As I look back on the past year, I see many successes. Thank You, Dan, for your excellent leadership. I’m sure I speak for the entire club when I wish you a speedy recovery. Our thoughts and prayers go out to you.

We have a well-established tradition of conducting a first-class Hamfest (Thanks, Susan). We have a good operating 2-meter repeater (Thanks, Jim), and we have a great tradition of field days, which are fun and educational, with emphasis on Fun! (Thanks, Russ!). New hams are getting their tickets, and "old" hams are upgrading, thanks to the efforts of Walt and friends. Thanks for that consistent hard work. Our club works because you ALL contribute!

The most recent board meeting brought fresh enthusiasm and lots of new ideas. Here are just a few:

• Have the club sponsor (read – pay for) any (board approved) project related to amateur radio that any three or more members would like to work on together. This could be Satellites, ATV, QRP, Microwaves, or Foxhunting to name just a few.
• Put together a portable HF "station-in-a-box" that would be available for checkout to members, as well as field day and emergencies.
• Purchase (or acquire) a 2-meter handi-talkie and donate to the Poulsbo Library for checkout by licensed hams.

One BIG area we need help with soon is planning for Hamfest-98. Right now there is no chairperson. I would like to see two people co-chair this important committee. The important players from last year stand ready to assist and make the transition a smooth one. Won’t you please consider this rewarding position?

The Annual North Kitsap Radio Club Christmas dinner was held on December 10th at Annie’s Garden in the Sheridan Plaza in Bremerton, WA. The dinner was a great chance for the club members to meet and socialize in the spirit of the season. Thanks to John Stilwell, KB7MKG, who made reservations and handled the event.

The club officers for 1998 elected were as noted in the officer box at the head of the newsletter. Congratulations to the new officers and now it’s our responsibility to support them and the club efforts during the year.

How many of you remember the NKARC Off-The Wall Certificate? The certificate was awarded to anyone who had a QSO with a NKARC member on HF. With the prospects of propagation improving within the next few months, it’s time to establish the OFF-THE-WALL net and offer the chance to win the award.

Starting on February 4th and on the first Wednesday of each month thereafter, the net will meet at 7:30 PM local on 28.350 Mhx. This will allow all license classes to qualify for the certificate. The net will be a round table and all are invited to participate. Anyone can start the net by calling "CQ CQ Off-the-Wall-net". Particpants will be added to the list as they check in.

Last year, there was an attempt to start a 10 meter slow speed CW net on 28.125. The purpose of the net was to offer a chance to the tech-plus license holders to increase their code proficiency to qualify for license upgrades. If any are interested in conducting a CW net during or after the SSB net, pass the word and move to 28.125 for the QSO. CQ will be called at 8:30 local on Thursday nights. If anybody is interested, come back to the call.

The NKARC board of officers moved and seconded a motion to change the club meeting schedule. The change is to move the board meeting from the first Wednesday of the month to the hour preceding the business meeting on the fourth Wednesday of the month. This will reduce the number of meetings required of the board members and allow the club members to attend and view what is happening at the board meetings. It also will bring the results of the board meetings to the membership in a much quicker time frame.

1998 HAMFEST ! ! !

Planning for the NKARC 1998 Hamfest is something that should start right now. Susan, AB7LH, did a fantastic job as chairman for the 1997 Hamfest, but she has indicated that she is not available to be chairman in 1998. A new chairman is needed right now. If you are interested or can recommend somebody, please let the president or any of the board members know.

Susan reported that she is preparing an informal document outlining the milestones and procedures for conducting the yearly hamfest.. The hall has been reserved for October 10th so the process has already been started. The board members will serve on the committee as they have in previous years and Susan will also serve on the committee.

The hamfest is one of the two major club events for the year. It has been a success because the club members have participated as fully as they could under chairmen who were willing to oversee the whole function. How about one of you picking up the hammer and be the leader?

The club repeater, KC7OXC, is still operating, but a control operator and coordinator is needed. Josh, KC7PAF, who was the contol operator has moved to Oregon.

