[SFDXA] A Message from Jeff

[Bill M]

> New Year greetings to all,
> 
> Looking forward to a great 2018 in the SFL Section.  With the holidays
> behind us, we can get back in the swing of ham radio activity. Some New
> Year resolutions for your consideration:
> 
> 1.    Get on the air with your favorite bands or try a new one !
> 2.    Mentor a new ham, especially a young ham !
> 3.    Support your local club and ARES group
> 4.    Try your hand at some contesting and DXing
> 5.    Help out at your local VE exam session
> 6.    Participate in your club’s Field Day
> 7.    Try a new mode: CW, AM, Digital, Satellite, Weak signal, DMR, etc.
> 8.    Check in on a net.
> 9.    Attend a hamfest
> 10.    And most of all, have fun with ham radio.
> 
> I attended the West Central Florida Section Convention at Plant City on
> Dec. 8 & 9. Nice to see many SFL members in attendance. At the ARRL
> booth, I joined with WCF SM Darrell Davis, KT4WX, Mike Corey, KI1U, ARRL
> Emergency Preparedness Manager and SE Division Director Greg Sarratt,
> W4OZK. 
> 
> 
> Myra and I celebrated with members of the Fort Pierce Amateur Radio Club
> at their annual Holiday Social.  A great time was had by all !
> 
> 
> After serving for over 20 years as Okeechobee County EC, Al Berryman,
> AD4RZ, has decided to retire.
> Thanks for your service, Al and enjoy your retirement.
> 
> 
> Hope to see you at one of these upcoming events around the SFL Section
> and SE Division:
> 
> 01/06/2018      Kid’s Day Operating Event       Info: 
> http://www.arrl.org/kids-day
> 
> Southwest Florida Hamfest
> 
> Start Date: 01/19/2018
> End Date: 01/20/2018
> 
> Location: Riverside Church of Fort Myers
> 8660 Daniels Parkway
> Fort Myers, FL 33901
> 
> Website: http://swflhamfest.info
> Sponsor: Fort Myers Amateur Radio Club
> 
> Talk-In: 147.345 (PL 136.5)
> Public Contact: Harold A Drew , KM4WNF 
> 12407 Davis Blvd. Fort Myers, FL 33905
> 
> Phone: 239-309-3660
> Email: dfoy50 at gmail.com
> 
> Winter Field Day   Saturday, January 27 at 2 PM thru Sunday, January 28
> at 2 PM
> 
> Miami Marathon  Sunday January 28, 2018
> 
> Once again we are ready to begin preparations for the upcoming Miami
> Marathon on Sunday January 28, 2018, and once again I ask for your help.
> This will be the 16thrunning of the Miami Marathon, and we have all
> played a critical role in providing communications since year one. We
> are expecting close to 25,000 participants this year, and the need for
> our communications is even greater than last year. The marathon has
> become a truly world class event, a big asset to our community, a major
> boost to child fitness programs in our schools, and a real opportunity
> for us to help by doing what we do best. Miami Marathon runners raise
> millions of dollars for more than a dozen charities working to fight
> cancer, diabetes, and many other worthwhile causes. As always, returning
> volunteers have priority in selecting post assignments. Please let me
> know if you prefer your previous post or a different location.
> Although the Venetian Causeway has re-opened, the race route may be
> different from prior years.
> 
> Please let me know if you would like to participate, and please pass
> along this information to any other hams you think may be interested.
> Also, if you have changed your email, mailing address, callsign, or
> phone number in the past year, please be sure to advise me of your
> current contact information.
> 
> Now that the Venetian Causeway has reopened, parts of the race course
> and some of the aid station locations will be different this year. You
> can find more information about the marathon on
> http://www.themiamimarathon.com/. I Look forward to seeing all of you on
> Sunday January 29th
> 
> Best regards and 73
> Ben Nemser WA4DZS
> bnemser at nemal.com
> 
> 
> Florida State Convention (Orlando HamCation)
> 
> Start Date: 02/09/2018
> End Date: 02/11/2018
> 
> Location: Central Florida Fairgrounds
> 4603 West Colonial Drive
> Orlando, FL 32801
> 
> Website: http://www.hamcation.com
> Sponsor: Orlando Amateur Radio Club
> 
> Talk-In: 146.76 (no PL tone during hamfest)
> Public Contact: John Knott , N4JTK 
> PO Box 574962 Orlando, FL 32857
> Phone: 407-841-0874
> Email: info at hamcation.com
> 
> 
> Congrats to the ARISS team of the Fort Myers ARC working with the Allen
> Park Elementary School in making the first cut with the selection
> process for contacts in 2018.
> 
> 
> More Room to be Available for Hamvention® at Greene County Fairgrounds
> and Expo Center
> 
> Hamvention® reports that the Greene County Commissioners and the Greene
> County Fair Board have approved the construction of a new building at
> the Greene County Fairgrounds and Expo Center, the new Hamvention venue
> in Xenia, Ohio.
> “Greene County officials have decided to move forward with
> construction of a new building, as it will continue to expand their
> presence in the region as a world-class Exposition Center,” Hamvention
> Spokesperson Michael Kalter, W8CI, said in a news release. “Hamvention
> certainly benefits from the decision to expand the Expo Center
> footprint. Construction is planned to be complete ahead of Hamvention
> 2018, and [the new building] will be used for the event.”
