F  E  E  D  -  P  O  I  N  T

The Official Newsletter of the St. John Valley Amateur Radio Association

May, 2010Vol. 20 No.5
Letter From Our President


Today, May 23, it was 86 F. The wind was blowing hard. I had to spray water on the floor of the green house every couple of hours today to give the plants some relief from the heat. I had to water the plants twice today. It is incredibly dry for this time of year. I had to start watering planted areas of the garden last week.


Field Day will be held June 26-27. I have a copy of the Field Day Handbook from the ARRL. The rules are a bit complex. We hope to have a better turnout at the June meeting than we had in May. We need to make final plans at the meeting for our Field Day.





Mike Daigle has been contacted about going up to Rocky Mountain to get the paper work that is in the repeater cabinet to send to K1XI before his trip up here in July. Mike said he would do it, but asked me to remind him often. I do remind him once a week.


Gale Flagg
108 Franklin School Rd
Fort Kent, Maine 04743
Phone: 207-834-6670
E-mail: galeflagg@sjv.net


Next Meeting: Tuesday, June 8, 6:00 PM UMFK Nadeau Hall, Alum Conf RM
Schedule of Coming Events
DateEventPlaceContactSponsorTimeFreq
SUNNetNBVE1PINIRG2000145.130
MONNetFort KentN1FGSJVARA1900146.64
MONNetPresque IsleWA1YNZAARA2000146.73
Page 2Feed-Point, May, 2010
Report of May 11, 2010 SJVARA Meeting


Start Time: 18:07
Members present: N1FRX, KB1OWW, N1FG, W1TCP

Treasurer's Report: Read and commented on by Charles Zafonte. Motion to accept the report made by Peter and seconded by KB1OWW, June. Motion was accepted by all.
Old Balance:$3525.50
Savings Account$3461.42
Deposit of dues$24.00
Interest on Savings:$1.85
Checking Account$54.08
New Balance:$3541.35


Old Business:
1. Rocky Mt.: Voltage 12.54 Volts at 08:16 on May 11.

2. 146.640 Repeater: The 146.64 repeater still has static problem. A strain relief on the coax was suggested for the work session in July.


New Business:

1.Bill Cobb: "For this month I put an article in the FFLA magazine looking for volunteer labor assistance with Rocky. We don't have a plan at this time because we always fall short with manpower. We can fund materials and access other resources to get in to the site, but we still need volunteer manpower. Hopefully in the next month or so, we will know what is achievable for Rocky this year."
2. Field Day We need publicity: N7GLR will be asked to do that. We need to rent a tent and a Port-a-Potty. We will need a grounding rod, surge protectors, generator, tables, antennas, and radios. We discussed food. Grills needed. Hot dogs, rolls, paper plates, cups, plastic utensils, napkins, relish, mustard, and ketchup. Desserts, drinks, potato and/or macaroni salad, and snacks. We also will need some coolers with ice and garbage bags.
We decided the area at the university would be the best. We need to ask permission, and ask if they can put SJVARA Field Day on their sign near the road.
3. AA1XD and K1XI: Tentative date July 8-11. Work on the .64 tower, antenna installation at the ski tow, and a visit to Rocky Mt. They hope for a good group for the tower work.
Next Meeting: Tuesday June 8th. 18:00 hrs. UMFK Nadeau Hall, Alumni Conference Room
Adjourned: Motion to adjourn at 18:51 by N1FRX. Seconded by W1TCP.
Submitted by N1FG
In Case You Are Interested
Old QSL Cards: W9KTB decided to look on the internet for call signs on old QSL cards. When he found one and the address, he wrote a letter to the ham, enclosing the QSL card from him, telling the importance of the card he received and mentioning what had happened since their contact. He got responses from very surprised and very happy hams. He got back some of his 1955 Novice cards. He was glad to know he was not the only packrat of old QSL cards. He said he renewed friendships with hams he had lost track of long ago and it was a feel-good experience for him.
Page 3Feed-Point, May, 2010
The ARRL Field Day Handbook

I have looked through the new 2010 ARRL Field Day Handbook. I am amazed by the number of simple antennas it describes. "Gain without Pain--a beam antenna for field day. Stymied by the lack of a tower or need for an antenna for Field Day? By using low-cost PVC pipe, electrical wire, and coax you can build a variety of delta-loop based beams that you can hang from a friendly tree. The cost? About $5.00 per dB!"

There is a simple, HF-Portable antenna; One stealthy Delta; A portable tri-band yagi; a Moxon rectangle; a ground-coupled portable antenna; and more.


There is also a discussion of modern, quiet, generators. There is a press release that could be sent to the St. John Valley Times. There are safety tips and operating tips. There is a lot of information packed into this handbook. Any body who would like to borrow it, is welcome to it.

For Sale

14-element two meter beam mounted on a 10' tower section with rotor. Best offer over $100.00 N1FG at 834-6670
A Bit of Humor

" A little girl was talking to her teacher about whales. The teacher said it was physically impossible for a whale to swallow a human because even though it was a very large mammal its throat was very small. The little girl stated that Jonah was swallowed by a whale. Irritated, the teacher reiterated that a whale could not swallow a human; it was physically impossible. The little girl said, 'When I get to heaven I will ask Jonah'. The teacher asked, 'What if Jonah went to hell?' The little girl replied, 'Then you ask him'."

F E E D - P O I N T            May, 2010

Published by the St. John Valley Amateur Radio Association
and distributed free to members and friends of Amateur Radio.
President: Gale Flagg N1FG
Vice President: Gil Daigle, N1JHD
Secretary: Sandra Daigle, N1QMC
Treasurer: Charles Zafonte, N1FRX
Public Information: Charles Ames, N7GLR
Technical Advisor: Carl Pelletier, N1EVO and June Despres, KB1OWW
Editor/Publisher/Printer
Gale Flagg - N1FG / Stan Flagg 834-6670
Associate Editor/Web Edition
Charles Ames N7GLR
Membership Information (Annual Dues):
Regular Membership $ 12
Associate Membership $ 6
Articles may be submitted by anyone with a good idea, and may be re-printed
only in their entirety and with credit going to this newsletter.




FEED-POINT
108 FRANKLIN SCHOOL RD
FORT KENT ME 04743