March 2000 QST

NEW HAMPSHIRE: SM, Mike Graham, K7CTW—ASMs: WW1Y,W1NH, WB1ASL, N1KIM. TC: WA1HOG. STM: WA1JVV. PIC:KA1GOZ. OOC: W1GTA. SGL: K1KM. BM: KH6GR. ACC:AA1QD. SEC (acting): WW1Y. Survive the Y2K we did - surviveY2K’s Flu bug - no way! Also, hope to have some brief reportfrom Ed, K2TE, on how the Y2K QSO Party went by next issue.New Officers at North Country ARC are Mort, KH6GR, Pres;Stewart, N1ZGK, V/P; Louise, N1OSK, Sec’y; and “Mr. CW” Tom,WA1JVV, Treas. Congrats all. Lots of folks working ARES NewYear’s Eve. Special kudos to Chris, N0CUH, and the JaffreyARES crew. They even had a group of six 11-Meter NeighborhoodWatch operators involved! And to all who participatedthroughout the State, sincere thanks. I’m just glad that Y2K, forthe most part, was a non-event. Our Illustrious Former GreatKahuna, Bill, WB1BRE, reports he’s up to his eyeballs in preparationsfor several Picosat launches at AMSAT. Hope to reporton their success soon. As previously reported, Louise Shaw, brideof Stewart, N1ZGK, passed her Tech Exam and is now KB1EMK.I warned Stew he’d darn sure better see to it that Santa wasgood to her or he’d be spending winter in an unheated barn.Stew reports Louise is now sporting a new ICOM IC-207H, andhe’s staying warm! The Flea market season is rapidly approaching.Stay tuned. For now, best 73. Net NM/Sess/QNI/QTC: GSFMN1RCQ/31/259/31; GSPN K1TQY 24/79/50/583; TSEN N1VFM5/54/5; VTNH WA1JVV 31/166/149. Tfc: W1PEX 1111, K1TQY281, N1NH 182, WA1JVV 113, W1ALE 52, KA1OTN 39, N1CPX12.RHODE ISLAND: SM, Armand Lambert, K1FLD—The NCRC,who celebrated 50 Years of ARRL affiliation on 12-13-99, hasstood the test of time with many revered traditions, treasuredmemories and service to the community. It was indeed a pleasureand an honor to present the 50 Year Affiliation Certificatefrom ARRL Headquarters and to also dine with this great groupof radio operators. Many thanks for the invitation. NCRC electionresults: Pres: Jack, K1IG: Vice Pres: Ellis, W3PDK, Sec:Charlie, W1CG, Treas: Raleigh, N1VXO, You can visit the clubWebsite: www.qsl.net/w1sye. Also have fun working 10 membersof NCRC and get a special certificate. On the millenniumY2K scene, appreciation goes out to our area hams that staffedemergency centers throughout the state of RI. Because of them,RI was prepared. The US Coast Guard, Local and State GovernmentAgencies have expressed their gratitude and recognitionas our volunteers have gained new respect for the AmateurRadio Service. Thanks to all of you. It appears that the longawaitedrestructuring event is causing quite some excitement inour midst. This should prove to be a Boon to Amateur Radio.VEs are already gearing up to accommodate the increase inapplicants for licenses and upgrades. Reminder: keep watch onthe expiration date of your ham license to renew it on time. Havingfun serving you, 73, Armand, K1FLD.VERMONT: SM, Bob DeVarney, WE1U—Well, we made itthrough Y2K without so much as a hiccup. A word of thanks isdue to the many hams who were on standby throughout the statein case of emergency. I spoke with many of you from the RedCross in Burlington. A congratulations and thank you goes outto Mike, W1RC, for “demilling” several types of collectible radiosthat were due to be unceremoniously “thunked” with asledgehammer before being sold for scrap. I am sure we collectorsowe you a greater debt than we know. Congratulations goout also to Fred, N1ZUK, on his appointment as ARRL VHFAwards Manager for Vermont. Now we’ll be able to field checkVUCC apps! Lastly, a special thanks goes out to Joe Armstrong,KA1YLN, who will be stepping down as SEC, for the many yearsof dedicated service to the amateur community in Vermont. Lastwe spoke on the phone, you sounded a lot less stressed, and Ihope it continues. Joe will be stepping down effective wheneverwe can find someone to fill his big shoes. Thank you all verymuch and 73 de WE1U.WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS: SM, William C. Voedisch,W1UD, w1ud@arrl.org—ASM: N1LZC. ASM (digital) KD1SM.STM: W1SJV. SEC: K1VSG. OOC: WT1W. The commission hasacted. Now there are only 3 classes of license. The code speedfor all classes will be 5 wpm. Considering everything that couldhave happened, I think we made out really well. Nobody willlose anything and now there will be no excuse not to upgrade.For years, I have heard the old complaint that the code portionof the examination was stopping people. It isn’t any more. Allthe hysteria about Y2K passed with nothing happening. Someminor glitches, but considering what was predicted the universeis still here. John, AF1B, will be opening an ARES net Sundaymorning on 53.230 PL 162.2 at 9:15 local. Mark, N1ZYG, will dothe same thing on 224.100 (no PL) at 9:30 local. N1MUV wasinstrumental in coordinating this addition to the ARES program.Chas, WA1FIA, and the MARA crew covered the Leominster,Fitchburg hospitals with emergency vehicles in preparation fora potential Y2K problem. Tfc: N1ISB 19, W1ZPB 161, KD1SM 6,W1SJV 24, W1UD 229.NORTHWESTERN DIVISIONALASKA: SM, Kent Petty, KL5T — ASM: KL7JBV. OOC: KL7IKX.SEC: NL7DL. DEC: WL7JBV. DEC: WL7GK. TC: WL7CE.Sniper’s Net 3920 daily 1800 AST, Bush Net 7093 daily 2000AST, Motley Group 3933 daily 2100 AST, and Alaska Pacific Net14292 M-F 0830 AST. Code Practice Station (KL7G) 3575 kHz,7075 kHz at 7:00 AM, 10:00 AM., 4:00 PM, 7:00 PM. and 10:00PM. AST daily. The speeds are 22 WPM, 15 WPM & 7 WPM.Congratulations to Myron Babcock, AL7Q, re-elected Presidentof the Arctic ARC, and to Don Koehler, N7MGT, new Presidentof the Elmendorf Amateur Radio Society. Fairbanks, Arctic ARChams provided comm support to the 200 mile Henry Hahn SledDog Race — special thanks to 11 amateurs from the Two RiversDog Mushers group over the 2 day event. Patrick Scannell, AL0Q,is organizing a slow code net on 40 or 80 meters and is requestingassistance. Hams on-duty state-wide during Y2K rolloverreport it all as a big “no event”, but the food was great! PSHR(Dec): AL7N 77.EASTERN WASHINGTON: SM, Kyle Pugh, KA7CSP— (JanuaryReport) I wasn’t going to mention Y2K again, but I’d like topass on this “Thank You” to all hams in your communities fromGordon Grove, WA7LNC, Spokane Co EC — “The rollover wasnot a problem, and many of you served by waiting on-call athome, but there is no way that it was a non-event. Don’t forgetthat Amateur Radio played a role in every agency’s Y2K plan,so much that ARES/RACES had to become a rationed resource.This confidence in ARES/RACES came out of our reputation of132