Pat
75m OK Traffic & Weather Net, Mon-Sat 2300 UTC 3900 KHz WA5OUV
75m Sooner Traffic net,Mon-Sat 5:30 pm 3845KHz Arlyn KK5GY
75m OK Phone Emergency Net Sun 8:am 3900 KHz KK5GY Arlyn
75m Salvation Army, 2nd Sat 8:am 3900 KHz NM5W Mark
75m QCWA Chapter 63, Sun 0730 3845 KHz W5FLO Norm
80m TSN Slow CW, Daily 7:45 pm 3719 KHz (CW)
80m KSN Slow CW, Daily 9:pm 3721 KHz (CW)
ATV ATV Nightly Net, Video 439.25 Mhz Ch. 60, voice 144.340 MHz

HAM FEST LISTED BY EARS

2009-01-03T22:18:00.000-08:00

Dates
Type
Event and Contact
Location
9-10 Jan 2009
+
Cowtown Ham FestLockheed Martin ARChttp://cowtownhamfest.orgTalk-In: 147.28/147.88 (PL 110.9)
Contact:
Bill Penny, WM5U3532 Guadalupe RoadFort Worth, TX 76116Phone: 817-992-1379 Email: c.penny@sbcglobal.net
Fort Worth, TXLockheed Martin Recreation Area3400 Bryant Irvin RoadDiv: West GulfSect: North Texas
10 Jan 2009
+
San Antonio Amateur Radio FiestaSan Antonio Radio Clubhttp://w5sc.org/swapfest.htmTalk-In: 146.940- (PL 179.9)
Contact:
J C Smith, N5RXSc/o San Antonio Radio ClubPO Box 34263San Antonio, TX 78265-4263Phone: 210-522-6167 Email: amateur-radio-fiesta@w5sc.org
Schertz, TXSchertz Knights of Columbus Hall509 Schertz ParkwayDiv: West GulfSect: South Texas
7 Feb 2009
+
Annual SwapmeetWilliamson County ARChttp://www.wcarc.comTalk-In: 146.640 (PL 162.2)
Contact:
Rick Trommer, W5NR302 Rio Bravo RoadGeorgetown, TX 78628Phone: 512-863-2428 Email: w5nr@arrl.net
Georgetown, TXVFW Post 85871000 North College StreetDiv: West GulfSect: South Texas
28 Feb 2009
+
Orange ARC & Jefferson County ARChttp://www.qsl.net/w5nd/Talk-In: 147.180 (+) no tone
Contact:
Sheila Powell, N5HL & Delores Heintschel, KC5NEOPO Box 232Orange, TX 77631-0232Phone: 409-727-1071 or 409-962-1435 Fax: 409-727-1071Email: sheilapo@midcountypc.com
Orange, TXVFW Post 27755303 North 16th Street (N Hwy 87)Div: West GulfSect: South Texas
7 Mar 2009
*
South Texas Section Convention (Greater Houston Hamfest)Brazos Valley ARChttp://www.houstonhamfest.org/Talk-In: 146.940 minus (PL 167.9)
Contact:
Kirk Kendrick, W5KMK1311 West Twin CircleRichmond, TX 77406Phone: 281-633-1816 Fax: 713-974-4911Email: w5kmk@arrl.net
Rosenberg, TXFort Bend County Fairgrounds4310 Highway 36 SouthDiv: West GulfSect: South Texas
13-14 Mar 2009
*
Oklahoma State ConventionGreen Country Hamfest, Inc.http://greencountryhamfest.orgTalk-In: 147.090+
Contact:
Merlin Griffin, WB5OSMBox 470132Tulsa, OK 74147-0132Phone: 918-520-7668 Email: wb5osm@hotmail.com
Claremore, OKClaremore Expo Center400 Veterans ParkwayDiv: West GulfSect: Oklahoma
14 Mar 2009
+
7th Annual IARC HamfestIrving Amateur Radio Clubhttp://www.irvingarc.orgTalk-In: 146.72/12 (PL 110.9)
Contact:
Coleta M. Taylor, KD5QFH107 East 7th Street Irving, TX 75060Phone: 972-579-9089 Email: coleta.mt@verizon.net
Irving, TXBetcha Bingo Hall #12420 West Irving Blvd., #125Div: West GulfSect: North Texas
21 Mar 2009
*
West Texas Section Convention (54th Annual St. Patrick's Day Hamfest)Midland Amateur Radio Clubhttp://hamfest.w5qgg.org/Talk-In: 147.300+
Contact:
Joe Coldewey, KK5ZG4510 Fairbanks DriveMidland, TX 79707Phone: 432-697-7846 Email: kk5zg@grandecom.net
Midland, TXMidland Lion's Club200 Plaza AvenueDiv: West GulfSect: West Texas
28 Mar 2009
+
Weatherford HAMFEST 2009ARC of Parker Countyhttp://groups.yahoo.com/group/w5pcTalk-In: 147.04
Contact:
Elizabeth Hunkele, N5ONE1507 Old Garner RoadWeatherford, TX 76088Phone: 817-594-1700 Fax: 817-594-1700Email: eliz@mesh.net
Weatherford, TXTexas National Guard Armory716 CharlesDiv: West GulfSect: North Texas
12-13 Jun 2009
*
West Gulf Division Convention (Ham-Com 2009)Ham-Com, Inc., North Texas Microwave Society, McKinney ARC, et alhttp://www.hamcom.org/Talk-In: 147.18+ (PL 107.2)
Contact:
Barry A. Goldblatt, WA5KXX3212 Jeremes LandingPlano, TX 75075Phone: 972-596-4669 Fax: 972-596-5078Email: wa5kxx@verizon.net
Plano, TXPlano Centre2000 East Spring Creek ParkwayDiv: West GulfSect: North Texas

