[SMCARA] SMCARA meetings for 2006

[Peter Butt]

SMCARA members and others interested in amateur radio -

  I would like to take a moment to wish all of you a very Merry Christmas
and thank you for your continued participation in the activities of the St.
Mary's County Amateur Radio Association.  This past year has been a very
active one for our club and our accomplishments throughout the year have
been very beneficial to the community.  I am particularly proud of our
excellent Field Day emergency exercise in June where everyone who attended
had a great time and we all worked together as a team to put together a
super special event station.  It isn't the total points that count but,
rather, the sense of fellowship between all of us that contributes to a good
event that keeps our communications skills honed.  As some of you saw at a
recent meeting, I was able to film almost the entire event using a broadcast
quality DV-CAM video system and the resultant 12 minute film is now ready to
be incorporated into our museum display.  I plan to send DVD copies to the
ARRL and some of our local officials to let them see what a typical FD
scenario looks like.

  In 2005, we completed the first phase of our community outreach effort by
dedicating the new amateur radio display at the Naval Air Museum here in
Lexington Park.  Through the efforts of numerous members, we refurbished the
operating console, purchased new radio equipment, programmed computers,
installed video displays, worked with local firms to obtain donations of
wireless internet services, high resolution graphics and other needed
audio-visual equipment.  The result is an operational ham radio station
capable of communicating on most of the HF bands plus 2-meter FM and 440 MHz
FM.  The Naval Air Museum is rapidly growing in popularity with thousands of
visitors each year coming the see the free exhibits.  We have postured
ourselves to potentially be a valued display for the museum as they work to
begin construction of the new museum building early in 2006.

  We also have members who have stepped up to the plate to keep folks
communicating in the southern Maryland area by scheduling nets and operating
events (bike races, walk-a-thons, etc.) that provide opportunities for the
membership to get together every so often to talk on the radios under more
formal circumstances.

  I look forward to the New Year and to the many additional things we might
be able to accomplish.  Areas of concern to us include membership retention,
new and interesting activities for our members to partake, recruitment of
potential new members, continued updates to the museum display, a technology
refresh to our 2-meter club repeater, and the potential for additional
operating events, training opportunities and license exam sessions.  What we
accomplish in 2006 is only limited by our free time and willingness to give
a little "extra" of ourselves to make it happen.  I hope that each and every
one of you will be able to take a few hours throughout the 2006 season and
contribute to helping keep the SMCARA a vibrant and enjoyable organization
to belong to.

  Your board of directors including Tom Clarke (W4OKW), Garner Hayden
(W3SI), Walt Rupp (W3GYT) and myself had hoped to squeeze a meeting in
between the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays but it just hasn't worked
out due to the many other activities we are all involved with.  Accordingly,
the next meeting of the SMCARA will occur on Thursday evening, 26 January at
7:30 PM.  You are all invited to attend and help us plan our course of
action for the next year including what programs, operating activities and
events we decide to participate in.  We need your input to keep the SMCARA
relevant and fun!

  We will continue to keep you informed about the upcoming activities by
using the club e-mail reflector and the club web site (WWW.QSL.NET/SMCARA)
on the Internet.

  Thank you again for a great year and I look forward to much more in 2006!

  Vr, Pete (WA3UMY)
      President, SMCARA