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Thank you to everyone who joined us for our in-person October meeting held at the Civic Center in Crestwood. The meeting was well attended and was good to see everyone that did attend and miss all of you who could not attend. Thank you to Brian, W9HLQ and Mike W9ZPM for handling the audio and camera for our meeting to be Zoomed to those members who could not attend.

HEALTH AND WELFARE: Best wishes and prayers go out to any members who are not feeling well and struggling with your health matters. We are keeping you all in our thoughts and prayers. God Bless all our healthcare workers and all people on the front line during this pandemic. We must remember and keep in our prayers and thoughts those who have lost their lives due to the current Covid 19 virus. We also must remember all those who serve in the medical fields and First Responder Departments that are working hard 24/7 to care for those who are currently battling this terrible disease.

EDUCATION: Some shows still go on as they say, and that holds true for our VE testing. A great big thank you to Al, N9ZD and all his VE’S who have adapted to the current climate and have used his garage for testing. Congratulations for a job well done.

NOVEMBER MEETING: We will once again be meeting at the Crestwood Civic Center. We will be having our annual visit from our famous musician friend, Steve Cooper. He will be playing his trumpet for us. In addition to his live musical presentation he will be sharing with us a special video presentation on Pop Music Icons of the sixties and seventies! He always gives an enjoyable program. We are giving away on a first come basis our new Hamfesters Face Mask. For those that wish not to be out in public yet, we are going to again set it up to also Zoom the meeting.

All officers and board members have agreed to serve another term, except for Ed, WA9EOL, who has decided to retire from the position after ten years. I want to thank Ed for all his years of dedicated service to the Club at that position and the excellent job he has done in protecting the Clubs money. He will truly be missed.

Club dues are now being collected by Brian. I know most of you are used to paying at the meeting. If you cannot attend the November meeting, dues can be paid by mailing directly to Brian. Thank you for your continued support of the Club.

HELP WANTED: The club needs a new volunteer to act as Treasurer. You would be the keeper of the books, attend each meeting and board meeting, and make reports as to expenses and income each month.

We are also still looking for a volunteer who attends each meeting to handle the coffee, pop and water and donuts.

DECEMBER 4^th, 2020 is the date of our annual Christmas party. Please let us know you will attend. We will be having the party at Mama Luigi’s at 7500 S. Harlem Ave., Bridgeview, Illinois. The cost will remain at $25.00 per person. Once again, you can pay at the November meeting or mail a check to Hamfesters. Any questions, you can contact Don KC9EQQ at 773-426-1936. Seating is limited. Family style will be served. Social distancing of table placement and such will be observed. We truly hope to see you there to celebrate the holidays and our great club so come on out for an evening of fun! Also, it is the night that the Hamfester member of the year will receive their special plaque honoring them and their valued contributions to the club.

Don and I wish everyone a very Happy Thanksgiving!

As always, we ask you to keep an eye on the website for the most current happenings in our club. Remember to Like us on our Hamfesters Page and spread the word about our great club too! We are the fun place to have a good time of fellowship at all of our events!

73, Nora Pointer KC9MLV

President of Hamfesters Amateur Radio Club of Crestwood

P.S: If you need to reach me, please email me at: npointer92@gmail.com

Secretary’s Beat – Meeting Minutes

Hamfesters amateur radio club meeting Oct. 2, 2020 at 7:20 pm.

This meeting was both in person, & on Zoom.
This was the first in person club meeting since Feb. 2020.
Tonight there were; 18 in person, and 15 on Zoom.

Roll: Nora KC9MLV, Jim W9JPR, in person. Ed WA9EOL, & Patti KC9LYE, on Zoom.

President’s Report: by Nora KC9MLV, welcome to new member Bill.
Happy Birthday to all who were born in Oct.

Health & Welfare: by Gregg AB9MZ, his Mom is receiving chemo. All the best wishes for recovery.
K9FO, has passed away, SK.

Minutes: The minutes from the Sept. club meeting were approved by Don KC9EQQ, & Gregg AB9MZ.