4TH OF January Encouraging Young to Operate

2009-01-03T22:15:00.000-08:00

http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2008/12/29/10534/?nc=1

The next opportunity to encourage a youngster (or a group of 'em), licensed or not, to get on the air to chat with others is Sunday, January 4. Kids Day, sponsored by the Boring (OR) Amateur Radio Club, is the perfect way to introduce a young person to the magic of Amateur Radio.
Date: Sunday, January 4, 1800Z-2400Z. Operate as much or as little as you like.
Suggested exchange: Name, age, location and favorite color. Be sure to work the same station again if an operator has changed. To draw attention, call "CQ Kids Day."
Suggested frequencies: 28.350 to 28400 MHz, 24.960 to 24.980 MHz, 21.360 to 21.400 MHz, 18.140 to 18.145 MHz, 14.270 to 14.300 MHz, 7.270 to 7.290 MHz, 3.740 to 3.940 MHz, as well as your favorite 2 meter repeater (with permission of the repeater's sponsor). Be sure to observe third-party restrictions when making DX QSOs.
Kids have a blast on their special don-the-air day, and adults tend to enjoy it just as much!

Medical Reserve Corps

2009-01-03T22:13:00.000-08:00

http://www.okmrc.org/ For up to day trainings, opportunity to volunteer, increase your health care skill check out the OKLHAOMA MEDICAL RESERVE CORPS.

YOU WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED

SEND THANK YOU CARD TO SAY THANK YOU

2007-11-26T20:08:00.000-08:00

SEND A THANK YOU TO A MEMBER OF THE ARMED FORCES

http://www.letssaythanks.com/Home1280.html

is a web site that lets one send a thank to card to a member of the armed forces.

Sponsored by Xerox. Read the FAQ.

There's other ways to support troops mentioned there.Just doing one more part for the War on Terror...
--Lloyd Colston
Altus Emergency ManagementAltus, OK
http://www.cityofaltus.org/

OKCEMCERT
http://oklahomacert.googlepages.com/ahomecert

Photos get updates and training dates by email:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Central_Oklahoma_Community_Emergency_Response_Team/

Ham Holiday July 21-22

2007-07-01T20:12:00.000-07:00

Check out the web site

Meeting date and location

2007-07-01T19:54:00.000-07:00

July Meeting will be at Fire Mountain on July 12.

W5PAA MEETINGS

2007-01-20T20:38:00.000-08:00

FIRST THURSDAY OF EACH MONTH
7 PM

L

.

Net- Morse Code

2006-02-21T20:47:00.001-08:00

For some, learning morse code comes easily. Their brains are able to hear the dits and dahs of CW, and piece them together into the characters, and then words that are being sent, and quickly understand it. Some people have known code for so long that it has become a second language, and comes almost intuitively.

However, there are also those that struggle to learn even the basics. Sometimes even hearing the difference between a dit and a dah is a challenge. Hearing the difference between dits and dahs is only the beginning, from there you are faced with the challenge of remembering the 26-letter alphabet, 10 numbers, and multiple other character sets that are to be used as punctuation and to signify the end of a transmission, and others as well.

There are so many “do’s and don’ts” when you’re learning Morse code, it’s honestly enough to make your head spin. DON’T learn reciprocals, or DO learn reciprocals. DON’T learn at 5wpm, or DO learn at 5wpm. DON’T learn to send code at the same time you’re learning code, or DO learn to send it…and the list goes on and on.

Since I am in the process of learning morse code myself, I thought I would share a few of the methods and learning aids that are out there to help you. Let me just say up front, that my computer is my greatest learning tool, so almost every aid I’ll list is either online, or is to be used on your computer.

That being said, I’ll start with:

http://www.justlearnmorsecode.com. This is a program that you can download to your computer, for free. It uses Koch’s method and Farnsworth timing. (With Koch’s method you start learning at faster speeds than most tools - but you start with only two characters.) (Farnsworth timing is just a fancy way of saying, they send the characters at a normal speed, but increase the amount of space between each character.)

Another program that can be used with your computer. As you type, the program makes the appropriate dits and dahs, allowing you to associate the keyed letters with the sounds they make in code. http://www.msu.edu/~huntharo/MorseCode/

One interesting little thing I found was a "connect the dots" type chart. (For those scientific-type minds that learn best by charting.) http://www.learnmorsecode.com/

For people that are musically inclined there is a website to learn morse code by music. This one is fun, and interesting, but it’s easy to just start trying to play a little song. http://www.philtulga.com/morse.html

A great website (that was originally intended for kids, but is still a lot of help.) http://www.ki3ds.org/MorseTips.htm There is a chart there that explains each morse code character by the sound it makes.