The repeater is open and available to all operators. Club members are given access to the auto patch by contacting John, KB7MKG, to get the access codes. We need a coordinator to monitor the operation and to make sure it is in operting condition. It will be the coordinator’s function to get repairs done when required and to look for ways to improve the repeater’s operation.

There has been some discussion about setting up a 10 meter repeater with a 440 Mhz cross link to allow operation by technician class licenses. This would be an interesting project for a repeater coordinator. There are members available to assist. It does not have to be a one-man committee and operation. If you’re interested, step up. Where else can you get to work on ham gear and have somebody else foot the bill?

I woke up one morning last week in a cold sweat. I suddenly realized that when my XYL, Lois (N7ZAD), got her tech license she also got a Federal license to talk. However, Gerry, W7TVA, reminded me that we also have a Federal license to change receiving.

Bob, N7KTP

Change your address?............

Change your license class?..........

Change your call sign?...........

Be sure to notify the secretary, Burt -W7IIT- as soon as possible especially if you were fortunate enough to get that vanity call from the FCC.

Did you ever think about those QSL cards you either had made and sent out or the ones you received confirming QSOs you’ve had? Some were interesting individual designs and some were common off-the-shelf designs available from the QSL card distributors adevertised in QST or other radio publications.

How about making your own QSL cards? With the programs now available for the home PC, it’s not a major task to design and home brew your own QSL card. This month’s presentation will be on that topic. Among the subjects to be covered are:

1. What basic information should go on the QSL card.

2. Supplemental information for the card.

3. Suggested QSL card layouts

4. What software can be use to generate the card.

5. Do’s and Dont’s of QSL card submissions.

6. Using bureaus for QSL card submissions.

If you have interesting QSL cards to show and discuss, bring them to the meeting on January 14th.

Want your newsletter as soon as it comes out of the word processor? If you send your e-mail address to bobtomas@sprintmail.com , I’m willing to mail it out right after the proof reading. Be sure to tell me if you are using an Internet browser or if you will receive the bulletin on an e-mail only account If you want it via packet radio, I’m on the N7WE bulletin board. Send a notice to N7KTP@N7WE.#WWA.WA.USA.NOAM and I’ll send it on a mailing list. I may have to split it into two parts if it is a long one.

Did you hear about the restaurant that was so bad that "carry out" referred to the customers?

Lucky that computers are creating artificial intelligence because we are running out of the real thing.

Word has been received that our immediate past president Dan, N7DVR, has had open heart surgery to replace an aortic valve in his heart and is now home recovering in fine order. The valve was described as a mechanical version and you could it hear it clicking if you stand in back of him. Is this the first step in becoming a mechanical man?

Good luck Dan. Take care. Follow the doctor’s orders no matter what you think and we’ll be thinking about you.

Visit the NKARC Web Page at the URL http//www.silverlink.net/nkarc. There is a wealth of information and capabilities to anybody that checks in. After you get connected, you can get the latest copy of the club newsletter -- "SOLID COPY". A membership application is available to a friend or relative who is interested in joining the club. A description of the KC7OXC repeater and operating instructions are also available.

Click on the handi-talkie graphic and you’ll get a list of links to other web pages giving you an opportunity to connect to the ARRL, FCC, Packet Radio Home Page, AMSAT. Need the QTH of the station you just had a contact with? The QRZ call sign look-up form is available. The links also give the link to the information on the Evergreen Intertie. If you need information on what’s happening in Seattle, click on the Seattle logo. There are also links to some manufacturers including our own Jack, N7OYR, of Shoestring Antenna fame.

Submit your comments to Page master, John (KB7MKG) and let him know what you think. If you know of any interesting links, let him know and he’ll look into them. Give it a try. We are now available world wide.

President John Stilwell, KB7MKG, has volunteered to be the disposal agent for small batteries. John will collect the dead batteries at the meeting and make a periodic trip to the hazardous material disposal site in South Kitsap to deliver the material.

