Dear Fellow Hams,
Spring is nearly here again, at least on the calendar. The Black-capped Chickadees are singing their two note whistled spring song with vigor. I have heard the Pileated Woodpecker's drumming early in the morning just today (March 16th). Signs of approaching spring, even as snowflakes are swirling outside.

The 10th running of the Can Am Sled Dog Races went off as scheduled on March 2 with suitably cold temperatures.  The 146.640 repeater was having time out problems, so the start was called on simplex. We had 23 ham operators involved in the radio communications and I want to thank all of them for a job well done. They were: KW1C, N1FCV, N1ZKA, N1ZBY, KB1EBE, N1KGS, N1QMC, N1ZBX, N1ZHQ, K1ZOR, KA1OOW, KC1SE, WAIYNZ, KA1CQX, VE1PIN, N8VJM, N1JHD, KBIGKY, N1PMS,  N1CHF, N1WRX, and N1FG. Hams covered  control center, the start, the 60 mile checkpoint, the 30 mile safety check, various early spotting places for incoming teams at the finish, the four checkpoints for the 250 and a mobile ham with the Head Vet as far as Machais. Time periods volunteered for this big effort ranged from 4 hours to four days. N8VJM and N1CHF traveled the longest distance to get here. KB1EBE took vacation time to be with us throughout the races. I know everybody gave as much as they could, and I appreciate all of your efforts. 

From what I have heard, communications were the best ever, with timely reporting of the team times.

N1KAT asked for a list of operators for QST. I sent it to him immediately  after his request via e-mail.

The North Star Search and Rescue were interested in our ham radio operations, especially as their communications could not cover the needed distance. Hopefully some them will be licensed hams by next year's race.
                                              N1FG , Gale
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: Tuesday, April 2, 6:30 PM, UMFK Grindle Conference Room.  Please bring, e-mail, or send your ballot.

Called to Order: 19:10
In Attendance:  N1UYA,  N1JHD, N1QMC,
Secretary's Minutes:
Treasurer's Report:  N1HSQ, and VE1PIN have paid their dues.

Have you paid your dues yet? We need you as a member to continue our ARRL Affiliation and to continue the work of the club.

Old Business:
Rocky Mountain: The squeals heard during the races are thought by N1CHF to be caused by the controller mixing with the receiver. Improvement planned for the summer of 2002 should eliminate this problems. The low batteries may mean we have to replace them, but maybe it was just the cloudy weather. They have recovered.

The 146.64 Repeater:  This repeater is accepting no tones, so no inquiries can be made.  N1CHF thinks the time out problem may be a bug in the software. He is trying to duplicate it at home, so he will know how to correct it.
 
 

We discussed the meeting rotation discussed at the last meeting. The only decision was that a meeting on the air is not possible. 

New Business: 
What kind of tower do we need to get 146.640 back in Fort Kent? Ask N1CHF. Can .64 be improved enough in its present location to give the coverage it had when in New Canada?

Elections were not held due to the lack of attendance. A ballot will be included in this letter for return by the next meeting on April 2.
 
 

Next meeting: TUESDAY April 2 , 6:30, Grindle Conference Room. UMFK
Adjourned: 19:55
Submitted by:  N1FG

Jim Grandmaison 04-04       Finn Dummond    04-16
Marty Bernstein    04-12        Wilburn Scott       04-25

I have just received a letter with the rules for a new operating event, The New England QSO Party. It will take place the first weekend of May (4th and 5th), starting at 4 PM after the NH Hosstraders Fleamarket in NH. It will run until 10 PM on the 4th. It will start again at 7 AM on Sunday  and run until 8 PM. 

Tom Frenaye, K1KI, and Bob Hess, W1RH, say it has the potential for a lot more fun and activity. The object is to contact as many New England stations in as many of the 67 counties in New England as you can. They plan to have some mobile hams out to operate in counties where hams may no be active. I will bring the letter to the next meeting, but in the meantime you can look up the rules at www.neqp.org 

If you have any questions after checking the web site ask them at info@neqp.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

* The blood circulates through the body by flowing down one leg and up the other.  * Some people can tell time by the sun, but I have never been able to make out the numbers. * Many dead animals of the past changed into fossils, while others preferred to be oil.