There are TONS of MP3 files online that can be downloaded to your computer and played back so that you can learn code transmitted at either 13 wpm or 20 wpm. You can also download text files to go along with them. (This morse code is transmitted considerably faster than the "average" Morse code learning tool. Not for the faint of heart.) http://www.twilley.org/~jmt/morse/today.html

Another website with MP3's. This one has MP3's for each individual letter and number , as well as MP3's with the entire alphabet and all numbers. I like this one a lot. http://www.edespot.com/~amackenz/morse/

Most of these MP3s transmit fairly quickly quickly, and if you like to learn by the "immersion" method, this is the route to go. This is not a method for the faint of heart. I think it’s more of a tool to use for people that are already familiar with morse code, that are just trying to increase their speed.

One last method for learning code that I’d like to mention is that we have a code net on Monday and Wednesday nights at 9:00 p.m. on the 146.850 repeater. Larry Graham teaches this net each week, and he is a very patient teacher, and there is just a small group of us. We’d be glad to have a few more.
There is so much help out there in the way of friends, and people within the club, and also on the web. The most important thing, in my opinion is to just find what works for you, and stick with it.

I would gladly post any more tips or tricks for learning Morse Code, just email them to me at KE5GRX@yahoo.com

73
-Stephanie
KE5GRX

Happy Valentine's Day

2006-02-14T17:30:00.000-08:00

Since this is a holiday I thought it would be nice to have a fun, short net tonight about Valentines Day.

There are varying opinions as to the origin of Valentine's Day. Some experts state that it originated from St. Valentine, a Roman who was martyred for refusing to give up Christianity. He died on February 14, 269 A.D., the same day that had been devoted to love lotteries. Legend also says that St. Valentine left a farewell note for thejailerss daughter, who had become his friend, and signed it "From Your Valentine". Other aspects of the story say that Saint Valentine served as a priest at the temple during the reign of Emperor Claudius. Claudius then had Valentine jailed for defying him. In 496 A.D. Pope Gelasius set aside February 14 to honor St. Valentine.

Gradually, February 14 became the date for exchanging love messages and St. Valentine became the patron saint of lovers, the date was marked by sending poems and simple gifts such as flowers. There was often a social gathering or a ball.

In the United States, Miss Esther Howland is given credit for sending the first valentine cards. Commercial valentines were introduced in the 1800's and now the holiday has become very commercialized.

The town of Loveland, Colorado, does a large post office business around February 14. The spirit of good continues as valentines are sent out with sentimental verses and children exchange valentine cards at school. It's estimated that over 15 BILLION Valentine's Day cards are given every year!

I thought it would be nice to share one of my favorite poems, and one of the most recognized love poems of all time.

How Do I Love Thee?
Elizabeth Barrett Browning

How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.
I love thee to the depth and breadth and height
My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight
For the ends of Being and ideal Grace.

I love thee to the level of everyday's
Most quiet need, by sun and candlelight.
I love thee freely, as men strive for Right;
I love thee purely, as they turn from Praise.

I love thee with the passion put to use
In my old griefs, and with my childhood's faith.
I love thee with a love I seemed to lose
With my lost saints, I love thee with the breath,
Smiles, tears, of all my life! and, if God choose,
I shall but love thee better after death.

We had a Valentine's Day party on February 11th. We had a really fun night with some really wonderful food, and a lot of hilarious karaoke singing. We have some cute pictures, you can see those on the right hand side of this webpage. If anyone else has any pictures they want posted, please email them to me at KE5GRX@yahoo.com

I appreciate everyone that signed in tonight and shared this part of their Valentine's Day with us.

73
-Stephanie
KE5GRX

Net - "Continuing Education for Hams"

2006-02-07T19:00:00.000-08:00

I don’t know about everyone else, but when I was in my Amateur Radio class learning everything I needed to know to pass my Technician license exam, I was excited to be learning something new. Once I got my license, I could sit back, take a deep breath, and relax. For some hams it’s enough to get a Tech or General license, and then use that to talk to the world, and that is perfectly alright; there are others that want to learn more, and want to do more with their license.

Just like in any other education setting, there is continuing education for Ham radio operators. I wanted to talk about some of the courses that are offered on ARRL.org. These courses are offered almost always, and registration is simple. These courses start at about $45 and go to $139, and the cost is always less for ARRL members than for non members.

To find these courses you first have to go to http://arrl.org, then you click on Education, then Certification/Continuing Education. On the right side of the screen you will see an area that says “Class Registration Calendar.”

There are Technical classes, including Antenna Modeling, HF Digital, Radio Frequency Interference, VHF/UHF Beyond the Repeater, Antenna Design & Construction, Propagation and also Analog Electronics. There are also Emergency Communications classes that have three separate levels.

Outside of the ARRL website you will also find many resources for expanding your education. These courses aren’t necessarily just for Hams, but are for anyone looking to assist in emergency situations. One course I can recommend is NIMS, which stands for National Incident Management System. NIMS is an independent study program offered through FEMA, to anyone who is interested, at no cost. There are over 50 independent study courses that are offered through FEMA.

To find these courses go to www.fema.gov and then click on “Education and Training” at the top of the webpage. On the next screen click on “EMI Independent Study Courses.” If you would like to see a list of courses offered click on “Our Courses” on the left side of the screen. There are also courses and activities for kids on the FEMA website, that your children or grandchildren might enjoy.

One last website I’ll mention is www.skywarn.org. They have a nice page of information useful for people interested in storm tracking. These include things such as a “Basic Spotters’ Field Guide,” “Thunderstorms and Lightening Safety” and a tutorial that will teach you more than you ever wanted to know about Radar.