> 
> In addition to the new structure, another building on the property,
> previously known as Fairgrounds Furniture, is being vacated and will be
> available for use by Hamvention in May 2018. Additional details are
> forthcoming. Kalter said Hamvention has been told that the additional
> floor space will cover an area larger than the tents Hamvention used for
> some activities in 2017.
> “Although this decision was made to expand opportunities at the Expo
> Center, Hamvention is grateful for the support Greene County, Xenia
> Township, and the city of Xenia,” Kalter added.
> 
> US Schools, Groups Move Into Phase 2 of ARISS Selections
> 
> Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) has announced
> that 13 schools or organizations will advance to the next phase of
> planning to host Amateur Radio contacts with the ISS during the second
> half of 2018. The new ARISS-US Education Committee selected the 13
> applicants from a field of 25. ARISS anticipates that NASA will be able
> to provide scheduling opportunities from July to December of next year.
> These schools and organizations now must submit 
> 
> Amateur Radio equipment plans to host a scheduled contact with a member
> of the ISS crew.
> The 13 candidates must now complete an equipment plan that demonstrates
> their ability to execute a ham radio contact with the ISS. Once the
> ARISS technical team approves their equipment plans, the finalists will
> be scheduled as their availability and flexibility match up with the
> scheduling opportunities. The schools and organizations are:
> 
> •    Allen Park Elementary School, Lee County School District  Fort
> Myers, Florida
> •    Ashford School                                                      
>                Ashford, Connecticut
> •    Bishop O’Connell High School                                      
>       Arlington, Virginia
> •    Delcastle Technical High School                                     
>      Wilmington, Delaware
> •    Hudson Memorial School                                              
>        Hudson, New Hampshire
> •    Kopernik Observatory & Science Center                               
> Vestal, New York
> •    Mendez Fundamental Intermediate School                           
> Santa Ana, California
> •    Pathfinder Regional Vocational Technical High School        Palmer,
> Massachusetts
> •    Pearl Technology STEM Academy                                       
> Peoria Heights, Illinois
> •    Pell Elementary School                                              
>            Newport, Rhode Island
> •    St. Catherine of Bologna School                                     
>      Ringwood, New Jersey
> •    Tallmadge Community Learning Center                                
> Lancaster, Ohio
> •    Valley High School                                                  
>              Albuquerque, New Mexico
> 
> ARISS’s primary goal is to engage young people in science, technology,
> engineering, and math (STEM) activities, and to involve them in
> activities related to space exploration, Amateur Radio, communications,
> and areas of associated study and career possibilities.
> ARISS is a cooperative venture of international Amateur Radio societies
> and the space agencies that support the International Space Station
> (ISS). In the United States, sponsors are ARRL, AMSAT, the Center for
> the Advancement of Science in Space (CASIS), and NASA.
> 
> World Wide Radio Operators Foundation Announces KP4 Generator Project
> 
> The recovery efforts in Puerto Rico have largely cycled out of the news
> media, but residents are still struggling in the wake of this fall's
> devastating hurricane damage. In order to help radio amateurs and
> radiosport enthusiasts in Puerto Rico get back on the air, the World
> Wide Radio Operators Foundation (WWROF) has announced the KP4 Generator
> Project, which will raise funds to purchase Honda eu2000i generators for
> the radio amateurs of Puerto Rico.
> Well-known contester Angel Vazquez, WP3R, will distribute these
> generators to active radio amateurs on the island for use in
> emergency-related communication and other applications, based on local
> need.
> 
> The WWROF will match the first $5,000 in donations from clubs and
> individuals to the KP4 Generator Project. WWROF is an IRS 501(c)(3)
> organization, and donations are tax-deductible for US taxpayers to the
> extent allowed by law. 
> Puerto Rico suffered extreme damage from hurricanes Irma and Maria, and
> while recovery efforts are proceeding, a lot of work remains to be done
> that will take significant time, WWROF Chairman, John Dorr, K1AR, said
> in an announcement over the weekend.
> 
> “Amateur Radio has filled a vital need for communications, since the
> storm destroyed most of the island’s wired and wireless
> infrastructure,” Dorr noted. “Many of our fellow Amateur Radio
> operators and contesters are among the people who suffered significant
> damage.” The WWROF said the contesting community in Puerto Rico has
> expressed a continued need for generators to stay on the air and to
> power their homes for ongoing communication needs.
> Currently electric power has been restored to roughly two-thirds of the
> island, but full power may not be back until early next year, according
> to some estimates. Generators remain in high demand and in very short
> supply on the island. 
> 
> Silent Keys- It is with deep regret that we report the passing of the
> following SFL members:
> 
> Richard E. “Dick” Pettijohn, W0MIA of Naples passed away on November
> 7th.  Richard was a member of the Amateur Radio Association of SW
> Florida and the Royal Palm Chapter of QCWA.
> 
> Well, I guess that’s about it for now. My thanks for all that you do
> for Amateur Radio. Have a happy and healthy New Year and see you at a
> club meeting, hamfest or on the air.
> 
> Vy 73,
> 
> Jeff, WA4AW
> 
> --------------------------------------------------------------------
> ARRL Southern Florida Section
> Section Manager: Jeff Beals, WA4AW
> wa4aw at arrl.org
> --------------------------------------------------------------------