SARA This Week Nov 29 -Dec 6
SARA continues to gather daily via on-the air nets and ragchews. We also gather virtually weekly for an Eyeball QSO Party, a Tech Topic Thursday session, and monthly General member and Board meetings. Although we’d love to gather in-person, our current on-air and virtual gathering plan remains the best choice for the health and safety of all our members.
It’s time for your annual membership renewal.
SARA’s online membership application and renewal forms along with an online payment option through PayPal are now live and ready for use. Online membership renewal can be found at radioham.org/sara-membership-application-renewal-page/. You can also get there by going to radioham.org, click on the “About” menu and then click on “Membership Application” from the dropdown menu. The online forms and multiple payment options streamline the renewal process for members. The SARA Dues year runs January 1 through December 31. Annual full membership dues are $20/yr. Associate (non-voting) memberships are available for non-licensed folks and those who chose at $10/yr. Family memberships start at $30/yr for 2 licensed amateurs in the family plus $10/yr for each additional family member. We ask that family members reside at the same address. Family membership renewals and applications are asked to mail your dues payment as payment via Paypal is not offered for that membership option.
Dues payments may also be sent via mail to:
Stillwater Amateur Radio Association
1618 Pine Street West
Stillwater, MN 55082.Please include your callsign in the Memo for proper tracking in our records.
A SSL certificate has been added to our website to protect your private data. No private data is stored on the website or it’s hosting servers. This ensures that our website protects your personal information when completing the application and renewal processes. Financial transaction security is provided directly via Paypal once you enter Paypal’s payment portal.
Virtual “Ask The Elmers” Q&A Session Thursday Dec 3
SARA has recently gained several new members who are currently unlicensed and in the process of preparing for the Technician license. SARA completed a Technician license class in October and is planning a virtual General License class for early 2021. That leaves a gap in our training schedule and the new members are working independently preparing for a VE exam. They have questions and we, the collective mind, can provide the answers. Our Thursday virtual Eyeball QSO party this week will be the platform for this Q&A forum. Those studying for a new license or license upgrade are encouraged to join the session and the rest of the club is encouraged to join the session to help provide “the collective mind” to help them progress in their studies. So mark your calendars now for 7:00 PM (01:00 UTC) December 3rd for this special “Ask the Elmers” Q&A session live via the SARA Webex conference room. Webex session invites will go out later.
Tech Topic Thursday expands the knowledge base
Technical Topic Session coordinator Mike KFØCCL has been working to line up presenters for technical topic sessions. The next virtual Technical Topic Session December 10 will focus on shack electrical: bonding & grounding, proper wiring, and current NEC. The presenter will be Dick Johnson from PLT Services. Dick is a continuing education electrical instructor as well as being a licensed ham. More details on this Tech Topic Thursday session next week.
Mike has set the January topic “Do’s and Don’ts of Shack Setup” and the presenter will be Tom Gillispie WØTFG. Tom set up his first shack at the age of 13, and has done several more over his 55+ years in the hobby.
Mike is working on a couple future sessions that could include a longtime ham and former Navy radio operator with VLF experience; plus a session on using the MFJ-259/269 series of antenna analyzers with the MFJ factory representative.
Great work, Mike!
This week’s SARA activities
SARA’s on-air and virtual activities are a great way to stay connected with others. These activities provide healthy social contact while maintaining personal distancing.
1. SARA HF Digital Net Sunday Nov 29
Time: 19:00 Central (01:00 UTC)
Frequency: 3.584.15 Look for the net up 500-1000 Hz +/- on your waterfall.
Mode: MT-63/500
2. SARA Top Band Ragchew
Nightly
Time: 20:00 Central (02:00 UTC)
Frequency: 1.966 LSB +/- QRM
Alternates: 21.316 MHz +/- QRM (USB) 50.166 MHz +/- QRM (USB)
3. SARA Monday Morning Ragchew Nov 30
Time: 09:00 Central (14:00 UTC)
Frequency: 3.856 LSB +/- QRM
4. The Lunch Room
Daily (Monday thru Friday)
Time: 12:00 Central
SARA Repeater 147.060+ MHz (DCS/DTCS 026 Normal)
– anyone can open the Lunch Room if the usual host is not there.
5. SARA Two Meter Tuesday (TMT) Round Robin Ragchew Dec 1
Time: 7:00 – ~8:00 pm (or until we finish!)
SARA Repeater 147.060+ MHz (DCS/DTCS 026 Normal)
The Tuesday evening on-air round robin ragchew
An HF Afterglow follows on 160 meters at 1.966 MHz LSB +/- QRM
6. SARA Two Meter Wednesday Round Robin Ragchew Dec 2
Time: 9:00 PM
SARA Repeater 147.060+ MHz (DCS/DTCS 026 Normal)
The Wednesday evening SARA Ragchew on the SARA repeater
7. SARA Virtual Eyeball QSO Party “Ask The Elmers” Thursday Dec 3
Time: 7:00 PM CST (01:00 UTC)
SARA WEBEX virtual meeting room
73!