This information can be found by going to www.skywarn.org. At the top of the page there is a link that says “General Pages” scroll over to it and then click on “Educational Materials.”

Like I mentioned before, there are some people who will simply get their Amateur Radio license, and be totally satisfied with that. But there are others who just want to know more, and do more with their hobby. There is just so much out there to learn, you just have to search for it.

* * * * * * * * * *

Announcements:

We’re having a Valentine’s Dinner party on THIS Saturday, February the 11th. The party starts at 6:00 p.m. and we’re planning to wrap things up about 10. We’re asking everyone to bring a covered dish to share with everyone. If you need any more information, if you have any questions, or need directions, feel free to email me at KE5GRX@yahoo.com.

73
Stephanie
KE5GRX

Valentine's Day Party!

2006-02-02T05:42:00.000-08:00

Valentines Day Dinner Party
February 11, 2006
6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.

Everyone is invited to attend!
Bring your loved one, your friend, or just someone you think might enjoy a Fun night.

A sign up sheet will be available for anyone wishing to join us for dinner.

We are planning to have a Karaoke machine, so bring your party mood, and check your pride at the door! J

Remember: This party is for ANYONE who wishes to come. The more the merrier, and Hams know how to have a good time!

Be sure to sign up tonight!

The W5PAA Aeronautical Center Amateur Radio Club is having their monthly meeting tonght at Metro Tech in S. OKC, we'll pass the sign up sheet around at the meeting.

See you tonight!

-73
KE5GRX- Stephanie

Net Topic - Favorite Family Recipes

2006-01-31T17:43:00.000-08:00

I've done the last few nets on technology, and our hobby. I thought it would be nice to end the month with something fun, and a little off-topic. I think it would be a good idea to end each month with a net that is not hobby-related. Tonight my net topic is going to be Family Recipes or Favorite Recipes.

Millionaire Pie

Since Millionaire Pie is a no-bake recipe, it's great for the summertime when you don't want to heat up the house by baking in the oven.
-8 ounces cream cheese, softened
-8-ounce can of crushed pineapple, undrained
-1 cup grated coconut
-1/2 cup sugar
-1 cup chopped pecans
-8-ounce carton of whipped topping, thawed (or you can make your own)
-1 prepared 9-inch pie crust.

Mix together the cream cheese and sugar with an electric mixer. Let the mixer run for about 3 or 4 minutes on high speed.
Stir into the cream cheese mixture the crushed pineapple, coconut and pecans, and mix well.
Carefully fold in half of the whipped topping until filling is blended well. Save the other half for the top.
Pile filling into a pie shell, my preference is Graham Cracker, and chill for at least 3 hours.

Just before you serve the pie, you can dollop the whipped topping over the pie and add a sprinkling of chopped pecans, or coconut. You can also just use all the whipped topping in the pie, and it just makes the pie lighter. (If you use this method, you need to chill the pie twice as long to allow it to stiffen up.)

Usually when I make this pie, I make it the night before I plan to serve it, to allow the flavors to mix into the whipped topping.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

KE5EQX - Sean shared his favorite recipe for Barbecue Brisket.

-1 Large or Med Beef Brisket, trimmed.
-Celery Salt
-Liquid Smoke
-Favorite Barbecue sauce

Preparation: Place your brisket into a large piece of aluminum foil. Top with celery salt until the Brisket is almost black. Add 2 Tsp of Liquid Smoke per pound of Brisket. Wrap everything in aluminum foil and marinate overnight.

Cooking: Place the Brisket into a large pan. Bake at 325 for about 10 hours, or until the Brisket is tender.

Serving: 30 minutes before you serve the brisket, smother it with your favorite BBQ sauce. (Sean's preference is Head Country.) Place the brisket, aluminum foil open, back into the oven for 30 minutes to 1 hour (to taste.)

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

KE5GSB - Charlotte shared her recipe for Roast Salad.

-1 Large Beef roast
-Salt, Pepper, Garlic, Onion (use to your preference)
-2 Eggs, hardboiled and diced
-Miracle Whip or Mayonnaise
-Sweet pickles
-Onion, diced (to your preference)

Cook the roast to your preference, using the seasonings to taste. Let the roast cool completely.

Pull the roast apart, or cut into bite size pieces. In a bowl add the two boiled eggs, diced onion, and then Miracle Whip or Mayonnaise until creamy (usually about 1/2 to 1 full cup).

Mix all ingredients well, cover, and chill. Serve on your favorite bread as asandwichh, or with crackers as a snack.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

K5UZI - Larry shared his Grandmothers recipe for Banana Cake

-1 1/2 cups sugar
-2 eggs
-3 bananas, ripened
-1 teaspoon vanilla
-1/2 cup shortening (or oil)
-1 1/2 cups flour
-1 teaspoon baking soda
-1/2 cup buttermilk
-*optional 1 cup chopped walnuts
-Frosting- your preference

Pre-heat oven to 350

Mash and beat three ripe bananas until liquefied.
Mix in 1 1/2 cups sugar
Beat 2 eggs and mix into bananas and sugar
Add 1 teaspoon of vanilla and stir
Stir in 1/2 cup shortening or oil
Stir in 1 1/2 cups flour and beat until smooth
(optional: stir in 1 cup of chopped walnuts)
In a separate bowl mix 1 teaspoon of baking SODA into 1/2 cup buttermilk (will foam)
Fold milk/soda mixture into batter and mix thoroughly

Bake at 350 for 35 to 45 minutes, Cake is very moist and is sometimes difficult to check with a toothpick.

