July 2023 – HamGab

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Secretary’s Beat – Meeting Minutes

Hamfesters club meeting Fri. June 2, 2023 w9aa 7:41 pm
Please check Hamfesters.org for updates. Remember Field Day June 24-25
  
Roll; Nora kc9mlv, Jim w9jpr, Patti kc9lye, steve w9kxt, Don kc9eqq.
Tonight's meeting; 19 members, and 1 visitor Bob Cox kd9trh. Welcome everyone.

Health & Welfare; Kurt wb9fmc, is absent tonight due to a family emergency.

Minutes; approved by Steve w9kxt, and Cindy n9cas.

Old Business; Rick w9doq, has club shirts for sale prices $15-25.00 each.

New club Member; Greg Hillman kd9wjn

Tonight's Program; by Jim w9jpr, Field Day 2022.
Future Programs July 7 our annual picnic pizza & potluck, also via Zoom 
from the Ukraine "Ham Radio and it's role in War."
Aug. 4 Getting ready for our hamfest on Sunday Aug. 6, 2023

Publicity for our hamfest  was sent out by Jim w9jpr.
 
Hamfest 2023; by Jim w9jpr, we need volunteers for Sat. Aug. 5th & Aug. 6th.
On Aug. 5, we need voluteers for setup. The evening of Aug. 5 will be our pizza fellowship for the vendors. 

New Business; By Mike wa9zpm, books about ham radio vk3ye.com
By Al n9zd, the general class license pool will change in July 2023.  

Adjournment; Don kc9eqq, Bob n9kwg at 8:45 pm 

Keynote Presentation

Philip has been a working journalist reporting on some of the most prominent news events of the last two decades. He covered the rise to power of Vladimir Putin in 2000. Following the 9/11 attacks Philip Ittner had a major role in the coverage of the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. He has reported from many countries in the former Soviet Union, the Middle East, and the European Union. As an independent correspondent, he was embedded with the US Military during the invasion of Iraq. Well-versed in new media techniques he also reported as a one-man-band during the Russian invasion of Georgia. He also has covered the Euro crisis, the war in Ukraine, and the Syrian refugee crisis.

Philip continues to bring the plight of the Ukrainian people to the United States with appearances on numerous U. S. media outlets and advocates for the Ukrainian Children’s Action Project, which supports the urgent needs of the children displaced by war.

Philip maintains a YouTube Channel where he regularly posts video logs from not only  Kyiv, but from numerous areas on the front lines in Ukraine.

Hamfest

Jim Riley W9JPR

 There will be a lot of distractions at the July meeting but don’t forget this will be your last in-person chance to pick up Hamfest tickets to sell and flyers to distribute. You will still have one final chance to buy advance double-stub tickets in person at the August meeting. Advance tickets are $8. Of course, you can buy tickets online at any time.     

   Tickets ordered online before August 1, 2023, will be mailed to you. Tickets ordered after that date will be held at the gate at the fest. Absolutely no advanced tickets will be sold after 6 pm the night before the hamfest. Tickets sold at the gate are still $10.

    So far this year, we’ve sold a grand total of 26 advance tickets with 110 still out in circulation. 

CQ Field Day

Attend the July meeting to find out the highlights from this year’s Field Day!

Ham Club Online

Working with Bob McDonald N9WDV, we moved the management of Hamfesters’ membership to Ham Club Online at https://www.hamclubonline.com/. Ham Club Online is a free online service built and maintained by K6VEC Amateur Radio Group although they do accept donations. See the Donate button at the bottom of the page.

As you know Brian Davis W9HLQ was the club’s membership coordinator until a couple of months before he became a silent key.   Bob McDonald N9WDV became the new membership coordinator.  We do appreciate all of Bob’s efforts he has put forth after Brian passed.

W9AA’s membership system was difficult and cumbersome to manage. Before Brian had passed expressed a desire to move the system to Ham Club Online since there was more automation.

If your email was current with us and you had paid dues within the last 3 years, you should have received a “Welcome Email” like the example below.

If you wish, you can create a login, click on the link www.hamclubonline.com, then click on the forgot password link to receive a new password.

There are advantages to creating the login if you wish to do so.

• The site will send a reminder email to renew your FCC license
• Dues payments for the club can be made through Ham Club Online via PayPal.
• You can find contact info for fellow members.

Hamfest Ticket Sales

Jim Riley W9JPR

There will be a lot of distractions at the July meeting but don’t forget this will be your last in-person chance to pick up Hamfest tickets to sell and flyers to distribute. You will still have one final chance to buy advance double-stub tickets in person at the August meeting. Advance tickets are $8. Of course, you can buy tickets online at any time.

Tickets ordered online before August 1, 2023, will be mailed to you. Tickets ordered after that date will be held at the gate at the fest. Absolutely no advanced tickets will be sold after 6 pm the night before the hamfest. Tickets sold at the gate are still $10.

So far this year, we’ve sold a grand total of 26 advance tickets with 110 still out in circulation.

Hamvention 2023

article forwarded by Marty WD9ABG

The 2023 Hamvention attendance was 33,861, which is more than 2,000 greater than last year and even surpassed the previous pre-pandemic attendance record at the Greene County Fairgrounds and Expo Center of 32,472. General Manager Jim Storms said, “Things went very smoothly due to the dedication and hard work of close to 700 volunteers.”

