Fw: VWS News for the First Week of Spring (so they say)

Wed Mar 22 23:35:56 CST 2006


-----Forwarded Message-----
>From: w4jtp at parsonage.net
>Sent: Mar 22, 2006 6:23 PM
>To: erelay at viennawireless.org
>Subject: VWS News for the First Week of Spring (so they say)
>
>The next meeting of the Vienna Wireless Society will be at 7:30 pm on Friday, March 24, at the Vienna Elementary School on Center Street in Vienna.  There should be some chatter on the 146.685 repeater beforehand if you need help finding your way.  
>
>Thanks in advance to Mike AE4R for providing the break-time refreshments.
>
>Mike is also working on delivering another interesting ï¿½2nd halfï¿½ program, perhaps something along the lines of gossiping about members who arenï¿½t there.
>
>After the meeting, be sure to get a good nightï¿½s sleep so you can head up to the Timonium Hamfest and spend some leftover Winterfest dollars.  Details in the ï¿½Hamfest Calendarï¿½ below.
>
>---------------------------------------
>QRPTTF
>April 29ï¿½s QRP field day event (officially called QRP To The Field, or QRPTTF) is booked for Freedom Hill Park in Tysons Corner, just down Courthouse Road on the edge of the Vienna Town limits.  The fun starts around 9 or so with antenna raising and lasts til we decide itï¿½s time to pull ï¿½em down and go home.  Jim AG4MA plans to provide a sumptuous feast for all comers (as long as he knows in advance who the comers are).
>
>QRP FD/QRPTTF is always a fun operating activity, amazing OTs and newcomers alike with what can be achieved with a handful of watts or even milliwatts.  Weï¿½ll likely chat about this topic at Fridayï¿½s meeting.
>
>---------------------------------------
>WHAT ARE YOU DOINGï¿½WHENEVER?
>The club calendar for 2006 is set.  Update your day-minders, PDAs, and other scheduling aids by visiting www.viennawireless.org/calendar.php. 
>
>---------------------------------------
>DUES DUE
>This is your final reminder for 2006 club dues.  Weï¿½ll scour the e-mail lists and remove those whoï¿½ve not paid.  For a meager $12, you can help support all the clubï¿½s activities and enjoy the rights and privileges of membership thereof throughout 2006.  See our smiling treasurer at the meeting, or send a check to VWS, P.O. Box 418, Vienna, VA  22183.  
>
>---------------------------------------
>DITS AND DOTS 
>Did you miss the last meeting?  No worries; minutes of all VWS meetings are posted at www.viennawireless.org under PROGRAMS.
>  
>Donï¿½t miss out of the latest news on the NAQP, Fox Hunting, Field Day, Winterfest, and other special discussion topics.  Sign up for any or all of the mailing lists by stopping by www.viennawireless.org/lists.php
>
>---------------------------------------- 
>ON-AIR GATHERINGS
>Mondays-- 2m Net at 8 pm on the 146.685 repeater.
>
>Tuesdays-- Digital Net at 8:00 pm on 3.578 MHz USB with a 900Hz offset.  The net usually starts with PSK31, but often will switch to other modes depending on the wishes/whims of the folks present.
>
>Thursdaysï¿½10m Pow Wow Net at 28.444 MHz.
>
>And donï¿½t forget the weekly Tuesday lunch, 11:30 am at Neighbor's Restaurant, at the corner of Park and Cedar Streets in Vienna. 
>
>----------------------------------------
>HAMFEST CALENDAR
>Thanks to AE4R for the info and annotations.
> 
>March 25-26
>Greater Baltimore Hamboree and Computerfest 
>Baltimore Amateur Radio Club
>Timonium, MD 
>www.gbhc.org 
>"Big Timonium" two days of fun (unless it rains). Saturday is the best day to go. 
> 
>April 22(assumed date)
>Eastern Shore Hamfest
>Easton ARS
>Easton, MD 
>www.k3emd.com/ 
>Another long drive; heard it wasnï¿½t all that great in previous years 
> 
>April 23
>York Spring Hamfest
>York Hamfest Foundation
>York, PA 
>www.yorkhamfest.org 
>Not bad, but really too far to drive, unless you just have to go to a hamfest that weekend. 
> 
>April 29(assumed date)
>Ann Arundel/Kent Island RC Hamfest
>Kent Island Amateur Radio Club & Anne Arundel Radio Club
>Grasonville, MD 
>www.w3vpr.org/ (not shown on club's calendar as of 3/22, so check before driving!) 
>Tiny hamfest, but fun and worth the drive across the Bay Bridge 
> 
>May 7
>The Great Hagerstown Hamfest, Antietam Radio Association
>Hagerstown-Sharpsburg, MD 
>www.w3cwc.org 
>Small, but fun and then you can visit the Antietam National Battlefield, about a mile down the road. 
