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ARRL Club News

Published by the American Radio Relay League ********************************************

September 19, 2023

Editor: Michael Walters, W8ZY <clubs@arrl.org>

IN THIS ISSUE

- New York Club Operates Ham Radio in Honor of National Lighthouse Day
- A Historic Texas Lighthouse Was Activated for International
Lighthouse Lightship Weekend
- A Fresh Take On In-Person Meetings
- Upcoming Club Development Series Installment
- New Club-Level Awards
- Submitting Info for this Newsletter
- How to Plan and Apply for an ARRL Hamfest or Convention
- Important Links

NEW YORK CLUB OPERATES HAM RADIO IN HONOR OF NATIONAL LIGHTHOUSE

DAY

August 7 was National Lighthouse Day, and the Peconic Amateur Radio
Club (PARC) participated by operating at Horton Point Light (US0023) in Southold, New York.

Our operations were a great success, regardless of the rain early on
in the day. Our team set up two HF transceivers, one on commercial
power and the other on battery power. Both transceivers were successful
in advertising Horton Point Light's existence. Eleven contacts were
logged within the continental US. Our club has received requests for
our commemorative Horton Point Lighthouse National Lighthouse Day QSL
card.

Three club members (Don, N2QHV; Gene, KC2ZQL, and Dick, N2YIB) operated
the stations and were observed by other members (Charles, K2GLP; Doug,
KD2TJW, and Amal, N2ZUY) who provided encouragement and advice.

PARC also participated in the annual International Lighthouse Lightship
Weekend in August. Members activated the Plum Island Lighthouse
(US0226), Orient Point Lighthouse (US0273), Long Beach Bar "Bug"
Lighthouse (US0163), and Horton Point Lighthouse (US0023).

By Gary Utz, KE2YK

A HISTORIC TEXAS LIGHTHOUSE WAS ACTIVATED FOR INTERNATIONAL

LIGHTHOUSE LIGHTSHIP WEEKEND

Restorations are underway to rehabilitate a historic lighthouse back to
its former glory, and four local radio amateurs set out on a mission in
late August to broadcast the efforts with the world.

The Sabine Pass Lighthouse sits on the Louisiana side of the Sabine
River, where the river empties into the Gulf of Mexico. Sabine Pass was
one of the more than 20 lighthouses the federal government built along
the Texas coast in 1852 to help maritime crews navigate their way in
and around the Gulf of Mexico. Damage during the Civil War, followed by
natural disasters, sea erosion, and a shifting coastline destroyed the lighthouses, but five still stand today. The Cameron Preservation
Alliance is in charge of renovating the Sabine Pass Lighthouse and has
been working to raise money for the costly repairs since 2017. During International Lighthouse Lightship Weekend, amateur radio operators
from around the world promote the preservation of lighthouses and
lightships in nearly 95 countries. This year, four men from surrounding
Gulf Coast communities traveled to the Sabine Pass Lighthouse to
broadcast from the area.

Bob Rose, W5RJR, said the group, which also consisted of Glen Rose,
KI5TXY, Steve Gomez, KE5O, and Verne King, K5QDA, set up three stations
under the special call sign that was obtained for the event, W5P,
successfully contacted several other radio nets, and even reached
stations in Europe, Mexico, and the Caribbean. "There was no contest
pressure; no push to make as many contacts as could be accomplished,
and no requirements to keep up with points, scores, or reporting," Rose
said. "There was no rush to terminate contacts to move on to the next
one." During their broadcast and conversations, the group discussed the
history of the Sabine Pass Lighthouse, the Cameron Preservation
Alliance's work to restore the 87-foot-tall structure, and the
alliance's mission to search for the original lens used in the lamp.

Over the course of the 2-day event, the operators made 19 lighthouse contacts, two lightship contacts, nine Parks on the Air contacts, and
one contact with the USS Little Rock CL-92 ship in the Buffalo and Erie
County Naval & Military Park in New York. Contacts were made with 26 US
states, Puerto Rico, and seven foreign countries, including Canada,
Mexico, the British Virgin Islands, Italy, France, and Germany.

By Sana Ameer, Beaumont Enterprise

A FRESH TAKE ON IN-PERSON MEETINGS

Like many radio clubs across the country, most of the Denver Radio
Club's (DRC) activities were curtailed by the pandemic and local
restrictions at our meeting location. The club quickly transitioned
from in-person to web-based meetings, allowing presenters from around
the country to be utilized without requiring any travel. Club members appreciated having more diverse guest speakers covering a greater
breadth of topics. Members didn't need to travel to meetings, which
gave them more time for evening activities. Unfortunately, our meeting
location still maintains meeting restrictions, so the club has
continued with the remote-meeting forum.

Once the pandemic restrictions relaxed, DRC surveyed its members,
seeking input on having the general meetings return to being in person
or remain being remote. Overwhelmingly, the club elected to continue
the web-based meetings, but this left a void in those seeking the
camaraderie from meeting in person. Club officers elected to conduct
four extra club gatherings, located mostly in our usual Field Day spot.
These events, branded DRC Saturdays, are open to members and
non-members alike.

The first event, held on April 29, was billed as Member Show and
Tell. Attendees brought what they built and got it on the air. There
was a demonstration of FT8/digital, with time to get on the air using
that mode. In addition, Florida was having their QSO party, and the
club allowed attendees to operate the club station with more
anticipated activity.

