I have to apologize to you for our mess up…
The e mail that was sent asking for you to pay your dues went out to everyone,
whether you had paid your dues or not. So, if you already paid
your dues, no worries and thank you. If you have not paid your TARC
yearly dues yet you have until the end of June to submit by paying inperson
at a meeting, on the TARC website or by snail mail. At the end of
June, if you have not renewed you will be dropped from the roster.
We’re doing our best to streamline processes, but sometimes they don’t
function the way we would like and that’s where a little patience and understanding
come into play.
You may be wondering also where does all the dues money go. Well, in
complete transparency, the financials are published in the newsletter every
month and at our monthly meeting I ask for discussion before we vote
to approve them.
With 200+ members there are lots of activities and some of those take
money. If we need to hire a tower climber to repair a repeater antenna,
that’s $3,000 to $5,000. The TARC Emcomm trailer is almost finished
and if you’ve not seen the trailer, check it out at the next event. Field Day
is another high-profile event for TARC and there are expenses associated
with it. We have two go boxes for the club’s use. Those were paid for by
the club and by donations.
It was shared at the last club meeting…
that we should start a “Tech Night”! So we did! It’s just a free and open
evening to come and talk tech with other hams. No
club business, no agenda! Bring some equipment if
you want to. Bring your questions. It’ll be starting the
first Tuesday in May, the 7th and the first Tuesday of
each month after that from 6:30 PM until the last one
out turns off the lights. Hope you can make it!
Happy Anniversary TARC!!!
2024 is the Tulsa Amateur Radio Club’s 100-year anniversary!!!
1924 -2024.
We’ve put a committee together to plan some special
events and activities. Steve KF5VCQ, Robert
KI5WDD, Ray K5CFY and Remell KA6DOY are on
the committee. They’ll be scheduling events during
the year and if anyone has any ideas for an activity,
event or a way to celebrate this once in a century
event, talk to Steve KF5VCQ or send an e mail to him
at kf5vcq@cox.net or one of the other three committee
members.
Be sure and check out the anniversary apparel, hats
and other merchandise. We have our own online store
for apparel at shop.1907ok.com/tarc.
If you’re just looking for a club T shirt, hat, hoodie
or something else…
We now have more apparel with the club logo. Robert
KI5WDD has done a great job working with the 1907
Store in Broken Arrow and we now have a TARC
Store at shop.1907ok.com/tarc where you can order
polo shirts, long sleeved shirts, the original t
shirts and hats with more to come. They’ll have
more of the merchandise at the May TARC meeting
and can be purchased on the spot. Come and
see, bring cash or your checkbook.
The wheels are turning slow…but they are
turning…
The TARC Young Ladies Group is starting slow,
but it is coming together. I’ve contacted some other
YL Groups to find out what their events and
activities are and how they found other interested
YL’s.
At the last Ham University, we had a special session
for YL’s only! They could ask and comment
on whatever ham radio topics they wanted. Only
2 YL’s were there, but it was a fun session and
they came away with some new ham radio
knowledge! Anticipating a full class next time!
TARC has 2 go boxes for club members to
use…and the weather is great!
TARC has 2 HF go boxes and they are really nice!
They have both been on display and have everything
needed to get on the air. One of the go boxes is an
ICOM IC-7200 which is more of a heavy duty radio
and more basic. The other go box is a Yaesu FT-991A
which is a VHF/UHF/HF radio so it’ll have the capability
to work all three bands. They will both be on
display at the May meeting.
The radio was donated by Forrest (Frosty) DeLunger
KC0KFL. Thanks Frosty!!!
Would you like to use it for a POTA activation or just
an afternoon at a local park, contact Paul KE5EHM at
ke5ehm1@gmail.com.
TheNervous Novice CW Net is going strong and
growing…
The net is going very well and band conditions are
improving so wherever you are in your CW journey,
even if you can’t even spell CW, you need to get on
this net. Mike KI5EGH has handed off the reigns of
Net Control to Ky KY5VAR and he does a wonderful
job as Net Control operator and will slow down to
your CW speed if needed so no reason not to join in.
The Nervous Novice CW Net is on Monday evenings
at 1900 hrs on 7.037 MHz +/- QRM.
