February Section News

Upcoming Hamfests

March 5th – Elk City Hamfest
March 11th & 12th – Green Country Hamfest
April 2nd – Durant Tailgate Fest
April 2nd – Hanging Judge Hamfest, Ft. Smith, Ark.
April 2nd – Ham Expo, Belton, Tex.

I will be in attendance at the first 3 of these events and have a
League Forum at Elk City and Green Country.  We may have an informal
one at Durant.  I look forward to seeing you there.

Well, I don't know about you, but I'm glad to see the snow melt and
things start to warm up.  Everyone was sorry to see the Ada Hamfest get
cancelled on account of the weather, but it happens.  I know Chris
Faulkner and the whole bunch was really excited about the new venue,
so, we'll see what happens next year.

The National Weather Service Severe Weather Workshop is the first week
in March.  Mike Corey, the head of Emergency Communications and
Preparedness at HQ will be in attendance all week.  I will be there
part of the time along with a few others helping Mike man the booth.
If you are in attendance, make sure you drop by and say HI!  The
Saturday spotter training will be well attended I'm sure,  Mike will
be presenting during the Saturday session……..however some of us
will be in Elk City that day………..

Viking Radio Club News – This group in Lawton is really doing some
great stuff for the kids in the area getting them turned on to wireless
communication.  If you can find a way to support them, please do.
Good Morning Viking parents and Viking Radio Club Supporters
This morning we woke to news that in Lawton, OK we broke a Feb 10 local
record (unofficial still) low temperature, moving the record from 0 to
-1 set back in 1980.  The news reported that an OK all time state low
record of -27 was broken this morning in North Eastern Oklahoma.  This
bitter coldness will be long forgotten as the Vikings venture over to
the local park during their Saturday Amateur Radio Outreach event from
about noon until about 4pm, temperatures will be about 60 degrees and
next week we see 70s.  On Saturday, stop in and visit the group around
14.325 MHz.  This will be the last day the students will get a chance
to get on the air prior to next weeks School Club Round-up.  We also
have two new SCR coaches that will be assisting Physics Lawton High
School Teacher Jim Havens KE5HAZ, during the School Club Round-up
working as W5LHS.

Mr. Harper KE5YZB is hosting a study hall in his classroom this
Saturday from 10am until noon then encouraging students to venture over
to the park.  Do you smell pizza too?

Many schools across North America will be active during the School Club
Round-up Monday - Friday of next week.  Schools participating range from
elementary through University.  Yes, parents there are scholarships for
Amateur Radio.  On Monday, the Vikings will be using the day as a
practice day, operating as a club, but not a school club, using the
callsign, K5USA.  On Tuesday through Friday, the Vikings will be using
their school club callsign, KF5CRF.  This allows the students to
participate for a total of 24 hours (max 6 hours per day) as a school
club.  Vikings will always talk to a school, even if previously worked.
 If you hear a school on the airwaves say hello.  Please make it your
personal goal to talk with 10 different schools during the school club
round-up.

--
73
Paul Goulet /KC5CYY


I received some notes from the Tulsa Amateur Radio Club (TARC) this
month from ARRL PIO Nathan Huffstetler…….

What an eventful past few months and there's still more to come!  In
January's Tulsa Amateur Radio Clubs meeting, Dan Threlkeled (KF5FSL)
made his first Ham Radio contact. His very first contact ever was with
an 11 year old named Electra (KB3RGE). Dan is a local weather man that
works for NBC's TV station KJRH.

As you all know, February has pulled out some extreme winter weather
that has given us some record snow falls. In preparation for these
conditions, ARES zones 4 and 5 went into stand-by and ran health and
welfare nets during this time.

In March, we have the Green Country Ham Fest coming up on the 11th and
12th at the Claremore Expo Center. There will be drawings for some
great prizes including the grand prize, an Elecraft K3. Plenty of
vendors are going to be present and, as always, of course there will be
several swap meet tables. If you or someone you know needs to upgrade
your license, you will have the opportunity at the ham fest. There will
be two ARRL test sessions making this a convenient time to upgrade while
you browse around the event. To learn more, check us out on the web at
www.greencountryhamfest.org.

I would like to thank everyone that participated in any capacity during
the winter storms this year.  Your help and generosity are what makes us
so valuable to our served agencies.  We may not be needed during a given
event, but that doesn't mean we aren't appreciated.  Keep on,
keepin' on!!

One more thing, during the League forums at the section hamfests, the
last few minutes will be devoted to ARES information.  We will quickly
cover what is upcoming and how we are going to approach
things………not to mention, I'll have some goodies to give away!!
Keep the info coming……the more stuff I get, the more fun this is!!

73,

Kevin O'Dell N0IRW
Oklahoma Section Manager