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NORTH CAROLINA SECTION NEWS

Posted Jun 3, 2012

NOTE: The May issue of North Carolina Section News is a bit late because I am just returning from a family trip to Alaska where we had limited internet access. More in QUA below. Thanks for understanding. Bill N2COP

FIELD DAY - About three weeks until Field Day. Last year, 49 of North Carolina's 67 active ARRL affiliated clubs registered their FD locations at www.arrl.org/field-day-locator To make it easy for reporters and members of the media, elected officials, served agency representatives, inactive Hams and just plain curious public citizens to come out and see what Amateur Radio is about, please list your club's Field Day site. Take advantage of the many bonus point categories by inviting elected officials and served agency representatives to your QTH, make a satellite contact, run solar QRP, have a Public Information table, send a message to me as Section Manager through the National Traffic System (NTS) and many more. A list of North Carolina NTS Nets can be found on the North Carolina section website at www.ncarrl.org Be sure to alert daily and weekly newspapers and local radio and TV stations in your area about your FD location and times so you can claim Media bonus points. Weekly newspapers like to receive notice about 10 days before FD, or around Wednesday, June 13th. The assignment editor in TV news operations begins to schedule weekend coverage the Wednesday before FD, or June 20th. Please be sure to designate one or more people to greet visitors and explain FD. Nothing is worse than to ignore someone who has taken time to find out more about our great hobby. I'll be visiting FD locations in the Piedmont section of North Carolina this year. Be safe, have lots of fun, and make North Carolina look proud on the air.

HAMFESTS - June 9, Winston-Salem Classic, Summit School, 2100 Reynolda Rd., Winston-Salem. Talk-In 146.64 (PL 100.0) Details: www.w4nc.com ; June 30, Downeast Hamfest, Lenoir Community College, Kinston. Talk-In 146.685 (PL 82.5) Details: www.downeasthamfest.org SPECIAL EVENT STATIONS - June 2, Badin Bomber Crash 1944, NC4MC, 14.250, sponsored by Montgomery ARC

MEDIA HITS - Wilmington's WECT-TV mentioned that SKYWARN will be represented at the upcoming StormFest hurricane preparedness expo. BlueRidge.com likewise mentioned that the Blue Ridge Amateur Radio Club helps with emergencies and disasters.

NTS APRIL SECTION TRAFFIC REPORT - QNI (total check-ins) 3333 (up 235 or 8%) TOTAL MESSAGES PASSED 564 (down 118 or 17%). STATION ACTIVITY REPORTS (SARs) K4IWW 395, W4DNA 161, KJ4RUD 88, WK4P 62, W3HL 47, W4TTO 45, N2RTF 38, KE4AHC 34, K4JUU 27, KC4PGN 22, AK4RJ 19, KA4IZN 18, KJ4JPE 9. PUBLIC SERVICE HONOR ROLL (PSHR) KA4IZN 323, WK4P 155, W4DNA 140, K4IWW 130, W4TTO 125, KJ4JPE 115, W2EAG 110, N2RTF 108, K4JUU 90, KJ4RUD 80, AK4RJ 58. SILENT KEYS (SKs) - We regret to report the passing of John Smith, KI4WEC, of Kelly; Robert Moore, AA4AX, of Chapel Hill; Grady Gardner, K4QWK, of Laurinburg; and Bob Moore, N4USB, of Grifton.

QUA* - Our hobby is so riveting that we sometimes overlook outreach to others with whom we can share the fascination we find with Amateur Radio. For example, I am disappointed that support hasn't materialized this year for Maker Faire in Raleigh on June 16th. This collection of electronic hobbyists is an affinity group who might jump at the chance to learn more about licensed wireless experimentation through Amateur Radio. Although there appeared to be moderate support to staff a booth at Maker Faire, I did not sense the follow-through for Elmering those who may want to get their license. We'll try again next year and see if we get a stronger commitment. Many of us had Elmers who coached us; now it's our turn to coach a new generation. Likewise, I was surprised that none of our North Carolina section Public Information Officers (PIOs) were nominated for ARRL's Philip McGan Award for PIO excellence. Since I am a member of ARRL's Public Relation Committee, I cannot place a name in nomination, but we sure have some deserving PIOs in our section. Like Maker Faire, please keep your eyes open for opportunities to recognize North Carolina Hams would contribute mightily to our hobby. Finally, I saw a study that 40% of the average American's daily conversations revolve around some kind of bragging, so I am going to take my turn. My family and I just spent a week in beautiful Alaska for two reasons: my XYL Pam and I celebrated our 30th wedding anniversary, and we also celebrated the graduations of our two sons who came with us to the 49th state. Reid, W4RSM, received his Master of Arts in Teaching (M.A.T.) degree from UNC-Wilmington and is interviewing for a middle school math and science teaching position, and Grant, W4GHM, graduated from UNC-Chapel Hill and its NROTC program. He was commissioned as an Ensign in the U.S. Navy and will report shortly to the USS Laboon, a destroyer, in Norfolk. Pam and I agreed that our anniversary and the boys' graduations deserved a special event. We hiked and biked our way across southeastern Alaska, which is truly an American treasure, and I encourage anyone to see it if they get a chance. Until next month, have a great Field Day. *QUA - CW net control signal meaning "Do you have news for me?" 73 de Bill Morine, N2COP ARRL North Carolina Section Manager Follow the ARRL North Carolina section on its website www.ncarrl.org and on Facebook at NC ARRL

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ARRL North Carolina Section
Section Manager: Mr William C Morine, N2COP
n2cop@arrl.org
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