SARA This Week: Sept 5 – Sept 11

Boutwells Landing has advised us of COVID-19 protocols, which are as follows:

All pretty much as we have done in the past, except for the temperature check and registration, which is similar to what we all do when checking in for many appointments these days. Could be a slight bottleneck if a large number of people come in at the same time, but a small price to get back some segment of normality.

Good planning would suggest that we still have a Plan-B in the wings, but we should be OK at Boutwells, unless there is a major change from now to then. Plan B will be holding the meeting outdoors at Autumn Hills Park.

We will test the ability to livestream the monthly meeting via the SARA Webex teleconference room at https://stillwateramateurradioassociation.my.webex.com/meet/w0jh. If we are successful, SARA will invest in sufficient audio & video equipment to provide the best possible experience for those who join us via the Webex option.

The program for this meeting will be a bit flexible. We will spend some time looking at the FCC requirement for documenting RF exposure at your operating location. We’ll also have an open forum to hear from members as to what they have been up to the past eighteen months!

Both the Webex livestream and the RF Exposure discussion will be dependent upon meeting at Boutwells for internet access.

Breakfast before the meeting is at Perkins Restaurant 2050 W Frontage Road in Stillwater, MN 55082

Eyeball QSO Party – Outdoor Sessions

The Thursday Eyeball QSO Party – Outdoor Sessions continue this week with a return to Pioneer Park on the north hill in Stillwater.

Radios in the Park 2021

The final SARA Radios in the Park is Thursday September 23. RITP is held at Valley View Park, 5421 Osgood Ave N in Oak Park Heights starting around 5:30 PM and going until around 8:00 PM.  Reservations for the pavilion have been secured with the City of Oak Park Heights. We are required to follow all State and CDC health and safety guidelines. Please help us comply with these guidelines. Attending the event is your choice.

“Remembering the Edmund Fitzgerald” Special Event Station 2021 

The 17th annual “Remembering the Edmund Fitzgerald” Special Event is scheduled for Oct 29 – 31. The Trail Center at Split Rock Lighthouse State Park has been reserved for the weekend. The Mariner Motel in Silver Bay is the primary lodging, and there is also the AmericInn in Silver Bay and with more lodging choices up and down Highway 61. And tent camping is available at the State Park for the more hardy. More to come as we get closer to the dates.

There is the possibility that we will offer opportunities for off-site operating time slots for SARA members who may wish to operate from home, particularly in the CW and digital (FT8, PSK) modes. Planning for the event will spin up in September after wrap-up work on the White Rock expedition.

Amateur Extra Class License Upgrade Study Group

SARA and the South East Metro Amateur Radio Club (SEMARC) are jointly offering an Amateur Extra Class license study group. The study group is at the “schedule and location determination” point, so there is still time to join the group. If interested, please let SARA Training & Education coordinator Bob WØGAF know via email at WØGAF at radioham dot org.

This week’s SARA activities