Ecclesiastes 5:1-7 Guard your steps when you go to the
house of God; to draw near to listen is better than to offer the sacrifice
of fools; for they do not know that they are doing evil. Be not rash
with your mouth, nor let your heart be hasty to utter a word before
God, for God is in heaven, and you upon earth; therefore let your
words be few. For a dream comes with much business, and a fool's voice
with many words.
When you vow a vow to God, do not delay paying it;
for he has no pleasure in fools. Pay what you vow. It is better that
you should not vow than that you should vow and not pay. Let not your
mouth lead you into sin, and do not say before the messenger that
it was a mistake; why should God be angry at your voice, and destroy
the work of your hands? For when dreams increase, empty words grow
many: but do you fear God. (KJV)
Field Day 2006 is rapidly approaching. Setup will begin June 24th,
Saturday morning around 8 AM, with operations for score starting at
1 PM. Location will be the same as the past four years --- "Coot's
Crossing" Pavilion #2 at Bonita Lakes Park in Meridian. Talk-in
will be on the W5FQ repeater (146.700). Please see map below.
Debbie (KD5JYJ) is heading up the details on the food. Hamburgers
and hot dogs seem to be less work overall, however there has been
a few request for BBQ chicken breast, so we will try to accommodate
a few of those as well. We will again need a couple of volunteers
to help with the cooking. Serving time will
be around 5 PM on Saturday evening June 24th. As in years past, many
of you have brought along a dessert. This has always worked out well
and many of us will appreciate you doing so again this year. Please
keep in mind that this only a suggestion and not a requirement.
We hope to see all of the MARC members and encourage you to invite
a friend. Non-member hams from the area are always welcome to come
operate with us as well. 73, Darrell W5MAV
ARES News
After a meeting among the Lauderdale EMA Director,
ARRL Section Manager, State RACES Officer, and ARRL Lauderdale/Clarke
County EC and a review of the ARRL suggested structure for local
ARES Units, it is evident that the Lauderdale/Clark ARES Unit needs
to be reorganized in order to provide a more effective emergency
communications response capability. The first step is to disband
the current organizational structure, which includes all local appointments.
After further considerations, Assistant ECs will then
be appointed by the ARRL EC for operations, administration, liaison,
and logistics following guidelines provided by the ARRL. If you
want to be an ARES member, you need to contact me and fill out a
new registration.
Donna Harrison, Emergency Coordinator Lauderdale,
and Clarke Counties
Amateur Radio Week
Governor Haley Barbour has issued a proclamation designating
June 18 through June 25 as Amateur Radio Week in Mississippi (which
includes the Field Day Weekend of June 23-25). This proclamation
was coordinated through the Governor's Office by SGL AB5WF.
In the event you might need an email copy of the proclamation
for PR purposes, please send a request to w5xx@arrl.org. The proclamation
may provide you with a basis for a local newspaper article, information
for your club newsletter, or the proclamation could be put on your
club website. See you Field Day!
Best 73 de W5XX
Delta Division ARRL News
Joel Harrison, W5ZN, David Sumner, K1ZZ and I sent
out e-mail to all ARRL members in Arkansas, Louisiana and Mississippi
in regard to asking for all of you to help fight against Broadband
over Power Lines (BPL). As you may have heard, the ARRL was successful
in obtaining language in a U.S. House of Representatives bill, HR
5252, requiring the FCC to study and report on the interference
potential of BPL systems. This bill was adopted by the House of
Commerce Committee and will go on the full house floor shortly.
We are making the same approach to the Senate, where
similar language is needed. Senators Lott, Pryor, and Vitter are
members of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation,
which is holding hearings on telecommunications legislation. The
Senate bill is marked up in this committee on June 8.
Please all Arkansas, Louisiana, and Mississippi ARRL
members write today. A sample letter follows in the electronic mail
to all states mention above. It would be best to fax the letters
to the numbers listed. Please, don't forget to fax a copy to Eric
Heis, KI4NFC at Fax (703) 684-7594. Eric's email address is eric.heis@chwatco.com.
Tennessee members, you do not have to worry about ARRL members asking
about the letter because they did not receive the e-mail. Click
Here for sample letter.
I wanted to ensure you have the proper tools and know
what is going on.
73, Henry R. Leggette, WD4Q Director, Delta Division
ARRL - The National Association for Amateur Radio
Field Day Suggestions from W5RB
Here are a few things guaranteed to make you welcome
at a Field Day site. Do about half of them and you'll have a pretty
good time and learn some things .Do most of them and they'll put
you on the FD committee for next year.
1) Show up early in time to help with setting up.
Help unload equipment. See if the antenna crew needs a hand. Help
make some coffee. Hold this rope for a minute. A little effort here
will get you off to a good start.
2) Find out if there's a formal schedule for operators,
and if so, how to get on it. Most outfits aren't rigidly structured
and can get you some operating time. You're working under the Trustee's
privileges, so today, everybody's an Extra (or whatever license
class their Trustee is). Offer to log for someone. This is a good
"warm-up" position, especially for newcomers to HF and
contest-type exchanges. You can learn a lot here.
2a) I know it SOUNDS like "San Wokeen Valley
" but it's SJV in the log. Really.
3) Bring stuff. Your own folding chair. Find out ahead
of time if it's customary to bring a covered dish. Cold drinks are
always welcome. Various comfort items. Your own coffee cup, a roll
of tissue, insect repellent. Extension cord, coax jumper, a bit
of rope? You don't have to load down with stuff, just if you have
it, throw it in the trunk and mark it with your full name or call
sign. I have one that looks just like that. Really.
4) Talk to people .Ask the usual social questions,
plus "What's your favorite part of Field Day?" or "Tell
me about your most unusual contact." Don't apologize for your
license class. If you're here to have fun, learn, and make friends,
I'm glad you're here .Try not to crowd the operating positions when
you're just chatting. Even in headphones the noise of idle chatter
around a Field Day site can make operating tough.
5) Grab a garbage bag and round up some of the empty
cans and plates. Leave that scrap of rope and the roll of duct tape
right where it is, I'm about to use that.
6) Have fun. Smile, shake hands, tell stories, take
pictures, exchange names, and e-mail info. Be glad to be here and
show it.
7) Operate. Presuming you can get some time at the
radio, and you almost certainly can, DO spend some time at the mike
or the key (or the keyboard).This is an OPERATING event, get over
the shyness, listen to the other guy, and then GO for it. Whoever's
logging will help you out if you need it.
8) Whether you stay for the duration or a short visit,
if you're there Sunday morning for the teardown and pack up, you'll
be fondly remembered by the handful of folks who usually remain
to close things out. Really.
New CALL SIGNS
The following have new vanity call signs: N5JCG is now W5MLO.
Next Month
May / June 2006
