CQ, CQ, CALLING ALL HAMS!!!

Hello GCARA! I hope that everyone is doing well this month!

If you want to DX, remember the club HF station is getting the spotlight. For those of you who have no radio or antenna but own a computer, it is perfect. I speak from experience. I use it every chance I get when not caring for my mother in law and it is very exciting to call and make contacts or even just to listen to others talking from all over. It had been my dream to DX for a long time and FINALLY, thanks to the generosity of the club, I get to do it. I have been studying for the Extra exam for many months on and off and I find that actually broadcasting on the air has stimulated my interest in the study and passing of the test and is leading to a better understanding of the propagation material I had been reading about. Thanks to Joe McGee NX4T, Rick Eaton KD4HGR, and Al Flapan AF4FA for helping maintain the radio station for those of us who are in need of such a help. I appreciate not only the radio usage but the education that has gone into performing the feat of communication.

I would like to encourage those who do DX, to continue to sharpen your skills through contesting as well as checking into nets available. One example of a net I like is SARNET on 14.265.000 on 20 Meters, Monday through Saturday 10:00 am to 11:00 am EST. You can get the weather report from all over the US by hams reporting in and it is quite interesting to listen to. It beats the Weather Channel, in my opinion. LOL.

Please remember that we are going to vote for the Executive Board in November on Zoom. Most of the club that attended meetings regularly on a monthly basis, have continued to support us on Zoom, plus some others who cannot travel comfortably to the hospital now. I would encourage every paid up member to attend the November 24, 2020 ZOOM meeting and vote, if the slate is not accepted as it is presented. Running for office this 2021 term is:

I am so pleased to announce that thanks to Jesse Shannon, KJ4FKK, that we will be acquiring a club contribution of a Titan Gap Antenna which will provide the remote HF station to also be available on 80 Meters. Jesse has been so generous in this and other ways and the club is proud to recognize his contribution. We are in the planning stages but, hopefully, I can persuade him to present to us in November to start out our new Series called Meet the Ham. Jesse, like so many of our members comes to the meetings, supports us financially, and provides himself as a valuable member of the audience, but does not get known because he is one of our more silent members. He often gives me feedback on the Board efficiency by email, when we encounter snags of service and it is very important to me, as President, to field all feedback. That is the very essential way we improve and meet all members’ expectations. Thank you Jesse for your support.

I absolutely LOVE our membership who have risen to the support of the club. One of our frequent flyers is Dirk Basting, N4AN, who is always donating his old equipment to the club for donation purposes. I appreciate his pleasant suggestions and his generosity to the club in so many ways. He continually goes above and beyond for the benefit of others and it is so appreciated.

I also appreciate the constant service provided to the club by Eric Rodriguez,KF4LZA, Ricky Eaton, KD4HGR, and others that help maintain the repeaters, antennas and see to the betterment of our communication. The innovations and donated equipment is such a blessing to all of us.

Of course, our club would be nothing special if we did not have those of you who support us with your dues and attendance every month. I realize that many of us are getting on in years but every ham is appreciated as well as those of you married to our hams and who support them in their hobby. I want to ask you to keep the ideas coming and let us know how we are doing. The Board is here to serve you as best we can and it is certainly both an honor and a pleasure to do so. Thanks to everyone in GCARA and to those of you who give kindly of your speaking services like Kai Siwiak and Robert Molledo of the Miami Weather Bureau. We have almost interesting and loving group.

I would like to give a plug to ARES-RACES as well. Please consider joining the group with Jeff Stahl, K4BH and the lovely Carol Sjursen, KJ4AWB, who together, keep the Emergency Communication Services going for Broward County. It takes a lot of their personal time, skills and planning ability to cover the county in an emergency and this pair are phenomenal at it. There is a lot to learn there and your contribution as a volunteer is so greatly appreciated.

I wish you many happy thoughts and good energy, as well as good health as we traverse the months to come of COVID-19. Please stay safe, by wearing your mask, frequently clean surfaces and wash hands and keeping socially distant from one another. It is estimated by the CDC if everyone follows these simple rules, we could wipe out this contagion. God bless.

Melanie KJ4VCT

MIKES ELECTRONICS
1069 NW 53 STREET
FT LAUDERDALE, FL 33309

954-491-7110
mspivak@bellsouth.net
9am to noon MON-FRI

Happy Fall to all of the GCARA!! September 22, 2020 will be the first day of Fall and also our Monthly General Meeting on ZOOM. (CLICK for meeting details.)

WE are having a good time with the new HF Station capabilities and those who have used it are excited we have it. There is still come fine tuning and tweeking going on by the Administrators, Joe McGee, Al Flapan and Ricky Eaton and they ask that we all be patient as we traverse the Remote Hams world with it’s idiosynchrosies. Thanks for all of the positive feedback from users.

If you have not yet availed yourself to this wonderful Ham Radio opportunity, please check it out. Directions can be found on the W4BUG.org website as narrated by Joe McGee, NX4T, who did a demonstration at our August meeting. It will be well worth your efforts.

