[PVRCNC] PVRCNC-EAST August Chapter Meeting Summary

[NX9T at aol.com]

PVRCNC-EAST August Chapter Meeting Summary
 
The August meeting was held again at Manchester's in North Raleigh.   
Consensus is that our new meeting location is a "hit" and appears poised to  remain 
as our new home for the forseeable future.  If you haven't joined us  there 
yet, please come and check it out with us in September.  We were  thrilled to 
fill 18 chairs this month.  A special welcome to KC4HDI (XYL of  W4MY) and our 
PVRCNC-WEST cohorts Don and Henry who visited from the Winston  Salem area.    
Those who attended: N4XD, Ron; K4CIA, Bill; W4KAZ,  Keith; K4HA, Bob; K4NYS, 
Chuck; NT4Q, Jerry; AA4NC, Will; W0UCE, Jack; K4QPL,  Jim; WS4NC, Don; W2DZO, 
Henry; K1ZW, Larry; N4TL, Tom; AD4L, Pete; K2AV, Guy;  W4MY, Marty; KC4HDI, 
Chris; and NX9T, Jeff.
 
MEETING NEWS:
 
Jack requested ideas for future programs.
 
Paper Contest Results:  AA4NC took the prize for the "N4AF Crossword  Puzzle 
Challenge" and K2AV came the closest in the "W0UCE Name the Component  Quiz."
 
Christmas Meeting to be held during the regular December meeting at  
Manchester's.  More details to follow!
 
The idea of beginning/hosting regular HF "gatherings" for PVRC members (any  
chapter/qth).  The premise is that we need to rely less on email and more  on 
ham radio to communicate amongst ourselves and that ti would be fun.   Both 
SSB and CW "gatherings" with specific frequencies and times are being  bantered 
about at this time.
 
W0UCE Antenna Party is on!  Phase 1 will be on Friday, August 19th and  will 
involve final antenna assembly/tram set up.  The antenna lifting will  occur 
on August 20.  Jack is putting up a 13 el. lpda which has a 36 foot  boom.  
Should be quite a beast.  Jack welcomes all who would like to  stop by to assist, 
cheer others on, or just enjoy good chow.  Please RSVP  to Jack so that he 
can make appropriate food preparations.
 
This month's program included a "show and tell" session.  Several  members 
presented some of their favorite station accessories which included: an  
original telegraph key from the Queen Mary; CW software program; noise  cancelling 
headphones; binocular cores; audio equalizer; CD filled with  important 
contesting support programs; and a beautiful Begalli key.  
 
K1ZW and W4MY were officially welcomed in to the chapter family having now  
attended the requisite two PVRC meetings.  Weclome guys!
 
NEXT MONTH'S PROGRAM NOTES:
 
The September meeting will involve a PVRCNC Junk Box Auction.  Members  are 
asked to bring in one item to donate to the club which has at least a $1  
value.  The item will be auctioned off and the proceeds given to the club  in order 
to fund future programs/prizes, etc...  In addition to the  donation auction 
item, members are invited to bring 2 or 3 other items to sell  via auction.  
Minimum bids can be announced and owner keeps the  proceeds.  So, come prepared 
to sell some of your old goodies and bid on  some of your buddies'.
 
MEMBER REPORTS:
 
W2DZO: Henry made the trek over from Winston Salem and brought greetings  f
rom our PVRCNC-West brethren.  He advised that having recently sold his  old QTH 
and purchased another, that he was just beginning to build his station  back 
up.  Lots of work being done at the W4WS club station. Made a quick  pitch for 
the PVRC Contesting DVD program.(Thanks Henry for all your hard work  in the 
project with the others "up north.")
 
NX9T: Jeff operated in IARU for several hours but otherwise, his radio time  
has been limited due to summer vacations and travel.  Glad that the fall  
contest season is quickly approaching.  Received a shoe box of QSL cards  from the 
buro yesterday.
 
N4XD: Ron eeked out a CY0 QSO on 6m.  Maybe it wasn't really such an  "eeked 
out" but Ron will appreciate the added descriptive term.
 
K4CIA: Bill, played some in a recent VHF contest and racked up 30 or so  Q's. 
 Bagged the CY0 and a VP2 on 6m.
 
W4KAZ: Keith got in some during the IARU and has put up a new 160m inverted  
L.  He's ready to test it out!
 
K4HA: Bob reported more about his FD operation at W2MU and the fun he had  in 
New York.
 
K1ZW: Larry has been working on his tower and cabling issues.  He  described 
a custom fabricated swing plate that allows the tower to be tipped  over while 
keeping the antenna in a position so that it's elements don't hit the  
ground.  
 
AD4L: Pete was glad to be back after a lengthy absence.  Busy at work  but 
hopes to get an A4 up in the air soon and be on HF this fall.
 
N4TL: Tom operated a VHF contest recently and has been spending a lot of  
time refurbishing a 1938 Zentith console radio.
 
K4NYS: Chuck related that his HF operations have been primarily mobile  while 
commuting back and forth to Maryland.  he has accepted a new position  and 
will ultimately be moving to MD in 6 months or so.  Comments were  extended 
indicating how we will miss his presence but fully expect to meet him  on the 
bands regularly (Don't forget our soon to be established "HF Gathering"  Chuck!)
 
NT4Q: Jerry was recently on vacation and has been helping his brother  move.  
Something was mentioned about a piano, many flights of stairs, and  how as 
restitution his brother will be hand mixing the multi-yards of concrete  needed 
for Jerry's tower base.
 
AA4NC: Will had been working in Florida a lot lately.  He has had the  
opportunity to operate with some well known contestors (WC4E and others) as well  as 
make his first ever moon bounce QSO.
 
W0UCE: Jack reminded us to not forget his antenna party!
 
K4QPL: Jim operated some in IARU, IOTA, and hopes to be on for NAQP.  
Reminded members that a team is being established..check email and respond if  
interested.
 
WS4NC: Don was glad to be visiting from Winston.  Hopes to have Rohn  45 up 
by the end of summer.  Don is the editor of his areas club newsletter  and 
provided some extra copies for us to look over.
 
K2AV: Guy announced that it's just been too hot to be outside so no antenna  
work updates at his place.  He and others are beginning to make plans for  
repairs at N4AF (lightning damage).
 
W4MY: Marty is back almost 1 year to the date from his last meeting.   Marty 
brought along his XYL, Chris. 
 
KC4HDI: Chris (XYL of W4MY) shared with us her experience as a radio  
technician who has worked at TV stations and other repair  facilities.    She has a 
1rst Class Radiotelephone license as  well as a ham ticket. While not currently 
very active in ham radio, her license  plate announcing her call sign is 
doing a great job publicizing the hobby!
 
EMAILED REPORTS:
 
KA1ARB:  Rob was busy with work so could not make this month's  meeting.  He 
advised that he plans to be on for NAQP SSB and hopes to make  the September 
meeting.
 
N4YDU:  Nate is now an assistant football coach at the school he  teaches at 
and could not make this month's meeting due to practice  schedules.  He will 
be working on "inventing a way to get out of a  practice" so that he can attend 
a meeting or two this fall!
 

Thanks to all for such an awesome turn out at this month's meeting and  the 
great participation.  
Hope to see you in September.  Let's  kick the fall contest season off with a 
new record attendance.  We had 18  in August, let's try to pick up a few more 
"mults."!
 
73,
Jeff nx9t