On June 3, DRC hosted an Elmer Picnic in the Park. Hotdogs, hamburgers,
and questions and answers were being served. Handheld transceiver
programming was offered to those unsure of how to create code plugs and
get their new radios on the air. A radio technician with an Aeroflex
service monitor tested radios for compliance with radio specifications.
Many radios were checked, but unfortunately the weather turned, and the
hotdogs and burgers had to wait for better weather.

One issue that kept coming up was that amateurs wanted more
opportunities to operate within their license classes. DRC elected to
do a Parks on the Air activation on July 15 at a nearby wildlife
management area that doesn't require park admission fees. Several
radios, bands, and modes were operational for those attending. Once
again, hotdogs and refreshments were an added incentive. Propagation
didn't cooperate fully, but a good time was had by all, and the event
was highly successful.

Finally, our last DRC Saturday of the year was September 16. This event included a Winlink demonstration and clinic. Its purpose was to assist
those having difficulties in setting up their radio for this email
network and provided an opportunity to use it. A GOTA station was
available for those wanting the chance to try HF.

Overall, the DRC Saturday events have been an immense success. Making face-to-face contact has been positive for club morale. Going forward,
the club plans to continue these events.

For more information, visit us at W0TX.org <http://www.w0tx.org>.

By Kevin Schmidt, K0KPS

UPCOMING CLUB DEVELOPMENT SERIES INSTALLMENT

The next installment of the ARRL Club Development Series is scheduled
for September 21 at 7:00 PM Eastern. This online seminar will be
recorded and become a part of the ARRL Learning Center. If you wish to
watch it live, the registration link is below. The presentation will be
by Assistant Director of the ARRL New England Division Anita Kemmerer,
AB1QB, and the subject will be the Club Commission Program.

https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_3Q6svUixRRuzycTDNIOieg

NEW CLUB-LEVEL AWARDS

There are two big events for new hams. The first is when they pass
their exam and get their new license. The second one, which may be
scarier for many, is making their first contact. It may be on a
handheld transceiver talking to the local repeater or by way of a GOTA
station on HF. The first contact is special. There is a new certificate available to commemorate that momentous event. On the ARRL website, at www.arrl.org/awards <http://www.arrl.org/awards>, you'll find a list of available awards, with one being the First Contact Award. This
certificate is a fillable PDF that can be printed or saved. Make a new
ham's first contact special and give them some new wallpaper to start
their collection.

Another award has also been reworked, and that is the Mentor Award. If
a friendly ham helped you get started, taught a class, or introduced
you to a digital mode, thank them with the Mentor Award. It is also a
fillable PDF and can be found on the same page.

These are more awards that clubs and individuals can use to help
promote ham radio. Think about how your club can use them!

SUBMITTING INFO FOR THIS NEWSLETTER

ARRL Club News is for radio clubs to show how they are working in the
community and the hobby to advance amateur radio. If your club
completes a project, supports an event, does an EmComm activation, or
activates a park, we want to hear about it. You can submit your
newsletter article to us at clubs@arrl.org. We like to get them as text
or Word files instead of PDFs. If you have pictures, please submit them
with caption information, as well as the name and call sign of the photographer. We want to highlight the good work being done by the
clubs and show others in the community. Think of this as a chance to
show off your club and your programs.

HOW TO PLAN AND APPLY FOR AN ARRL HAMFEST OR CONVENTION

If your amateur radio club is planning to host a convention, hamfest,
tailgate, or swapfest, please consider applying for it to be an
ARRL-sanctioned event. To learn what it means to be an ARRL-sanctioned
event, and to get some ideas on how to prepare for and conduct a
hamfest or convention, visit www.arrl.org/arrl-sanctioned-events <http://www.arrl.org/arrl-sanctioned-events>.

To have your event sanctioned, complete the online application at www.arrl.org/hamfest-convention-application <http://www.arrl.org/hamfest-convention-application>.

The ARRL Hamfests and Conventions Calendar can be found online at www.arrl.org/hamfests <http://www.arrl.org/hamfests>. In addition, the Convention and Hamfest Calendar that runs in QST each month also
presents information about upcoming events.

IMPORTANT LINKS

ARRL Home: www.arrl.org <http://www.arrl.org/>

Find an ARRL Affiliated Club: www.arrl.org/clubs
<http://www.arrl.org/clubs>

Find your ARRL Section: www.arrl.org/sections
<http://www.arrl.org/sections>

Find a license class in your area: www.arrl.org/class <http://www.arrl.org/class>

Find a license exam in your area: www.arrl.org/exam
<http://www.arrl.org/exam>

Find a hamfest or convention: www.arrl.org/hamfests <http://www.arrl.org/hamfests>

Email ARRL Clubs: clubs@arrl.org

ARRL Club News is published every month (12 times each year). ARRL
members may subscribe at no cost or unsubscribe by editing their Member
Data Page at www.arrl.org/opt-in-out <https://home.arrl.org/action/My-Account/Opt-In-Out>. Archived issues
can be found at http://www.arrl.org/club-news

Copyright (c) 2023 American Radio Relay League, Incorporated.
Use and distribution of this publication, or any portion thereof, is
permitted for non-commercial or educational purposes, with attribution.
All other purposes require written permission.

<http://www.arrl.org/>

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