The cake will shrink a little as it cools, this is normal

The cake is best served with cream cheese or vanilla frosting, but it is pretty good bare!

*~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~*

I really enjoyed putting this net together, and by the time I heard all of the recipes I was starving! Thanks to everyone who checked in, and to all of you who shared recipes with us.

If you have any recipes that you would like to share with the Radio Rose Rocks, feel free to email it to me at KE5GRX@yahoo.com and I will add it to this post.

73
-Stephanie

Tuesday Night Net - Foxhunting Part 2

2006-01-24T17:35:00.000-08:00

I wanted tonight's net to be about the equipment used for foxhunting, and I was hoping that I would have a guest speaker. Unfortunately my guest was unable to join us, so I am just going to do my best to explain what I know.

The basic equipment you will need for your first hunt will include
1. A receiver. –2-Meter HT.
2. An antenna adapter or a paper clip. (I will explain the paper clip in a moment.)
3. A map of the area.

As I explained in last weeks net, your foxhunt coordinator will let you know what frequency you will be hunting on. When you begin hearing the frequency, you will not be able to tell which direction it is coming from (because the antenna on your HT is omni-directional, meaning it will receive signals from all directions at the same time.)

You will need to use your body to block the signal, so that you can begin to detect which direction the signal is coming from. So, in the most basic terms, you will stand in one spot, and rotate your body, by degrees, until you can discern which direction has the weakest signal and which has the strongest signal. Usually you will hear the weakest signal when the hidden transmitter (the fox) is directly behind you.

Once you have determined which direction the signal is coming from, you will need to begin traveling in that direction. However, once you begin to get closer to the “fox”, the signal will be much stronger, and you will have a harder time determining which direction to turn. It might appear that the fox is all around you.

This is when the handy dandy “PAPERCLIP” will come into play. Remove your rubber duckie antenna, and put a straightened paper clip in its place. This will reduce the signal so that you can continue.

This may sound very simple, but all the experts will agree; it isn’t! Once you’ve determined which direction the signal is coming from, you still have not figured out where the transmitter is hidden. This will take practice, and sometimes a very good eye. The transmitter may be hidden in a tree, under a bush, behind a rock, or even in a car. The possibilities are almost endless.

Sometimes your HT will just not be enough (even with the help of your trusty paperclip!) There are many other antennas that are used in foxhunting, that can be used for pinpointing where the fox is located, but I wanted to try to keep this, since my understanding is limited.

One of the recurring themes that I’ve seen in almost every website and magazine article that I’ve read is that a hunter should NOT GIVE UP! It’s too easy to get frustrated and quit when you’ve become confused or are having trouble, especially when you are a beginner. Just don’t give up, the only way that you can improve is to keep at it, the experience of just participating is Directional Finding education in itself.

* * * * * * * * * *

Announcements:

The new Tech classes are going to start on February 2. If you know someone interested in taking the class, they will need to register and pay by January 26th (which is this coming Thursday.)

The RRR Rail trip to Gainesville is rapidly approaching! Hopefully everyone has already signed up!

The last net of the month is next week, and I'd like to have a topic that will be fun and interesting for everyone. I'm probably going to have a topic not pertaining to Amateur radio. I'm considering the topic of "Family Recipes" or "Favorite Recipes". If you have a favorite recipe you would like to share, have it ready for the net so you can share it with everyone.

Have a great week!

73
Stephanie
KE5GRX

Tuesday Night January 17th - Fox Hunting Part 1

2006-01-17T18:00:00.000-08:00

Foxhunting was suggested as a topic for this week’s net, but there is so much information to cover I thought I should break it into two parts. This week I’m going to talk about what Foxhunting actually is.

I know that most of you already know what Foxhunting is, but there are some of us, myself included, who have a lot to learn. Foxhunting is also known as T-hunting, hidden transmitter hunting or ARDF, (Amateur Radio Direction Finding).

Foxhunting is a contest where people are trying to be the first to find a hidden radio transmitter. The hunt can be just a few hours, or all day, and sometimes as long as a full weekend.

The transmitter in this competition is called “the Fox” and is supposed to be hidden. This activity is supposed to be fun and challenging, so the Fox should be hidden well. The Fox will transmit either continuously or at regular intervals.

The “Hounds” are the competitors who are looking for the hidden transmitter. The Hounds use receiving equipment to locate the Fox. Some foxhunts cover long distances and require using vehicles, and some cover smaller areas and so the competitors walk.

The person that goes and sets up the Fox is usually called a “hider” or a “setter”, but their job is to go set up the transmitter, turn it on, and then announce that the hunt has begun.

The Hounds will then begin attempts at getting a bearing on the signal of the fox. It’s a bit of a trial and error process, and can involve quite a bit of walking (or driving.) The first person, or team that finds the Fox is the winner.

When you find the Fox, the last thing you want to do is notify all the other competitors, so you’re supposed to just walk away. Depending on how your hunt is set up, you will then either announce on a specified frequency that you have located the Fox, or you will meet back at the starting point to let the coordinator know. The Fox will continue to transmit until all the competitors have either located it, or given up.

