I just received this email from Don informing me that Norma past away Saturday February 10, 2018.

A New Ham

Congratulations to Robert Baltos, KC3KST after successfully passing his Technician’s Grade License Exam.

3D Printing Presentation

Our main speaker for the evening was Bob Doherty who did a fine job explaining and even demonstrating 3D printing to the group. One of LARC’s pillars is Education. We are fortunate to have many members with diverse backgrounds and willing to share their knowledge. 

Prep before the meeting which included a live demonstration of 3D printing.

This key is one of the many ways 3D printing can be put to use.The possibilities are limited only by your imagination.

An example of what is possible with 3D printing. The above is a working straight key.

Bob presenting 3D Printing Technology

Once again Bob did an outstanding job with his treatment of 3D printing. Maybe not radio per se, but then again creativity is bringing together technologies from many fields to solve a problem in an innovative way. It is said that after trying a hundred different filiment materials for his electric light, the solution was finally found in his wife’s sewing basket. Thread, which when carbonized, did the trick. Focus is good, but sometimes defocusing is even better. Let your mind wander.Stay open to new ideas, and new tools.

Captivated audience.

Bob with 3D printer operating in the foreground.

Over fifty people attended.

By my count there were 38 members signed in, 10 ham guests, and at least 3 wives and children bringing the total attendance to well over fifty.

We have a new Extra!

 

Darrell Davis on the Raspberry Pi

Darrell always does a fine job presenting topics of interest to ham radio operators. The Pi is no exception. It is a historical fact that most of the first to experimenters with home computers before Apple and Microsoft were ham radio operators.

 We had an quite a showing for Darrell’s presentation. 

 Other speakers

Matthew, making the opening remarks to the meeting.

Bob gave an update to his presentation the month before on the Outernet.

Fred showed off a new, inexpensive HT that he picked up.

Kevin made a pitch for the Club Logo Stickers. See Kevin if you wish to purchase one.

Coming up on Saturday February 24, 2018, will be the 4th Annual TECHCON,
the West Central Florida Section Technical Conference.  The conference
will be held at the Polk County Emergency Operations Center, 1890 Jim
Keene Boulevard in Winter Haven, FL.  The location is actually between
Winter Haven and Lakeland in Polk County just off of State Road 540. 
The doors will open at 8:00 A.M., and the conference will begin at 8:45
A.M., with the first presentations beginning at 9:00 A.M.  For more
information go to the TECHCON page on the Section website at
http://arrlwcf.org/wcf-special-events/wcftechconference/.  If you are
planning on attending, please register so we will know about how many
will be in attendance.  Registration and attendance at TECHCON is free.

There will be a Friday Evening Social, the evening before TECHCON, on
February 23, 2018, from 6:00 P.M. until 9:00 P.M., at the Sonny's BBQ
restaurant, 4600 Recker Highway, in Winter Haven, FL., a few miles from
the Polk County Emergency Operations Center.

Our special guest speaker from ARRL HQ will be Bob Allison WB1GCM, the
Assistant ARRL Lab Manager.  Bob does many of the product reviews in QST
Magazine.

Flyers for the conference and a list of nearby restaurants and lodging
has just been uploaded to the TECHCON page on the Section website:
http://arrlwcf.org/wcf-special-events/wcftechconference/.

73 de Darrell KT4WX

--------------------------------------------------------------------
ARRL West Central Florida Section
Section Manager: Darrell Davis, KT4WX
kt4wx@arrl.org

CAROLYN VAN WINKLE, 80 LAKELAND – Carolyn Van Winkle, 80, of Lakeland, FL passed away on December 8, 2017. She was born in Laurel, MS on May 22, 1937. She worked as a school teacher for special needs students in Alabama. She moved to Lakeland in 2005 and was an active member of the First Baptist Church at the Mall. Carolyn was preceded in death by parents Clarence and Mada Walters, sister Alma Walters Hinton and grandson Brad Bass. Carolyn is survived by husband Robert Van Winkle, sister Elizabeth Walters Nichols, her daughters Lori Bass, Stephanie McLelland, Jennifer Lang and Cindy Hargrove; sons Randall McLelland and Scott Van Winkle; grandchildren Derek, Jessica, Kerry, Colin, Brittney, Jordyn, Amanda, Austin, Madeline and Kathryn and great grandchildren Kane, Virginia and Arabella.

The LARC Christmas Party was a great success. Unfortunately, some of our comrades were not able to attend because they were either hospitalized or recovering from an illness or procedure. These include Bert KG2G, Jim KG4PWF, Al W4ZSC, Bob K2EUH, and someone very special to all of us, Carolyn Van Winkle. Please keep these folks in your thoughts and prayers, along with their loved ones who cannot help but be affected as well.

 They say that a picture is worth a thousand words, but some pictures defy explanation.

Most of the usual suspects attended the Christmas Party, but the even better news is that there were several new faces among us. LARC welcomes the new members.

Click here for more photos

It is that time of year again. Christmas dinner will be held at the Golden Corral, 98 North on December 4th, starting at 6:00 PM.

Prices are the same as last time:
8 years old and younger, $6.41
Adults $15.28
Seniors 60+ $14.75
All prices include a drink
As in the past, the club will handle the tip for the waitresses.

Election Results
Officers:
   President Matthew Stevens, NJ4Y
   Vice President Bob Doherty, KM4BAO
   Secretary Bill Johnson, KI4ZMV
   Treasurer Patrick O’Neal, KI4CDY

Board of Directors: 
James Stewart W4XDS, Mike Oliver KT2T, David Zdanowicz KI4WRX, Richard Kennedy N4ESS, Stephanie Hildreth KK4RAH, Geoff Schuck WA4MMO, Al Sheppard W4ZSC, and Kevin Rought N4KWR

Presentation – The Outernet
Our presenter for the evening was Bob Doherty who spoke about the Outernet. The Outernet as apposed  to the Internet is satellite based rather than land based, and serves the millions of people in the world who do not have access to the Internet because they live in remote areas, or third world countries. You can view Bob’s presentation on our Yahoo Website. https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/LakelandARC/files/General%20Meeting%20Presentations Alternately, you can click on the LARC Web Site tab above, and then select General Meeting Presentations. Bob’s presentation will be on top, with earlier presentations following in chronological order.

Attendance