Being a good HAM means being a good citizen, a willing volunteer, and a loving host to newer hams. You will always follow the formal instructions of a net control operator in a NET and will always identify yourself, if asked, by your full call sign and phonetically in the case of the SEFTN at 6 PM daily. Remember, having fun does not have to sound “funny” or “ridiculous” to others. When on the air, stay polite and even tempered, identify yourself properly and respect the hobby by doing so. Be the best ham at all times. Thanks.

Thank you to all those people who are respecting social distancing in every day life and wearing their masks in public. The sooner everyone cooperates, the sooner this pandemic will abate. No one is more anxious than me to get back to “normal” but for now, I will follow CDC guidelines and stay pleasant while doing so. An unpleasant circumstance is always easier to tolerate with a positive attitude. Have an attitude of gratitude for every day, no matter what happens. You will be happier for it in the end.

Our club has taken several “hard hits” in the loss of persons like Donald Search W3AZD who was a consumate volunteer with his wife and life long friend Hope Smith WB3ANE, and our treasured Board Secretary, Roy Neiman, KJ4EGN, whose noteworthy contributions on a daily basis exemplified the best in HAM-manship whether he was on the SEFTN on Wednesday night or a host of other nets as well as being a valued volunteer in ARESRACES. These men were irreplacable at best and will be missed by myself and other club members. Chuck Gress, K3NXH, a digital guru and satelite buff, would give you the shirt off his back if he knew you needed it and was a very big support to the board and club in many ways. His cheerful attitude and generous nature will be sorely missed at meetings and the Field Days to come for sure. All three of these gentlemen will be honored with a Memorial Brick at the ARRL, supported by the donations from Palmetto Amateur Radio Club and Davie Cooper City Amateur Radio Club as well as our club. As good hams, we are working as a team, in these sad times to memorialize those we lost and to show gratitude for their selfless service. A man can gain no higher honor than to be remembered by the people he left behind.

We are about to embark on the holidays, so let me first wish Rosh Hashanah greetings to our Jewish friends and neighbors, a very Happy New Year to all, followed by the high holy day of Yom Kippur. Please celebrate and reflect in peace and joy, without conflict or grief. We will soon all celebrate Thanksgiving and we have much to celebrate in this life, despite the pandemic and challenges it has given us. That we rise above all strife, in good humor and with virtue intact, is a blessing. God bless us all in the coming days. Amen.

Melanie Fernandez, KJ4VCT
GCARA President

Mike Spivak is still open for business! Please call for what you need (954-491-7110). Mike will give you a time to pick it up. He offers curbside service 9 am to 12 pm, Monday through Friday. Let’s all support our fellow ham and friend and wear a mask to pick up. Thanks.

Call to order – 7:00 p.m. on ZOOM meeting. The host will mute everyone
while reports are given. Please use the raise hand button to ask a question
or make a comment. Thank you.

GOD BLESS THE USA!!
Minutes of previous meeting on July 28, 2020___
Draft minutes on website. Motion to approve? Second?
All in favor say “aye.” Opposed, “no.”

Treasurer’s report. Erik Olmer W4EJO

Membership report. Joe McGee

Testing report. Jeff Stahl K4BH – Any news on when testing can start?

Corona Virus report – Jeff Stahl
Repeater report. Ricky Eaton KD4HGR

Webmaster report, if any. John invites us to submit articles for the blog.

Call for old business.

We still have not heard when the hospital will be allowing our club to meet
yet so we will continue with Zoom meetings. As far as our quarterly dinners
and biannual picnics, they are on hold until the dust settles from the latest
rise in COVID-19 cases. It does not appear to be safe to meet in public with
groups larger than 10, masked or not.

Announcements.
The Board would like to pursue getting a brick from the ARRL for ROY
KJ4EGN, SK. We will start taking donations this month and September.
We will join with the Palmetto ARC for that purpose.
I am taking names for the secretary position at this time due to the
unfortunate demise of Roy. You must have computer skills, time to
dedicate, the ability to be discreet with personal business matters and an
organizational ability. Anyone who is interested, please call Melanie
privately at 954-560-3706. You must have been a member in good
standing with the Club with up to date dues for at least one year. All
candidates will have the opportunity to make a case for their inclusion in
our list of choices. Thank you.

Hope Search is looking for issues of CQ Magazine for the months of March
through present for reading material. Please contact Melanie to pick up and
deliver to Hope. 954-560-3706

Kenny Hollenbeck has an announcement- SEFTN needs volunteer control
operators even if just for one day, etc.

Carol Sjursen has a ARESRACES Announcement. Need volunteers for
shelters.


Introduction of speaker Joe McGee, NX4T, will speak to us about the
HF radio the club purchased and has set up. Several of our best hams
have had a hand in the setting up of the system. Thank you to
everyone who lent a hand in the process.

QUESTIONS ABOUT TALK. HOST UNMUTE Members.

Thank the speaker.
“The chair will entertain a motion to adjourn.”

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