The SELARC "Hamster"

*Serving Amateur Radio Since 1974*

Published Monthly by the Southeast Louisiana Amateur Radio Club Inc.
P.O. Box 1324, Hammond LA 70404
Visit our website: www.selarc.org

* Eating Meeting & Installation of Officers *
Tuesday, August 8th, 7:00PM
Annette's Country Cooking

Congratulations to the SELARC Officers for 2017-2019!

If you would like to become a member of SELARC or renew your membership please print out and complete the application/renewal form at www.selarc.org/slrcappl.htm  and return it with your check to: P.O. Box 1324, Hammond LA 70404. Thanks!

Delta Division Convention (Shreveport/Bossier City Hamfest) will be on August 12th at the LA State Fairgrounds in Shreveport. Details at Website: http://www.shreveporthamfest.com

Greater New Orleans Ham Fest will be on November 11th at the Harahan Lions Club Building, 1001 Hickory Avenue. For info https://www.facebook.com/groups/2044282109131267/

Hammond VE Group - ARRL/W5YI tests are scheduled for the last Sunday of each month [with the exception of holiday conflicts] in Room "B" of the North Oaks Medical System Diagnostic Center at 2pm with $15 testing fee. Bring photo ID and any appropriate CSCE. For more information contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or Find an Amateur Radio License Exam in Your Area.

President Mike Ansalve KF5JSO called the meeting to order at 7pm and led the Pledge of Allegiance, and Roy Holten KG5JSM offered the prayer. It was m/s/passed to approve minutes of the June 13th meeting as published in the "Hamster". Correspondence included notice from LA Secretary of State that Corporate Report is due, renewal notice from Mercer Liability Insurance and a “Thank You” letter to Arthur “Bill” Bailey W5VTW for his equipment donation.. Treasurer Dave Catania N5QOX presented the detailed financial report and the proposed budget for this year. It was m/s/passed to accept the financial report and the budget. The membership application of Craig Waggoner KG5UAQ was voted on and approved. Welcome to SELARC, Craig!

Attendance (31): Mike K5ABJ, Ralph K5CAV, Lyle KD5JRY, Lambert KG5DDW, Roy KG5JSM, Donna KG5JSL, Bill KB5OBW, Jimmy AG5EJ, Bob WB5FBS, David N5QOX, Ernie N5NIB, Ed KE5GMN, Pat KE5KMM, Ronnie N5QVZ, Tom K6SMM, Victor KG5OPA, Jerry N5GKJ, Al KF5IBW, Richard KG5DBA, Tyrone N5XES, Keith KF5VLX, Scott KD5PCK, Judy AA5UZ, John AA5UY, Ron KK5AAA, Laura KG5UAT, Carol KE5GOC, John N5JHF, Carmen KF5VXO, David K4BHY and Craig KG5UAQ.

Committee Reports: Repeater (Lambert KG5DDW) - All OK at this time; still awaiting Hi-Tech Tower Services and Crown Castle to set date for the 147 antenna replacement. ARES (Pat KE5KMM) - – reported that Monday night 2meter net checkins are good, and especially the state ARES HF net on Sunday nights at 7:30pm on 3.878MHz. Work on the new EOC in Amite is keeping everyone busy and will be installing cable runs to the radio positions. There will be a meeting or training class next month with packet radio as one of the topics.

Old Business: Lyle KD5JRY, Richard KG5DBA and Lambert KG5DDW gave a summary report of the June 24-25 Field Day. Radios and antennas worked well, there was a small but enthusiastic attendance and the location was terrific, so it was a successful event! Thanks to Walt N5RYI for making the arrangements. Some photos are posted on the SELARC website at http://www.selarc.org/fdpix.htm

New Business: (1)It was m/s/passed to conclude business and proceed to the election of officers. (2) Election by secret ballot was conducted with the following results: President – Tyrone Burns N5XES, Vice-President – Jimmy Hess AG5EJ, Treasurer – Carol Redmond KE5GOC, Secretary – Ted Forrest KB5CQF. They will serve a two-year term, 2017-2019.

Adjournment: It was m/s/passed to adjourn at 7:55pm.

