April 11th, 2008 - How To Get The Boy Scout Radio Merit Badge
Notes Posted By Sheila Clarke on April 12th, 2008
The Vienna Wireless Society
Friday, April 11, 2008
The sound of “gable, gaable, gooble, GOBLE”, (Our turkey gobbler’s attempt to honor Barbership Quartet Day.) called the meeting to order at 7:35 pm by our President, Jim W4JTP.
ATTENDANCE: 41
NEW VISITORS: Carl Brown KJ4BVG
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
1. Jim AE4R once again announced our upcoming QRP To The Field event to be held on April 26 in Glyndon Park. A sign-up sheet was passed around (accompanying the call-in sheet). Jim said that he’d like someone to be out in the park by 8:00 am to secure the pavilion. And, that he’d like to be on the air by 11:00 am. There will be no rain date for this event!
2. Tom K4TCM announced that our upcoming Fox Hunt activity is set for May 10 in Nottoway Park beginning around 11:00 am. There will be 4 to 8 transmitters that send ID’s for 30 seconds.
A couple of the transmitters are going to be hard to find. After the hunt we will eat lunch. There is no rain date for this event!
3. Pete K6BFA announced tonight is your LAST CHANCE to order items (T-shirts, pins, water bottles) for Field Day! He said he’s got a catalog listing a lot of books and if any member wants to order something to let him know. There are no shipping/handling fees if we do this as a club order.
He then added that members also have an opportunity to get past Field Day pins from 1999, 2002, 2003, 2005 and 2006. Pins are $2.00 each.
4. Lee KD4RE, brought up the topic of using a pair of 40 meter moxons, suspended by two points using a pair of bamboo spreaders approximately 18-19 feet as another antenna possibility for Field Day. He feels the moxon is better than a wire YAGI because it has a broader beam, but less gain. He is open to other antenna suggestions. It was agreed that Rick N6CY should be informed (who wasn’t in attendance) because he’s in charge of Field Day 08.
5. Bill W3HXF wants to set up a committee to pick out videos or DVDs from the ARRL for club use. He wondered if Pete K6BFA could possibly order some.
He later mentioned that on June 25-29 and July 2-6 at the Smithsonian Folklife Festival on the DC Mall, volunteers are needed to help with the AMSAT booth. Anyone interested is to contact him.
6. Corky AF4PM mentioned that he had a Boy Scout presentation on May 5 at the First Presbyterian Church in Fairfax, VA. He asked members if anyone would like to volunteer to help him.
7. Pete (our Treasurer) KG4OJT announced the following items:
(a) The Virginia Elementary School is having its 5K Fun Run and he said that the club would be donating $100 out of its treasury. He then asked members if they also wanted to donate to this, which would be additional to the club’s $100 donation and given to the school’s PTA.
(b) He spoke to Gene (or Jean?) regarding our new campsite location at Lake Fairfax for our NAQP event in August. They will provide us with a port-a-potty, but we have to provide our own electricity.
(c) A member has donated $2,250 to our Balloon club activity.
(d) The club storage locker now has a combination. If you need to know what it is, let him know.
(e) Jamboree On The Air (JOTA) will be held October 18 and 19th, and Tim KI4PVF, will be volunteering. The club supports Tim in this effort and asks that if you would like to also help with the scouting activity involving ham radio, please let Tim know.
(f) Pete held up a QSL card from his Uncle, Bob Norloff W1IOV, when he was a little boy. It was dated 1936!
8. Tom N4ZPT said if you are interested in any Public Service Announcements that they are on the e-relay or you can check the ARES website: http://fairfaxares.googlepages.com/home
9. John AF4PD said that repeater linking is now complete and that the two repeaters are now useful. The bad audio also has been improved. Tom N4ZPT acknowledged that they are working because he had experienced dialogue with someone on the 440 machine.
10. Jim W4JTP announced that tomorrow, April 12 the Sussex Hamfest in Georgetown, Delaware. If you are interested in attending, see him.
PRESENTATION:
Mike AE4R introduced Tim KI4PVF, who teaches the radio merit badge class. Tim then gave a presentation on ”How To Get The Boy Scout Radio Merit Badge.” He said that currently there are 121 merit badges in Scouting. For the radio badge, there are 8 requirements, which he then went through. Tim also shared many of his most memorial and enjoyable personal experiences as well.
REFRESHMENTS:
Steve N5SK brought hot dogs and other munchies. Once again, many thanks!
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