[CTSARA] SARA 2015 Annual Report and 2016 Dues Notice

[Jon Perelstein]

NOTE:  a PDF of this document is available at
http://www.ctsara.org/2016duesletter.pdf

Yes, it's that time of year.  We thank you all for another good year and
ask that you join/renew your membership.

Highlights for 2015:

* SARA was a major participant as a rotisserie of ham clubs provided
service to local charity bicycle rides including the Bloomin Metric, the
Bike MS ride, and the Bike 4 Bikes ride.  Event leaders of all three events
were overjoyed with the service provided.  SARA members also participated
in other local and regional events such as the Fairfield Half Marathon, the
Tour de Cure bike ride, and the New York City Marathon.

* "Down Periscope" - at least that’s what it felt like on Field Day with
1-2 inches of rain between Saturday mid-afternoon and Sunday morning.
However, the SARA Corps of Engineers put together a set of dams, waterways,
and protective coverings that kept us and our equipment dry and operational
(including the generators).

* Propagation for this year’s Field Day was terrible, attendance was down,
and the local press was not anxious to come out in rain.  Still, we did
quite well - 12th overall in 3A and 2nd in 3A for New England.  The 39 of
us who were there had a good time and good food (we were even able to grill
thanks to the SARA Corp of Engineers).  Thanks to everyone who participated
and special thanks to Terry W1TSM (our fearless Field Day leader) and to
Ernest KA1NGG and Steve KB1YLQ (logistics – especially food).

* We have put a DMR repeater into operation here in Stamford.  The repeater
is part of the CT ARES microwave network and provides microwave-based comms
to almost all of CT, plus internet comms to Northeast, to North America,
and to Worldwide.  The current repeater is a loaner, and based on its
success, we have decided to purchase our own.  The cost of the repeater was
funded out of our treasury for approximately $1850.  Donations to help
defray the cost of the repeater purchase are welcome.

* Our web site (www.ctsara.org) now has live audio from the SARA DMR
repeater and a lot of information about DMR.  Listen in and see all the
things you can do with DMR.

* We continue to have good attendance at the meetings and good programs
thanks to Fred (K1FC), including an antenna building session for VHF/UHF
antennas made out of ladder line.

* Our CERT members are the backbone of communications within Stamford CERT
and have been involved in providing communications training to other CERTs
in the area.  Some of our CERT members participated in the state Dept of
Emergency Management’s EPPI (Emergency Preparedness and Planning
Initiative) Exercise in October.

* We had a well-attended joint picnic with GNARC over the summer.

* We continue to hold VE sessions and have had good attendance at most of
them.

The Board wishes to thank all of you who participated in 2015.

Some of the things we had hoped to accomplish, including a partnership with
NBC Sports and a partnership with AITE, did not come to fruition, but not
for lack of trying on our part.  We would like to get our foot in the door
with a youth organization such as scouting or a local high school, so if
any of you have contacts that could be interesting, we would like to know
about them.

*****


Membership is open to all licensed hams. Dues are $25 for the year, which
includes membership for you and members of your immediate family.  Dues are
$10 for matriculated students and hams that live outside a 50 mile radius
of Stamford.

New hams are welcome and we have an active Elmer program to assist in
getting on the radio, including assistance in putting up antennas (for
members only).  We welcome questions on equipment selection, equipment use
and programming, and operating procedure.  New hams are invited to become
members at no charge for the year in which they first become licensed.

In the past, club members have made donations in addition to dues to
support activities of SARA.  Please consider a special donation for the new
DMR repeater.  We are a 501(C)(3) corporation and your donations may
qualify for tax deductions under the 501(c)(3) rules.

Dues to SARA help us to fund the following:
* Costs associated with our website (ctsara.org)
* Business registration and taxes
* Mailman reflector
* Insurance
* Operation of 4 repeater radios at 2 sites plus their care and maintenance
* Field day operation which includes equipment, supplies and four meals

You can register for membership on-line using Paypal at
http://www.ctsara.org/SARAdues.htm

Paypal is the largest and most secure on-line payment transaction system in
the world.  You do not need to have an account with them in order to pay by
credit card.  If you don’t want to register on-line, please print out and
mail in the registration form below with your check.


Last Name ______________________________________________ DUES  Standard  $25
____


First Name ______________________________________________ Student/Out of
area $10 ____


City, State, Zip ___________________________________________ DONATION $
_______


Telephone (h) _____________________________                TOTAL
                           $ _______


Telephone (c) _____________________________


Call ____________________ Class _________________


Email _________________________________________

Please make checks payable to Stamford Amateur Radio Association and mail
them to
Ernest Laug
33 Vincent Ave
Stamford, CT  06905

When you fill out your membership form please be assured that the
information you provide is for internal use only and is not circulated.