HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Bible
Verse
Proverbs 18:13 If one gives answer
before he hears, it is his folly and shame. (RSV)
President's Report
First I want to thank the membership for trusting me
with this position. I will do my best to make this a productive and
fun filled year.
Our January meeting had 13 in attendance which included
Gary Galloway and Ron Davis from Newton County Emergency Management
Agency. Gary and Ron have requested some assistance in designing and
setting up their new communications center located 1 mile north of
Newton on Coliseum Drive. We had a couple drive over to Newton on
Saturday and then a follow-up on Monday. Very soon Newton hopes to
have linking capabilities that will link surrounding counties to the
National Weather Service and State EOC in Jackson. They have also
requested that volunteers participate from the new communication center
during any emergencies that may arise.
W5RB and KC5NMB will be working with Red Cross to find
out a date that our HAM equipment can be setup in their new location.
Coots Crossing Pavilion #2 at Bonita Lakes has now been
reserved for Field Day 2005 on June 25th and June 26th. I had hoped
we could find a location that would require less work for setting
up and breaking down. If anyone has any suggestions concerning this,
please let your voices be heard.
I am happy to report that our friend C.P. (W5OQY) has
finally been allowed to leave Anderson Hospital. Annie reports that
he is doing better and has been moved to RHC (Regency Hospital Company)
located on the second floor of Riley Hospital for some rehabilitation.
He gets tired very fast, so we are asked to please keep any visits
brief.
Lastly, I have a couple of questions for you. I would
like for you to call, email or snail mail me with any responses that
you might have. Currently we meet at Queen City Truck Stop on Saturday
mornings for coffee, breakfast and visiting. Business meetings are
held in the same location at 10 AM on the first Saturday of each month
(if other events do not interfere). Attendance for the business meetings
has been low.
1. In an effort to improve attendance during our business
meetings, would you favor changing the business meeting to a Thursday
night around 6 or 6:30 PM (location can be anywhere you like, i.e.
Western Sizzlin)? We can try this one month to see if it works. If
we like the results, we can then make it permanent? We will continue
to meet Saturday mornings for breakfast, coffee, and fellowship.
2. At the last business meeting the subject of the phone
patch was brought up again. It currently cost MARC approximately $20
per month to keep the phone line connected. We decided to mention
this in The Spark Gap and then we will have a vote during the February
business meeting. If you are not able to attend this meeting, please
send your comments to me. I will read them at that meeting so that
your concerns will be heard.
73, Darrell W5MAV
Lauderdale Repeater Group GE to all: As some of you already know that it is the time of
year for both the Lauderdale Repeater Group and Meridian Amateur
Radio Club to jointly pay for Liability Insurance to cover both
groups and repeater sites. This years premium remains the same price
or $325.00 for a one year policy. Both groups will pay half of the
premium ($162.50 each). I urge everyone to help pay for this expense.
If you use any one of / or both repeaters just remember these things
do not stay on the air all by themselves. The LRG has just purchased a new controller and remote
base radio to make the UHF 444.500/R have frequency agile linking
capabilities as the VHF 146.970/R has. This equipment totaled nearly
$600.00. I urge everyone to invest in a UHF / 440mhz radio in the
future. Take advantage of the 440 Repeaters. There are advantages
to having a UHF repeater available in an emergency situation. We are still hoping to have another site available
to separate the 146.970/R and the 444.500/R. Both of these repeaters
with remote bases capable of linking to other repeaters in our area
will be a great plus. All donations will greatly be appreciated. Contributions can be mailed to: Lauderdale Repeater Group w5LRG February Business Meeting Please note: The Capital City Hamfest in Jackson is
being held the first weekend of February; therefore the MARC February
business meeting will be held on Saturday, February 12th at 10 AM,
Queen City Truck Stop We're off to a great start for the new year getting
our checking account back to a safe level. We still have insurance
to pay, so please bring your 2005 dues to the Queen City Truck Stop
on Saturday mornings or mail them to the address below. MARC One of the most frequently asked questions that I hear is how much
are my DUES? Dues are: Happy New Year! 73, KD5JYJ
Have a great month
January 2005
w5LRG
146.970 - ki5fw/R (pl 100hz)
444.500 + w5LRG/R
--... ...--, Dennis ki5fw
c/o: Dennis Carpenter
7760 Vanzyverden Road
Meridian, MS 39305
c/o Debbie Hover
11785 Nancy Drive
Collinsville, MS 39325
