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MGRC White Noise Newsletter
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Maple Grove Radio Club
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If you are having trouble reading this newsletter in your email client try turning off "Dark Mode." Also, you can always read it online from the newsletter archives.
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MGRC Mission Statement
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Maple Grove Radio Club provides education to current and future amateur radio operators, with the goal of serving the public. We are a reliable communications resource for events and emergencies in Maple Grove and surrounding communities.
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President’s Message January 2024
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Greetings to all, I hope you had a wonderful holiday season. I’d like to start off this message
thanking Benton for all he did for the club over the last 5 years. He was a great president and
leaves large shoes to be filled. We wouldn’t be where we are today without his strong
leadership. Thank you for all you’ve done, and don’t run too far away.
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With that, I am up for the challenge of being your president and hope to continue the great
success we’ve had as an organization. As this transition occurs, I will be leaning on each of you,
because at its core this club is all about the members and the goals they want to achieve. We
have so many great members with tons of endless knowledge, not just in ham radio, but lots of
different aspects of life. I hope to not only expand my own ham radio skills but also set up a
mentorship program that will continue supporting both current club members as well as new
members.
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The next couple months may have some hiccups as well as some changes and I just want
everyone to know that I am always open to ideas, things you like, and things you may want to
see done differently. This isn’t just one member’s club, it’s all of ours, and my goal is to
continue to keep it open, welcoming, and inclusive as possible. You can always call or send me
emails at president@k0ltc.org. Please don’t hesitate to do so even if it’s just to chat.
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Thank you all for this opportunity and I am excited to see where we go from here!
73
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Maple Grove Radio Club in-person meetings!
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In-Person meetings are on the first Tuesday each month.
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The meeting starts at 1900 hrs (7:00pm CDT) at the Chester Bird American Legion Post 523 located at 200 Lilac Drive N Golden Valley, MN 55422. Here is a link for directions.
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Bill Lippert, AC0W, ARRL Dakota Division Director, will give an update from ARRL HQ, and also talk about contesting, oriented towards “Why Contest?”
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You can also attend by zoom if you are unable to meet in person:
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‼️ MID WINTER MADNESS IS COMING ‼️
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Announcing the 41st Annual
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MIDWINTER MADNESS®
HOBBY ELECTRONICS SHOW
Saturday March 23, 2024
8:00AM - 12:00PM
👉 VOLUNTEERS ARE NEEDED!! 👈
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Sign up will open on January 2nd @ 5:00 pm
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ARRL's Year of the Volunteers Success
Still, tens of thousands of others did work that never made the pages of QST, didn't become the lead story on the local news, and didn't become fodder for online forums. Perhaps it was the ARRL VE who administered tests, welcoming the next generation of hams into the hobby, or the National Traffic System net manager who handled traffic from hams checking in. It could've even been the mentor who took the time to show a learner how to solder. These are the unsung heroes of the Amateur Radio Service -- these are the volunteers.
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ARRL has nearly 60,000 volunteers within its membership, without whom it could not function. They are the lifeblood of this hobby. ARRL designated 2023 as the Year of the Volunteers to recognize their efforts, encourage new prospective volunteers to follow their lead, and call existing volunteers to reach one rung higher on the ladder of service. The Volunteers On the Air (VOTA) operating event has been popular among hams, with some operators making nearly 30,000 QSOs throughout the yearlong activation.
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A young man from north Texas emerged as a leader.
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Sam Lovett, KI5RSV, was awarded the 2023 Hiram Percy Maxim Memorial Award. [ARRL, photo.]
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Sam Lovett, KI5RSV, is just a teenager but has been awarded the 2023 Hiram Percy Maxim Memorial Award for his success with developing interest in amateur radio among his peers. He leads a youth net and has been instrumental in building a strong ham culture in his Trail Life USA troop. A video interview with Sam will be featured in the February 2023 digital edition of QST.
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Lyn Alfman, N8IMW, of Norwich, Ohio, was honored for her volunteer work in the public information space.
