Archives May 2012

Memorial Day started as an event to honor Union soldiers, who had died during the American Civil War. It was inspired by the way people in the Southern states honored their dead. After World War I, it was extended to include all men and women, who died in any war or military action.

Memorial Day was originally known as Decoration Day. The current name for this day did not come into use until after World War II. Decoration Day and then Memorial Day used to be held on May 30, regardless of the day of the week, on which it fell. In 1968, the Uniform Holidays Bill was passed as part of a move to use federal holidays to create three-day weekends. This meant that that, from 1971, Memorial Day holiday has been officially observed on the last Monday in May.

Many VARC members and area amateur radio operators have either served or are serving in one of the branches of the armed service.  Please join with them in the remembrance of those who served with their lives in the defense of our great nation through the display of the stars and strips. Most of all please continue to pray for our nation on this special day of observance…

Today was the second Saturday of the odd month so the testing team met to give amateur radio exams in the greater Valdosta area.  Here are the results of this month’s session.  The total number of people who came t0 the exam session was five.

This morning more progress was made on the new repeater room at the repeater site.  A lightening protection rack was installed in order to terminate the big 1 5/8 hardline into the poly-phaser shelf.  Poly-phasers are a inline protectors that quickly absorb surges on coax or hard-line center conductor.  Lightening protection is very important to any radio system which needs to be operational 24 hours and 7 days a week.  Proper lightening protection is the lowest cost insurance that any amateur radio operator should consider for there station.

There is more work to be scheduled at the repeater site in the coming weeks in order to complete the project.  There will be plenty of opportunity for VARC members to learn more about advanced radio technology.

VARC members and other area hams met this evening to enjoy each others company at “Chow Town” which is a fairly new oriental restaurant located over by the mall.  Everyone seemed to enjoy the food and the meeting area was very pleasant for socializing about ham radio.   Discussions centered around HF, DX, antennas, HamCram, repeater system upgrades, ways to promote amateur radio to the younger generation, field day in June, social networking tools, etc.   In order to encourage more activity and accessibility for members it was decided to change the meeting time from the first Tuesday of the month to the last Saturday of the month.   All those who are interested in amateur radio are always invited to socialize and to enjoy their favorite interest.