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Greetings all and welcome to 2022, celebrating GCARC's 63 years of service to Amateur Radio, and the local community. I am sure that the founders of this Club would have had no idea of the accomplishments that we have made, or that the Club would even be around for this long, but if they were here today, I am sure that they would be impressed. I know that I am, and I am grateful for another year at the helm. And of course I thank all of you for trusting me with that opportunity. We have continued to grow, attracting new members in spite of the many other distractions of today's high tech world. It seems that Amateur Radio still has some things to offer, among a wide variety of interests, and GCARC is leading the way among clubs in our region in trying to address so many of those things.
We have big plans for this year, many of which are ongoing projects, like the grounding project, and some of which are in response to a sudden need, like the restoration of our storm-ravaged antenna systems. We also have some newer projects that we are undertaking, like the VARA FM Winlink project, and some long range projects like improvements to the 2 meter repeater antenna. All of these will require a lot of participation from the membership, but I know that we will get it all done. When I see our members doing these projects it is clear to me that it is a labor of love, and not a chore for them. And that is the reason why we continue to excel as a Club. Sure, it is a lot of work, but the rewards are immense, and really increase the enjoyment of the hobby for so many of us.
By the time you read this, our licensing classes, led by Chris Prioli AD2CS, will be well under way. The response to these classes has been encouraging, and hopefully it will be something that we can continue to do in the future. The classes have already produced a surge of new member applications, and we are well on our way to matching our all-time high membership numbers of some 30 years ago. For those who say that ham radio is dead, or that clubs are dead, I give them this as evidence that they are just plain wrong. GCARC is growing the club, and doing our part to grow the hobby.
It looks like Solar Cycle 25 is off to a good start, just two years after it officially kicked off. The Solar Flux Index is peaking above 100 with increasing frequency, and 10 meters is opening to Europe once again. If you have been putting off getting on the air and working some DX, do not wait too much longer, or you may be missing some good opportunities to bolster your DXCC numbers. Speaking of which, I am still searching for a DX Chairman to report on openings, expeditions, and awards at our monthly meeting. If you are a DX enthusiast who would like to take this on, please contact me via email. With the sunspots on the way up, this will be an interesting and fun assignment for you.
This month we welcome new members Earl Moore, KC2NCH; Michael Resnick, N2WOQ; Courtney Smith, KD2SPJ; and James Ticino, KD2PZQ. I am also very pleased to welcome, as returning members, Past President Beth Barnish, KB2EAL, and her OM Jerry Barnish, WB2CAK. Welcome all and glad to have you with us this year.
That is about all I have for now. I hope everyone had a safe and happy holiday season, and I wish you all good health and prosperity throughout the new year. See you at the meeting on January 5th at the Pfeiffer Community Center in Williamstown! 73 for now.
de K3TS
We have big plans for this year, many of which are ongoing projects, like the grounding project, and some of which are in response to a sudden need, like the restoration of our storm-ravaged antenna systems. We also have some newer projects that we are undertaking, like the VARA FM Winlink project, and some long range projects like improvements to the 2 meter repeater antenna. All of these will require a lot of participation from the membership, but I know that we will get it all done. When I see our members doing these projects it is clear to me that it is a labor of love, and not a chore for them. And that is the reason why we continue to excel as a Club. Sure, it is a lot of work, but the rewards are immense, and really increase the enjoyment of the hobby for so many of us.
By the time you read this, our licensing classes, led by Chris Prioli AD2CS, will be well under way. The response to these classes has been encouraging, and hopefully it will be something that we can continue to do in the future. The classes have already produced a surge of new member applications, and we are well on our way to matching our all-time high membership numbers of some 30 years ago. For those who say that ham radio is dead, or that clubs are dead, I give them this as evidence that they are just plain wrong. GCARC is growing the club, and doing our part to grow the hobby.
It looks like Solar Cycle 25 is off to a good start, just two years after it officially kicked off. The Solar Flux Index is peaking above 100 with increasing frequency, and 10 meters is opening to Europe once again. If you have been putting off getting on the air and working some DX, do not wait too much longer, or you may be missing some good opportunities to bolster your DXCC numbers. Speaking of which, I am still searching for a DX Chairman to report on openings, expeditions, and awards at our monthly meeting. If you are a DX enthusiast who would like to take this on, please contact me via email. With the sunspots on the way up, this will be an interesting and fun assignment for you.
This month we welcome new members Earl Moore, KC2NCH; Michael Resnick, N2WOQ; Courtney Smith, KD2SPJ; and James Ticino, KD2PZQ. I am also very pleased to welcome, as returning members, Past President Beth Barnish, KB2EAL, and her OM Jerry Barnish, WB2CAK. Welcome all and glad to have you with us this year.
That is about all I have for now. I hope everyone had a safe and happy holiday season, and I wish you all good health and prosperity throughout the new year. See you at the meeting on January 5th at the Pfeiffer Community Center in Williamstown! 73 for now.
de K3TS
This 24-hour (every January 1st from 0000 UTC through 2359 UTC) event is not a contest; rather it is a day dedicated to celebrating our CW heritage. Participants are encouraged to get on the air and simply make enjoyable, conversational CW QSOs. The use of straight keys or bugs to send CW is preferred. There are no points scored and all who participate are winners.
Happy Birthday, Ben : January 17, 1706