Greetings from the High Country,

I have to apologize for not getting a newsletter out for a couple of weeks. 

Much has been going on with respect to training and, like many hams, I have winterizing tasks to do so that my station continues to operate through the winter with the high winds and ice.  Between my COVID booster shot and annual medical checkups and teaching the Auxcomm class in Pittsboro, I got behind on this newsletter.

HAMFEST NEWS

While attending the Benson Hamfest this past Sunday, I met many old friends and made a lot of new ones.  Benson is well worth attending and I hope to see you there next year.  Held partly indoors in the American Legion Building, along with an outside flea market, the event grew a crowd that I guess was around  400 persons.  I will be back there next year for sure.

While at Benson, I heard from three reliable sources that the RARSFest will not be held in 2022 due to the cost and concerns over reduced attendance due to COVID concerns.

Sources indicate that the Charlotte Hamfest will be held at the Cabarrus Arena and Event Center on March 11 and 12.  Info can be found at https://charlottehamfest.org/ .

As more information comes available, I will pass it along.

SAVE THE DATE!

The North Carolina QSO Party will be held on February 27, 2022.  Information can be found at https://ncqsoparty.org .  The North Carolina ARRL Section is proud to be a sponsor for this fun event!

EmCOMM TRAINING

Time is of essence on this one due to funding requirements for a required minimum number of ten students.

If you want to attend the Auxcomm course at the Charlotte Disaster Comms Academy, at the Charlotte Police and Fire Training Academy,you need to sign up no later than December 1.  The course is scheduled to be held on December 13, 14, 15, and 16 with a CommEx on Friday, December 17 involving the students registered in the Auxcomm, COML, COMT and ITSL classes during the Disaster Comms School in December 2021.  Registration can be completed at https://terms.ncem.gov/TRS/

This is the best training available in the Southeast for amateur radio operators wanting to become credentialed to support NCEM and other served agencies.  NCEM will reimburse for lodging and meals for persons who travel more than 50 miles to attend the course. 

TRAFFIC NETS

W4DNA, Dave Roy, Section Traffic Manager, submitted information on the various traffic net activities during October.  Because of the limitations on the ARRL email system, it is hard to transfer his data and have all the columns line up.  His entire report can be viewed as an Excel file at https://www.ncarrl.org . 

Thanks go out to all the net managers, to the traffic handlers, and especially to Dave for his efforts.

VOLUNTEER MONITORING PROGRAM REPORT

Riley Hollingsworth, K4ZDH, posted the October 2021 report (http://arrl.org/news/october-2021-volunteer-monitor-program-report ) .  He indicated that Advisory Notices were sent to several operators for violations involving operation on frequencies not included in the class of license, operator out of band, as well as failure to identify at proper intervals.

OPPORTUNITIES TO BECOME INVOLVED

Increase your involvement on the air and keep ham radio growing.  Opportunities exist for Net Control Stations on the Tarheel Emergency Net.  Because he is relocating out of state, Mike Fagan, AE4MF, is seeking his replacement as Net Manager for the Tarheel Emergency Net.  The Net Manager coordinates who serves as Net Control Station on particular nights and compiles a monthly report that is sent to the Section Traffic Manager on the 5^th of each month.

Mike advises that there are openings for THEN net control stations on the 4^th and 5^th Monday of each month.  On Wednesdays, Tim Slay, N4IB, sometimes needs a backup due to work assignments.  Please consider helping Mike Fagan fill these slots.  He can be reached at mike.fagan@yahoo.com for information on the Net Manager job and to discuss becoming primary or alternate net control station on a night that fits your schedule.

FIRE SAFETY

Now that the leaves have fallen from the trees, wildfire concerns increase.  Be careful with open burning as it is easy for a gust of wind to pick up burning leases and make the fire much more than you can handle.  Each day around 9 a.m., the NC Forestry Division posts on-line a map of North Carolina and the Fire Readiness Plans for each NCFS Division across the state.  The map can be found at https://www.ncforestservice.gov/fire_control/fc_rpmap.asp .

Also, with the change to Standard Time, have you replaced the batteries in your smoke detectors?  Tragically, there are fire deaths each year in North Carolina in which smoke detectors had outdated and dead batteries.

Holiday cooking poses risks of fire, particularly when people deep fry.  A quick guide to fire safety can be found at https://www.nfpa.org/Public-Education/Fire-causes-and-risks/Seasonal-fire-causes/Thanksgiving .

Finally, we need to be concerned about Christmas trees. Keep the trees watered so that they tree does not dry out.  Discard any drop cords or Christmas tree lights with frayed cords.  Do not put drop cords under rugs where pedestrian traffic can damage the cord or an overloaded extension cord can set the rug on fire.

ARRL ELECTION RESULTS

The ballots for the Roanoke Division Director election were counted at ARRL HQ on November 19.  Dr. Jim Boehner was elected and will take this seat on the ARRL Board for a three-year term beginning  on January 1, 2022.   I have reached out to congratulate Dr. Boehner and I will do all that I can to make his term a success. Thank you to the nearly 1300 persons who voted for me.

IN MEMORIUM

Ham radio lost a pioneer in the past two weeks and he will be missed.  Ken Woodard, Sr. (WA4BVW) passed away at his home in Landrum, SC at the age of 90.   Ken was a broadcast engineer and put the Mt. Mitchell and Mt. Pisgah two meter repeaters on the air and maintained them for many years.  Many was the time that I heard him check into the 6600 net on Mt. Mitchell on a Saturday night and I always enjoyed seeing him and saying hello at the Waynesville Hamfest put on by the Western Carolina Amateur Radio Society.

Rest is Peace, Ken, you will be missed as will another great ham who made a difference but who passed away a couple of months back. 

Norman Harrill, N4NH, did so much for ham radio in Western North Carolina and processed hundreds, if not thousands, of VE test session forms by organizing the WCARS VE Teams.  He was an organizer of WCARS and the Waynesville Hamfest.  He showed some of the rather slow processors of VE Exams how to get persons who passed their exam their own callsign on the same business day that he received results from the various WCARS VE Teams.  Thank you, Norman, for all that you did and you will be missed.

Thanks to each of these gentlemen ham radio thrived in Western North Carolina.

GIVING THANKS

We are now into the Holiday Season and this which is a good time to reflect on those things that really matter.  In this special time of the year, regardless of your religious or political beliefs, celebrate family, community, and the circle of friends that sustain you when times are tough. 

We have gotten through a lot this year.  Some very dear friends have passed away and each of us have more aches and maybe even more challenges than we did a year ago. 

There is much for each of us to be grateful for.  

As for me, I am thankful for my close friends who come to my aid when I call on them.  I am thankful for the opportunity to do my small part in keeping EmComm and amateur radio alive and growing.  And, I am grateful to the 1294 persons who voted for me in the recent Roanoke Division Election. 

Most importantly, each of us should be thankful for our public safety and military personnel who stand ready to do whatever is necessary to protect us, our communities and our country.  We should all be  providing support and gratitude to the teachers who have the difficult job of guiding and teaching our young people.

As we close out 2021 and look forward to a new year, with new challenges and opportunities, I hope each of us takes time to celebrate all that is good in our lives and not dwell on those things which divide us.

Happy Thanksgiving to each of you.

Marv, WA4NC