From karl at fistsna.org Fri Feb 6 10:49:32 2015 From: karl at fistsna.org (Karl) Date: Fri, 6 Feb 2015 09:49:32 -0600 Subject: [Fists] Inaugural Slow Speed Sprint Message-ID: <004801d04224$81d54d00$857fe700$@org> 1700-2100 UTC, 07 February, 2015 is the Inaugural Slow Speed Sprint. More info on it at http://fistsna.org/operating.html#sprints . Also, look for KN0WCW to be on the air on 07 February and during the Sprint. Thanks to Cody, KC2LSD for putting the USA Club call on the air. 73, Karl, KB1DSB From w2lj at verizon.net Sun Feb 8 11:34:28 2015 From: w2lj at verizon.net (Larry Makoski) Date: Sun, 8 Feb 2015 11:34:28 -0500 Subject: [Fists] NAQCC Sprint Tuesday Night! Message-ID: <566086.48479.bm@smtp111.sbc.mail.ne1.yahoo.com> NAQCC Sprint Tuesday night! The February sprint is this coming Tuesday evening local time (February 10th, EST - 8:30-10:30PM, CST - 7:30-9:30PM, MST - 6:30-8:30PM, PST - 5:30-7:30PM), which translates as Wednesday, February 11th, 0130 to 0330Z in all cases. For all the "official" information, please go to: http://naqcc.info/sprint201502.html There you will find all the details as to time, frequencies and other important information. Certificates: SWA (simple wire antennas) certificates by call area, VE and DX for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place finishers (New!). A Certificate for top score in the GAIN antenna category. Prizes: Too many to list!! - check out the prizes page on our website. This is a monthly event that caters to the CW veteran, the CW newcomer, straight key and bug fans. All are welcome to participate (this includes QRO); but you must use QRP power levels to compete for awards. If you've been hesitant to join in our sprints because you hear other sprints running at breakneck speeds, have no fear. Our sprints are geared to the newcomer to CW and/or contesting. Virtually everyone including the many veteran contesters who regularly enter our sprints will slow down to YOUR speed to help you make your contacts. If you are not already a member of NAQCC... membership is FREE! Now is your chance to join the largest QRP CW Club in the world!! We currently have 7100+ members in: All 50 States - 9 VE Provinces - 100 Countries. Sign up on the NAQCC website today (http://naqcc.info/) and receive a handsome certificate, with your membership number on it, which is good for life. Come join us and have a real good time! 72/73 de Larry W2LJ NAQCC #35 for NAQCC http://naqcc.info/ --- This email is free from viruses and malware because avast! Antivirus protection is active. http://www.avast.com From karl at fistsna.org Thu Feb 12 10:37:50 2015 From: karl at fistsna.org (Karl) Date: Thu, 12 Feb 2015 09:37:50 -0600 Subject: [Fists] FISTS Sprint, Get Your Feet Wet Activity Day and KN0WCW Ops Message-ID: <001001d046d9$df460560$9dd21020$@org> Feb 14th - Unlimited Sprint Feb 15th - Get Your Feet Wet Activity Day Feb 17th - FISTS Tuesday KN0WCW Operations - Feb 14th - Ed, N2ED Feb 15th - Karl, N2KZ Feb 16th - Cody, KC2LSD Feb 18 & 19 - Frank, W2IX Check out our Events calendar for specifics and links about our on-air events. http://fistsna.org/calendar.html 73, Karl, KB1DSB From AA1SU at arrl.net Fri Feb 20 22:39:44 2015 From: AA1SU at arrl.net (Paul N. Gayet AA1SU) Date: Fri, 20 Feb 2015 22:39:44 -0500 Subject: [Fists] WB2MIC SK Message-ID: <54E7FE00.3040308@arrl.net> Karl et al, It is with great sadness that I report that Jozef Hand-Bonialoski WB2MIC passed away on December 23, 2014 after a two month battle with gall bladder cancer. Joe lived not too far from your old VT QTH in Wells, VT. Here is a clip form