At our next meeting, James B. Stafford, AJ5BS, will present part two of “The Road to Nuclear Power Operations.” You can look here to refresh your memory about Stafford and part one of his program. We hope to see you at 7 p.m. at Spear’s.
Minutes: August 27, 2019
President Harold Childress, WBØLFH, called the meeting to order at 1845.
Joseph T. Pajor, KBØKFH, introduced Scott Knebel, planning manager at the Wichita-Sedgwick County Metropolitan Area Planning Department.
Scott presented an interesting program titled “Presentation on Wireless Master Plan.” He told us that most cell phone cell sites in residential areas are located on city rights of way. Cities can’t require a cell site to be justified and that a lot of them are built by companies who sell tower space to various cell phone providers. Sites can use galvanized steel towers or poles to support antennas.
The minutes of the June 25th meeting and treasurer’s report were approved as printed and e-mailed. Motion by Jerry Kahn, ACØRL, second by Joe Pajor.
President Childress said that we need nominees for all chapter offices, President, Vice President, and Secretary-Treasurer, for election at the October meeting.
There was a discussion about our chapter having a table at the Hutchinson and Wichita hamfests. Bryon Cannon, KAØIIU, will check the national QCWA web site to see what is available in the way of handout pamphlets, etc.
Meeting was adjourned at 1958.
Preview: August 27, 2019
Joe Pajor has secured another interesting program, titled “Presentation on Wireless Master Plan” by Scott Knebel. Scott works for the City of Wichita.
See you all at Spear’s!
Minutes: June 25, 2019
President Harold Childress, WBØLFH, called the meeting to order at 1835.
Minutes of the April meeting and financial report were approved.
Old business: Discussion about what information to include in a secure members-only section of the chapter website. There was a consensus for contact information to include name, call sign, telephone number and e-mail address. Joe Pajor moved that this information be added to the our local chapter’s website. Second by Dale Puckett. Motion passed.
New business: Our newest member, Joseph Kelber, ACØMO, was introduced and welcomed by Larry Cannon.
Joe Pajor introduced Jim Stafford, AJ5BS who presented an interesting program titled “The Road to Nuclear Power Operations.” He told about how the United States got into naval nuclear power and the types of ships that the Navy has used nuclear power on. He also discussed the requirements for a person to get into the nuclear program and what was required to become a nuclear plant operator.
Meeting adjourned at 1952.
Test Post
Ignore this. It won’t be here long, anyway.
Test Post
Ignore this. It won’t be here long anyway.
Preview: June 25, 2019
At our next meeting, James B. Stafford, AJ5BS, will present “The Road to Nuclear Power Operations.”
Here’s what James has to say about his program and himself:
We will discuss:
1. When and how the United States got into naval nuclear power
2. The types of ships that the Navy has used nuclear power on
3. The requirements for a person to get into the nuclear power program, and
4. The road from being recruited to becoming a nuclear plant operator. (Points 3 and 4 will be especially interesting for high school juniors and seniors.)
About me: I graduated from Scottsbluff Senior High School in 1968. In 1969, the United States instituted the draft by lottery program. Rather than be drafted, a friend of mine and I decided that the Navy was our choice, so we contacted the local naval recruiter. He was immediately enlisted and served aboard an aircraft carrier as a machinist’s mate and scuba diver. The recruiter delayed my entry because of my desire to serve aboard submarines, which required me to enlist in the nuclear power field program, and the station had already met its quota for the rest of the year. So on my 19th birthday, September 9, 1969, I was enlisted into the United States Naval Reserve so that I could not be drafted (even though my lottery number would never have been called).
On March 5, 1970, probably a little sooner than the recruiter would like to have seen, I was enlisted into the active duty Navy and reported to NRTC San Diego, CA. I served aboard 5 submarines, one surface vessel, and 3 shore commands before transferring to the Fleet Reserve on March 31, 1990, as an electrician’s mate chief petty officer. My retirement from naval service was finalized on September 30, 1999.