Treasurer’s Report: by Ed Wa9EOL, club paid for insurance coverage.

Tonight’s Program: a video on the ionosphere, and how it effects radio signals.

Nomination’s tonight for Club 2021 officers, & board members.
With the exception of Ed WA9EOL, who’s stepping down as Treasurer. All other positions were unopposed and will remain in office for 2021.
Thanks, Ed for your ten years of service to our club. We need someone to fill the position of club treasurer.

New Business: We will meet in person for the Nov. club meeting, there will be Zoom.
Please pay your annual club dues in Nov.
Thanks, to our tech support for making Zoom connection possible. Steve Cooper will perform at our Nov. club meeting.
We will have a Christmas Party.

Hamgab: Gregg AB9MZ, will write an article about software & ham radio. Software that helps the disabled.

Hamfesters VE session:by Al N9ZD, Oct. 10th, four people have signed up for the 9:00 am session.

Adjournment: @ 8:42 pm Bob N9WKG, and Steve W9KXT.

It’s Dues Time!

The Hamfesters radio club values each member. We hope you enjoy the club, whether it be the monthly meetings, the Field Day outing, or the Christmas dinner meeting. Even in this time of Covid virus the club appreciates your support. You can always get technical help and advise from other club members. If you are looking for help getting an antenna up or advice on getting a new radio, perhaps some club members can help. Of course, all of the activity costs money.

It is that time of the year when I take a look at our membership dues payment records. We really would like to keep you in the club and on the Hamfesters Roster. If you see me at the next meeting, please consider submitting your dues to me, or better yet, do it now by using our web site and using our online form. You can also send a check to the Membership Chairman, Brian Davis, 17038 Oconto Ave. Tinley Park, IL 60477. Be sure your call sign is on the check or
letter so I know who sent the funds! Pay your dues here: https://www.hamfesters.org/main/club-information/

Thank you in advance for renewing your dues.
73,
Brian, W9HLQ, Membership Chairman

FCC’s proposal for a $50 “application fee”

From Kermit Carlson W9XA, ARRL Central Division Director

Dear ARRL Central Division Member,

Many Central Division members have contacted me in the past month about the FCC’s proposal for a $50 “application fee” for license applications
in the Amateur Radio Service. The fees Notice of Proposed Rule-making was published in yesterday’s Federal Register
(https://tinyurl.com/yyk8f2yp).
The deadline for comments is November 16, and the Reply comment deadline is November 30.   

Since the “official” comment period is now open now is the time to file comments against this proposal!

Below are some details to consider when filing comments to the FCC in response to the NPRM.  Our thanks to Dave Siddall K3ZJ, ARRL Counsel,

for these guidelines included below.  Please be sure to carefully review the paragraphs; “Some Suggestions” as the information
therein will assist with much of the applicable background.

This subject is critical, the timing is critical.  I urge you to contact the FCC.  Address and related information is contained in the article referenced in the Federal Register.   Please use your own words to express your objections to the proposed fees.

(Good) Arguments Against FCC Fees for Radio Amateurs

Amateurs contribute to the public good. In many areas, they provide an emergency communications backbone capability at no taxpayer cost. Consistently we have witnessed storms and natural disasters completely wipe out the internet, cellular, and other means of communication.  Radio amateurs often fill that void on an unmatched, flexible basis when needed.  One recent example is the California wildfires.   

Unlike operators in other FCC licensed services, Amateur Radio operators by law domestic and international — must eschew using their license for any pecuniary interest.  Amateurs are prohibited from earning or charging any money for any communications activity.  The expenses for their equipment and activities come out of their own pockets, with no opportunity for reimbursement or payment of any kind.

The United States is experiencing a severe lack of RF engineers and expertise at the very time it is needed by the burgeoning wireless industries.    Amateur radio is helping to meet the deficit, but much more is needed and youngsters (High School and College-aged) are least able to afford licensing fees.  RF knowledge and related digital expertise is needed to maintain U.S. leadership in wireless industries.