his QRZ page: *FISTS Club* Member #12313 (06/02/06) FISTS AWARDS: Century Certificate (CC) #1875 (06/14/06) Silver Century #499 (9/25/2006) Gold Century #308 (02/15/07) Millionaire #43 (06/22/06) 2-Millionaire (12/10/06) 3-Millionaire (01/20/2007) 4-Millionaire (02/15/07) 5-Millionaire (7/15/07) 6-Millionaire (09/3/07) 7-Millionaire (02/01/08) 8-Millionaire (03/28/08) 9-Millionaire (06/11/09) Platinum #477 (06/23/06) Platinum 250 #158 (01/14/07) Worked All States FISTS #209 (01/14/07) NANFA #13 (02/12/08) Diamond #158 (02/26/08) 2009 CW Telephone Area Code Award (01/30/09). -- 73 Paul N. Gayet AA1SU ARRL Vermont Section Manager AA1SU at arrl.org From karl at fistsna.org Mon Feb 23 17:20:16 2015 From: karl at fistsna.org (Karl) Date: Mon, 23 Feb 2015 16:20:16 -0600 Subject: [Fists] FISTS, Americas Chapter, Admin Update Message-ID: <013b01d04fb6$e7b69850$b723c8f0$@org> Our Chapter covers North, Central and South America and the islands. We do not want to give the impression that our chapter only serves North America. Therefore, we have named our chapter the ?Americas Chapter? to accurately reflect our wide encompassing membership. Also, we have tightened up our renewal grace period for our chapter members. The KeyNote issues of 2014 were mailed out to all members who had an expiration date back to 1/1/2013. We have given all members an ample opportunity to renew their membership and/or resolve any renewals that had not been posted. We are now going to allow only a 6 month grace period for a member to renew. Should a member choose not to renew, they will be placed in lapsed status and removed from the KeyNote mailing or on-line download access lists. They will also have to pay $4.00 for each award certificate they might earn. This is only fair to the members who are current in their membership. If your expiration date is prior to 9/1/2014 you are now considered a lapsed member. We list the dues expiration date on the KeyNote address label. We now have a ?Dues Expiration Date? look up on our website. http://fistsna.org/expdate.php That offers a member the ability to research their renewal date. As a further courtesy, for members who are in the 3-6 month time frame of becoming lapsed, will note their renewal date on the print KeyNote will show ?Last Issue?. Please go to: http://fistsna.org/howdoi.html . There you will find an explanation of our dues rates and options to renew using PayPal or by mail with a check/money order. 73 de Karl, KB1DSB FISTS, Americas Chapter, president karl at fistsna.org From karl at fistsna.org Wed Feb 25 11:10:25 2015 From: karl at fistsna.org (Karl) Date: Wed, 25 Feb 2015 10:10:25 -0600 Subject: [Fists] Need Your Patience, Please! Message-ID: <02da01d05115$926e4e50$b74aeaf0$@org> QRZ FISTS: I have received a tremendous response of renewals, a few new joins and dues queries. I take them "first in, first out". So, be patient I will get to each and every one and take care of you. 73, Karl, KB1DSB FISTS, Americas Chapter, president karl at fistsna.org From karl at fistsna.org Fri Feb 27 12:29:08 2015 From: karl at fistsna.org (Karl) Date: Fri, 27 Feb 2015 11:29:08 -0600 Subject: [Fists] FISTS Renewals Message-ID: <006501d052b2$e636ed00$b2a4c700$@org> Have survived the onslaught of renewals. Thanks to all who have renewed. Don't delay in renewing if you are in the group who will soon be considered lapsed, those with an expiration date of 9/1/2014 and before. Issue #1, 2015 KeyNote is about ready to go to the printer. Do not want you to miss out receiving it. 73, Karl, KB1DSB FISTS, Americas Chapter, president karl at fistsna.org