[MIham] Amateur Radio Monthly Events - Grand Rapids Area

Tue Aug 2 21:32:07 EDT 2005

The following events are scheduled in the Grand Rapids area for August 2005, and beyond.
Anyone interested are welcome at these events.
See note at end of listings to notify of corrections and ADDITIONS.

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Grand Rapids Amateur Radio Association (GRARA)
Our August meeting is right around the corner!  Please join us on Friday, August 5th at the
Red Cross building, 1050 Fuller Ave. NE (just south of Leonard Street).  Doors open at 6:30
PM for eyeball QSOs, business meeting starts at 7:00.  Important business this month
includes a report on our Repeater Refit: 2005 committee's progress - as you may or may not
know, GRARA has received a $10,000 grant for rebuilding the famed W8DC Supersystem Repeater.
A budget for this phase has been created and parts will be ordered soon.  Also, the
2005-2006 Nominating Committee will be appointed.

Following the business meeting we will have a short social period where Robert Johnson
KD8BIH will present this month's Mystery Prize (and yes, the Mystery Prize will be presented
this month!), and we will once again have a 50/50 Raffle.  After which, guest speaker Kevin
Babich N9IAA, of NIC Technologies in Valparaiso, Indiana, will give a talk and a
question-and-answer session about trunked radio systems, the new technology that police
departments and other agencies are migrating toward.  Come and find out why, among other
things, that these systems are so difficult to pick up on your scanners!

The traditional after-meeting meal this month will be held either at the Hunan Chinese
restaurant or at the Adobe In-N-Out Mexican Restaurant at Leonard and Fuller NE.  Everybody
is invited to join in in this tradition.  If you would like directions to the restaurant,
ask any officer at the meeting.

I invite everybody interested in Amateur Radio to our meeting whether you are a GRARA member
or not.  We are having a fantastic year thus far and I would like all that are interested in
our hobby to experience it with us.  Bring a friend or neighbor!

If you are not a member but would like to join, dues for the remainder of this membership
year (until February 28) are $17.00.

If you have any items that you would like to place on the agenda for the business meeting
please email them to me at ad8bc at w8dc.org and I'll be sure to reserve some time for you.
\/\/\/\/
Being the first Friday of September coincides with Labor Day weekend, the September GRARA
meeting will be on Friday, August 26.
/\/\/\
The W8DC ham shack at the Red Cross building is open for use Wednesdays 7:15PM to about 9 or
after. Be sure to have a copy of your license if you wish to operate.  mailto:n8dgd at w8dc.org

This Month's VE Amateur Radio license exams is Friday, July 8, 6:30PM, at the Red Cross
Building. All Walk-ins.
http://www.w8dc.org/ve.htm

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DAPR, the Downtown Amateur Packet Radio Group of Grand Rapids, meets for breakfast the
Saturday after the first Friday of each month, August 6, at 8AM. New Beginnings Restaurant,
1455 Michigan St NE. Use the Fuller exit (turn south) off of  I-196 then go east on
Michigan.  "Talk-in" is on 146.760-(94.8Hz).  Anyone interested in digital modes is invited
to attend. Contact mailto:n8lrf at w8dc.org or mailto:w8ipn at w8dc.org for more information.

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The monthly meeting of the Michigan Amateur Radio Alliance (MARA) is Wednesday August 10,
7:30PM, at the Steepletown building, SW corner of 5th St and Davis NW. Talk-in
145.23-(94.8Hz) http://www.w8usa.org  mailto:w8usa at arrl.net

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The monthly meeting of the Lowell Amateur Radio Club (LARC) is Saturday, August 13. 9AM
social, 10AM meeting at Lowell City Airport, 730 Lincoln Lake Ave SE just north of Lowell
between Main St (Hwy M-21) and Vergennes St. All are welcome. Talk-in 145.27-(94.8Hz)
http://www.qsl.net/w8lrc  mailto:w8lrc at k8sn.org

Monthly W8LRC repeater transmitter grounds cleanup at the Citadel Broadcasting WKLQ site
Wednesday, August 17. Location, 2900 Lincoln Lake Ave NE, just north of 3 Mile Rd, 7PM.
Talk-in 145.27-(94.8Hz)

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West Michigan Traffic Net meets Wednesday and Friday evenings at 9pm on 145.27-(94.8Hz) and
Sundays at 9PM on 147.16+(94.8Hz). The purpose of this net is to handle NTS Traffic coming
into West Michigan. All are welcome to check in. We also are an inlet for outgoing traffic
as well.
The other net is the informal 6mtr AM net that meets every Sunday from 8-9am. This net
originates in Grand Rapids.

The Michigan DX Association (MDXA) 2 meter net that is held every
Tuesday evening, 9PM, on the 145.270-(94.8Hz) LARC/W8LRC repeater.

