Some of you have asked for information about Jim Scott. Jim has left the Lakeland Hospital and is now in rehab at the Astoria Health Care facility located at 701 Overlook Drive, Winter Haven Florida. The phone number there is 863-318-5000. Jim’s cell phone is 863-521-3242. I think he would welcome a call or even a visit from friends, especially those who frequent the net.

There were 14 visitors to the net this Thursday. This was a good number considering the weather we have been having. Many thanks to Andrew for running the net. He did a professional job as always.

LARC’s New Meeting Location

 We are off to a great start at our new meeting location. Many thanks to Bill Paul and TOP Smith for working behind the scenes to make all this all possible.

Guests and members totaled over fifty-seven for our first meeting at the club’s new meeting location.

Without exception, everyone was pleased with the new location.

Bob filled in the details surrounding the move, and laid the ground rules for the new location.

 Smiling Faces

And of course, we have a couple of happy test takers. Third in from the left is Aimee Holzer, KM4STT a new Extra!!! Congratulations Aimee. To her left, in the yellow shirt, is Steve Hall. Steve reinstated his General License, and is back in business as an enthusiastic ham. Welcome back Steve.

Normally we present our successful test takers in an unusual location. Some backgrounds make people blend in, while others make them stand out. Outstanding is good!

Your Thoughts And Prayers

Jim Scott continues to show improvement. Jim took a bad fall last Wednesday, and is slowly recovering. The plan is that he will leave the Lakeland Hospital in a day or so, and enter rehab. If all goes well we should have him back on the Thursday night net asking about the Solar Flux conditions.

The Attendance Roll for May, 2018

Those outlined in red are either guests or have not had their membership records catch up in our database.

Thanks to several short timers, attendance 5/10/18 was way up on the net. Remember, you can call in as a short timer anytime. Those who like to listen and talk will not be disappointed either. Our net tries to offer something for everyone.

One member, notably missing was Jim Scott. Jim is still at the Lakeland Hospital, recovering from a fall. He is doing better, and is expected to enter rehab in a couple of days. He asked me to send his best to all those on the net. I guess this is his way of checking in, because they won’t allow a radio in the hospital. Perhaps the rehab center will be a bit more accommodating.

The May 7th 2018 and future club meetings will be held at the Parkview Baptist Church. 

Read on —

For the past year we have been guests of the Seventh Day Adventist Church. They have been very kind to us, and their facility was quite nice. However, the opportunity to move to a slightly larger facility presented itself, and the board decided to accept the generous offer of the Parkview Baptist Church to use their facilities for our club and board meetings.
So what will change? Not much. The location is about a thousand feet from the last meeting place.

Parking is more than adequate for our needs. The following aerial view shows the parking areas tinted in yellow green. Several places by the side entrance are handicap parking locations. If you can walk, or even if you just need the exercise, please use the Main parking lot across the street, and leave the few spots by the door for those less fortunate.

For those not familiar with the front of the church, the following image should refresh your memory.

If there are any questions, please contact one of the officers, Matthew, Bob, Patrick, or Bill.

Attendance was up this week. A big thank you to all who participated.

Once again LARC supported the March for Babies with both a donation and radio support.

Suited up and ready to walk!

The participants this year were left to right Debbie Leahy, Bob Doherty, Bill Aten, John Leahy, Kenny Kozla, Rich Kennedy, and Sam Shaver. Not shown, because he is taking the picture is Bill Johsnon.

This years event was well attended. According to one count there were just over 1,000 walkers. As in past years, Publix was well represented. Kenny Kozla, one of LARC’s own is a proud Publix employee.

Assembly before the start of the march. Over 1000 participated. Photo by Bob Doherty.

Fran and Jim Robinson with grandson Avery.

This year I had a bit of a surprise. While ‘on patrol’ I heard a voice call my name. Turned out to be my neighbor Fran and her husband Jim Robinson with their grandson Avery. Fran happens to be a employed by Publix as a writer. Jim is the Secretary Treasurer of our Home Owners Association.

The Citrus Tour May 5th and 6th 2018 The main speaker for this evening was Mike Breese, W2YS. Mike made a request for help with this event. Several positions need to be filled. Radio operators are required at each rest station. Operators with vehicles capable of transporting bike and biker are also needed. Finally, operators are needed at command center. Dinner will be held for participants. More information is available at http://www.citrustour.org. Our club contacts for this event are Bob Doherty, or for the skinny from the man who has done this the last ten years running, Larry Walker, KI4DNO. You an contact Larry at KI4DNO@aol.com. Darrell Davis KT4WX recently appointed Mike Bresse W2YS as an Assistant Section Manager for the Special Project of the Bike MS Citrus Tour. Bresse is the new amateur radio coordinator for the Bike MS Citrus Tour starting this year and had previously been the SAG vehicle coordinator for a number of years.