My amateur radio journey began in February 1996, when a friend convinced me to look into amateur radio as a communication option while traveling as opposed to a mobile phone. So, in February 1996, I received my first call sign, KC5SVI, and my no-code Technician license. I then tested for the General license and passed the written exam but not the code and then passed the Extra written exam and the code on the same day, thus going from Technician to Amateur Extra in one fell swoop.
Since being first licensed, I have worked with Tarrant County RACES in Tarrant County, Texas; the Fort Worth Stake of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints emergency communication group; Kansas ARES group; the Topeka Stake of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints emergency communication group; Sedgwick County RACES; the Derby Stake of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints emergency communication group; the Wichita Amateur Radio Club; and Air Force Military Affiliated Radio System. I am an ARRL registered instructor, an ARRL VE, and a Laurel Group VE.
Minutes: April 30, 2019
President Harold Childress, WBØLFH, called the meeting to order at 1840.
Minutes of the February meeting and financial report were approved.
Old business: None
New business: There has not been a policy of paying for the meal of a Chapter 79 member who presents a program for a meeting. The Chapter has been doing that for non-members. Harold asked for thoughts about doing that for Chapter members who present a program. After discussion, Jerry, ACØRL, moved that Chapter 79 pay for meals for Chapter 79 members who present programs. Second by Henry, WØIE. Motion passed.
President Harold Childress said he needs to step down as president at the end of this year and won’t serve for another term. Secretary-Treasurer Larry Cannon said he needs to step down from that office at the end of this year, too. So, next October, we need to elect another president, vice president, and secretary-treasurer.
Harold asked that we all introduce ourselves.
Lloyd McCombs, KØLM, mentioned that his wife, Jeanette, passed away March 18. Our sincere condolences to Lloyd.
Shaun Halstead, KØPER, presented a very interesting program about ham radio testing. He started with some amateur radio statistics that showed that there are more licensed amateur radio operators in the United States today than at any time since 1912 when licensing began. As of January 2019, there are 755,952 licensed ham radio operators.
Shaun talked about Laurel Volunteer Examiner Coordinator (VEC). Laurel doesn’t charge a testing fee. Wichita Amateur Radio Club (WARC) has a Volunteer Examiner team associated with Laurel VEC. Shaun is the Team Leader of the VE team.
Shaun also gave information about the felony question on the license application form.
Meeting adjourned at 2020.
Preview: April 30, 2019
At our next meeting, Shaun Halstead will tell us about recent changes and trends in amateur radio licensing.
Shaun is 41 years old, and has been licensed since April 1993. Formerly NØWHG, he upgraded to General and changed his call to KØPER in 2013, then upgraded to Extra in 2014. In 2015, the Wichita Amateur Radio Club decided to form a VE team under the Laurel VEC, and he joined the team under Frank Blake, AA4FB (formerly ADØNA). With Frank moving to Florida, Shaun took over as team leader in 2016. He is currently chair of the WARC Field Day Committee and owns MSI Tech Services, a computer services company.
Minutes: February 26, 2019
President Harold Childress, WBØLFH, called the meeting to order at 1835. Minutes of the December 2018 meeting were approved. Motion by Joe Pajor; second by Gary Essells.
Harold asked that we give Joe Pajor a hand for doing a good job as vice president even without the designation. Harold asked that all members please help with finding programs. We need a program for the April meeting.
If you know hams who are eligible to join QCWA, please invite them to attend our next meeting.
Bryon Cannon, webmaster, thanked Dale Puckett for his articles for our chapter’s website. If you have something of interest for the website, please e-mail it to QCWA79@gmail.com
There was a clarification that just names and call signs of members will be in the public part of the website. Additional information might be available in a members-only section.
Please respond to meeting notices. You might get one from our president, and one from our secretary. We like to let the restaurant know ahead of the meeting how many people to set up for.
Guest speaker Ben Bogner gave a very interesting program, “Systematic Biases in the Rapid Sky Localization of Gravitational Waves.” He explained what gravitational waves are, how they are detected, and why astronomers care about them.
Meeting adjourned at 1940.