Dear Fellow Hams,

    The last time I wrote, a blizzard was raging. KC1SE and N1CHF were both driving up from south of here that  day, and both hoped hoped they would never have to drive in conditions like that again.  Hopefully neither had to drive yesterday afternoon, because it was snowing so hard that visibility was about 500 feet from inside the house, and about 10 feet on the snowmobile!  It was snowing an inch and a half an hour for a couple of hours, and then the wind started blowing and it really changed the terrain in about twenty minutes.

     In the afternoon in town in Fort Kent, one person reported not being  able to drive on side streets and people were getting out of vehicles to help push stuck cars.  Over in St. Basile, New Brunswick, VE9RMD called his wife VE9MSD to say he was stuck and needed a tow truck. He thought he would have to stay in town and not go home. There were at least 14 inches of new snow in St. Basile.

     The big storm raised havoc with 2 meter transmissions. I could not get into the 145.130 repeater in Riceville for the weather net. Also, I could not get into 146.730  until mid afternoon, when I made brief contact before being shut out.  By evening whatever was causing the blockages had moved on, and both repeaters were accessible.

       The 146.640 repeater will be used for reporting all the starts, and for the finish of the 30 & 60 , and 250 mile races. When the switch is made to Rocky Mountain for the 250 checkpoints, net control will announce that frequency for the benefit of the scanner listeners.

                                                73, N1UYA

        Ballots For the Election will be sent by mail to all members. Bring them to the meeting or mail them to the address below by March 1.

Address comments, questions, or suggestions to: 
Gale Flag  R.F.D.#3  Box 250
Fort Kent  ME 04743 
Phone: 207-834-6670
E-mail: galeflagg@sjv.net

Called to Order: 18:35 by N1UYA

In Attendance: N1UYA, N1CGV, N1JHD, KW1C, N8VJM, N1QMC, N1PMS, N1ZBY.

Secretary's Minutes: Motion to waive reading  by N1PMS, and  seconded by N1QMC.   Motion passed.

Treasurer's Report :  Balance $496.51; + $1.05 interest. New Balance $497.56. Report given by N1CGV, because of the absence of N1CHF.  Motion to accept by N8VJM, seconded by N1QMC (passed).

Old Business: 
Rocky Mountain Report: N1CHF reports that the batteries are charging fine and there should be no problem using the 146.715 repeater for the Can -Am Races on March 4-7.

New Business: 
Elections: N1UYA asked if it would be possible and desirable to distribute ballots online for the elections at the annual meeting next month.  N8VJM pointed out that this would result in accountability issues that 

Can-Am Communications: It was suggested by the floor that an attempt should be made to increase the number of people working in central.  Evening shifts will need coverage as well as Monday morning.  All other shifts in control are covered.  Communications for the start and finish of all races will be conducted on 146.640- with the communications for the intermediate legs of the race being conducted on 146.715-.  Violette Settlement may be covered by phone.  N1UYA will contact W1BTP concerning his possibly working a shift in control.  N1UYA contacted N1YGM who stated that he cannot attend due to work but would like to in the future. 

Next meeting:  MON 13 MAR 2000, 1830 EST at UMFK, Grindle conference room. This will be our Annual Meeting

Adjourned @ 19:32 EST by N1UYA with no objection from the floor.

Program: Letter from K1HEL and a short look at the new CW requirements (by N1UYA).

Submitted by: N8VJM

 6 Meter DX Activity is the best in decades. In mid December there were openings from Alaska and Hawaii to the eastern US, and New Zealand to New England. The approaching peak of sunspot cycle 23 has opened up wintertime F2 propagation. The "magic band" is being compared to  record setting openings in the 1959 solar peak.

Novice License: Upgrading to General :Before April 15th---Take element 3A for instant upgrade to Tech Plus, and take Element 3B for credit that will allow you to apply for General after April 15th with no further exams.

Technician No Code: Pass Element 3B before April 15th, and you will have 1 year to pass 5 wpm code and apply for the General License..

Technician Plus: Pass Element 3B before April 15th, and apply for General License with no further exams after April 15th.

Tech Plus "Grandpappy": If you got your Tech license before March 21, 1987, you have all you need if you present proof after April 15th for the General Class License. You must request upgrade before operating as a General.

Advanced: Pass Element 4B before April 15th. Then apply for Extra License after the 15th.

Extra: You have all the amateur privileges there are and can brag that you  passed your test "back when it was a real man's or woman's exam."

If you do not pass the required exams before April 15th, you will have take the new tests with more questions. Good Luck to all those upgrading!
 
Information from Feb. CQ. Excerpted by N1UYA

Heavy duty 40' galvanized steel tower, 16" x 16" x 16". Includes mounting hardware. Best Offer.

Pair of stacked 7-element beams for 10 meters. Best Offer.

Heil BM-10 microphone boom set   $35.

MFJ 451X  keyer  $35

Contact Charles Zafonte N1FRX  834-6273

Here are some mondegreens---The mishearing of oft used words resulting in a misinterpretation. Most often heard from children.
 1. "The ants are my friends" for The answer , my friends, is blowing in the wind." 
 2. A composite of the mondegreened  Lord's Prayer: Our Father, Art, in heaven, Harold be Thy name. Thy King done come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven, Give us this day our jelly bread and forgive us our press passes, as we forgive those who press past us. And lead us not into Penn Station, But deliver us some e-mail.