BARC Clubhouse & Communications Center

Sugarcreek Elementary School, Rooms 1 & 3 Lower Level

51 South East Street, Bellbrook

Talk-in on BARC 147.045(+) Repeater & 147.405 Simplex

Fred will present a photo review of BARC’s 2010 Field Day Exercise.

The presentation will include photos taken by several Club members and guests.

Highlighted will be people, operating positions, station equipment, people,

antennas, antenna support structures, people, food, generators,

solar cells, people, the picnic, banners and signage.

Oh, and did I mention . . . people?

So, be sure to attend – you might be one of the stars of the show!!

By BARC Secretary Ed Kulesa K2VEE

The meeting was called to order at 7:30 PM by Club Vice-President Darryl Fowler, KD8JQE in the absence of President Chris Stauter with 21 members and guests present.

Program "The 2010 Ohio QSO Party" by Ken Silverman, K2KW

Ken explained the details of this year’s Ohio QSO Party - to be held on August 28 beginning at 1200 and ending at 2400 hours EDT. This annual event includes all 88 Ohio counties and can be operated from fixed or mobile sites on all the ‘main’ 80m to 10m bands. Ken reviewed the exchange of information for both Ohio and non-Ohio contacts.

Minutes of the June 17 Meeting, as published in the June newsletter, were accepted and approved by unanimous vote.

Treasurer’s Report By Dave Walton, WD8GCR

* Restricted Funds for Comm Center antenna system components.

Dave reported that this year’s Field Day expenses were $221.65. The treasurer’s report was then accepted and approved by the membership.

Darryl reported that the Lion’s Parade invitations have been mailed and some returns have recently been received. Work on the parade lineup will begin in earnest as the returns accumulate.

Clubhouse Committee by Darryl Fowler, KD8JQE

At the last Clubhouse Committee meeting, held on July 9^th, the following items were discussed:

• Fabrication of the operating position cubicles is nearing completion. A work party will be scheduled soon to install the panels.
• The proposed antenna system, antenna support structures, grounding and lightning protection. Further work will commence soon.
• A general policy and procedures for accessing and using the Club Communications Center.
• Criteria and priorities for using the "main" meeting room by BARC and other users.
• An Open House in conjunction with the Ohio QSO Party to inaugurate BARC’s new Clubhouse & Communications Center.

Education Report by Fred Stone, W8LLY

Fred reported that a GCARES Level 1 Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Course (ARECC-1) will begin July 25 and that the Fall license courses will begin September 12. Further information and details are in the July Newsletter.

Repeater Report by Henry, W8TOG

The repeater is currently operating well. Next month there will be a rearrangement of all of the BARC repeater equipment, including the 400-Ah backup battery system, into a single equipment rack.

Tables We all know there is a continual need for folding tables for Field Day operating positions, classroom arrangement, and work surfaces for club projects – to mention just a few. To stem this continuing problem, Jack Cotterman (W8NRO) spent the time and funding needed to acquire ten folding tables and donated them to the Club. We all owe Jack a hearty "Thank You" from all Club members for this donation. THANKS!!, Jack.

The meeting was adjourned at 8:23PM

The 64^th annual Bellbrook Lions Festival will open Thursday evening, August 19, and run nightly through Saturday, August 21. Kicking off the Festival activities on Saturday will be the annual Bellbrook Lions Festival Parade that starts at 4 PM.

Providing communications support for the Lions Festival Parade has been an annual activity of BARC since the club was founded in 1976.

BARC members will gather at 2:30 PM at the Bellbrook Community Church parking lot on the corner of West Franklin Street and Vemco Drive to pick up an assignment, a safety vest and a parade line up sheet. BARC personnel need to be at their assigned posts by 3:00 PM to assist parade participants in finding their lineup positions.

In addition to helping line up the parade, BARC radio operators provide support communications for parade officials and coordinate with public safety officials (Police/Fire/EMS) for safety and security concerns.

BARC’s primary simplex frequency (147.405 MHz) will be used for parade operations and the BARC 2m Repeater (147.045+) will be used for Talk-In.

After the parade, join some of your fellow BARC members on the Festival Grounds behind Sugarcreek Elementary School for dinner. The Lions Club puts on a very delicious, reasonably priced dinner under a big tent. Also on the grounds are the Festival Games, rides, entertainment, BINGO and…more food. Instead of the raffle for a car, the grand prize this year will be $10,000 cash.

The next Greene County Amateur Radio Emergency Service (GCARES) meeting will be August 23 (4^th Monday), 7:30 PM. All Greene County hams are encouraged to be Active members of GCARES.

A BARC Clubhouse & Communications Center Open House will be held Saturday, August 28, from 1:00 to 4:00 PM. Announcements will be disseminated via the various email lists, web sites, nets, etc. Invitations will be sent to local served agencies, elected officials and Friends of BARC.

This Open House will mark the inaugural event for the BARC Communications Center. At least one of the four stations will be operational working in the Ohio QSO Party. More stations may be operational pending installation of additional HF antennas.

The purpose of the Open House is to introduce to the ham community, served agencies, elected officials and others the facility BARC is establishing for a meeting place, a training center and a four station Emergency Communications Center. The Comm Center normally will be available for individual use and for individual or group contesting activities in addition to always being readily available to provide auxiliary communications support for the Bellbrook-Sugarcreek Township community and for Greene County and area-wide served agencies in times of disaster or communications emergencies.