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Upcoming hamfests AND Antique Radio swap

JACKSON Hamfest 2005. Saturday, August 13, 8AM-12noon, Jackson Catholic Middle School, 915 N
Cooper St, Jackson. Admission $5, tables $12, outside trunk spaces $10 (2 spaces). Vendor
setup Friday 6PM-8PM, Saturday 6AM. TI: 146.88- or 147.36+. Spr: Cascades Amateur Radio
Society. Contact Dave mailto:info at w8jxn.org (734)347-8738 http://www.w8jxn.org

Lowell/Grand Rapids - Saturday, Sepember 10, GRAHamfest 2005 (Grand Rapids Area Hamfest). 8
AM to past Noon. Seller setup Fri eve and Sat 6AM. Spr: Grand Rapids ARA. Kent County
Fairgrounds, Lowell. Hwy I-96 to exit #52, north 4 miles to fairgrounds. Adm: $6, K-12
students free. 8 ft reserved (by Sept 5) table $10, outside "trunk sales" spaces no add'l
charge, ticket req. Friday overnight camping $10. VE exams: 10AM all walk-ins (ARRL VEC),
forums, donation auction. TI: 147.26+ (94.8 Hz) and 146.52 simplex. GRARA, PO Box 3282,
Grand Rapids, MI 49501-3282. Jack Amelar NY8D grahamfest05 at w8dc.org evenings (616)897-6885
http://www.w8dc.org/swap.htm
SUMMARY:
NAME: GRAHamfest 2005 (Grand Rapids Area Hamfest)
DATE: Saturday, September 10, 2005
LOCATION: Kent County Fairgrounds, 225 S Hudson, Lowell, MI 49331
TIME: 8AM, seller setup Friday evening and Saturday 6AM. Ends past noon. Friday overnight
camping $10
SPONSOR: Grand Rapids Amateur Radio Association (GRARA)
DIRECTIONS: Hwy I-96 exit #52. North 4 miles to fairgrounds
INFORMATION: http://www.w8dc.org/swap.htm
CONTACT: Jack Amelar NY8D grahamfest05 at w8dc.org (616)897-6885
ADMISSION: $6, K-12 students free
SALES: Reserved (by Sept 5) 8 ft tables, $10. Outside "trunk sales" spaces, no extra charge,
ticket required
VE EXAMS: 10AM all walk-ins. ARRL VEC.
FORUMS: See website for schedule.
"Another Man's Trerasure" Donation Auction: Begins immediately following final prize
drawings, about noon.
SANCTION: ARRL approved hamfest.
TALK-IN: 147.26+ (94.8 Hz) and 146.52 simplex.

Complete listing of Hamfests in North America can be found at
http://www.arrl.org/hamfests.html

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The annual Hudsonville Fair is just around the corner; August 20.  A
5k race will be held in the morning starting at about 0800.  The
briefing is planned for 0715 at Hudsonville City Hall.

We typically need help with closing streets and routing traffic for
a couple of hours.  Traffic is typically routed through the EOC on
DES.

If you are willing to help, please drop me a line or call. We are
very greatful to those who have been so willing to assist in the
past.

Thank you,
John Klaassen
Director,
Hudsonville Emergency Services
john_klaassen at direcway.com
616-896-9521

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OPERATION C.A.R.E. COFFEE STOP, Saturday September 3 thru Monday September 5 Labor Day
weekend. At the Rest Area on SB US-131 expressway between Hey M-57 exit #101 and 10 Mile Rd
exit #97. Sponsored by Michigan Amateur Radio Alliance (MARA) and Michigan State Police. To
volunteer/signup for open slots, visit http://www.w8usa.org/Opsignup.htm

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>From Charles LeMarbre W8VOM
Patriot Day 911 Special Event Announcement!

Our Events Manager,Dave Smith - KC8PCL ,is pleased to announce that the Michigan DX
Association will hold it's Patriot Day Special Event this and every Patriot Day!  The
Michigan DX Association requests that all  Michigan Hams work "with us" by participating in
our setup at GRFD and promoting this special event in their newsletters and on their web
sites.

Patriot Day is celebrated every September 11th, we will be Transmitting from the GRAHamfest
Saturday, September 10, and we will be Transmitting from the Grand Rapids Fire Dept [GRFD]
headquarters Sunday, September 11! We will also have a donation box setup at GRFD
headquarters.
Patriot Day is held to honor all Firemen, Policeman and our Troops who gave their lives on
911.These brave Men and Women "continue" to put their lives on the line for us every day!
All donations will be turned over to these brave heroes. We will be using our club call
W8DXI

Stop by and make a donation and say hello to these brave men and women who so gallantly
protect and defend us! We will have more information for you as our plans develop.
W8DXI

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I CANNOT PROMOTE EVENTS I DON'T KNOW ABOUT. Send any event information, updates, or
corrections you have to mailto:jamelar at localnet.com?subject=AR_events

73 Jack NY8D