President's Message
> Joe, WV2NY
Happy New Year to all our club members. What an exciting year we have planned for 2012 for our club. At the December board of directors meeting we held a planning session for 2012 and we have quite a lineup of events for our club this year.
This year our club's motto will be: Your club is RadioActive, are you?
We already have a full schedule of exciting programs lined up for our general membership meetings. As well as some old favorites like the May Bash, Field Day and the Lighthouse. Last year we added a couple of new events: US Islands and the Road Rally, we be doing those again too.
This year we will also see the Family Picnic added back to the line up, however it's going to bigger and better than ever before. We'll be holding this years picnic a local park and we'll be having a lot of fun and games for the entire family. As if all the above wasn't enough we'll also have some old favorites like Fox Hunting and APRS tracking (here's a chance for those of you with iPhones to use that new fox hunting app.)
We'll be doing radio contests like the January VHF contest and the upcoming ARRL phone contest in March and let's not forget the Boy Scout Jamboree in October. I will doing the club ribbon games/contests again this year, who will be our trophy winner this year? It's up to you to decide that by participating in the events.
This year we will also be hosting the Batavia Hamfest, this is a new one for us and were very excited about becoming a part of this Legendary Hamfest. Also, club member Pam Ware is working on a Field Trip to the ARRL. This March we'll be celebrating and rededicating our club on it's mega 25th Anniversary this year. We plan on hanging a plaque in the meeting room marking this event with every club member's name who is currently on the roster in February.
As you can see 2012 will be our biggest year ever, all we need is you.
Speaking of the club's Membership Roster, I see there are still a few of you who haven't paid your dues for the coming year. In the next few days you will receive a notice in the mail. Please mark it and return it to the club and let us know if your planning on staying a member. I know things are tight out there, but as you can see we will be putting your dues to good use.
With all the club events, the repeaters and upkeep of our clubhouse we need all the members we can get. So when you receive your dues notice please consider remaining a member of the best little ham radio club on this end of the state. If we haven't received your dues by the end of January you will be dropped from the rolls. You can avoid this by sending in your dues today.
I'm looking forward the coming year with all of you.
Joseph Gearhart WV2NY
President LARC
January GM Meeting
The January General Membership meeting took place at the beginning of the month, just after the start of 2012, at the Lancaster OEM building. Well attended, it appears many of us are ready to start the new year with our club, and Joe, WV2NY, our club president, passed along his expression of the excitement to come. While he covers most of it in his address this month, I'll recap some of the highlights below.
- This year marks the 25th year of our club. 2012 will see W2SO re-dedicated to its outstanding membership.
- Every month has been booked for programming at our general membership meetings
- Favourite programs such as the May Bash, Field Day, Road Rally, Dunkirk Lighthouse and more will return, along with the family picnic
- The ribbon contest begins anew for all to have their chances
- Contesting is in style, catch us for VHF as well as the March ARRL Phone Contests
Words can't really express the spirit of these meetings. Hot coffee, fresh jokes, and a smile on the faces of our club members and fellow hobbiests. This year promises to be something great. With many months remaining, you've plenty of time to earmark one of our meeting dates this year to attend. See you there!
Stay Up To Date
There are so many things going on that we simply can't keep track of them all. Thankfully, the club's mailing list keeps us all up to date, as not everything makes it to KeyClicks.
Make sure you're subscribed, and check your junk mail folders. Make sure to whitelist larc@larclist.hamgate.net, to ensure messages are getting through.
You must be a current club member, and your e-mail address must be on-file correctly with the Membership Chairman, KC2TPY, Phil.
Archives are available if you've missed past messages, inquire within.
Lancaster ARES
The Lancaster Amateur Radio Emergency Services group is looking for new membership. Those wishing to help support the Town of Lancaster, above and beyond that which we do as HAMs and contributors to our club, are encourages to join the ARES group to learn how to help and be available in a time of need.
See more information about Lancaster's Office of Emergency Management, as well as the ARES group, at their website: http://www.oem-lancasterny.com
Contact Luke, N2GDU, or Joe, WV2NY, for additional information on finding out what the OEM and you have in common!