And we now have CW classes…
Until you feel comfortable on the air with CW, you
can join our new CW class. It’s not unlike the Long
Island CW Club classes. There’s already a class of 6
studying and practicing at least 30 minutes a day and
attending an in-person class once a week with the goal
being to get you on the air, maybe the Nervous Novice
Net, within 6 – 8 weeks. There is a high level of
accountability, but if you put in the time practicing,
the instructor Mike KI5EGH will have you on the
air. You can contact Mike if you have any questions
at KI5EGH@yahoo.com.
Do you like the
new TARC
badge? See Andrew
W5AWS and
bring $2.00.
Of course, it’ll have
your name and
callsign on it. hihi
Things are changing with the W5IAS Weather
Watch…
The W5IAS Weather Watch has merged with the
WX5TUL Weather Net. The W5IAS Weather
Watch is now called the WX5TUL Informal Net.
The WX5TUL Weather Net will not change it’s
name. Stay tuned for more information in the
coming weeks.
As we’ve seen already this year, storms and
strong winds can be here year-round in Oklahoma
so please monitor the Superlink System for the
WX5TUL Informal Net and the WX5TUL Weather
Net and listen for an announcement when severe
weather is forecast. Frequencies for the repeater in
your area can be found at W5IAS.com, click on Repeaters
and scroll down to TARC: Wide-Area Link
System. We had some severe weather in the Superlink
footprint recently and the WX5TUL Informal Net was
on the air for several hours taking check-ins, weather
reports and talking to hams checking the weather in
their area. About 65 hams checked in from all over
Green Country.
The Tuesday TARC Net is going strong and growing…
Until now there has been no net on the third Tuesday
of each month because the in-person meeting was going
on here in Tulsa. Now we can say the TARC net
is every Tuesday evening throughout the year. We
now have Dirk W4IPD in the OKC area that’ll take
over net control on meeting nights. Thanks Dirk!
We’re averaging 50 check ins between NetLogger and
over the air check ins. Ian KC9THI did Net Control
recently and had 64 check ins! A new high!
We give signal reports, answer ham related questions,
give announcements of upcoming ham radio events
and activities and we even have time for some trivia!
Both Ian KC9THI and Grant KC1KCE are doing a
great job as net control operators and David K5TZS
and Brent N5LOL have Netlogger handled. I’m sure
Dirk will be no different! If you can do a once-amonth
Net Control Operator duty and give Dirk a
break once in awhile we’d appreciate it. No big formal
net, just an informal net like we do any other night.
And don’t forget about Club Spotlight…
If you have an event coming up, you need operators
for an event, you have a hamfest or just want to talk
about your club or your station, you can have 5 – 10
minutes on the Tuesday net to reach anyone and everyone
listening on the SuperLink Repeater System.
Just let us know, it’s that simple.
We also have Member Spotlight…
We will also be starting a Member Spotlight segment
at our monthly meetings. Want to talk about your
station or your love for a particular part of ham
radio? Contact Ky KY5VAR and let him know.
He’ll get you scheduled. He’s also starting a
“show me your shack” presentation, so show us
your ham shack!!!
Our partnership with the University of Tulsa
is coming along…
Several of the TARC members made a visit to the
University for one of their Lunch and Learn sessions.
We met with Dr Jussaume from the RF Engineering
Department and several of his students.
Ky KY5VAR, Jeff AE5ME, Robert KI5WDD,
Steve KF5VCQ, Paul WB5ANX and myself were
there to talk about ham radio from a 30,000-foot
perspective and we looked at how we can enhance
their curriculum. There is the possibility
that a ham radio station may be placed on campus
as a teaching aid, for the students to use, as well
as for club members. CJ WW0CJ has been reunited
with the University club callsign, KC5TU.
A remote internet link to the station is also being
discussed.
Every month is a contest month…
Go to ARRL.com, click Contest Calendar, scroll
to Contest Corral, click on the month you want to
check.
Try POTA or SOTA! Call CQ! Go to a local
park, grab one of the club’s go boxes, throw up a wire
and get on the air!
The next regular meeting…
of the Tulsa Amateur Radio Club will be May 21st, 7
PM at TU’s Keplinger Hall Room 3140.
Come on out to the meeting and see all the events and
activities that TARC is planning for Field Day and Ky
KY5VAR will have his Hamvee out front showing his
new antenna system. Quite a cool system.
Come out to the meeting and support your club, the
club officers and those members that give so much of
their time and effort to make TARC active and successful!!!
Thanks!
Be safe, Be a good friend, Get on the air!
Mark WA5MA
President – Tulsa Amateur Radio Club