General Meeting Security Update

Jim Riley W9JPR

At the request of Pastor Dean, the front door of our meeting place at SouthBridge Church will be kept secure before, during, and after our meetings. The door will be unlocked at 7 p.m. with someone posted there. It will be locked at 7:30. If you arrive after that time, you can call W9AA on 146.43 MHz or call Jim at 708-218-0695.

The new changes in Illinois law require this policy for the security of the facility and safety of all meeting attendees.

April Fools 😉

FOR SALE by Owner

ARRL Youth Licensing Grant Program

from ARRL VEC VE Newsletter

The ARRL Youth Licensing Grant Program went into effect on April 19, 2022. ARRL will cover the one-time $35 application fee for new license candidates younger than 18-years old for tests administered under the ARRL VEC program. The $35 FCC application fee will be reimbursed after the ARRL VEC receives the completed reimbursement form and the new license has been issued by the FCC. The reimbursement check will be mailed to the fee payer. Also, candidates younger than 18-years old would pay a reduced exam session fee of $5 to the ARRL VEC VE team at the time of the exam. The $5 fee is for all candidates under the age of 18 regardless of the exam level taken. Proof of under 18 status is required at the session. Visit the ARRL website for the program instructions and reimbursement form at www.arrl.org/youth-licensing-grant-program<http://www.arrl.org/youth-licensing-grant-program>.

The ARRL Board approved the “Youth Licensing Grant Program” at its July 2021 meeting in Hartford, Connecticut, expanding on the scope of the original motion proposed by ARRL Southeastern Division Director Mickey Baker, N4MB. The new program will cover the $35 FCC license application fee for candidates younger than 18-years old. The Board believes that “the recruitment and training of young amateur radio operators is a necessary and proper mission of the ARRL, and that subsidization of the $35 fee will reduce the number of new amateurs that otherwise would be lost from these groups,” the Board said. Initially the new program would serve up to 1,000 new license applicants under 18 years old. The program length is indefinite; it may be renewed or terminated by the Administration and Finance Committee or by the Board of Directors. The motion carried with applause from Board members.

Hamfesters VE Testings

Important Note: Amateur Radio Exams

1. Bring 2 pencils for the answer sheet, and a Black ink ball point pen for the FCC VEC 605 form we provide.  (FCC registration form)
2. Exam Candidates: Prior to your arrival. You are REQUIRED to register in the FCC CORES system online and receive a FCC Registration Number (FRN) before exam day.
   Once you have obtained the FRN number, please bring it with you to the exam location. To apply for the FRN, please go here.>>>  https://apps.fcc.gov/cores/userLogin.do 
   Already Licensed? Please bring your Official Amateur License and Photo Copy of Your License. The FRN number is printed on your FCC License. (also found on the GMRS license if you have one) ALL Copies are filed with all testing materials. You will keep the originals. The FCC ULS CORES system must have a valid email address.  Otherwise you may not get your License.
   The FRN number is a requirement on the FCC 605 form we provide and your Exam answer sheet.
3. A fee of $15 dollars is charged for the examination. Payment is Cash ONLY — no credit cards or checks accepted.
4. Please bring a photo ID such as a Government Drivers License or US passport.
5. Exam location is at Oak Forest City Hall 15440 S. Central Ave. Oak Forest.  Enter through the Police Station Door and follow the ARRL EXAM Signs to the Exam Area.
6. Yes, You may bring your calculator, however you must demonstrate that all memories are erased.

NOTE:     Starting  April 19, 2022 the FCC $35.00 Amateur Application Fee Starts. This new fee will only apply to applicants for a new 10 year License, renewal, rule waiver or a new vanity call sign.  (The $35.00 Application Fee is non-refundable) There will be no charge for future License Upgrades or administrative updates, such as a change of mailing address or email address.

The New $35.00 Fee will NOT be collected by the VE’s (Volunteer Examiners). ALL Exam paperwork including exam fees, answer sheets and Form 605s are mailed to the ARRL-VEC headquarters.  If you passed your exam the ARRL-VEC will submit your information to the FCC. Once the FCC runs batch processing, they will email you the process to pay the $35.00 fee. (usually credit card) You will have Ten calendar days to pay per instructions giving by the FCC. If payment is properly transferred, the FCC will then email instructions to download your License.  You will have 30 days to download the Amateur license. 

Again, The FCC must have your valid email address in the ULS CORES system.

ARRL Youth Licensing Grant Program starts on April 19, 2022

Anticipating the implementation of the fee in 2022, the ARRL Board of Directors, at its July 2021 meeting, approved the "ARRL Youth Licensing Grant Program <https://www.arrl.org/news/arrl-board-establishes-program-to-cover-initial-fcc-license-fee-for-young-applicants>." Under the program, ARRL will cover a one-time $35 application fee for license candidates younger than 18 years old for tests administered under the auspices of the ARRL Volunteer Examiner Coordinator (ARRL VEC). Qualified candidates also would pay a reduced exam session fee of $5 to the ARRL VEC upon examination.

To give yourself practice on all the questions: Please click on the Website below that contains Exam Flash Cards Go to  >>>  https://hamexam.org/   Click on the Flash Cards for the Class of Exam you wish to study. You can also take the practice Exams found on the same Web Site. It’s free and a good practice prior to any Exam Session.

73’s   Al – N9ZD   VE examiner

Feburary 2022 Contest Calendar

From WA7BNM Contest Calendar Website

Club Information

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