Monthly Section News Summaries
Monthly Summary for September 2009
Greetings to all Amateur Radio Operators. This is Dr. Jim, N2ZZ with the
October 2009 South Carolina Section Manager's Report! Please remember that
the SC Section website can be found at: www.arrl-sc.org/ where my full SM
report will be listed as well as up-to-the-date information on Amateur Radio
in South Carolina!
October has been a very busy hamfest month in South Carolina.
unfortunately, due to hospital call demands and an educational conference, I
was unable to attend the first two hamfests this month. The Rock Hill Hamfest
www.rockhillhamfest.com was held on October 3rd at a new location: The Faith
Assembly of God, 2800 Faith Avenue, Rock Hill, SC. According to Bob WA2EMF,
ASM2, the hamfest went well, and the ARRL forum was well attended. My thanks
to Bob and Marc N4UFP, TC for running the ARRL forum! The 31st Annual Lake
Hartwell Hamfest was held on October 10th at Darin Wright Park, sponsored by
the Anderson Radio Club www.andersonradioclub.us. The Anderson ARC
newsletter reports a very successful hamfest, with good weather and good
company! Les K4NK, ASM1 was auctioneer again this year, running a very
successful auction for the club. Suzie KG4YVJ and Mac K4AVR ran the SC SSB
net table, and presented an award to Sydney and Elleen (Miss Emmie's son and
wife) in memory of Miss Emmie KA4LRM for all of her years of service to the
SC SSB net.
I did attend The Sumter "Open Air" Hamfest which was held on October
24th. The weather held out until after lunch, when the rain started. This
afforded a full morning of eyeball QSO's and good food. There were a few
tailgaters, and a few inside vendors this year. Thanks to the Sumter ARA
hamfest committee for arranging the hamfest!
The Sumter Hamfest was the last hamfest in South Carolina this year.
The Grand Strand Beachfest was to be held on October 31st, but cancelled again
this year due to vendor concerns. Our first hamfest of 2010 was to be the
Greenwood Hamfest, however this was cancelled also, as the Greenwood Civic
Center (the hamfest site) will be closing permanently on December 31, 2009.
Ournext hamfest will be the ARRL South Carolina State Convention on February
6th, The Charleston Hamfest and Computer Show!
Many of you have already heard the news about a tragic plane crash
this past week that claimed the lives of four Amateurs, W2GJ, K4QO, K3IXD and
W3PP. I received a number of e-mails from DX lists regarding the tragedy,
and several from hams in SC. I would like to forward the report of Paul
NN4F, ASM5:
Pete, W2GJ, Randy K4QO, and Ed K3IXD - these three were well known in the
Amateur Community locally here in Charleston. All three were members of the
Trident Amateur Radio Club and were committed to helping the community.
Ed K3IXD was one on the mainstays behind the School Radio Club K4DMS at Dubose
Middle School. He would unselfishly give up his afternoons to help the kids
operate the radios so they could make contacts around the world. He was also
a member of the Dorchester County Emergency Radio Team.
Pete W2GJ was one of the wise sages; anyone could call on him for advice. He
was first licensed in 1952. He was active with Emergency Communications and a
member of ARES, the Amateur Radio Emergency Service. He even set up emergency
communications for his local Coosaw Creek community.
Randy K4QO was our electronics guru. He would help us design antennas and
repair broken radios. Four weeks ago, we operated the H.L. Hunley special
event station with him, to commemorate the world's first successful combat
submarine.
They were on the way to Crooked Island, Bahamas to operate as C6APR in the CQ
World Wide SSB Contest this past weekend. They always stopped in Florida for
fuel and to clear customs/immigration. Only the four would be going, not sure
of where the reports of two additional passengers came from. The four were
very accomplished contest operators. Our monthly meeting was held on Monday
the 19th. Ed and Randy were present along with Randy's wife Shellie, W4AAV.
Ed and Randy were very excited about the trip and the prospect of operating
the contest.
We have had an outpouring of condolences from around the world, from people
who have spoken to these guys in contests. They will be truly missed. They
are now Silent Keys... Thanks to everyone who sent me information regarding
this tragedy. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the families and the
friends of the C6APR team. For the ARRL news story, please go to:
http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2009/10/21/11157/?nc=1 .
I would like to welcome a new member of the ARRL-SC team! Jack
Jackson N4JJ has decided to step down from the ASM4 position, and has
recommended Craig England KF2X take his place. Craig has entered retirement,
and has time to devote to Amateur Radio. Thanks to Jack for his service and
his recommendation! Craig, welcome to the ARRL-SC team!
That's it for October! See you next Month!
September 2009 NTS Report for South Carolina
Net Reports: Net/Check Ins/Traffic/Sessions/Reported By: Anderson Radio Club
2M Net /940/18/30/ND2Z; Blue Ridge Amateur Radio Net /2442/75/30/K4SUG;
Carolina's Net/239/85/449/K4IWW; Carolina State Line Net/44/0/4/W8SC;
Columbia ARC 2 Meter Net/194/0/9/KI4PTM; Grand Strand ARC 2M
Net/135/14/13/KI4HEE; Greater Pee Dee 2 Meter Net/842/39/30/K4DTT; Greenwood
ARC 2 Meter Net/123/4/4/W4DEW; Kershaw ARC 2 Meter Net /31/8/4/KF4UKC;
Lancaster County 2 Meter Net/70/20/12/N4WMB; PALS Net /1279/69/30/KJ4BVM; SC
Regional Skywarn /85/7/5/W4KSD; SC SSB Net/1964/102/31/W4DDK; SC State ARES
Net/265/4/4/KE4RVF; Trident/25/8/5/W4KSD;
York Co. ARS 2 Meter FM Net/737/15/52/KG4CDF;STATION ACTIVITY REPORTS:
K4GLT 182, N4MEH 67, W4DDK 47, W4KLB 62. PSHR: N4MEH 90, W4KLB 100.
Page last modified: 02:06 PM, 22 Nov 2009 ET
Page author: n2zz@arrl.org
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