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FEED-POINT |
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The Official Newsletter of the Saint John Valley Amateur Radio Association |
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June 2004 Vol. 14 No. 5 |
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Letter From Our President
Dear Fellow Ham, We need to have someone familiar with the set up go up to Rocky Mountain to check the water level in the batteries. If they go dry again we will have to replace them again. Hope somebody will volunteer soon. |
We need to have someone familiar with the set up go up to Rocky Mountain to check the water level in the batteries. If they go dry again we will have to replace them again. Hope somebody will volunteer soon.
Next Meeting: TUESDAY, July 13, Alumni Conference Room, Nadeau Hall, UMFK, 6:00 PM |
| Date | Event | Place | Contact | Sponsor | Local Time | Frequency |
| Sunday | Net | NB | VE1PIN | IRG | 20:00 | 145.13 |
| Monday | Net | Fort Kent | N1FG | SJVARA | 19:00 | 146.64 |
| Monday | Net | Presque Isle | WA1YNZ | AARA | 20:00 | 146.73 |
| Page 2 Feed-Point, June, 2004 |
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Report of June 8, 2004 Meeting Called to Order:
18:10 Old Business: 2. Loon Echo Bike Trek looking for ham operators to help on Sept. 25th in Bridgeton, Maine. If you are interested, email me (N1FG), and I'll return to you the contact information. |
Program:
Weather Spotting in The St. John
Valley:
Mike Fitzsimmons (KB1ELT), Senior NWS Forecaster, and Alex Calderon,
Meteorologist Intern, presented the program with slides and drawings.
Though Doppler Radar has improved the lead times for storm warnings, we were told that eyes are still more important than anything radar shows. That is why the NWS wants to train spotters how to interpret the cloud formations of thunderstorms. Thunderstorms are classified as Single Cell, Multi Cell (very common), and Super Cell which is the most dangerous and is long lived, showing rotation. It can spawn tornados. At first a thunderstorm is all updraft and is bright white. No hail at this time. As the updraft goes higher the cloud over shoots at the top and a down draft is formed. The storm is moving in the direction of the way the top shoots over. Icing occurs at 15,000' and higher. The formation will turn greenish and hail is likely.
Continued on page 3
Adjourned: ???? Submitted by: N1FG |
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In Case You Are Interested:
Alkaline vs. Heavy Duty Batteries: de KI4RK: Alkaline batteries can
produce corrosive liquids as batteries age and discharge. With
Heavy Duty batteries chemicals tend to dry up as batteries age and
discharge. Equipment used infrequently is safer with Heavy Duty
Batteries.
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HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
Dean Wiggins 7-4
Peter Pelletier 7-23
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| Page 3 Feed-Point, June, 2004 |
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Weather Spotter Training continued
If a severe thunderstorm watch is issued it means
winds of 58 mph are possible, as well as hail 3/4" or larger.
We learned about squall lines composed of shelf clouds with a linear structure that can be a hundred miles long. Hail is often formed, and straight line winds are strong, 40 - 50 mph. A fast drop in temperature and strong rain are other characteristics of a squall line. We saw a lot of slides of storm clouds of different types. We also saw how a storm becomes self sustaining when cool down draft air pushes under warm air forcing warm air back up into the cloud formation. The cool air acts like a plow on the warm air. It is is too bad more people were not present to absorb this interesting information. At this point in the program I (N1FG) had to leave, reluctantly. It was the first night that met all the criteria for doing our second Calling Amphibian run up by Michaud Farm. We had waited 10 days for the perfect night! The next part of the program was about lightning safety. |
Lightning Safety
June 20-26
was Lightning Safety Week. The following information comes from :
www.lightningsafety.noaa.gov
I
recommend you check out the site for more detailed information.
Lightning strikes as
far as ten miles from rainfall, including ten miles ahead of the
storm. Many deaths and injuries occur because people wait until the
last minute to seek shelter. If
you can hear thunder, you are in danger and should seek shelter in a
closed building or hard top car immediately. Ten percent of
lightning strikes occur in a clear sky.
If outdoors, get out of or away from water, stay away from groups of people, stay away from trees. If no building is available stay in the lowest place and crouch down. Stay away from trees. Indoors, don't use the phone, which is the leading cause of indoor lightning injuries. Stay away from water pipes, and metal objects. Don't lean on concrete walls that have metal rebar. Don't lie on a concrete floor because they have metal inserts too. |
For Sale Heavy duty 40' galvanized steel tower, 16" x 16" x 16". Includes mounting hardware. Best Offer - N1FRX |
A Bit Of Humor
Court Jests collected by Richard Lederer:
DEFENDANT: Judge, I want you to appoint me another lawyer. JUDGE: And why is that? DEFENDANT: Because the Public Defender is not interested in my case. JUDGE: (to Pub. Def.) Do you have any comment on the defendant's motion? PUBLIC DEFENDER: I'm sorry, your Honor, I wasn't listening.
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| Page 4 Feed-Point 2004 |
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FEED-POINT: Published by the St. John Valley Amateur Radio Association |
FEED-POINT
108 FRANKLIN SCHOOL RD.
FORT KENT, ME 04743