F  E  E  D  -  P  O  I  N  T

Spring is here! So says the calendar. Our big vernal pool has a tiny bit of open water near the inlet and the outlet. Some shrub buds are beginning to swell. If you talk to anyone in the deep south (Louisiana) on the radio, you know that spring really is there. Their yards are ablaze with azaleas, petunias, and bridal wreath, but they are still waiting for the pecan trees to blossom before they set out tomatoes. In Orlando, Florida, tomato plants are covered with flowers. I tell them they have it easy down there!

The Can-Am Crown Sled Dog Races were blessed with fine weather. It would have been better if it had been a bit colder. The trails were in good shape. The lack of soft snow on the trails led to the fastest ever overall race. Maibec checkpoint was ready to close down at 8:30 Monday morning, hours ahead of usual. The last 250-mile teams finished before 5:00 AM on Tuesday. In past years, we sometimes had a team coming in when the awards banquet was starting!

Thanks to the great help from twenty-five amateurs, the ham radio communications went smoothly. We are greatly appreciative of their efforts and all the time they contributed. Our helpers came from the Presque Isle-Mars Hill areas, mid-Maine, Southern Maine, and Edmundston, NB. You will find a list of the participants on page 3.

The SJVARA held a testing session on March 18th at the NMMC, Fort Kent. The three VEC's in attendance were KW1C, N7GLR, and N1FG. N7GLR sent for the testing materials and put the public notice in the St. John Valley Times. He had everything well organized for the test. We started in the Tao Conference Room, but it seemed quite crowded. KW1C checked the library, found it empty, and we went there. That way the three individuals testing could have plenty of space. Congratulations to N1EVO and WB1FTK for their upgrade to Extra Class. Congratulations to Luke Dyer for passing the Technician test to become relicensed.

After the testing was completed, KW1C, N1EVO, and N1FG visited W1TCF, hospitalized on March 16th. He was in good spirits and happy to hear about the testing. We wish him a speedy recovery.

1. W1TCF call sign on the repeater: N1CHF has sent the sequence for changing the call sign. N1FG wanted to name KW1C as Trustee and use his call sign. The group decided it would make more sense to use N1FG as trustee and use her call sign since the repeater is on her property. The change will be made soon.

2. Can-Am Crown Races Great Job done by all participants. N7GLR made certificates of appreciation for all involved. Given to N1FG at the meeting. (They were all signed and mailed or delivered on March 16th. Some appreciative e-mails have been received from people about their certificates.) Thanks to N7GLR.

3. NWS Weather Spotter Training Request The NWS was not able to present their weather spotting training sesion at this meeting. They have requested May 2. The group agreed to change their May meeting from May 9 to May 2 and have the the NWS Training Course for the meeting. Mark your Calendars. There will be new information and information about setting up nets and reporting. Invite anyone else you think might be interested.

4.Nominations President: N1FG; Vice President, N1QMC; Secretary KA1SJV; Treasurer: N1FRX; Publicity Officer: N7GLR; Technician: N1EVO; E-mail ballots will be sent to those who have paid their dues.

5. N1CHF Thank You Note: N1CHF sent a thank you note saying that the flowers sent by the club were a special tribute to Cheryl, because ham radio and the club were such a big part of her life. There was a discussion of what we could do using N1CGV as a tribute to Cheryl. Maybe a lending library of ham books. N1FRX called for a moment of silence for the silent key, N1CGV.

Program: N1FG passed around some photos of ham equipment used during the dog races and presented a short slide show of Can-Am 2006 photos.

Adjourned: 19:06

Submitted by N1FG.

After the races some comments were made about ways to improve communications. The possible interference from the forestry frequency can be taken care of with better shielded coax, and by moving our antennas further away from the forestry antenna.

AA1XD hopes to get APRS working up here this summer from our tower, using a separate solar charging system for it. This could be a backup for the repeaters.

We will also try to get a better antenna system for the 60-mile checkpoint.




Kong Kode
Taken from the March QST

"In the 2005 version of the movie King Kong, during one scene one can copy the words The MONKEY as the ship's operator is receiving a message. Of course, Kong was an ape, not a monkey, but let's not be picky." Art Trampler, KC2G, Springfield, Missouri.



HAPPY SPRING!