President's Message
Hello Membership.
August found us having two exciting events. First was the Lighthouse/Lightship Weekend down in Dunkirk NY. We had a very nice time down there. This year we had one of the nicest evenings ever. The weather was perfect Friday night and you couldn't have asked for a better evening to enjoy the hobby. Saturday evening brought a little excitement with the rain, but that didn't dampen anyone's spirits, we just keep the fun coming.
During August we also held our summer hamfest and it went very well. While we had a little wind that day from Irene all went well and the rain was nice enough to stay away. I wasn't at last years summer hamfest but from what I have been told this one was twice as large, all I know is there were lots of nice ham radio items at this one and computer items were hard to find. Looks like things have changed some at the hamfests, as the last few I've been to were laden with ham radio equipment. I've spent more money at the last 3 hamfests than I have the last 7 years combined. I hope the dealers keep the deals coming as this is a exciting time to be a part of the hobby.
Let me wrap up this months message by reminding everyone that in September we'll be having our Road Rally event and we'll also be doing a DxPedition to North Island in Como Lake Park. If you're free why not come on out with the gang and be a part of the excitement. For those of you who were at the September General Membership meeting our own Jim Dykes AC2EA gave a fantastic presentation on Emergency Power, for those of you who missed it, then you missed a great presentation, where were you?
It's your Hobby - It's your Club - Be a part of the them.
Joseph Gearhart WV2NY
President LARC
W2SO at ILLW
> WV2NY
Hi Guys, for those of you who missed it, we had another wonderful weekend during the International Lighthouse/Lightship Weekend. There were eight of us who went down to Dunkirk Lighthouse and camped out over the weekend this year. We arrived Friday afternoon and set up camp and antennas. We had more antennas set up this year than any year past. Thanks to those new tripod leg brackets for the aluminum mast poles, we saw two sets of those up and running vertical antennas. We had 5 HF radios set up and working lighthouses and along with the National QSO party we were making contacts all over the world. My best Lighthouse contact was with one in Northern Great Brittan, while my best DX contact was Croatia, missed out on Japan because I didn't come running to the radio when Adam told me to. I'll get it later, yeah right, maybe next year?
Friday night was very calm and the temperature was just right, you couldn't have asked for a better night. The water was calm and the crickets and other creatures of the night were making their sounds, P.E.R.F.E.C.T.. Later on in the evening we were visited by mister Skunk, but a little barking like a dog noise quickly dispatched him to the outer edges of the grounds. However, at some point later in the morning he made a return and left us a nice mess of garbage to pick up when we awoke that morning. Yes we know, we should not have left it on the ground, but hey, a skunk hasta eat too you know.
Saturday brought a great day of radio activity and lots of contacts. After a hard day of working the radios we had a fine evening meal and then later after it got dark we went down to the pier and wondered around for a bit. The water was calm when we arrived and there were people walking around and some were fishing. Another great night to be at the Lighthouse, or so we thought. As if on cue and somehow the radio spirits knew we were for the event, the wind whipped up and the water started churning. We received a call from the camp - HELP the canopy is about to blow away! We raced back to the camp and quickly put the stakes and ropes in, about the time we finished that task the wind stopped. Every year I have been down there the wind has come up at some point, why we didn't stake it down when we put it up I don't know, as we thought we could get by without doing this year. It has become a tradition at this point and this year we weren’t to be disappointed.
Later in the morning the rains came and about 5 AM a big bolt of lightening struck and lit up the entire sky, followed by one of the loudest booms I have ever heard in my life, I bet they heard that one all the way back in Buffalo, I thought. I rolled over and went back to sleep, nothing I can do about it. Later in the morning we awoke to find a nice sunny morning. We loaded up and went out for breakfast, after loading up on food we returned to camp and then it started to rain again. We spent the next few hours huddled under the canopy, then about 2 PM it stopped raining. At which time we broke camp, packed up and came home. I carefully put my stuff away after arriving home, sad that it was over again, but happy knowing that we would return next year and see if we could get by without putting the stakes in, like that's going to happen.
If you haven't ever made it down to the lighthouse why not start making a plan to join us next year, it's always lots of fun.
73 Joe Gearhart WV2NY
Horseshoes 'round back
On Thursday, August 11th, club members at the W2SO clubhouse participated in a non NHPA sanctioned match of horseshoes.
This ribbon-class event took place at the newly restored horseshoe pit located behind the clubhouse. Perhaps you didn't know it was there, or, maybe you've tripped over it in the past. It has been cleared and ready for a pickup game whenever you are.
Numerous teams participated in this event, alas, none were able to surpass the metal-throwing abilities of Bob, AA2ZW, and Vince, KA2HJX. Both pictured with their ribbons here, which you can click for an even prettier view.
Fall Indoor Hamfest
Wrapping up this year's array of hamfests is the Greater Buffalo Hamfest, a traditional table-n-coffee affair, to be held on Sunday, October 2nd, at the Ismailia Shrine Center, at 1600 Southwestern Blvd.
Admission is $7 , which includes one free seller's table.
Information, including directions, table reservations, and more, is available here: The Greater Buffalo Hamfest Website
Be sure to reserve your tables early!
Lighthouse Photos
Your photos of this year's lighthouse event are appreciated. Upload to FLICKr or send along a link to where you have publically hosted your pictures.
Pictured below is a panoramic shot off the pier in Dunkirk. Despite the ruckus, it was a very placid evening.
Better Nate Than Lever
>KC2YQF
So, summer comes to and end with an abrupt screeching halt. Months of warm weather, sunshine, the outdoors, everything, is now over. For myself, there's been so much going on that it seems like it was never here to begin with.
But, time has come to come back down to reality for a bit and enjoy the winter-esque side of the ham radio hobby. In fact, I feel that first fall cold coming on, and that's a sign I need to make sure I'm ready to operate before the blizzards start rolling in.
In conclusion, the September newsletter is here, and I must already look forward towards October. Aren't you? Now's a great time to start to draft an article.