January 13 RARC Presidents Address

The next Rochester Amateur Radio Club (RARC) monthly meeting is at 7 p.m. this coming Tuesday January 13th in Room EH 109, Endicott Hall, at the UCR/RCTC Campus, in Rochester.

RARC January President's letter

Happy 2009! I'm pleased to have been elected president, and I'll work hard to make the coming year a good one for RARC. Our January meeting is next Tuesday, 1/13, in our usual room, EH 109, Endicott Hall, RCR/RCTC. I'll give this year's first program: Antenna Modeling. Your ideas for programs for the coming months should go to our new VP, Robert KØRDA.

Last year we did some pretty amazing things. In addition to our usual activities, we put together a huge and amazing Field Day weekend, and we put on an Expo that rivaled Dayton in the quality of the talks (though the flea market was smaller).

One of the first things we need to do this year is decide whether we want to do it all again. We already have a Field Day committee headed by Dave KØVH. What do you want our FD station to be? Should it be a competitive contest entry, or a party? (Or both ....)

For the Expo, last year's organizers have formed a committee to recommend whether to put it on again this year, or to let it lie dormant till 2010. Scott Wright has agreed to be chair.

Both the Field Day and the Expo decisions should be a broad consensus in the club, since they require lots of work by lots of people. We'll bring up both these committees at the January meeting, and follow up in February. Consider signing on for one or both. At least write down your wishes and send them to the committee chairs.

Our usual activities need volunteers, too. To keep everything running as it should, we need people to step in and help out. Consider coordinating a public service event, or moderating a Skywarn net. Visit one of the school clubs that we're helping develop. Prepare a program about something you've recently learned.

And above all, have fun!

Peter N8MHD