Megan's Message and Musings The month of March will bring a great deal of club activity, along with some changes. I am writing this on March 2nd and right now the monthly Board Meeting is on the schedule. We have had excellent attendance by the Committee Chairs who have made great progress in directing activities of the club. It is a pleasure working with these committed individuals and seeing them use their knowledge and expertise to reach the many goals of the club. A mere 7 days from now, March 9th HARC will hold its monthly meeting at Holland Fire Department's Kollen Park Station. This is both a new and old location, since HARC used to meet there before we had a clubhouse. Why are we going back, you might wonder? Well, we have Good News and Bad News. The Good News is that attendance at our monthly meetings has been growing steadily over the past few months. The Bad News is, well, attendance has been growing and our meeting room in the clubhouse is no longer big enough for everyone. We have reached the point where we can no longer offer a comfortable and save environment in the clubhouse for all who wish to enjoy our monthly presentations. Looking down the calendar, in 11 days, March 13th, HARC will host its first Mini-Swap and Breakfast of the 2010 season at our clubhouse. There are about two weeks until March 17th when everyone will be Irish for a day. Spring arrives 3 days later, and we all know that springtime in Michigan brings showers, flowers, and tornadoes, so on March 25th Ottawa Co. will offer Skywarn Training. Finally, wrapping up this very busy month, HARC offers VE Testing on March 29th for graduates of our General License Class and others who wish to upgrade or even get their first license! The VE Test is open to all, so please help spread the word. Now mind you, all of these activities are in addition to the choices to participate in the weekly Monday Night 2 meter Net, Open Mic Night every Tuesday at the clubhouse, give in and satisfy a sugar craving any Wednesday at Donutville and stop by for our “Ham is for Breakfast” on the last Saturday of the month, March 27th. Whew! The next thing you know someone will tell me it's time to begin preparing for Field Day! With all of the activities that HARC has to offer, and considering the coming change of season, I am asking that that our members “look outside the box” and choose this season to participate. Check into the 2 meter Net. Meet for coffee and donuts on Wednesdays. Take advantage of the free training offered by OCEC and become active in emergency communications. Consider upgrading your license. Participate in an ARRL contest. Join us for Breakfast. So, please look at the events on our website's club calendar and in our newsletter, and make a decision to join some of the many activities we offer. You never know, you could find a “new” facet of amateur radio that puts “SPRING” into your hobby! 73, WO0MEG Classes & Training Adult CPR/AED Training - March 6, 2010. 9:00am to 1:00pm Evergreen Commons, 480 State Street, Holland Red Cross, 270 James Street, Holland (Spanish-speaking only) St. Patricks, 901 Columbus Ave, Grand Haven Hudsonville City Hall, 3275 Central, Hudsonville Allendale Townsip Hall, 6676 Lake Michigan Drive, Allendale You must preregister to attend. Call 616-396-6545 SKYWARN Training - March 25, 2010 Starts at 6:30pm Fillmore Complex 12220 Fillmore Street West Olive, Michigan, main conference room. Meet, Greet and Eat Times and places to meet fellow amateurs Regularly-scheduled events At our handicap-accessible Ken Groom ZR5AAD Memorial Technical and Training Center, 280 East 8th Street in Holland, Michigan. “Open Mike” Night Every Tuesday night at 7:00pm. Come to operate or just enjoy coffee and conversation, members and guests welcome. Board Meeting 1st Tuesday of each month at 7:00pm. Presentation and General Membership Meeting 2nd Tuesday of each month at 7:00pm. Guests are welcome. This meeting has been moved to a new location in the Holland Fire Department meeting room, 279 Kollen Park Drive, in Holland, Michigan. This facility is also handicap-accessible. Donuts @ Donutville Every Wednesday at 2:30pm. Meet at Donutville, 676 Michigan Avenue in Holland for coffee and conversation. “HAM is for Breakfast” Join us at at 9:00am for an informal gathering on the last Saturday of each