Clubs

ARRL Foundation to Create Club Grants Program

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From ARRL web:

1/13/22–A new ARRL Foundation Club Grants program, funded by a grant from Amateur Radio Digital Communications (ARDC), will make $500,000 available to radio clubs. The program will provide up to $25,000 for worthy club projects. Requests for more than that will be referred back to ARDC.

ARRL has long recognized that it is in the best interests of amateur radio to encourage and support amateur radio clubs. Clubs historically have recruited, licensed, and trained new radio amateurs and have provided the community setting for radio amateurs to continue their education and training. The new Club Grants program will help clubs more easily provide and expand their important services.

Beginning in April 2022, amateur radio clubs will be able to apply for these grants by filling out a simple form on the ARRL website. The ARRL Foundation will evaluate the grant proposals. The Foundation was established in 1973 to advance the art, science, and societal benefits of the amateur radio service by awarding financial grants and scholarships to individuals and organizations in support of their charitable, educational, and scientific efforts.

A key criterion for determining awards will be how the project will advance amateur radio in the grantee’s community. In most cases, this process should take no longer than 90 days.

ARRL Foundation President David Woolweaver, K5RAV, shared his enthusiasm about this new program. “This program will substantially contribute to the growth of amateur radio clubs and their efforts to expand and support the amateur radio community,” he said.

ARDC is a California-based foundation and makes grants to projects and organizations that follow amateur radio’s practice and tradition of technical experimentation in both amateur radio and digital communication science. ARDC Executive Director Rosy Schechter, KJ7RYV, noted that this program will streamline the process for getting club projects funded, so that clubs can get started on these projects more quickly.

“We’re very excited about working with the ARRL Foundation on this program,” said Schechter. “We can’t wait to see what kinds of creative things clubs will do with these grants.”

W1OP Visits W1AW for 100th Celebration

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W1OP members visit ARRL Hq.From ARRL Club News, December 21, 2021:

The Providence Radio Association, W1OP, visited ARRL Headquarters and W1AW on Thursday December 9, 2021, to celebrate the 100th anniversary of their club’s affiliation with ARRL. Accompanied by Bob Beaudet, W1YRC, the Rhode Island Section Manager, the club visited headquarters and met with David Minster, NA2AA, ARRL CEO.

They displayed their original affiliation certificate signed by the “Old Man” himself Hiram Percy Maxim. Minster presented them with a new certificate commemorating their 100 years. They then visited W1AW and after lunch operated the memorial station. It was noted that even though there are several clubs around the country at the 100 year mark they are still rare and ARRL wants to recognize them for their continued hard work.

Algonquin ARC (MA) “Lantern Battery Competition,” January 1-March 31, 2022

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Algonquin ARC logoSkip Youngberg, K1NKR, writes on the Algonquin ARC mailing list:

Last year’s Lantern Battery Challenge was a success.  So our Activities Chairman, Joe said, “Let’s do it again!”

The event can be a great way to beat the winter doldrums.  The entire goal is threefold:  to have fun, to get on the air, and to see just what battery power can do around the shack.

This year’s rules are below.  You’ll see that you don’t have to go out and find “lantern” batteries this time.  Your inventiveness will determine just how much you spend in time and money getting on the air.

73,

Skip

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AARC’s 2022 LANTERN BATTERY CHALLENGE

The intent of the AARC LBC is to foster camaraderie among members and find out—in a light-hearted fashion—just how many QSOs can be extracted from a stack of batteries before they are depleted beyond the point of usefulness.  We’re continuing to call this the “Lantern” Battery Challenge even though there is no need to actually use expensive lantern batteries.

Activity period

AARC’s LBC will commence at 0000Z on 1 January 2022 and conclude at 2400Z on 31 March 2022.  Participants can join at any time during the challenge period but must finish by the end of the challenge.

Bands, Modes

Consistent with the terms of the participant’s license, operation on any band, using any mode, is permitted.

Energy Source (Batteries)

Batteries must be assembled from the equivalent of “D” cells or smaller.  Any combination of cells stacked in series not exceeding 15 volts is acceptable, provided that no more than two cells are connected in parallel anywhere in the stack.

     (Note that each of the lantern batteries used last year was the equivalent of four 1‑1/2 volt “D” or “F” cells in series, so two lantern batteries stacked in series yielded 12 volts.  Most rigs like 12V or higher and mis-perform at voltages under 10V.  Current drain depletes the cells quickly and reduces their voltage.  This year’s “connected in parallel” rule allows for starting with twice as much energy, increases the available current, and slows voltage depletion.)