Part of the fun of foxhunting is building your own equipment used for locating the Fox. But, it’s not required that you build your own, there are kits available. So next week we’ll talk about the equipment used in foxhunting. I’m going to attempt to have a guest speaker to talk about the technical stuff, since I’m still a new ham myself.

Ever wondered why Amateur Radio users are called "hams"?

2006-01-17T12:17:00.000-08:00

I found this bit of trivia while I was doing some research for my nets. I thought it was very interesting, and just had to share.

Why are Radio Amateurs called "HAMS"?

Have you ever wondered why radio amateurs are called "HAMS"? Well, it goes like this: The word "HAM" as applied to 1908 was the station callsign of the first amateur wireless stations operated by some amateurs of the Harvard Radio Club. They were Albert S. Hyman, Bob Almy and Poogie Murray.

At first they called their station "HYMAN-ALMY-MURRAY". Tapping out such a long name in code soon became tiresome and called for a revision. They changed it to "HY-AL-MU", using the first two letters of each of their names. Early in 1901 some confusion resulted between signals from amateur wireless station "HYALMU" and a Mexican ship named "HYALMO". They then decided to use only the first letter of each name, and the station callsign became "HAM".

In the early pioneer days of unregulated radio amateur operators picked their own frequency and call-letters. Then, as now, some amateurs had better signals than commercial stations. The resulting interference came to the attention of congressional committees in Washington and Congress gave much time to proposed legislation designed to critically limit amateur radio activity. In 1911, Albert Hyman chose the controversial Wireless Regulation Bill as the topic for his thesis at Harvard. His instructor insisted that a copy be sent to Senator David I. Walsh, a member of one of the committees hearing the Bill. The Senator was so impressed with the thesis is that he asked Hyan to appear before the committee. ALBERT Hyman took the stand and described how the little station was built and almost cried when he told the crowded committee room that if the bill went through that they would have to close down the station because they could not afford the license fees and all the other requirements which the bill imposed on amateur stations.

Congressional debate began on the Wireless Regulation Bill and little station "HAM" became the symbol for all the little amateur stations in the country crying to be saved from the menace and greed of the big commercial stations that didn't want them around. The bill finally got to the floor of Congress and every speaker talked about the "...poor little station HAM". That's how it all started. You will find the whole story in the Congressional Record.
Nationwide publicity associated station "HAM" with amateur radio operators. From that day to this, and probably until the end of time in radio an amateur is a "HAM"

From Florida Skip Magazine - 1959 - Issued - January 2001
(And borrowed from the website RATS.net)

Tuesday night net January 10th

2006-01-13T12:42:00.000-08:00

Our net on Tuesday was about the importance of recruiting in ham radio.

Amateur radio is one of the oldest technologies still in use. People that learned how to use ham radio more than 50 years ago are still using it today.

Being that ham radio is an older technology, the demographics of ham users are proportionately older. The only survey that I could find was from a 1997 QST magazine, but it basically showed that 29% of operators are 65+. Only 5% of operators were under 24 in 1997.

Given that the technology is ever growing, expanding, and changing, there are younger hams getting their license every month. But on the other side of the coin, older hams are getting older, and frankly, the overall number of hams is decreasing by a small amount every year.

In other words, in just 30 years, most of the older hams will, "age-out", so to speak. In order to ensure that there will be enough hams to meet the demand in emergency situations, we need to keep interest up in amateur radio. I almost hate to use the word recruiting, but that is basically what needs to be done.

We all know that ham radio isn't for everyone. There are the people who see amateur radio as an outdated and unnecessary technology that has been replaced by cellular service. Until they are put into an emergency situation, they cannot understand how useless cellular service will become in a catastrophe.

But there are the people who will find ham radio as fun, interesting, and exciting as the new hams did 75 years ago (or more.)

-·Scouts. Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts are a great group of young people. As a former scout myself, I can say that Ham Radio would have fascinated me, had it been introduced to me at the time I was scouting.

-·Youth clubs. Girls Go-Tech is a club that encourages girls to become interested in math, science, and technology. 4-H is also a club that has technology programs for youth.

We can set up a Youth day for the ham radio club and invite local Scout Troops and other Youth clubs to come learn about ham radio. They could watch some hams making contacts on HF radio, 2m. radio, and other ham technology. If it's not feasible to set up a youth day, perhaps we could take ham radio to them.

-·Your family and friends are another great resource for future hams. They might have seen you using your radio, and it piqued their interest, or when you told them you got your license, they were very supportive of you. Some of your family might not seem interested at all, but given the right information, they might change their mind.

Remember when you were a new ham. Think about how everything was new, and exciting, and a little overwhelming. You knew a LITTLE, but you wanted to know it ALL RIGHT NOW. The best way to learn is to be involved. Don't neglect the new people. Make sure everyone knows they are more than welcome to participate in events. Invite your new ham friends, and people interested in the hobby to W5PAA and other amateur radio events.

Perhaps the best recruitment tool is your enthusiasm. The more interested and enthusiastic YOU are about your hobby, the more interested and enthusiastic others will be. When you share everything you've learned, and everything you've done with your hobby, most people will be naturally curious. Talk about ham radio every chance you get.

We all enjoy our hobby, and want to see it around for generations to come. Only hams can keep ham radio alive.