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Lyn Alfman, N8IMW, on the right, is presented with the 2023 ARRL Philip J. McGan Memorial Silver Antenna Award by ARRL Great Lakes Division Director Dale Williams, WA8EFK.
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She received the 2023 ARRL Philip J. McGan Memorial Silver Antenna Award. The proclamation issued by the ARRL Board of Directors says that Lyn "exemplifies the skills and depth of understanding [needed] to convey to media outlets the fascinating world of amateur radio."
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ARRL's George Hart Distinguished Service Award honors the work member-volunteers put in to use their license privileges to serve others. Jo Ann Keith, KA5AZK, of Diana, Texas, is the 2023 recipient.
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Jo Ann Keith, KA5AZK (in the center), is presented with the 2023 ARRL George Hart Distinguished Service Award by ARRL West Gulf Division Director John Robert Stratton, N5AUS (on the left), and Section Manager of the ARRL North Texas Section Steven Lott Smith, KG5VK (on the right.)
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Jo Ann is the net manager of the 7290 Traffic Net, a public service traffic net that has been in operation since 1953. She has a long history of volunteer work, dating back to her youth when she served as a candy striper. Like tens of thousands of others, Jo Ann uses amateur radio in the spirit of service.
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These are just a few stories that can be told from the Year of the Volunteers. There are so many other stories out there, and we encourage you to tell your own.
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While the Volunteers on the Air event closes on December 31, 2023 at 2359 UTC, the spirit of this year will continue as long as there are hams standing to serve others through amateur radio.
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From all of us at ARRL, thank you!
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Next Board Meeting
Members are welcome to attend MGRC Board Meetings (only board members can vote).
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Board meetings are always by zoom. Please contact President@k0ltc.org or any board member or officer if you would like the zoom meeting to participate.
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MGRC Weekly Practice Net
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Our weekly Net is on Wednesdays at 20:00 UTC (8pm), on 147.000, positive offset, tone 114.8. We use directed Net protocol and will have a new question for discussion every week. Please call in if you can reach the K0LTC repeater. We need additional NET Operators! If you'd like to receive Net operator training please contact President@k0ltc.org.
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TALARC The American Legion Amateur Radio Club
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TALARC has approved MGRC members in good standing to be honorary TALARC members. If you are interested contact Stephen Cullen, KF0AED at kf0ade9@gmail.com. Please include your Name, Callsign, Email, and when you joined MGRC, if known.
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Classes
Lab Class
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Technician License Class
- When: Monday’s starting February 5th.
- Class usually runs 9 to 10 weeks.
- Class time 6:45 - 9:15 pm CST.
- Cost: $10 registration fee due first night of class. This will be collected via PayPal.
- To Register or get answers to your questions: Email registrar@mnyarc.org
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MGRC COMMITTEES AT WORK
BUILDING COMMITTEE
Chair: Jerry Dorf – N0FWG
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- Lot's to discuss!
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Next Meeting - 6:30 January 4th.
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See calendar for details.
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TALARC
Chair: Tim Arimond – N0BYH
o Shack is operational with HF and VHF/UHF stations.
o Honorary memberships.
▪ Contact Stephen Cullen if interested. KF0AED9@gmail.com
▪ Just need to be an MGRC member in good standing to be eligible
o Meetings 4th Thursday of each month at 7pm.
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January Club Calendar of Events
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Board Members
• President: Zack Whitney – K0BHJ (2021)
• Vice President: Stephen Cullen – K0AED (2023)
• Secretary: William Oliver – KF0ADU (2022)
• Treasurer: Paul Odens – K0AID (2023)
• Trustee K0LTC: Jerry Dorf – N0FWG
• Board Member: Kelly Murphy – KB0LTY (2019)
• Board Member: Clay Bartholow – W0LED (2021)
• Board Member: David Englund – K0NOC (2022)
• Board Member: Gordon Patenaude – WA0WSR (2023)
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• Board Member: Aaron David Lewis – W0ADL (2024)
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• Board Member: Scott Henley – KF0FFE (2024)
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