General – Lakeland Amateur Radio Club Blog

LARC Christmas Party Time!

Eric Clark — Wed, 04 Dec 2024 14:55:18 +0000

All of us, even Santa, needs to put down the mike/keyer every so often and enjoy the holidays! Mark your calendar now for our next LARC club meeting. It’s this coming Monday, December 9th and will be our special Christmas party. This is going to be a special treat, so we have a special time. Instead of meeting at our usual 7pm, the fun starts at 6:00pm. No change in location. It will be at the Parkview Baptist Church across the street from Lakeland Regional Hospital. Here’s what we will be enjoying.

Beef Brisket
BBQ Chicken
Mac & Cheese
Potato salad
Cole slaw
Baked beans
Cakes and other deserts
Also! Door Prizes. There are some really cool ones too including a dual-band HT.

Cost: $10/adult $5/children.

Everyone is welcome! Bring your family & friends. This will be a great time to include someone interested in ham radio.

Reminder: No VE session for this month only. However, if you want to try a ham exam, here’s a website showing where & when you can find one near you. https://tinyurl.com/radioexams.

See you Monday! Come Hungry!

LARC Elects 2025 Officers and Board Members

Eric Clark — Mon, 18 Nov 2024 19:27:46 +0000

At the November 11th meeting, elections were completed for the 2025 Officers and Board of Directors. Here’s who will be serving.

Officers

President

Jim Stewart – W4XDS

Vice President

Geoff Shuck – WA4MMO (Not Pictured)

Secretary

Eleanor Marshall – KK4VCN

Treasurer

Kenny Kozla – KM4UYX

Board of Directors

George Mann – KJ4UW

Mike Oliver – KT2T

Fred Delaney – K1DU

Grant Burhans – W2BF

Steve Bratton – KQ4DRX

Also on the Board of Directors:
Eric Clark – W4EMT as PIO
Richard Sharp – KQ4KX as K4LKL Trustee

Note: The next meeting will be on Monday, December 9th. Since this will be the annual Christmas celebration, we will meet at 6pm instead of the normal 7pm. No Ham Exams will be offered that day. Further details when we get closer to the date. Keep this page bookmarked.

LARC Supports the Warrior Walk

Eric Clark — Sun, 20 Oct 2024 20:24:11 +0000

On Saturday morning (10/19), many LARC members came out to Lakeland’s Lake Hollingsworth for the annual Warrior Walk. This event was in support of our active military, veterans, and Gold Star families. The weather could not have been more perfect!

During the National Anthem

Stationed at the start/finish line was Fred Delaney, KIDU (Net Control) and Eric Clark, W4EMT.

Stationed around Lake Hollingsworth to support the walkers and runners were:

Russ Delaney, N4RTD
Steve Shultz, N7HUQ
Ken Evers, W9KBE
Karl Thorton, KQ4BIV
Josiah Thorton, KQ4BIW
Ringo Bretton, N4SI
Bill Bustin, KF4Q
Grant Burhans, W2BF
Mary Burhans, KQ4HWU
Ed Marchese, N2TE
Howard Pierce, K4THC

Performing support and rover positions were:
Jim Stewart, W4XDS
Mike Shreve, N6MRS

And bringing up the rear, walking behind the group, was Kenny Kozla, KM4UYX. Kenny was the only LARC member supporting the Warrior Walk that actually walked all the way around the lake. Kenny is seen here getting some lifesaving assistance at one of the sponsor’s stations.

Note that he is also still vertical!

Apologies if anyone was left out. Everyone had a great time! And, it was an opportunity to support the public.

Quick Note: Keep on eye on your inbox for an email from Jim Stewart. He will be sending out ballots for the 2025 LARC Directors and Board members upcoming elections. Jim will also have instructions on how to send your completed ballots back in for counting. You have a say in the leadership of the club for next year. The results will be announced at the November meeting.

Warrior Walk – This Saturday (10/19)!

Eric Clark — Tue, 15 Oct 2024 16:56:31 +0000

One of the things that we would have discussed this past Monday at our regular meeting was the Warrior Walk which is on for this Saturday. We need your help to provide communications including operators for each of the stations as well one or more net controllers. This is very short notice. If you can help, contact Jim Stewart, W4XDS as quickly as you can.

Meet at the First Presbyterian Church on Lake Hollingsworth Drive. Be there by 8:00am at the latest. The Warrior Walk starts at 9:00am.

October LARC Meeting Canceled

Eric Clark — Sun, 13 Oct 2024 00:32:45 +0000

Due to the aftermath of Hurricane Milton, the Board has decided to cancel the October meeting of the LARC which was set for Monday (10/14). Again, no meeting this month. There will also be no ham testing this month either. However, we still need to elect our 2025 Directors. Be looking for something from Jim Stewert, W4XDS. He will have the candidates for each office as well as voting instructions.

Also, the Fall LARC Fall Picnic set for Saturday (10/19) has also been canceled and will not be rescheduled. This is also due to the aftermath of Hurricane Milton. This just means that our annual Christmas Party will be that much better!

LARC Fall Picnic Postponed

Eric Clark — Sat, 12 Oct 2024 01:56:40 +0000

The LARC Fall Picnic was scheduled for Next Saturday (10/19). However, Hurricane Milton rained on our plans. So much rain that Colt Creek State Park has flooded all the way back to the Ranger Station sat the park entrance. Electrical power is out throughout the park and it will not be restored until the water recedes enough for this to happen safely. While no official word has gone out on an extended park closure, it is likely to be weeks to get everything back to normal.

For this reason the club will postpone the Fall Picnic. A new date will be sent to you as soon as we can.

LARC September Meeting

Eric Clark — Tue, 17 Sep 2024 16:21:56 +0000

On Monday, September 9th, the LARC had its regular monthly meeting. Mike Shreve, N6MRS, explained Parks on the Air, or POTA. He included some great examples of his phone & CW contacts showing what to listen for and what to transmit. It’s easy to get started too. Just go to https://parksontheair.com. Here you can register, if you haven’t already, to get in on the fun and see who is working at what park in addition to where they are on the band. In case you didn’t know,POTA is now a worldwide thing.

Our next monthly meeting will be on Monday October 14th, which also happens to be Columbus/Indigenous People’s Day. Later that same week, on Saturday, October 19th, LARC is hosting the Fall Picnic. Yes! You are invited! It will be at the same location as the Spring Picnic, Colt Creek State Park in the Blue Heron Pavilion. Check back later for more info. Did someone just say POTA?!?

The faces of Field Day 2024

Todd Runnels — Tue, 25 Jun 2024 21:11:23 +0000

Field Day this weekend June 22-23, 2024

Todd Runnels — Tue, 18 Jun 2024 23:24:23 +0000

Lee Hess N4HES silent key

Todd Runnels — Tue, 11 Jun 2024 18:02:45 +0000

There will be a Celebration of Life at Neighborhood Church on 6/29 @ 10:30 am. 6410 Lunn Road.