The Vienna Wireless Society
The meeting was formally opened by President Jim, W4JTP at about 1900 hrs.
TOTAL ATTENDANCE: 48
GUESTS: George Tarnovsky, K4GVT (presenter); Don Blasdell, W4HJL; Bob Zaepfel, K4HJF; Frank Gentges, K0BRA; Warren Remba, KJ4IZO; John Wilber, K1SPY; Frank Eliot, W3WAG; Andrea Hartlage, KG4IUM; Pamela Toman, KB9SCM; Luke Hillman, KB3SHJ.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
• Bernie, N4JDF, noted that 20 members have already signed up to participate in the upcoming VA QSO Party that will start at 10:00 am on Saturday, March 21 and end at 1:00 pm on Sunday, March 22. He reiterated that in the tradition of VWS activities, there will be plenty of food. Bernie asked that everyone who has not yet signed up, to please do so no later than Wednesday, March 18 to allow him sufficient time for final planning.
• Tom, K4TCM, updated the membership on the Saturday, May 9th Fox Hunt which will be held at Lake Fairfax. He mentioned that this year the Club will have a Fox Hunt that will require hunters to drive through the park to find the transmitters, as well as a Rabbit Hunt which will be accomplished by walking the park. Tom showed the actual hardware that will be employed, indicating the differences between the “foxes” and the “rabbits.”
• Jim, AG4MA, updated the Membership on the Saturday, April 25 QRP To The Field / Crazy Antenna Day. He asked that participants bring a small dessert to share with everyone. He also asked that participants build and bring their HF antennas, the wilder and wackier the better.
• Bernie, N4JDF, the Club’s Field Day Chairman announced that the Field Day specifics are on the Club’s website.
• The never-tiring Bernie, N4JDF, was also introduced by Prez Jim, W4JTP, as the new Club’s webmaster. Ben, KF4KJQ, who had been managing the website had to regrettably withdraw from those duties due to his burgeoning studies load at MIT. The Club thanks Ben for a job well done and wishes him success at school!
• Prez Jim, W4JTP, announced the retirement from the Board of Directors of Tom, N4ZPT, and praised him for the many contributions that he made. Prez Jim noted that to fill Tom’s vacancy, two Members were asked to join the Board, Tom, K4TCM, Director-at-Large and Ray, KJ4CNN, Secretary.
• Prez Jim, W4JTP, announced that the Club’s repeaters were now in operation again. A failure had mysteriously manifested itself that Trustee John, AF4PD, was able to fix. The mystery continues, in that the true nature of the malfunction has yet to be identified.
• Sheila, KI4WKY, announced that she has booked the Marco Polo restaurant in Vienna for the Thursday, August 27 Club Banquet. Entertainment for the evening will include “Ham Radio Bingo” and possibly other fun activities. The price will be $26.00 per person.
• John, KA4YMA, announced that an ARES Hurricane drill would commence at some time in the third week of March.
• Vice Prez Pete, K6BFA, introduced the Club’s Virtual Book and Tool Library that will be an extraordinary resource for VWS Members. Members will list their amateur radio books and amateur radio tools that other Members may use, either in the home of the borrower or the home of the lender or possibly even during a meeting, depending on what item is being borrowed. Members who wish to participate in this exciting new resource are encouraged to contact Pete directly at (his call sign)@viennawireless.org for further information.
• Nelson, W4BHD, offered a couple of boxes of amateur radio “stuff” as freebies for the taking. From the number of antenna insulators that were distributed, hopefully there will be a dramatic increase in the number of wire antennas that will go into the air.
BREAK
Refreshments and caloric sustenance was provided by Bob, AJ4RS.
MEETING PRESENTATION
George Tarnovsky, K4GVT, President of the Ole Virginia Hams, offered a stirring presentation of what many have called the “Third Battle of Manassas.” Specifically, he recalled the exhaustive battle that Manassas-area hams fought against the controversial Broadband Over Power Line (BPL) service. Along with some relevant historical information about the many tricks and smoke screens that the BPL consortium attempted to perpetrate onto the public, including the pretense of being “ham friendly,” George showed specific spectrum plots of the interference. Particularly convincing of what BPL interference sounded like on HF, George played recordings of what hams had to endure in different parts of Manassas.
Respectfully submitted by
Ray Anderson, KJ4CNN
Secretary, VWS
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