Youth and Ham Radio
> N4NJJ
Amateur radio and youth don't always mix. At our January meeting, I talked about some of the problems facing hams when it comes to recruiting new members. As a club, we are lucky because we have a very young and active membership. Unlike many other clubs in the area, our members are younger, are active, and contribute to the betterment of the hobby. Think about it: How many other clubs provide their members a 20 to meet up at on a Thursday night? How many clubs have around 10 members under 30 participating in weekly events? Not many.
This fall we will be hosting the Jamboree on the Air. Planning for the event has just began, but be assured, it will definitely be a fun time. Jim AC2EA and I will be working on putting together a merit badge in a day lecture and seminar for scouts to earn their Radio Merit Badge. That will be coming up sometime in the fall.
The Microsoft Power-Point presentation is avaialble for download here.
If you do not have Microsoft Powerpoint, you may find a viewer suitable for opening it at Microsoft's website, at the following URL: http://www.microsoft.com/download/en/details.aspx?id=13
Fortunately, there's another option. If you were not able to see Bill's charismatic presentation live, Phil, KC2TPY, has made it available via YouTube. The links are below. As always, you may view these at the clubhouse if you are not able to at your QTH.
Upcoming VE Test Session
>W2JM
Just wanted to let you know that there will be an ARRL VE Test Session on Tuesday, 31-Jan-2012 at 19h00 (7pm) at the LARC clubhouse - 525 Pavement Rd; Lancaster, NY
Please bring the following with you:
- $15.00 ARRL test fee. (Fee has NOT changed for 2012!!)
{Exact amount of cash is helpful and appreciated or write a check payable to "ARRL VEC"} - Photo ID.
- Your FCC Registration Number (FRN) or Social Security Number
Register at the FCC to get your FRN at: wireless.fcc.gov/uls/
Click 'Register' and you're on your way.
Please don't wait until the last minute - I don't know how quickly they generate FRNs! - Surrenderable copy of your current FCC Amateur License if you are upgrading your license class.
(The copier at the clubhouse may or may not be working at the session.) - Calculators are permitted but not provided - must be cleared and verified by the examiners before testing starts.
Cell phone's calculators are NOT recommended - unless you want us to clear all of the information from the phone first!
Please contact me with questions, directions to the clubhouse, etc. I'm listed in the club's roster or on ARRL.ORG under "Licensing, Education & Training" --> "Find an Exam Session" --> "Learn More" --> Search zip code 14086 --> 31-Jan-12 (scroll down, if necessary) --> "Learn More" link.
NOTE: They still list my phone number incorrectly. It should read (716) 404-9256 (404-W2JM).
If you decide to send e-mail, please use "VE Test" in the subject line to help me to sift through the spam easier! Also, feel free to send this along to anyone interested who may not receive our reflected e-mails!
Best of luck and study, study, study!
January VHF
>KC2QZF
Hi All! The ARRL January VHF Contest is January 21 and 22 for 2012.
Last year we did quite well with our club "Limited Multioperator" entry and I'm looking forward to 2012 even more. This contest is nice in that it allows several operators on the air at once and has a very easy exchange of call sign and grid square.
We can and do work both FM and SSB on 6M, 2M, 223, and 430. We need club members as operators, even if you have no prior contest experience. This is an easy one to start with.
If you plan on working at the club station as an operator, we cannot work you on your own call for points.
If you do not plan on working the club station, PLEASE try and work the club on as many bands as you have available, all simplex. FM is
fine. Mobile or base is fine.
If you work us as a mobile, use your call and add "rover" at the
end. Then, if you move to another grid we can work you again from the new grid.
The line runs thru Clarence, Amherst, and Tonawanda so if you
move around we might be able to use you twice!
We will almost constantly be monitoring 52.525, 146.550, 223.500, 446.000 FM for those without SSB VHF rigs.
As we did last year, we will disable the 220 and 6M repeaters and use those antennas for contacts. We have separate 2M and 440 antennas for FM contests already.
During the contest period, please try and minimize use of the club 2M/440 repeater as it interferes with contest operation.
Thanks all! 73's Steve KC2QZF
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