December 2002 Edited by George Lanning  KB6LE

Table of Contents

 From the Oval Shack

 From the VP's desk

 Treasurer's Report

 Rally News for 2003

 Do you know the meaning of 33?

 OARS Net check-ins

 Christmas gift guide for men

 OARS Packet update

 Red Cross Classes

 Newspaper Headlines in the Year 2035

 Canadian Temperature Conversion Chart

 Expecting

 OARS Calendar

Seasons Greeting to All!

As we approach the end of another year, it was requested at the last meeting that we review the date for the OARS Monthly Meeting. Our bylaws state that meetings are to be held on the 4th Wednesday of the month. An amendment was put forward last month to make the November Meeting fall on the 1st Wednesday after Thanksgiving, to prevent having it the night before Thanksgiving as happened this year.

At the same time it has been requested that we conduct a survey to find out if everyone would like to continue to have the meetings on the 4th Wednesday, or if we would rather move to another day. 

Please let me know by phone, fax or email your thought on this issue, even if you would like to maintain the current date. If there is a consensus on moving the date, we will put forth an amendment to the bylaws.

On the legislative front, Sen. Pam Roach attended a meeting with King county ARES and also with the ARES Section Emergency Coordinator, Ed, N7NVP to discuss issues. The Senator plans to again introduce the antenna legislation. This time the Senator is wrapping the package in the mantle of emergency preparedness. She intends to present it in a form that legislators and city officials can't turn down. We will endeavor to keep you updated on the status of this effort and hope that you will give your support when the bill is introduced. 

Senator Roach is also interested in getting her license and is studying the ARRL Level I and II Emergency Communications Courses, so here is our chance to have a practicing Ham in the Senate.

I would like to thank everyone for their participation in Amateur Radio and the Olympia Amateur Radio Society in 2002, and look forward to your participation in 2003.

Best Wishes and see you in 2003. 73

-- Ken Dahl, K7TAG

From the VP's desk

Several things:

• The Holiday get-together, first:

Now, if your last name begins with

A - E bring salads

F - M bring a main dish

N - R bring desserts

S - Z bring breads/beverages 

(note: the club will provide napkins and some beverages)

We've got chairs and tables. However -- bring your own silverware, cups and plates, please!

Bring a present for the auction, and of course, bring some money so you can bid!

If the weather is terrible, we're going to reschedule. Check with us on the repeater before coming! TNX!

• The General Class will be in late February and early March; get a book and start reading! Let me know if you're planning on attending, TNX.
• Likewise, if you want to take a Technician class, let me know. I don't have a cadre of students waiting for a class right now, so I've not scheduled one. 
• If you worked a rally, set aside January 25th for the worker's appreciation party. And set aside March 1 and 2 for the next rally! Let me know if you can help, TNX! 
• If you have a program idea for an OARS meeting you'd like to push, let me know. I have nothing scheduled, and need some help in this area. 

-- 73 Lee, KI7SS

Treasurer's Report

As of 11/30//02
 
 

GENERAL FUND (checking account)

Previous balance     $1,921.67
    Income                1.53
    Expenses             28.49
Ending balance        1,894.71

REPEATER / PACKET FUND (savings account)

Previous balance        956.81
    Income                0.00
    Expenses              0.00
Ending balance          956.81

-- Ed Fitzgerald, N7WW, Treasurer
 

Rally News for 2003

The schedule is now out for the 2003 Rally season. As usual, Hams are a critical part of running these events, so it helps if those who want to work in the rallies keep these dates in mind for the new year. Here's the schedule of events (subject to change, of course):

Jan 25 -- Rally workers' appreciation banquet, Fort Lewis Golf Club Clubhouse. (All who worked or are interested in working rallies are invited. Great food, door prizes, meet the competitors, and its free!)

Feb ?? -- An event planned for the Thurston County ORV Park, which will probably be cancelled or rescheduled due to the sudden closure of the park by the current County Commissioners.

