PRESIDENTS MESSAGE FOR AUGUST 2008

It’s Party Time! 

Write August 9^th from 10 AM-3PM on your calendar and bring the whole family.  It’s the 2^nd annual BARA Family Picnic!  This is the social event of the season where the family gets a chance to meet and greet other families of BARA members.  It’s a chance for everyone to relax, chat and enjoy visiting with each other.

The venue again is Wood Dale County Park on Prospect Avenue in Woodcliff Lake.  We have the pavilion again and the club will supply all of the hot dogs and hamburgers you can eat as well as condiments and paper cups.  You will have to bring your own drinks (non-alcoholic please).

Please plan on bringing a dish or two to share with the club members.  Just a little dish for your favorite 50-60 people should do it.  There will be some fishing for the kids, food for everyone and absolutely no club business or program scheduled.  Just a day in the sun with friends and some fun games.  As we say at my house “Y’all come down and visit!”

Propagation, The Whole Story 

Several months ago Jerry, NO2T, rushed together a great presentation on propagation software and how to use it.  Jerry finished his presentation to the cheers of club members and this month Jerry gets to do the job properly.

He’s put together a Power Point presentation giving the whole story.  We got such good comments that we asked Jerry to do the whole presentation as it should have been done, had the time been available.

Come to the meeting, enjoy and learn from the man who is on a first name basis with the sun!

It’s What Makes BARA Great! 

Several weeks ago I was contacted by the son of John, W2FUM, and asked if BARA could help his dad.  My answer was not if, but how soon.  John Senior is in his 80s and has been an active ham longer than most BARA members have been alive. 

In recent years his wire antennas have fallen and he cant climb to put them back up.  I was asked could BARA help.  I asked the EC and the group at kit night if they would volunteer to help and immediately a group of our retirees went over to check things out.

There is going to be an antenna party to take some of the brush out of the way, hang new antennas and help John get back on the air.  Nobody ever questioned IF BARA should do it, only how soon they could get started.

This is the kind of spirit that makes BARA a great club.  Nobody knew W2FUM before the request for help and now we have a team about to help a man simply because he is a fellow ham.

Show and Tell Coming Again In September

One of the most popular programs we have had in years was asking members to bring in their projects and show the club what they have built, especially if it was unique.

From a radio controlled submarine to a key found again after 40 years, the club members were wowed at the creativity shown by other members.  September’s program is another round that will show how much fun BARA members have with our hobby and their ingenuity.

VHF Contest In September

It’s time for the fall classic and at our meeting we will have a sign up sheet asking all of you VHF contesters and those who would like to learn, to lend a hand as BARA puts on its best effort in a while.

We need help in putting towers up and operating.  Positions immediately available, immediate seating!  Come sign up.

That’s it from here for the month.  See you at the meeting this coming Sunday and at the Picnic!

-73- Steve Mendelsohn, W2ML

President Bergen ARA