Other groups of people that are potential hams:
-Co-Workers (Gary KE5GRV)
-Firefighters/Police (Mike KE5EQV)
-Medical Personnel (Charlotte KE5GSB)
-Your child's classmates (Stan WA7WMN)

Some suggestions for activities that could be set up to generate interest for new hams would be things like a Fox Hunt, class activities with teachers and children, field day, and making contacts with the astronauts/shuttle.

* * * * * * * * * *

We are planning a Valentine's Dinner for either Valentine's Day or the Saturday before. EVERYONE is welcome to come, and bring your sweetheart, your familfriendsour freinds. Each family that comes is asked to bring a covered dish. Let us know if you would be interested in attending, and what you are planning to bring.

All other announcements mentioned during the net have been listed in previous entries.

73
Stephanie

Urgent Numbers

2006-01-10T19:38:00.000-08:00

Allergy: http://www3.niaid.nih.gov/
Center for Disease: http://www.cdc.gov/
Health Dept: http://www.health.state.ok.us/
Hospital: http://www.integris-health.com/
Incident C :http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/etools/ics/index.html
Net Information ARRL:: http://www.arrl.org/FandES/field/pscm/
Poison: http://www.aapcc.org/findyour.htm
SA: http://www.salvationarmyusa.org/usn/www_usn.nsf

Tuesday Night Net January 3rd

2006-01-04T13:54:00.000-08:00

We had ten check-ins for our Tuesday Night Net, including two that were third-party transmissions via Laqueta, KD5WEV.

The topic for the net was Keeping Records.

Overview:

We all know that it is very important to keep station records. Although the FCC doesn't require that ou keep a record of your amateur radio activities, it is a very good idea to keep a log.

If you're not already keeping a log, don't feel bad, you're not alone. The ARRL did a survey in October of 2003 asking whether or not people were keeping records of their contacts. Out of almost 3000 respondents, about 15% said that they do not keep a station log.

Those of us that tend to only make contact on 2m with friends probably don't think of keeping a log as someing necessary. However, when we begin to "expand our horizons" and venture into the world of HF and other DXing, keeping station records will begin to take on more importance. (Don't forget that the FCC can inspect your station at any time, and you want to be prepared.)

There are many ways to keep station records, from the very simple, to the technologically advanced.

You can start with a handwritten log in a bound notebook, or you can create a log on a computer using any word processing software. You can also purchase a Log Book from the ARRL at most amateur radio stores. (In OKC we have K&E Electronics on NW 23rd and Tony Merritt, to name a few.)

There are software programs that you can use for your home pc or laptop computer. Some of these programs are called "shareware", which usually means that they are free to download and use, and then other software , that can be purchased for a nominal fee. You can visit N3FJP's Amateur Radio Software, XMLog, and AC6V.com for a few examples. There are even programs that can be downloaded to your Palm Pilot!

Keeping station records can be as simple or as complicated as you choose it to be, but at a minimum you should document the Date and Time of the contact, the Name, Call Sign and Location of the person you DX'd with, the frequency used, and the length of the transmission.

A couple of other things you might consider keeping in your station logs would be:
- Third-party transmissions from your station.
- Any illegal or disruptive activities you might overhear on the frequency.

When asked if anyone is already using a station log, there were several responses.

KE5EQX, Sean, said that when he uses the IRLP, he keeps detailed records in a spiral notebook.

KD5WEV, Laqueta, said that during drills with the Health Department, she is required to keep records that are kept in triplicate and are extremely important.

KE5CXX, Jim, mentioned that for most awards QSL cards verifying contacts are required, and that station records are necessary for sending out QSL cards. Jim also brought up the point that it is usually only useful to keep records of HF transmissions.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Laqueta made several announcements.

This Thursday, January 5th, the W5PAA Aeronautical Center Amateur Radio Club will have their monthly meeting at 7 p.m. The meeting is held at the Metro Tech at 5600 S. MacArthur.

The Radio Rose Rocks will be having a scavenger hunt at the Home & Garden Show at the Oklahoma City Fairgrounds January 20-22. There is a $5.00 donation requested with your application that will need to be paid no later than Midnight, January 19th. When you register, you will be given a free ticket to the show, and a list of the things you will need to find for the hunt.

First prize:
Round trip Amtrak to Gainesville, TX on February 4th, 2006

Second prize:
Half price on Amtrak to Gainesville, TX February 4th, 2006

Third prize:
Breakfast with Radio Rose Rocks on Feb 4th, 2006

The Rose Rocks will be riding the rail to Gainesville, TX on February 4th. We have a limited number of seats available, so you will need to confirm your reservation ASAP! This trip is not limited to the Rose Rockers, so feel free to bring your family or friends. We will be meeting for breakfast that morning at __ a.m. , and departing on AmTrak at __ a.m. We will arrive in Gainesville at __ a.m. , where we are free to go our own direction, but for the most part we will be SHOPPING at the Outlet Mall. We will depart Gainesville at __ p.m. , and arrive back in Oklahoma City at __ p.m.

We are planning a Fox hunt for March 26th, details will be forthcoming.

There wil be a Health Department drill on April 26th, and they are going to need volunteer hams. If you can be of assistance that day, please contact Laqueta.

If you need information on any of these dates, please email Laqueta at radioroserocks@gmail.com. The email for the Rose Rocks will begin transitioning from the old email address to this new address over the next few weeks. Please change your Address Book accordingly.

Happy New Year everyone.