Mar 1 -- Doo Wop I, Hoquiam area

Mar 2 -- Doo Wop II, Montesano/Brooklyn areas

Jun 7 -- Dryad Quest, Shelton area

Jun 8 -- Shitepoke, Shelton area

Jul 12 -- Oregon Trail, Hillsboro, OR area

Jul 13 -- Trail's End, Hillsboro OR area

Aug 2 -- ORV Rallysprint I-ORV Park (?)

Aug 3 -- ORV Rallysprint II-ORV Park (?)

Sep 6 -- Sou'wester, Olympia & Shelton areas

Sep 7 -- Simpson Stages, Shelton area

(These September events will probably be really big international races!)

Oct 11 -- Mt Hood, Hood River, OR (The Oregon events are listed for your reference and in case you want to help out at those events.)

As always, Lee Chambers and I look forward to all of the assistance that we can have for these rallies. Your time and efforts are really appreciated by the rally people. We will especially need hams for the September events. Please put these dates on your calendars today! You can contact us on the nets for questions or to volunteer. Please call me at 866-0683 or call Lee at 866-0800. Thanks!

-- Paul, KC7LA

Do you know the meaning of "33"?

The term "YL" was adopted as a general term denoting any licensed Amateur feminine operator, regardless of age or marital status in 1939 and "33" was originated soon after by Clara, W2RUF (ex W8KTR) and adopted by YLs for exclusive YL use. It means "Love sealed with friendship between one YL and another YL."

This is the poem that was written about it!

The birth of thirty-three

-- by Bart Pooper, W1HNE

Clara had her ticket
She also had a rig.
Because she was just starting
It wasn't very big.

She slowly tuned the crystal,
And watched the meter drop.
Then tapped the key a couple times
To be sure it wouldn't stop.

Now everything was ready.
She called a short CQ
And received an answer
On thirty-six sixty-two.

They chewed the fat 'bout stuff and things.
'Bout dresses, work and dates.
They finally called it QRT
The girl sent eighty-eights.

Clara thought it mighty funny,
Whether it be Miss or Mrs.
To end a perfect QSO
By sending "love and kisses."

It sounds too sentimental;
Just a little too much "goo"
To be sending "love and kisses"
To a girl the same as you.

For an entire week she pondered;
Wouldn't even touch the rig.
She pushed her slide rule by the hour,
Employing "logs" and "trig."

She added and subtracted.
What could the answer be?
To reach a happy medium
Twixt eighty-eight and seventy-three.

Clara finally looked up from her work
All smiles and not forlorn.
Twas July in nineteen-forty
That thirty-three was born.

There's no real definition
But it's meaning is known well.
It's how a YL says good evening
To another friend YL.
 

Hope everyone enjoyed this. The meaning of "33" is known well through use over the years: it's how a YL says good evening to another friend YL.

-- Sara Lyon, AB7PS

OARS Net check-ins

The following 46 stations checked in on the OARS General Information Net one or more times in the month of November 2002:
 

The net meets at 7:30 every Tuesday evening on the 3 linked OARS repeaters: 147.36, 224.46, and 441.40 MHz. All Hams are invited to check in.

Christmas gift guide for men

Christmas is just around the corner, so here are some gift ideas for those special men in your life!

Buying gifts for men is not nearly as complicated as it is for women. Follow these rules and you should have no problems.

Rule #1: When in doubt, buy him a cordless drill. It does not matter if he already has one. I have a friend who owns 17 and he has yet to complain. As a man, you can never have too many cordless drills. No one knows why. 

Rule #2: If you cannot afford a cordless drill, buy him anything with the word ratchet or socket in it. Men love saying those two words. "Hey George, can I borrow your ratchet?" "OK. Bye-the-way, are you through with my 3/8-inch socket yet?" Again, no one knows why.

Rule #3: If you are really, really broke, buy him anything for his car. A 99-cent ice scraper, a small bottle of deicer or something to hang from his rear view mirror. Men love gifts for their cars. No one knows why. 

Rule #4: Do not buy men socks. Do not buy men ties. And never buy men bathrobes. I was told that if God had wanted men to wear bathrobes, he wouldn't have invented Jockey shorts.

Rule #5: You can buy men new remote controls to replace the ones they have worn out. If you have a lot of money buy your man a big-screen TV with the little picture in the corner. Watch him go wild as he flips, and flips, and flips.

