Our last meeting was on December 10th. Don Weber - KA7QQV, David Sawyer and Roger Rines - WB1CFQ were in attendance. This meeting covered some of the strategy of how we are going to attract other members into our local chapter and where should we start first. David told us he is having trouble coming up with a design he likes for our new poster, but thought he would have something to show us at the January
meeting.
Don Weber suggested we ask other motorcycle groups to help us support some of the area events as a process of letting others know about us. Don is going to organize this and will let us know how we can help. Hopefully, others who have similar interest in our efforts might find out how effective amateur radios are in an event and will begin asking questions.
We also talked about how we might contact Ralph Burr. Ralph hasn't been seen since his motorcycle accident and we have been getting concerned he might not be okay. Our email to him is getting lost and we don't have a phone number for where he is living. Ralph, if you get this message, drop us line so we'll know you are okay.
Another item that bubbled up on the meeting agenda was Don's strategy for passing the Extra exam. He encouraged David to visit the QRZ test engine and keep taking the test until he was confident he could pass the exam with flying colors. For those of you who don't know about this site, the URL is: https://www.qrz.com/. Once there, click on the "Practice Test" under the "General Services"
section on the lower left side of the page. This route will take you directly to the free testing engine where you can practice until your ready for an upgrade (that almost feels like were in an obsolescence cycle, doesn't it?). In any event, I keep poking at the Extra exam when time permits, but the numbers say I'm not yet ready for prime time. By the way, while you're at the QRZ site, notice that "Bay Area MARC" is now listed on their "Ham Clubs"
page in the California area of the "General Services" section.
David suggested we add a "Calendar of Events" page to our site so others could see when our activities are planned. I like this idea and will begin the learning process of how to handle calendar displays for the website. Right now, I'm using the "What's New" section to talk about current and planned activities, but a calendar or at the least a sequential activity listing would make finding things easier.
Don Weber suggested we have an equipment "Check-Up" day planned for the group and others who want to come by and have their equipment checked. Don has a nice antenna analyzer that does a good job of showing how well matched an antenna is tuned across the band it is cut for and will provide that and other tools at his office workshop to help us get our gear in shape for the upcoming support and riding season. I have a great Bird SWR meter, but this analyzer is so
much faster and easier to use for troubleshooting. At our next meeting Don will give us a date when this will happen and we'll publish it in our news broadcast.
David Sawyer, possibly Don Weber and for sure Roger will ride down to the WOTI meeting in Hesperia this February 9th and 10th with a return on the 11th. Rumor has it that Lewis Osborn living in Wet-leather territory night shake-off some of that Oregon dew and make an attempt at the WOTI gathering. Lewis, if there is any truth to the rumor, we plan on leaving the bay area Friday morning so we'll arrive in Victorville before the Chili cook-off begins on Friday. I have
place you can stay if you come the night before and your brother won't let you in. We already have rooms at the same motel as last year so we might all find ourselves in the same place again. I wonder when the February MARC meeting is that month?
Our January meeting is on the 14th even though my scheduling program thinks it should be sooner. Dan Curry - K6DLC should be back from his travels and I've heard that J.P. Rouland KE6UXM has run out kids to marry so he should be able to get more miles on his new riding suit.
On January 25th, I'm taking my bride of 35 years off to the islands for a week of R&R and have promised to not bring any laptops or work. If you try and reach me and find the place empty, look towards "KH7" land or wait until the 2nd of February.
Well that's it from the Republic of Northern California. If I've forgotten anything, toss it up on the BA-MARC or MARC list so I'll get a hint.
Aloha,
Roger…
WB1CFQ
