THE SPARK GAP

A monthly publication of the Meridian Amateur Radio Club May 2024

 

Happy Mothers Day

 

 Bible Verse

Mary Visits Elizabeth

Luke 1:41-45 --- When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. In a loud voice she exclaimed: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!”

 

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President's Report

Congratulations to both KI5HCM and KG5COO for becoming assistants in the ARES program. They join KD5GWM and myself in operations in the area and in conjunction with KG5IAX, they have helped build a stronger team. ARES and RACES are two very good programs to be involved in, and in times of need we are called upon to take on certain tasks for the local, state, and even federal agencies. I would like to offer membership into these groups to anyone who wants to take on the task.

In other news, we have a great event coming up... Collinsville Day. MARC will be setup and operating at Collinsville Fire and Rescue during the event. Come out and join us here, it's a good chance to see how we setup a field station and get on the air in times of need. We will meet Friday evening around 7pm to put up a tower with antennas. Saturday around 7am we will set up table, tent, and radios. As soon as that is done we can start operating. Around 9am if the crowd permits we will hold a short meeting... business should not take long and we can fellowship afterwards.

Map below... See you there!

Charles KB5SZJ

 

Colinsville Day

 

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Next MARC Business Meeting

IMPORTANT NOTE: MEETING TIME AND LOCATION

The next business meeting will be held at the Collinsville Day setup site (Collinsville Fire and Rescue) on Saturday May 4th around 9 A.M. See map above. Come join us.

 

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May 18 Mississippi Parks on the Air

(Sent by KI5ZLP. TNX Karey)

Area 51 Radio Group and Jackson County Amateur Radio Association are working with Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, & Parks (MDWFP) to promote public awareness of amateur radio and Mississippi’s State Park system. There are 21 State Parks in Mississippi that are registered with Parks on the Air (POTA). It would be awesome if we are able to activate all 21 parks on the same day during the same time period!We need help from Ham Radio Operators to make this happen. Please consider signing up for a time to activate a Mississippi State Park on Saturday, May 18, 2024 between the hours of 9:00 am – 6:00 pm CDT. We are looking for activators willing to work a morning shift or an afternoon shift. Email ms.parksontheair@gmail.com to SIGN UP to Activate a park. For more information, visit MSPOTA Mississippi Parks on the Air. Hope to find you on the air Saturday, May 18!

Area 51 Radio Group Mississippi
WA5RGM
134 Free Will Ln
Saltillo, MS

 

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Start Your Field Day Planning
(from ARRL Letter)

The 2024 ARRL Field Day is June 22 and 23 and is always one of the biggest operating events of the year. Many clubs across the country say that Field Day is their most popular event for a variety reasons. Some clubs treat it as a contest (even though no one wins Field Day). It is a great chance to see what contesting is like with much less pressure. Some clubs make it a training event for emergency operations by setting up in a different location and trying to communicate with antennas using power that is temporary. Other clubs hold a family gathering for members and guests to get together and have fun around the radios.

It is also a fantastic opportunity to show off the capabilities of ham radio to the public. Invite the mayor, the fire chief, the police chief, or other local agencies to come by. Get them on the air to make a contact or two. And do not forget the GOTA station. Give new or shy hams the chance to operate HF.

Field Day 2024

ARRL resources are available online at field-day.arrl.org. Do not forget to check out the ARRL Store for Field Day swag to help make the weekend fun. Get a t-shirt, a hat, or other merchandise to commemorate the event. Also, make sure to put your club's Field Day site on the Field Day Station Locator at Field Day Station Locator (arrl.org).

Field Day is something different to all hams, but the important part is that you have fun and "Be Radio Active." Be sure to read the "Club Station" column in the June issue of QST (the digital edition is available May 3) for some tips on how clubs can make Field Day their own.

 

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Quote of the Month

“Another May new buds and flowers shall bring: Ah! why has happiness no second Spring?” — Charlotte Smith

 

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Have a BLESSED month!

 

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