month. We meet and eat at Perkins Restaurant, 2332 North Park Drive in Holland, Michigan, across from the Walmart plaza. We usually occupy the back corner. Members, spouses, friends, family, and anyone else interested in amateur radio are welcome. Growing HARC 2 meter Net by Ed, KF8EV HARC has had a 2 meter net for as long as I have had a license for sure and probably longer, and I have been licensed since 1985. I know, W8GCW has had his license longer than that. HI HI I try to make time to check in to the net each week if possible. It gives me a chance to hear from HARC members and other HAMS around the area. I also get caught up on some club announcements. Even though formal records are not kept, the number of check-ins has been up this winter. A couple of weeks ago the number hit 20. Maybe there are a few others who listen but don't actually get on the list. That's growth! The Net tries to have a variety of Net Control Stations (NCS) to give everyone an opportunity for actual practice in running a net. It is really quite straight forward. Listen and check-in a few times and then give Net Control a try. The Preamble is now posted on the HARC web site (www.hollandarc.org) and if you aren't sure about a topic, just ask the net for one. Then, make a list of check-ins and let the fun begin! We need Net Control Stations for the April 5, 12, 19, 26 Nets. If you would like to be one of our Net Control Stations, or if you have any other questions about the Net, please send me an e-mail at kf8ev@arrl.net. We look for experienced anyone, whether you have Net Control experience, or would just like to learn. Looking forward to hearing from you on Monday nights, 7:30 pm, on our 147.060 MHz repeater. Ed, KF8EV Net Manager Public Service Spotlight Burn Survivors car show Our local Amateur radio community has been asked again to assist at the Burn Survivors Car Show. I am looking for about 10-15 persons (with or without HT) to help line up and park the show cars at 5/3 Ball Park on May 15. Yes, I know this is the weekend for Dayton, but not everybody is going. The event starts at 7-am and goes until about Noon. Your family is more than welcome to come along, so bring the kids and grandkids, too! There will be a live house burn where the firemen show off their skills, mascots for the kids, and an auction for the grown-ups. I am also looking for a group to promote ham radio at the event, and perhaps put a station on the air. Please contact me directly: John Hanse, KC8QDE 616-836-3737 johnhanse@charter.net Ottawa County Emergency Communications Ottawa County Emergency Communications (OCEC) meets every month in the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) in the Fillmore Complex. Meetings are open to all amateurs, so please consider attending to see what ARES, RACES and Skywarn emergency communications services that the OCEC provides. Contact Jim Miller, W8JRM w8jrm@arrl.net with any questions. Public Service Opportunities Please contact each event's coordinator for more information. Tulip Time Parades May 5,6 & 8, 2010 Dave Lamer, WA8RSA wa8rsa@arrl.net Burn Survivors Car Show May 15, 2010 John Hanse, KC8QDE 616-836-3737 johnhanse@charter.net West Michigan Bike MS June 12-13, 2010 Jim Heyl, N8QMD n8qmd@arrl.net Coast Guard Festival Parade July 31 through August 8, 2010 North Ottawa Amateur Radio Club Details to follow Air Affair, Park Township Airport Saturday August 21, 2010 Brian Fredricks, KD8IFE Megan Heyl WO0MEG Details to follow Parade of Lights Tuesday, November 30, 2010 Ivan DeWitt, K8EMU idewitt@charter.net Nets of Interest Compiled by Tom Wilson, KD8DEG Sunday 8:30 AM 50.400 AM, Grand Rapids 8:00 PM 145.270 FM, Lowell Club 8:00 PM 50.400 AM, Kalamazoo, Gary K8BKB 8:00 PM 147.240 FM, Allegan, Jim AC8AG 9:00 PM 50.150 USB, Zeeland, Charlie N8QEM 9:30 PM 144.155 USB, Holland, Bill K8NFT Monday 7:30 PM 147.060 FM, HARC, 2m Net. Ed, KF8EV is Net Manager Tuesday 7:00 PM 144.222 USB, Kalamazoo, K8BKB Gary 8:00 PM AM, Kalamazoo WJ8L Phil 9:30 PM 50.300 USB Kalamazoo, K8BKB Gary 9:00 PM 145.270 FM, MDXA, Dave KC8PCL 9:30 PM 50.400 AM Kalamazoo, K8BKB Gary Wednesday 8:00 PM 28.380 USB, Allegan 9:00 PM 50.140 USB, Cedar Springs, AC8AH Jerry Thursday 7:00 PM 147.160 Michigan youth, 22 and younger 8:00 PM 146.800 FM, MAARC weekly Net Daily 7:00 PM 50.200 USB, Cadillac, round tables