San Francisco Section News - November 2003
This is my first column as SM for the San Francisco Section of ARRL.
There is a lot to learn so please bear with me as I learn the many aspects of
the job. Past SM Len Gwinn WA6KLK has been very helpful in walking me through
the many tasks. He has offered to continue to be my Elmer in the job. I
appreciate his vast experience in Amateur Radio and as a leader.
Marci Campbell KE6IAU has accepted the position of Assistant Section
Manager for the northern part of the San Francisco Section. Those of you who
have attended the section conventions in Ferndale probably have met Marci.
Marci and her husband Don KE6HEC are very active in the Humboldt county clubs.
As the ASM for the northern part of the section, Marci will be responsible
for all field activities except those of the Amateur Auxiliary (OOs). Many
thanks to you, Marci (and Don!) for your willingness to take on the position.
As part of learning the SM job, I was fortunate to travel to ARRL HQ
in Newington, CT., to attend a workshop on ARRL's Field Organization. A
substantial amount of material was presented in the short course. I am still
reading all the information. When I talked to other Hams before the trip, I
learned that very few have been able to make the trip to see the League
headquarters, meet the people who make it all happen and work the W1AW
station. So I took my 35mm camera with me and took pictures at every
opportunity. This has been developed into a photo tour of the League which I
offer as a program for club meetings. Please let me know if you would like me
to visit your club with the photo tour.
Information in this column will come from a variety of sources,
including club newsletters. Please be sure that your club sends (mail or
e-mail) your newsletter to me so that your activities can be listed, like the
following:
The San Francisco Amateur Radio Club (SFARC) and San Francisco ARES
performed their third annual Halloween Pumpkin Safety Patrol in a number of
San Francisco neighborhoods during the evening of October 31st. About 20 Hams
on foot and in cars cruised the neighborhoods being alert for potentially
harmful events. Two repeaters were used as well as base stations to pass any
traffic to an appropriate agency if needed. SFARC Public Service Coordinator
George Hughes W0WEB and ARES DEC Merlin Willis N6OFY organized this year's
event.
Lake County Amateur Radio Society (LCARS) received a write-up in an
October edition of the Lake County Record-Bee newspaper. LCARS member Dave
Perata WN6LOO has incorporated an Amateur Radio Technician class in with his
4H activities. His most recent class graduated five new licensees, one of
those his son, Daniel KG6RJL who has already upgraded to a General class
license. Dave has already started a new class and plans many more. LCARS
provides public service communications support for Lake County's Pedal the
Puddle bike race and the Blackberry Festival. Their membership also provides
support for the California Department of Forestry and is active in the local
ARES function.
Speaking of Ferndale, get your calendars out and mark the weekend of
July 9 - 11, 2004. That's when the next San Francisco Section convention will
be held once again in Ferndale. To keep up with information on the
convention, visit the Humboldt Amateur Radio Club's web site at
www.humboldt-arc.org.
Finally, the inclement weather season is upon us. Time to dust off
the go-kits and check their contents. Make sure all of your supplies are up
to date and that any medications that you need to carry are current. Be sure
that you have a list of people to contact on your behalf in case of an
emergency. Your EC and DEC should have this information, too. Check to see
that your HT batteries are still in good working order. If they have reached
the end of their life, add new ones to your Christmas list!
I wish you and your families a safe and pleasurable Thanksgiving!
73,
Bill Hillendahl KH6GJV, San Francisco Section Manager