SARA This Week Dec 25 – Dec 31
Merry Christmas!
Your SARA update for this week is coming to you a day early on account of Christmas Day!
SARA 2023 Dues Reminder
If you haven’t yet paid dues for 2023, now is the time to do so. Full member dues are $20/yr, and associate member dues are $10/yr. Family memberships are available at $30/yr for 2, $10/yr each additional family member at the same address.
As of the time of this writing (6:30AM 12/24/22) we have 141 members paid thru 12/31/2022. 93 members have paid dues for 2023 (or beyond in some cases.)
A reminder to those granted complimentary associate memberships for passing license exams at our April 2022 VE session, those memberships will expire 12/31/2022. If you have found value with the Stillwater Amateur Radio Association through our New Ham Help and Member Assistance Program, on-air, online, and in-person ham radio activities, and “elmering” from fellow members, please consider supporting SARA by renewing your membership.
You may pay your dues online using Paypal, via mail, or in person at a SARA meeting or activity. To start the renewal process, please go to the SARA Membership application / renewal page and select the form you wish to complete: renewal with no changes or renewal or renewal with updated information. Once you complete and submit the form, you are directed to the payment page with the Paypal link as well as SARA’s mailing address. Please note that a small service fee is added to cover PayPal costs.
SARA CW Study Group
The CW Study Group wraps up the initial 5-week schedule on December 28. Discussion during this session will help shape the plans for the next progression for the group as they continue building their CW skills. Study group sessions are held via Zoom meeting, and each session includes practice time as well as review of CW learning resources and various aspects of equipment used by CW operators.
SARA 2023 Officer Elections
Per the Stillwater Amateur Radio Association By-Laws, Article II: Selection of Board of Directors, Section 1:
“The President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer and the open Director-at-Large position of the Club shall be elected annually by simple majority vote of the members at the Annual Meeting in January. Members’ eligible to vote, but who cannot attend the annual meeting may submit their vote prior to the election in a manner determined by the Board of Directors.”
Note: The Director positions are 2-year terms, each elected in alternating years. One Director will be elected for the 2023-2024 term.
The nominees are:
President: Joe Heitzinger, KCØOIO
Vice President: Bob Jensen, WØGAF
Secretary: Dave Iverson, N9JNQ
Treasurer: Rich Smith, ADØSN
Director ’23 – ’24 Brian Edgell, KØPU
Zack Zaccagnini, AAØU
As we have a contested position, the Board of Directors has chosen to conduct the election via an on-line electronic ballot using SurveyMonkey. Those who are unable to access the electronic ballot will have the opportunity to vote via paper ballot in-person at the January 14th meeting. Voter must be a dues-current for 2023 at the start of the annual meeting for the ballot to be valid. All ballots will be validated when results are tabulated. The SurveyMonkey link will be provided to all members via this weekly bulletin on Sunday Jan 1st. On-line voting will close at 05:59 UTC January 13 (11:59 PM Thursday Dec 12 CST). You may only vote once. Should you cast your ballot electronically, please refrain from submitting a paper ballot at the annual meeting.
SARA POTA Challenge ’22
Just 8 days remain in the 2022 Challenge!
The Legends and Leaders divisions for hunters continues to drive hunters. Those with 500 Hunter QSOs move into the Legends division and the hunters are pushing to reach Legend status for 2022.
Be sure to check POTA spots regularly for activations.
SARA POTA Awards will be presented for both activators (most parks, activations, QSOs) and hunters (most QSOs) in both the Leaders and Legends divisions. The Awards Ceremony will take place at the SARA monthly Meeting on Saturday Feb 11, 2023. The prize plan has been finalized by the Challenge team. Prizes will include certificates and POTA swag.
Bob WØGAF and Brian KB9TBB lead the SARA POTA Challenge and have done a fantastic job bringing this all together. Brian has informed us that he has been able to refine the data collection method he uses to pull data from POTA. This method will be used to collect year-end numbers and determine final placing for 2022.
Early discussions for the 2023 SARA POTA Challenge indicate a few refinements to the program. This will include Modes (Phone, CW, Digital). There will be a fresh focus on providing Activator mentoring opportunities out in the parks. All Challenge participants will start with a clean slate at 00:00 UTC January 1, 2023. The SARA POTA Challenge 2023 is open to all SARA members. 2022 participants are automatically enrolled for 2023. If you wish to join the fun in 2023, drop Bob and Brian an email to let them know you are taking the challenge. Bob’s email is w0gaf at me do com and Brian’s email is kb9tbb at arrl dot net.
This week’s SARA activities
SARA’s on-air and virtual activities are a great way to stay connected with others.
- NO “Sunday Fusion” Digital Voice Hangout this week – Christmas Day
19:00 Central (01:00 UTC)
SARA Repeater 147.060+ MHz (DCS/DTCS 026 Normal)
or connect via WIRES-X to the W0JH-Room 63969
System Fusion digital voice hangout to expand use and familiarity with the digital voice capabilities available on the WØJH repeater. - SARA Top Band Ragchew
Nightly
20:00 Central (02:00 UTC)
Frequency: 1.966 LSB +/- QRM or 3.820 to 3.826 MHz (depending on QRM).
Depending on local propagation conditions, the SARA Top Band Crew may QSY (move) to 75m. Look for us AROUND 3.820 to 3.826 MHz (depending on QRM). Alternates: 21.316 MHz +/- QRM (USB) 50.166 MHz +/- QRM (USB) - SARA Monday Morning 75-meter Ragchew Dec 26
08:15 Central (14:15 UTC)
Frequency: 3.856 LSB +/- QRM - SARA Two Meter Tuesday (TMT) Round Robin Ragchew Dec 27
7:00 – ~8:00 pm Central (or until we finish!)
SARA Repeater 147.060+ MHz (DCS/DTCS 026 Normal)
1st Tuesday is Emergency Power Night – participants are encouraged to operate the stations on emergency power.
The Tuesday evening on-air round robin ragchew
New Feature: the “Ask the Elmer” segment
The group leaders will have a renewed focus on encouraging any and everyone, especially those new to the airwaves, to join the session via the repeater. - SARA “Learning CW” Study Group Virtual Session Wednesday Dec 28
6:45 to 8:30 PM
SARA’s Zoom Teleconference Room - SARA Eyeball QSO Party Thursday Dec 29
6:00 PM to 7:50 PM
Stillwater Public Library Conference Room
224 3rd Street East, Stillwater, MN 55082