Metrocrest Amateur Radio Society
News
April 19, 2024
Play Day in the Park has been Canceled
Due to impending foul weather, we’re sad to report that MARS will cancel the Play Day in the Park scheduled for Saturday, April 20. The forecasts are that showers and thunderstorms Saturday morning will transition to showers in the afternoon.
We had planned to activate the Johnson Branch Unit of Ray Roberts State Park and work Texas State Parks on the Air (TSPOTA) as well as any other location in the Parks On The Air (POTA) universe. Conditions make it too difficult to safely set up multiple stations and antennas.
While MARS will not participate as a club, operators are free to work TSPOTA or POTA from the comfort of their own shacks. If you choose to venture outside, please be aware of changing weather conditions and be on the lookout for hazardous thunderstorms. Safety is number one.
MARS is planning another Play Day in the Park very soon. We’ll set up our rigs and antennas, have lunch and enjoy the outdoors. Monitor our EVENTS page for details as they become available.
Play Day
We lost our room for April, so the next Play Day will be the second Saturday, May 11, 2024.
Go now to the EVENTS page for more details.
License Testing
Allan Batteiger, WB5QNG, will have an in-person test session on the second Saturday May 11 at the Library. Check the EVENTS page for details. Allan continues to offer remote testing sessions as well. Please visit https://wb5qng.org/ to learn how to sign up.
Field Day 2024
ARRL ARRL Field Day 2024 just a few weeks away. There’s plenty of time to get your gear in gear for Field Day. Reserve the weekend of June 22 and 23 to be a ham radio weekend.
Schedule your family’s weekend outing on the same day as Field Day at the same venue. Bring the kids and get them on the air. Bring an
off-the-air old timer and set them up at the GOTA station to rekindle their youth but with a more modern solid-state rig. Come be part of the dummy load challenge—talking to other Field Day sites on as many bands as possible using 100 watts into a 50-ohm dummy load. We’ll make contacts on 160 and 80 in the middle of the day.
We’ll need hams to bring rigs and antennas, setup antennas, operate stations, show off ham radio to visitors, and generally have a good time. Yes, there will be food, fun, and frivolity.
We’re in the planning stages now so if you’d like to be a station lead, bonus points champion, antenna farm lead, rig-bringer or any other volunteer responsibility, send an email to the Field Day Marshal at fieldday@kb5a.org. Let’s get out of the house and get on the air!
—Ron Reeves, NN5R
MARS Seeks New Leaders
It’s election time! (Were you thinking of another election?) President David Gilpin, K5GIL, has appointed Daryl DeVault, KE5SAB, James Jernigan, KG5WVL, and George Williams, KG5GXU, as the nominating committee for the upcoming election in June.
The positions of President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer and one Director are on the ballot for 2024–2025.
According to Article 10.2 of the By-Laws, “Any Full or Lifetime member twenty-one (21) years of age or older who has been a member of MARS for at least twelve (12) consecutive months and who possesses a current FCC Amateur Radio license shall be eligible for election as an officer or Director.”
If you would like to be considered, or wish to nominate someone, please send an email to nominations@KB5A.org. Someone on the Committee will contact potential candidates to explain the duties of each office.
The Committee will present the list of nominees to the Board in May. During the May Club meeting, additional nominations will be taken from the floor. The Board will submit the final slate of candidates to the voting Membership prior to the conclusion of that meeting. The complete slate will be published to the Membership within seven days.
The Board of Directors has the responsibility to carry on the business of MARS, so having qualified candidates is extremely important to ensure the future growth of our Club. An excellent organization needs excellent leadership. Please give this your most thoughtful consideration.
Carrollton
Farmers Branch
Addison
ARES/RACES
Next scheduled nets
ARES® Training
May 12, 2024, 8:00 PM CDT
145.210 Tone 110.9
RACES Training
April 21, 2024, 7:45 PM CDT
145.210 Tone 110.9
Support MARS When You Shop
A percentage of your purchases can be donated when you visit Tom Thumb, or Kroger at no extra cost to you. Please go to the SUPPORT page to learn how.
“ARES®” and “Amateur Radio Emergency Service®” are registered service marks of the American Radio Relay League, Incorporated and are used by permission.