73,

Laqueta - KD5WEV and Stephanie KE5GRX

Holiday Party - 2005

2005-12-27T21:00:00.000-08:00

The Radio Rose Rocks and W5PAA friends had a holiday party on December 27th. We had 17 friends altogether, and had some great food, fellowship and fun.

We had the Radio Rose Rocks Net at 7 p.m. with eight check-ins. The topic for the night was Go Kits.

Overview:

Most amateur radio enthusiasts will agree that it is always best to think like a Boy Scout and "Be Prepared." It is advisable then, to have a "Go-Kit."

In order for you to be of assistance as a ham radio operator in an emergency situation, you should have several items in your Go-Kit. These items can be packed in a soft-foam lunchbox, (or other bag) and kept in the trunk of your car, or behind the seat in your truck. Some items I suggest are:
·A dual-band HT with an extra battery and external power cord
·Antenna
·Cigarette plug adapter with extra fuses
·Earphone and speaker microphone
·Small flashlight with extra batteries
·Operating manual for your HT
·A small notebook with lined paper
·Pencils and pens (Pens can fail you at the worst moment, pencils are suggested.)
·A bright highlighter may be useful
·Small battery-powered clock
·Hard candies, granola bars
·A copy of your amateur radio license
·Pre-paid calling cards
·A small 35mm film canister with emergency cash inside

It may sound like a lot at first, but as you begin to put it all together, you will see that it will all fit nicely into the lunch box. Most of these lunch boxes have pockets on the outside that will hold copies of your amateur radio license, personal identification, calling cards, emergency cash, and an emergency number list.

* * * * * * * * * *

After a lot of reading and research, I’ve come to understand that in order to be truly prepared, one should have a “Go-Kit” as well as an “Evacuation Bag”. Your Evac Bag will be something packed specifically for you, and/or a family member.

The items in your Evac bag are necessary for your personal health and well being, although they can be used to assist others in an emergency. The best Evac Bag for you won't always be the best for someone else. Assemble one for yourself that fits your routine and experience. You can keep one in your car, home, or even at work.

Some things that I suggest having in your Evac Bag would be:
·A first-aid kit
Your first-aid kit can be purchased for a small fee, or you can put your own together. Sterile bandages, gauze, scissors, tweezers, antiseptic, antibiotic ointment, hand sanitizer, non-prescription drugs (aspirin, non-aspirin pain-reliever, antacid, anti diarrhea medicine, laxatives), sunscreen, and latex gloves are all things you should consider putting into your first aid kit.· A flashlight with extra batteries

·A small ABC-type fire extinguisher
·Matches
·Signal Flares
·A small triangular-type reflector.
·A whistle
·A compass
·An emergency-preparedness manual

·Include at least one complete change of clothes. Instead of tossing out your old sneakers, put them into your personal Go-Kit, you may be grateful to have them in a disaster situation. Add a hat and gloves during winter months, and thermal underwear if you are in a colder climate.

·You should consider including bedding such as blankets or sleeping bags, and a small pillow.

·Non-perishable food such as: Granola bars, MRE's, Trail Mix, Crackers, Canned meat, vegetables and fruit. The American Red Cross is a good resource for suggestions about things to pack.

·Drinking water. One gallon of water per day (per person) is the suggested minimum. It is recommended that you use up and replenish your water every six months.

·You will need items for sanitation such as: Toilet paper, Soaps and Shampoos, Oral hygiene supplies, Sanitizer, Small bags with ties (for personal sanitation).

·Special items to consider would be your prescription medications. (You should ask your pharmacist about storing medication.) Insulin-dependent diabetics should have an emergency supply of insulin. If you have an extra pair of your prescription glasses, add them to your go-kit as well.

In a waterproof bag you should keep copies of important documents such as
·Passports and other Identification
·Wills and insurance policies
·Financial and Banking records
·Family records (birth certificates, marriage licenses etc.)
·Credit card
·Long distance calling card

Obviously, the items in your Evac Bag are going to take up considerably more room than your Go-Kit. It is recommended that you store these items in an airtight container such as a large plastic tote, or small garbage can in an easily accessible area where you can grab it and go. If a tote or can are unavailable to you, a large canvas bag could be used as well. If everything is stored properly you can fit everything into the container snugly, without “stuffing.”

Make sure to have an Evac Bag for every member of your family, suitable to each individual persons needs.

One thing that you can’t pack into your Evac Bag is preparation. Your family should have a plan for emergencies, and you should practice once a year. First aid and CPR classes are often offered at local Community Colleges, and are extremely helpful.

Last, but most important, your “job” is very simple. You are a volunteer, nothing more. Let the professionals do their jobs, and assist only where you are needed.

* * * * * * * * * *

The W5PAA Tuesday Night Swap Meet Net was at 8:00 p.m. and had one check-in.

After the nets Ilana-KD5UGP lit the Menorah and explained what she believes the Menorah represents.

We had a fun and exciting game of Dirty Santa. Everyone brought a small wrapped gift for the game. We all drew numbers, and Darlene drew lucky #1. The first gift that she picked was immediately "stolen", as was the next gift she picked. One of the most coveted items of the night was a small pillow that was "stolen" three times, until it finally ended up in the possesion of Candice. There were a lot of funny and interesting gifts, and everyone had a good laugh.

Our party was a hit, and we can't wait to do it again!