This Open House event is coordinated jointly by the Clubhouse Committee Chairman Darryl Fowler, Activities Coordinator Todd Rardon, Clubhouse Manager Jim Lusk and Station Manager Ken Gunton.

Plan now to attend this event and invite your family and friends to attend also. Refreshments will be served. Open House hours: 1:00 to 4:00 PM).

The BARC Comm Center will commence operation in the Ohio QSO Party at 1200 (noon local) and continue after the Open House for as long as members desire to operate. The Ohio QSO party ends at 2400 (midnight local).

The Greene County Amateur Radio Emergency Service (GCARES) started an ARRL Level 1 Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Course (ARECC-1) on Sunday evening, July 25, which runs weekly through August 22.  A VE conducted test session for ARECC Level 1 Certification will be held on August 29.

The Greene County FALL 2010 Amateur Radio License Courses will begin Sunday, September 12, 7:00-9:00 PM. The location for each of the courses has now been determined.

The BARC Clubhouse and Communications Center (and Training Center) has been identified as the new location for the Technician Class Course. This site also offers a great opportunity for demonstrating various radio principles and techniques for prospective new hams.

(Note: The Beavercreek Township Fire Department Administration Building Training Room previously used for the Technician Class course has been remodeled and dedicated for use by the Beavercreek Township Trustees and no longer is a feasible site for training courses.)

Beavercreek Township Fire Department Station 1 on Dayton Xenia Road will be the location for the General Class Course and also for the November 14 Test Session.

Fairborn Fire Station 2 is slated for closing due to current budgetary constraints. However, Extra Class Coordinator Jim Bishop has learned that we may continue to use that site for the Extra Class Course.

Your help is needed to help recruit prospective new hams—especially young people. Please talk with family and friends about taking the Technician course and becoming a ham. And, of course, all current Technician Class licensees are encouraged to consider upgrading to General Class.

The Fall Test Session is scheduled for November 14 at the BTFD Station 1 Training Room.

These Greene County amateur radio license courses and the test sessions are sponsored jointly by the three Greene County amateur radio clubs (BARC, UVARC and XWARN) and GCARES.

Besides enjoying good food, fun and fellowship, we have some good discussions about ham radio technical and operational interests, among other current topics of the day. Come join us!

The garbage bag is often overlooked as one of the most practical single item available in an emergency deployment. Not only can it protect you and/or your equipment from a variety of weather situations, it also facilitates carrying items ranging from your most valuable equipment to trash. The typical garbage bag weighs less than an ounce, occupies little more room than a business envelope and costs pennies. Thus, be sure to include several garbage bags in your go-kit and Be Ready!

Suggested by John Kountz, KE6GFF/T6EE, Chief Radio Officer, Laguna Beach (California) Emergency Communications Team.

I am an Amateur Radio operator and on the day of the accident, I was working alone on the top section of my new 80 foot tower. When I had completed my work, I discovered that I had, over the course of several trips up the tower, brought up about 300 pounds of tools and spare hardware. Rather than carry the now unneeded tools and material down by hand, I decided to lower the items down in a small barrel by using a pulley, which was fortunately attached to the gin pole at the top of the tower.

Securing the rope at ground level, I went back to the top of the tower and loaded the tools and material into the barrel. Then I went back to the ground and untied the rope, holding it tightly to ensure a slow decent of the 300 pounds of tools.

You will note in Block 11 of the Accident Report Form that I weigh only 155 pounds. Due to my surprise of being jerked off the ground so suddenly, I lost my presence of mind and forgot to let go of the rope.

Needless to say, I proceeded at a rather rapid rate of speed up the side of the tower. In the vicinity of the 40 foot level, I met the barrel coming down. This explains my fractured skull and broken collarbone. Slowed only slightly, I continued my rapid ascent, not stopping until the fingers of my right hand were two knuckles deep into the pulley. Fortunately, by this time I had regained my presence of mind and in spite of my pain, I was able to hold on to the rope. At approximately the same time, however, the barrel of tools hit the ground and the bottom fell out of the barrel. Devoid of the weight of the tools, the barrel now weighed approximately 20 pounds. I refer you again to my weight, shown in Block 11 of my submission.

As you might imagine, I began a rapid descent down the side of the tower. In the vicinity of the 40 foot level, I met the barrel coming up. This accounts for the two fractured ankles, and the lacerations of my legs and lower body.

The encounter with the barrel slowed me enough to lessen my injuries when I fell onto the pile of tools and, fortunately, only 3 vertebrae were cracked. I am sorry to report, however, that as I lay there on the tools, in pain, unable to stand and watching the empty barrel 80 feet above me, I again lost my presence of mind and let go of the rope . . . . .

BARC members are reminded that they may become an ARRL member or renew an existing ARRL membership at a discounted rate. BARC is an ARRL affiliated club and receives a commission for ARRL memberships transacted through the Club. BARC passes on this discount as a club membership benefit in order to promote ARRL membership. New ARRL members receive a $15 discount on first year cost. Please contact BARC Treasurer Dave Walton KD8GCR for details.