Dear Fellow Hams,
Have you noticed what a jungle it is out there? The constant supply of moisture plus a few hot days have spurred the vegetation to great heights. Trying to get into a couple of the vernal pools I monitor is a real challenge. Grasses tower over my head and raspberries are 6 feet high. The moisture has helped the vernal pools retain water longer, giving wood frogs and salamanders a chance to reach adulthood.

Our July 14th meeting-picnic was blessed with good weather. We secured a couple of tables and fireplaces at the Cross Lake Picnic area about 11:00 AM.   N7GLR, KA7VNR, N1FG, and Stan Flagg  were the first arrivals. Previous visitors to the area had left their trash, and animals had scattered it somewhat. A trash bag was found to corral the mess, an empty potato chip bag was used as a glove! 
 

Stan got two fires started and unloaded our canoe. N1JHD, N1QMC, N1ZHQ, N1ZBX, N1CHF, N1CGV, and N1PMS arrived next. The tables were covered with decorative covers, wildflowers in the center. An astounding amount of delicious food was heaped on the tables: hot dogs, hamburgers, chicken, chile, baked potatoes, chips, fruit, juices, sodas, cheese cake with strawberries. Thanks to all for the excellent food you brought.
 

KW1C  arrived and we held our meeting from 12:21 to 12:57. Then we dug into the luscious food. Later N1CHF and N1CGV went canoeing, after N1CHF triumphantly caught a tiny fish with N1FG's dragonfly net. Daigles and Flaggs played card games. N1CHF and N1FG canoed along the shore trying to find K1HOP's camp. 
 

As the afternoon progressed  some of us attempted to walk along the shore, but the water was too high for us to get very far. 
       

The picnic area boat landing was a popular place during the afternoon. Many vehicles, boats, and people. 

It rained on the way home, but not a drop on our picnic. 

Address comments, questions, or suggestions to: 
Gale Flagg, 108 Franklin School Rd.
Fort Kent,  ME 04743
Phone: 207-834-6670
E-mail: galeflagg@sjv.net

Next Meeting: Sunday, September 15th, 11:30 AM, Flagg's house. Followed by a potluck lunch (Hopefully garden corn) and inspection of tower site progress. 

Called to Order: 12:21
In Attendance:  N1FG,  N1JHD, N1QMC, N1CHF, N1CGV, KW1C, N7GLR, KA7VNR, N1PMS, N1ZBX, N1ZQH, Stan Flagg

Secretary's Minutes: Reading of minutes waived.
Treasurer's Report:  June Bal.: $370.98.+ interest .36 + dues $48.00 -$194.45 for repeater parts = July Bal.: $224.89. N1CHF listed the parts that were purchased. Motion to accept by N1CGV, seconded by N7GLR, passed. 

Have you paid your dues yet?   If not, please do.

Old Business:
Rocky Mountain: N1CHF reported: Old repeater now in use: 2 cavities, 2 antennas, old parts strung together. (Still requires any single tone to activate it.) New one is one complete radio, a Mitrek transceiver with transmit and receive, which will be more reliable. Duplexers instead of cavities. The new one being tested now in Fort Kent has N1FG as the call sign.
The 146.64 Repeater:  N1CHF  reported: upgraded the new software to eliminate the time out and fixed many little bugs . (How did it work with all those little bugs?) When you first key up the repeater there are two characters after the call sign which tell the peak battery voltage. 

The new site was discussed at length. Wood cutting to clear the site will start soon. (This was completed on July 30th.) Ledge or soil will determine how the base is done. Anchors were discussed. A solar controller needs to be ordered. (It has been ordered.)

Thanks to N1CHF: Appreciation expressed to N1CHF for his continual work on both repeaters. TNX, Steve.

146.640 Call sign: KW1C will try to check with W1TCF about continuing to use his call sign.

New Business: 
August Meeting: It was decided not to hold an August meeting, due to wedding activities for two children of members, and N1FG gone for three weeks. (My trip was canceled by UMFK! N1FG ). The next meeting will be in September at the Flagg residence with inspection of the tower site.
Rocky Mt. Antenna: Decent gain vertical antenna needed for new Rocky Mountain Repeater. A Hustler will be available.
Next meeting: Sunday, September 15, Flagg Residence, 11:30 AM. Hopefully, we will have garden corn for you. 

Adjourned:  12:57
Submitted by:  N1FG

An anonymous donation of $300 has been given to the club to be applied to new tower sections. Thanks very much to you, whoever you are.
Any size donation will be appreciated by the club. We still need to purchase guy wire, clamps, thimbles, turnbuckles, and grounding materials. 

If you don't remember what this is all about, reread page 3 of the June Issue of Feed-Point.

As mentioned earlier in this issue, all the trees have been cut from the site. The pay back for having this done is a good supply of firewood. 

N1CHF and Stan have made the three forms for the guy wire anchors.  Rebar was purchased, cut, bent and wired to fit in the forms. The anchors were ordered from Texas Towers and came promptly. They sent 3-hole equalizers instead of 5-hole.  They issued a call tag for the 3-hole, and we await the 5-hole equalizers, which were backordered.

The next step is to have an excavator remove the stumps and find out what we have under the base area. No predictions as to when, but the excavator is overdue by 3 weeks. May be here August 3 and 4. 

The grounding system must be planned. August QST has an article about grounding towers, so we will consult that. 
 

Anybody who can help with labor, money, or materials, please contact us.  Thanks to those who have put time and money into this project so far. 

The ARRL New England Division Convention will be held August 23, 24, & 25 in Boxboro, Mass.  Flea Market, DX Dinner, Level 1 Emergency.

Communications Course and Test, Address by ARRL President, and more.   For more information:  www.boxboro.org
 

N1YQU For Sale Items:
I have a Yaesu FT 840 HF Transceiver  good on 160 through 10 meters. Excellent condition. Three years old. Great for a new hams first radio or make a good second rig for someone. Asking $400 with stock mike.
Don Peary, N1YQU

Heavy duty 40' galvanized steel tower, 16" x 16" x 16". Includes mounting hardware. Best Offer. 
Heil BM-10 microphone boom set   $35.
MFJ 451X  keyer  $35 Contact Charles Zafonte N1FRX  834-6273

* Buy one dozen free and get another half dozen.  * We larger people have to wear darker sizes. * In an NPR interview on kosher slaughtering: Killing an animal while it is still alive is unacceptable. * Weather forecast by a TV STation: Severe Thunderstorm watch until 4:30 this afternoon. Stay inside. Do not use electrical appliances. Please stay tuned for further information.