[Full story]

 

NEQRP Annual Central New England Meeting & Lunch, Manchester, NH, November 20, 2021

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NEQRP logoCarl Achin, WA1ZCQ, writes on the NEQRP mailing list:

Greetings to ALL,

Hope everyone is healthy and enjoying our New England Fall Season.

The Holiday Inn – Nashua (NH) and the Killarney Pub are now Permanently Closed.
https://www.nashuatelegraph.com/uncategorized/2021/08/11/sources-nashua-holiday-inn-including-landmark-killarneys-irish-pub-closing-facing-demolition/

Every year on the SATURDAY BEFORE THANKSGIVING we get-together for a Lunch MEETING, and this year will be no different. New arrangements/reservations have been made for our Annual gathering at the “Golden Corral” – Manchester this coming SATURDAY the 20th of November from 11AM till approximately 2PM+.
* DIRECTIONS FROM YOUR QTH:
https://www.bing.com/maps?osid=abd3cc98-12a2-4cdc-b802-a8b4c4fa2da5&cp=43.468976~-75.756305&lvl=6&style=h&v=2&sV=2&form=S00027
* Enter your starting point in the “A” window.
HINT: While on South Willow Street, Manchester, look for Wendy’s and Burger King and turn at the traffic lights (toward the southwest).

On the schedule:
– Meet-‘N-Greet
– Show-‘N-Tell (bring something radio related to talk about and show others)
– Buffet Style Lunch
– Conversation, and a mention of Club Events plus discussion of newly proposed activities.

Please join us for the kickoff of the Holiday Season.

“The Excitement Is Building …”

Naval Sub Base K1SSN Update

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USS NautilusHarrison Solt, N1FAM, writes on the Radio Amateur Society of Norwich (CT) mailing list:

I recently toured the MARS/K1SSN shack on the Subbase [in Groton, CT] with the MARS Team (Ted, K1YON and Bob, N2XN).  Trustee Rich Courtney, N9HL, and Dick, KF6UF, were also on site.  While the shack is serviced by a very robust antenna farm it has sparse gear.  There is a Kenwood TS-440S HF transceiver.  There is also an external power supply and a MFJ tuner.  The shack needs gear.  Some solid-state gear, even vintage solid-state gear, would be nice.  Also needed is a computer with a logging program.

The MARS team and the Trustee are trying to involve and work with the Base to rebuild the station.  But reconstitution of the Base shack and eventually a Base Ham Club will require help.  They have reached out to the Base command structure and hope to involve the MWR office and Emergency Command Center as allies in moving things along.  Right now, the goal is to establish a solid presence and a viable operating station for Hams stationed on or near the Base.

The purpose of this post is to update you on this project and seek individual and organizational support, be it in word or deed, to support the effort.  I.E.  Many times, individually or organizationally we come into gear via Ham estates or through upgrade of personal or club shacks.  When this happens consider offering any excess gear and equipment to the K1SSN shack.  Help from local Hams and Clubs can go far to get K1SSN up and running again.  Plus, local organizational support and involvement can result in new members for one or more of the local Clubs.  Let us all be Elmers and help when and where we can.  The Trustee Rich can be reached at rcourtney@mars-mil.us.  MARS lead Ted can be reached at k1yon@juno.com.

[See also: K1SSN Sub Base Radio Station Needs Help]

YCCC Qualifications for 2022 WRTC

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Yankee Clipper Contest Club logoDave Malley, W1VEM, writes on the YCCC mailing list:

Congratulations to Bob, WA1Z, and Randy, K5ZD, for qualifying as Team Leaders for the 2022 Italia WRTC championship!

Congratulations also to Dave, K1ZZ; Paul, K1XM; Ed, N1UR; Marty, NN1C; Dennis,W1UE; Gene,W3UA and Robert, WA1FCN.

Nine YCCC members is terrific & my apologies if I missed anyone!

Greater Bridgeport (CT) ARC Parks On The Air Event, October 16, 2021

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Greater Bridgeport ARC loogoGBARC Parks on the Air
16 October 2021 – 9am to 5pm

GBARC will hold a multi-station Parks on the Air event that will see us setting up stations in four State Parks.  The parks include:

  • Sherwood Island SP (Park K-1715)
  • Silver Sands SP (Park K-1716)
  • Osbornedale SP (Park K-1709)
  • West Rock SP (Park K-1727) (2 stations)

The goal is to provide some community outreach for ham radio, and to help train our new operators.  We will divide our efforts into four teams who will each take four parks.  

During the POTA Event we will be participating in the CT ARES Simulated Emergency Test.  During the SET we will be using simplex VHF/UHF as well as DMR for contacts.