Dam Jam ham plans

The Dam J.A.M. Bicycle Tour is set for September 9

The Tulsa Repeater Organization Communications team will (tentatively, pending vote of the club) be in Pryor to provide support to provide communications between checkpoints of the bicycle tour over a large part of Northeastern Oklahoma.

To volunteer to help with this event or for more information, contact TRO Activities Chairman - Kenneth Baucum - KG5CBM at 918-271-1435

Oklahoma QSL Card Bureau

A draft of new rules were explained at the Ham Holiday OKDXA meeting regarding  changing the envelopes and postage. I received an envelope this week with the following information:

#1) Effective Sept 1, 2017 the W5 Incoming buro must be self supporting and they are no longer accepting SASE's from users.  Instead you can simply send money and they will print your envelopes with postage for you.  Send $20 (anything beyond the $20 will be considered a donation to cover other buro related expenses.)

You can send money via PayPal:
PayPay (send money to a friend - to w5buro@gmail.com)

Or by USPS:
W5 INCOMING BUREAU
P.O. BOX 1060
Mounds OK 74047

Please make sure your callsign is evident by either method used.


#2) Rates are increasing to $1.00 per envelope to keep up with increasing postage expenses, miscellaneous supplies and printing.  The $20 you send will provide for 20 envelopes and any additional funds you send will be considered a donation toward general bureau expenses (like a PO box and other things!)  If you want a 2 or 3 ounces per mailing please make sure to provide your sorter with a batch of "Additional Ounce" (penguin) stamps to keep on file for you.

If your a high-volume user, such as a DX Expeditioner or a high-scoring contestor you may want many ounces per mailing.  One envelope with a single forever stamp will carry about 6 cards.  With the "Additional Ounce" postage it can transport about 12 to 14 cards.

#3) Everyone is reminded to contact the sorter for their callsign directly with questions or comments.  If you are unable to resolve a concern then you are welcome to contact the W5 Incomming Bureau Manager, Gene Lewis, W5LE.  Gene is available at w5buro@gmail.com

#4) Expect to see a strong push in the coming months by ARRL for all incoming bureaus to become self-sustaining.

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If your wondering what this is all about:  The ARRL offers a service to members that drastically reduces the cost of sending QSL cards overseas.  You fill out your cards then mail a envelope full of them along with payment and they will forward the cards on to the overseas bureaus in bulk.  Those bureaus will send them using their local postal system.  This service alone justifies the ARRL membership dues if you send very many!  You can read more here: http://www.arrl.org/outgoing-qsl-service

Thanks to the Edmond Amateur Radio Society for this information.

Enid Hamfest coming in November

2017 ENID HAMFEST Saturday, November 4th 8 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Hoover Building Garfield County Fairgrounds TALK-IN: 145.290 (-) No PL (W5HTK) Repeater is currently off the air so this may change.  •ARRL FORUMS & PROGRAMS •LICENSING EXAMS • RAG-CHEW SESSIONS • FREE FOOD TICKETS $3.00 LOCATION: Hoover Building, County Fairgrounds, 305 E Oxford Ave. One block west of U.S. 64 (N 4th St). Coordinates: (36.42796, -97.87545) GRAND PRIZES TBD: (Drawing at 2:00 p.m. from names of all attendees. No need to be present to win this grand prize.) • PLUS ! dual band VHF/UHF handheld transceivers. (Each given in at hourly drawings. Must be present to win. One prize per attendee.) LICENSING EXAMS • W5YI VE testing at 1:00 p.m. All license grades. $14 fee for each exam. Bring two forms of identification and, if testing for upgrade, bring a copy of your current radio license. RAG-CHEW SESSIONS • On- and off-site FREE FOOD • Donuts and hot beverages, 8 to 10:00 a.m. (Diabetic alternatives available) • Hot dogs and beans, condiments, beverages, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. TICKETS • Admission $3.00 per person. (Age 12 and under free if accompanied by adult.) Admission includes one drawing ticket. Extra tickets bundles available. TABLES• $3.00 each. Request tables viaW5EIY (Bill) at 580-716-4788 or nokes3139@gmail.com . Pre- reservedtables not claimed by 7:45 a.m. will go to others in order of request. FOR VENDORS: Building will be open for set-up 6:30 - 8 p.m. Fri., and 6:30 - 8 a.m. Sat. An ARRL-approved event, hosted by The Enid Amateur Radio Club. For more information:www.enidarc.org/ENIDHAMFEST

Moore National Night Out participation @NNOPDX2012 #NNO2017

Moore Emergency Management National Night Out effort 

Public information was available too.

Gayland Kitch, WX5MOR reported he is "one of several net control stations for our local Amateur Radio Emergency Services net."  The Moore group participated in National Night Out.

Did your group participate in "National Night Out"?