At a minimum, young people (below the age of 26) should be exempt from the proposed license fees.

Amateur radio is self-regulating;
 (a) Amateur examinations are written and administered by radio amateur volunteers. 
(b) Examination results and paperwork most often are submitted electronically to the FCC. Electronic submission could be required if there would be a cost
savings to the Commission.
(c) Amateur radio educational classes are conducted by volunteers who by-and-large do not charge fees or tuition for teaching. 
(d) The amateur service, in cooperation with the FCC’s Enforcement Bureau, has a volunteer corps that monitors the amateur airwaves and has programs that try to prevent their misuse before FCC involvement might be needed.  The amateurs also observe non-amateur signals both within the amateur spectrum and outside it, and report unusual or suspicious signals.

Amateur radio continues to be a source of significant technological innovation that should be encouraged, not discouraged. 

Some Suggestions:

We do not recommend arguing that the $50 fee every 10 years, which amounts to $5.00 a year, will harm or “kill” amateur radio, even though as proposed this is for each covered application, which includes upgrade applications.  Tech-General-Extra could be $150. If exams are taken at different sessions this would be a substantial amount.  But it is the wrong way to say the whole service turns on $5/year for each licensee.

The Commission argues that the charges are required by the statute. The word used in the Congressional Act which directs the FCC to collect fees is “shall”, which is mandatory, not optional.  But the statute does not set the amount, nor does it prohibit reasonable exceptions evidenced by the Commission’s proposal to exempt from fees administrative update applications based on policy grounds.

There is a long history and precedent on charging fees for the licensing service involved, just as there is for passports, green cards, drivers’ licenses (issued by states), etc.  Better to make pertinent arguments on why the fees would impair the public benefits of the amateur radio service than argue that the whole service might die as a result of a fee that, in fact, is less than the fee many of us paid in the 1960’s and 1970’s.

For background: this proceeding is being handled by staff unfamiliar with amateur radio.  It is being handled in the FCC’s Office of Managing Director (OMD), not in the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau where the amateur-specific Part 97 matters are handled.  The focus of OMD is accounting budgets and the like for the entire Commission. The fee proposals cover every FCC license and service across the board and the consideration was directed by Congress.  It is recommended that respondents keep “ham jargon” out of comments, which would not be understood by the intended recipients.

Thank you.

Kermit Carlson W9XA

Comments to the Federal Communication Commission may be filed
online at;      https://www.fcc.gov/ecfs/filings
FCC’s Electronic Comment Filing System (ECFS)
reference –  posting to MD Docket No. 20-270

——————————————————————–
ARRL Central Division
Director: Kermit A Carlson, W9XA
w9xa@arrl.org

A bit of Ham Humor

VE Testing

Hamfesters VE Testing Report
Al Bukowski N9ZD – VE coordinator

The Hamfester’s VE examinations to Continue on APPOINTMENT TIMES ONLY for the remainder of the year. NO WALK-INS

The Hamfester’s Radio Club VE test session(s) for 11/14 – 12/12  will be Appointment only.

Candidates MUST email to get an appointed time (earliest 8AM), other instructions, and directions to the Exam Location
Liaison Al Bukowski (N9ZD)        ( aln9zd@gmail.com )

TEST Location: TBD – Oak Forest, IL  60452  (will be using a VE’s Garage for now unless Oak Forest City Hall reopens)

VE Stock test material will be in Plastic protective sleeves to protect the next user after disinfectant cleaner applied.

NOTE: Since Hamfester’s average candidate attendance the past years has been average of 4, the 
Appointment times will be 3 candidates 8:00 AM / 3 candidates 9:30AM /  3 candidates 11:00AM  / Flexible as needed

A Special ‘Thank You’ to All the VE’s volunteering there Saturday morning to assist me at the Exam sessions.

Because it is touching sensitive areas of your machine it will ask your permission to make the changes it needs to. Simply click [YES]. Then agree to the license agreement on the next screen.

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Club Information

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Pics from October Meeting

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