> 
>May 19-22
>55th Dayton Hamvention
>Dayton ARA
>Trotwood, OH 
>www.hamvention.org/ 
>Known worldwide as the Trotwood Hamfest, this is the Really Big One!  (And a great place to shop for your favorite VPï¿½s birthday!)
> 
>May 29
>Memorial Day Hamfest
>Maryland FM Association
>Howard County Fairgrounds
>West Friendship, MD 
>www.marylandfm.org/ 
> 
>June 2-4
>Rochester Hamfest and Computer Show
>Monroe County Fairgrounds
>Rochester, NY 
>www.rochesterhamfest.org/ 
>This is the really big one way up north; commonly referred to as "Rainchester." 
>
>June 4
>Ole Virginia Hams Manassas Hamfest
>Prince William County Fairgrounds
>Manassas, Va.
>www.w4ovh.com
>Always the first Sunday in June.
>
>June 19
>Father's Day Hamfest
>Frederick ARC (FARC) 
>Frederick County Fairgrounds
>Frederick, MD 
>www.qsl.net/k3erm/ 
>Usually a good hamfest; not so good in 2005 IMHO; but probably still worth the drive. 
> 
>July 23
>Maryland Hamfest and Computer Fest
>Baltimore Radio Amateur Television Society (BRATS)
>Howard County Fairgrounds
>West Friendship, MD 
>www.bratsatv.org/ 
>Formerly known as "Little Timonium," now much closer and still worth the drive. 
> 
>August 6
>55th Annual Winchester Hamfest
>Shenandoah Valley Amateur Radio Club
>Clarke County Ruritan Fairgrounds
>Berryville, VA 
>www.svarc.us/hamfest/ 
>Best all-around hamfest, with barbeque lunch alone worth the scenic drive to the Valley 
> 
>August 13
>7th Annual Carroll County Tailgate Fest 
>Carroll County Amateur Radio Club
>Westminster, MD 
>www.qis.net/%7Ek3pzn/Tailgate.htm 
>This is another long, long drive for a small fest, actually a swap fest. 
> 
>September 1-3
>Shelby Hamfest
>Shelby ARC
>Cleveland County Fairgrounds
>Shelby, NC 
>www.shelbyhamfest.com/ 
>Really big one; Modestly referred to by organizers as "Grand-daddy of them all!" 
> 
>September 9-10(assumed dates)
>49th Annual F.A.R.Fest
>Foundation for Amateur Radio
>Montgomery County Fairgrounds
>Gaithersburg, MD 
>www.farfest.org 
>Still trying to rebound to former grandeur; IMNSHO, best to go on Saturday. 
> 
>October 1(assumed date)
>CARAFest (again)
>Howard Co. Fairgrounds
>West Friendship, MD 
>www.carafest.org 
>Next-to-last chance to stock up on hamfest goodies before winter sets in again. 
> 
>October 29
>Mason-Dixon Hamfest & Computer Show
>Carroll County Amateur Radio Club (K3PZN)
>Carroll County Agricultural Center
>Westminster, MD 
>http://para.k3dsm.net/ or http://para.buxcom.net 
>A small fest that is worth the long drive to see spectacular fall colors en route 
>
>---------------------------------------- 
>BOARD MEETINGS 
>Meetings of the VWS Board of Directors are open to all, and all are welcome.  The Board meets the 1st TUESDAY of each month at Vienna.  Meetings begin at 7:00 pm.  Give a call on the 146.685 repeater if you need help getting there.
>
>---------------------------------------- 
>WHOï¿½S IN CHARGE HERE?
>Looking for information about the VWS?  Look no further.
>
>Ray Albers K2HYD - President, Director
>albersrs at verizon.net
>
>Jim Parsons W4JTP - Vice President, Newsletter Editor, Media Representative
>W4JTP at parsonage.net
>
>Len Hook KG6ZR ï¿½ Secretary, Director
>lenhook at comcast.net
>
>Pete Norloff KG4OJT - Treasurer, Director
>kg4ojt at viennawireless.org
>
>Jim Richey AG4MA - Director
>jimrichey2 at juno.com
>
>Mike Steussy AE4R - Director, Program Coordinator
>ae4r at erols.com
>
>Alan Bosch KO4ALA ï¿½ T.J.H.S. Coordinator
>labosch at verizon.net
>
>John Transue AF4PD - Trustee
>jtransue at cox.net
>
>Ben Gelb KF4KJQ - Webmaster
>ben at gelbnet.com
>
>Kurt Wehle WA4SMI - Training Coordinator
>opelnut at erols.com
>
>Dan Sullivan KO1D - Emergency Coordinator
>djs13 at hotmail.com
>
>And, youï¿½ll always find plenty of good stuff at www.viennawireless.org. 
>
>-----------------------------------
>73 de Jim W4JTP
>