==> Amateur Radio Parity Act is Introduced in US Senate-- The Amateur Radio Parity Act of 2017 was introduced in the US Senate on July 12, marking another step forward for this landmark legislation. Senators Roger Wicker (R-MS) and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) Senate sponsors. The measure will, for the first time, guarantee all radio amateurs living in deed-restricted communities governed by a homeowners' association (HOA) or subject to any private land-use regulations, the right to erect and maintain effective outdoor antennas at their homes. The Senate bill, S. 1534, is identical to H.R. 555, which passed the US House of Representatives in January. FCC Chairman Ajit Pai applauded the bill in late January, saying that it would "help Amateur Radio operators, and take several steps to promote public safety." ARRL President Rick Roderick, K5UR, expressed the League's appreciation to the Senate sponsors. "ARRL is grateful for the support of Senators Wicker and Blumenthal for sponsoring this important piece of legislation, and for advocating this bill for the past 3 years," he said. "Their continuing support is critical to the success of our efforts." President Roderick also thanked Senator John Thune (R-SD), who chairs the Senate Commerce Committee, for "championing the Parity Act in the Senate since the beginning of our effort."

==> Revised FCC Form 605 Will Ask Applicants "The Felony Question" - A revised FCC Form 605 -- Quick-Form Application for Authorization in the Ship, Aircraft, Amateur, Restricted and Commercial Operator, and General Mobile Radio Services -- going into effect in September will ask all applicants to indicate if they have been convicted of or pled guilty to a felony. The Communications Act obliges the Commission to ask "the felony question," as it did on the old Form 610 and still does on other applications. This action will correct its omission on Form 605, which has existed for years. Applicants' responses and explanations will be used to determine eligibility to be a Commission licensee. The FCC told ARRL that it's still deciding whether to issue a public notice on the change. The revision also will apply to NCVEC Form 605, the unofficial Amateur Radio-specific version of the application that is completed and filed at volunteer examiner coordinator (VEC) examination sessions.
VECs will have to start using the revised form on September 7. Responding to VECs' questions, the FCC offered some guidance, with a particular focus on NCVEC Form 605. Once the Form 605 update has been implemented, assuming all other information is correct, negative felony question responses will result in a license grant, the FCC said. A YES will place the application in the "pending file for review" category. Applicants answering YES would have to, within 14 days, provide the FCC with a statement explaining the circumstances, and a statement "giving the reasons why the applicant believes that grant of the application would be in the public interest, notwithstanding the actual or alleged misconduct," the revised Form 605 instructions state. The FCC said an applicant's answer to the felony question and explanation will be public via ULS, unless a separate request is made to the FCC that the applicant's explanation be kept confidential. The FCC will review applications on which the felony question has been answered in the affirmative, and decide whether to grant them or designate them for hearing.

==> New HAARP Research Campaign to Begin in September - Last February, many HF listeners across North America and elsewhere were able to copy signals from Alaska's High Frequency Active Auroral Research Program (HAARP) during its first scientific research campaign since it was taken over by the University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF) Geophysical Institute in 2015. UAF Space Physics Group Assistant Research Professor Chris Fallen, KL3WX, told ARRL this week that the next HAARP research campaign, which will get under way in mid-to-late September, will carry on the experiments begun during the previous campaigns. This time, though, even more listeners may be able to hear HAARP. Fallen said. "One notable difference from the previous campaign is that another column of transmitter shelters at HAARP will be operational, both increasing the HAARP net transmitted power to 80% of its nominal 3.6 MW and increasing its antenna gain."
In advance of the September scientific campaign, HAARP will hold an open house on August 19. "Throughout the day there will be talks by Geophysical Institute researchers on site about the HAARP facility and research, and other research topics pursued at the UAF Geophysical Institute," Fallen said. "As in the previous year, tours of the main transmitter array, control center, and power generation plant will be offered throughout the day. Hams and radio enthusiasts are encouraged to bring their equipment for photo opportunities or even to make contacts from the site."

--The ARRL Letter and The American Radio Relay League

================================================

Come Greet our new Officers at the August 8th Eating Meeting!!
Good Food – Order from the Regular Menu

===============================================