[HCRA] January Zero Beat is on the web!

[Jim Mullen]

Happy New Year everyone!

January Zero Beat is now in your email box (if you're an email
subscriber), in the mail or if you just can't wait - on the HCRA
website.

Click here: http://www.hcra.org/zerobeat/jan04.pdf to view it now.

As usual, lots of good stuff again in this months issue. Be sure to read
it soon.

In less than a week, our first meeting of 2004 will commence. The guest
speaker on January 2nd will be Mike Raisbeck, K1TWF. Mike is the ARRL
Vice Director for the New England Division, working directly with Tom
Frenaye on behalf of all amateurs. It has been a few years since Mike
has visited HCRA. Not only will he be bringing us up to date on the
latest happenings from the FCC, critical information about BPL and some
thoughts about CW testing Raisbeck will be looking for your views of
what is important to you in your hobby. This meeting is just prior to
the ARRL board meeting later this January and your input will be
valuable when the board meets later next month.

Tech classes will be beginning in February. See the info in Zero Beat
and contact Peter, KI1I if you would like to help with instruction. Do
you know of anyone interested in becoming a ham? Pete's class is a good
way to get started. Be sure they register early, I think this is going
to be a full class and space is limited.

REMINDER!

The February meeting will come one week earlier this year. The HCRA is
bringing you the Icom school for this exciting presentation. Ron Renteno
from Icom will be demonstrating the latest in ham radio technology.
Because of Ron's schedule it is necessary to hold the meeting a week
earlier. It will still be at the Feeding Hills Congregational Church,
but on January 30th. Because of tight time constraints the meeting will
start with Ron's presentation at 7:00 PM, followed by our regular
business meeting.

Now is the time to start working on your special project for our annual
"Show & Tell" in March. Entry categories of Novice and Expert and some
great prizes should be reason enough to get to work now. Couldn't you
use a $50 gift certificate to HRO? I thought you could...

Want to do a little low 'key' CW? Don't forget about the ARRL 'Straight
Key Night' (SKN), held every year. The 'contest' starts at 7:00 PM EST,
December 31st and runs for 24 hours. It's not really a contest, but a
fun way to enjoy CW. More information at:
http://www.arrl.org/contests/rules/2004/skn.html

That's it for now. Thanks to John for getting us our information filled
copy of Zero Beat on time again this month. Enjoy your New Year
celebration and I'm looking forward to seeing everyone the day after at
the meeting. Hopefully your hangover will have cleared up by then!

Enjoy your life, have fun with your hobby!

'73...

Jim, KK1W