The elections have resulted in some new faces on the Board. Please welcome Al Walker, KD7MXR, and Dick Young, KD7JMR. Tom and Happy Cordich were elected but
decided to step aside for personal reasons. Thanks to Tom for his brief but incisive participation in this years election. The Board filled their positions with both Todd and Zetta Friedel for the remainder of the election year.
My thanks to the board and officers for stepping up to help, and to the membership for allowing
us another year.
Additionally, my thanks to retiring directors Kirby Randall, N7NM, and Chuck Stoddard, NX6W. Kirbys experience helped set TARA straight on club responsibilities and procedures. I look forward to his continued guidance as a counselor in the future. And, Chuck Stoddard, NX6W, has also retired from many years on the board. Chuck has been the "backbone" of TARA since the beginning. He has served in all manner of positions, including president. I know Chuck will continue to serve in the background and support the Amateur Radio spirit he is so much a part of.
Finally, I'm preparing for TARA's first step into interactive public relations with the presentation of the TARA scholarship. Thanks to Dick, KD7JMR for setting it up and providing me with the insight to make a successful presentation. With this event, we hope to expand Amateur Radios influence in our community and stimulate some interest from individuals that would not normally take notice of our unique abilities available in the community. I'll have a full report after the June 6th presentation.
See you at our may meeting as we firm up our busy summer schedule!
73's
Paul, wa6ewv
As of the April meeting, we have had no volunteer for Field Day Chairman! We need to get organized on this as it will be here in just 8 more weeks! The survey indicated the desire for a full Field Day outing, but we can't do it without volunteers! Contact a TARA officer or check in on the Monday Night Net and let us know how you can help. We'll have a Field Day page shortly giving more info sometime in late May.
There has been some discussion at our meetings regarding "MAGNETIC CAR SIGNS" for our Communication events. Channels for purchase are being explored and depending on interest, the signs may be available for the death ride volunteers. Actual disbursement has yet to be decided. (IE: deposits for signs given to members?, signs to be given to event volunteers only?, ) Your input at a general meeting would help decide these issues and others!!
You asked for it!
The TARA Constitution and Bylaws are now available ON-LINE. Click the link for TARA's
Beginnings and Club Info. I'll have downloadable versions in the near future.
As for the systems..
I have plans for rebuilding the 24 repeater, (to get ride of that annoying whine after the repeater is in use for a while). But it hinges on the proposed relocation of the actual radio vault. That move would allow us to use a shorter length of hardline to the antennas resulting in increased output and sensitivity for all the East peak systems. I'll report as I get the info from
the Heavenly managers.
The UHF link is still down to the Gorilla system, I would hope to have something in place before July.
AND...
Have you heard about packet radio? It is still alive and beginning to stage a comeback as it's
ability to pass traffic when the phone and cell systems have failed for various technical and environment reasons. The TARA BBS is on 144.93, with all message handling via radio ports on HF and VHF. I've also included a new port that talks to the International Space Station Packet system on 145.800.
I'll have more on a separate web page in the very near future.
wa6ewv