John will not handle old vehicle lead acid batteries. That will still be your responsibility. He will accept alkaline, zinc-carbon, NiCad, lithium, mercury batteries, and gel-cell lead batteries used as power packs for VCRs and that type. Join the crowd and help to keep Kitsap green.

We have made great medical progress in the current generation. What used to be an itch is now an allergy.

The following information is excerpted from the ARRL VE Express (Winter 1997/1998):

Effective January 1, 1998 all amateurs must use the newest FCC Form 620 (dated September 1997) when applying for an amateur license, or license upgrade or for a license modification. All three previous Forms 610 (dated 11/93, 3/95, and 3,97) become obsolete on December 31, 1997.

The new Form 610 includes the new RF Safety certification for license applicants. Be aware that any old 610s received by the FCC on or after January 1, 1998 will have to be returned to the applicant for completion of the new form, plus new signatures.

Form 610 is available from VE team members or from the FCC via the internet at:

<http://www.fcc.gov/formpage.html> or

<ftp://ftp.fcc.gov/pub/Forms/Form610> or

by FCC Fax-on-demand at 202-418-0177 (request Form 000610); or the FCC Forms Distribution Center will accept orders b y calling 800-418-3676.

The following is a QST from Radio Newsline #1063 - 12/26/97:

Congress to force FCC reorganization

The future of amateur radio could lie with a single man in Washington. He's not an FCC official, but he could have powerful influence over how the Commission operates in years to come.

In two years, the FCC could be an entirely different agency from what hams and others know it to

be today. That's the vision U.S. Representative Billy Tauzen has, and as head of the powerful House Telecommunications Subcommittee, Tauzen could make it happen.

The Louisiana Republican lawmaker came to prominence earlier this year when his subcommittee proposed legislation essentially banning scanner radios. In an interview in the broadcast trade publication Radio World, Tauzen says it's time to do away with the old and bring in new ideas at the Commission. Tauzen indicates he'll give the FCC a choice. Either reorganize on its own, or his committee will look into doing it for the agency.

As Tauzen sees it, the Commission's main problem is that it's organized around a 1930 government model promoting heavy federal regulation and monopolies to protect consumers.

But Tauzen says this is a different age. One of government opening up the marketplace to fierce competition and letting consumers be in charge. But Tauzen feels that the FCC still thinks and reacts the old way.

Tauzen's comments seem to suggest that the Commission may be in for another round of downsizing... or perhaps even more deregulation. With Tauzen leading the push, Congress could even take the FCC out of the business of regulating the airwaves, perhaps making the agency function as a spectrum landlord instead.

What effect all this could have on the amateur radio service is unclear.

This is a time, though, when other services pressure the Commission for more freedom. At the same

time, radio amateurs ask the FCC to hold back the hands of time. Hams ask for more rules instead of fewer. They demand stricter enforcement. And they sometimes indicate that they prefer older as opposed to newer technology.

What will the next generation FCC say to all of this? Those answers will evolve only as the shape of the new FCC becomes clearer.

The first steps toward reshaping the FCC could take place soon. Tauzen says if the Commission does not take steps toward self-reorganization, his subcommittee may begin work on its own during the 1998 Congressional session.

(Via Radio World Magazine)

Indecent language ham recordings wanted

A new ARRL Director who has vowed take hams who use indecent language off of the amateur bands says that he wants tape recordings of alleged offenders sent directly to him. Joe Falcone, N8TI says that he will use the recordings as proof to the FCC that the problem is nationwide in scope.

Specifically, N8TI is looking for good quality off-air cassette tape recordings that clearly demonstrate that a violation has taken place. The audio quality must be good enough so that anyone hearing the tape will recognize the language being used without the need to replay it a second or third time. This means using a direct connection to your transceiver or receiver.

Also, make certain to label the tape with the alleged offender's name. Include the location the transmission was recorded, the operating frequency of the station, the date, time of day and the name of the person who recorded it. Send these tapes to:

Joe Falcone, N8TI

9614 Arden Ave.

Livonia, Michigan 48150

(Via Newsline)

Newsline is copyright 1997 & all rights are reserved.

Submitted by Larry Carbaugh N7LUF