Rule #6: Do not buy a man any of those fancy liqueurs. If you do, it will sit in a cupboard for 23 years. Real men drink whiskey or beer.

Rule #7: Do not buy any man industrial-sized canisters of after shave or deodorant. I'm told they do not stink -- they are earthy.

Rule #8: Buy men label makers. Almost as good as cordless drills. Within a couple of weeks there will be labels absolutely everywhere. "Socks. Shorts. Cups. Saucers. Door. Lock. Sink." You get the idea. No one knows why. 

Rule #9: Never buy a man anything that says "some assembly required" on the box. It will ruin his Special Day and he will always have parts left over. 

Rule #10: Good places to shop for men include Northwest Iron Works, Parr Lumber, Home Depot, John Deere, Valley RV Center, and Les Schwab Tire. (NAPA Auto Parts and Sear's Clearance Centers are also excellent men's stores. It doesn't matter if he does not know what it is. "From NAPA Auto, eh? Must be something I need. Hey! Isn't this a starter for a '68 Ford Fairlane? Wow! Thanks.")

Rule #11: Men enjoy danger. That's why they never cook -- but they will barbecue. Get him a monster barbecue with a 100-pound propane tank. Tell him the gas line leaks. "Oh the thrill! The challenge! Who wants a hamburger?"

Rule #12: Tickets to a football game are a smart gift. However, he will not appreciate tickets to "A Retrospective of 19th Century Quilts." everyone knows why.

Rule #13: Men love chainsaws. Never, ever, buy a man you love a chainsaw. If you don't know why -- please refer to Rule #8 and what happens when he gets a label maker.

Rule #14: It's hard to beat a really good wheelbarrow or an aluminum extension ladder. Never buy a real man a step ladder. It must be an extension ladder. No one knows why.

Rule #15: Rope. Men love rope. It takes us back to our cowboy origins, or at least The Boy Scouts. Nothing says love like a hundred feet of 3/8" manilla rope. No one knows why.

-- via packet from David, ZL3AI

OARS Packet update

The OARS packet radio system has received some much needed improvements to the 6 meter link between the OLY Node at the residence of Larry Ikenberry, K7APT, and the OLY BBS at the residence of KB6LE. We are indebted to Dave Johnston, N7WHI, for locating and installing a hardline feedline at KB6LE and a 35 foot telescoping mast at the OLY Node. Thanks, Dave!

With these improvements in place, we once again have a reliable link from the OLY Node to the BBS, and also to the SHELTN Node W7SMC. The OARSIP BBS and the SMCBBS are now exchanging bulletins and forwarding personal and NTS messages.

It is now again possible to connect to the OARS BBS via the OLY Node as well as direct on 147.400. You can connect to OLY on 145.07, and from there connect to OARSIP using the "BBS" command.

In other Western Washington packet news, the Longview packet folks have finally been able to obtain the needed permits to erect a new tower to replace the one they lost a couple of years ago. The new tower is already in place, but does not yet have any antennas installed. Once that is done, we can expect a resumption of packet forwarding to Longview, Kelso, and points south in Oregon.

Contrary to some rumors that have circulated, packet is not dead -- although it is not as widely used in the U.S. as it was a few years ago.

-- George Lanning, KB6LE

Red Cross Classes

The next series of Red Cross Classes begins Jan 7 at the Thurston-Mason County Chapter, 2618 12th CT SW, Olympia, WA 98507. The classes start at 6:30 PM. You should register by calling 352-8575 in Olympia or 426-3400 in Shelton.

The schedule is:

Jan 7 -- Orientation

Jan 14 -- Introduction

Jan 21 -- Mass Care

Jan 28 -- Shelter Operations

Feb 4 -- Shelter Simulation

Feb 11 -- Damage Assessment

Feb 18-19 -- Family Services

The classes are taught one night earlier in Shelton.

I think that all of the classes can assist our members in understanding Red Cross operations. Completion of these classes allows you to take first aid and CPR for no charge.

-- Ken Dahl, K7TAG, DEC WWA District 4

Newspaper Headlines in the Year 2035

• Ozone created by electric cars now killing millions in the seventh largest country in the world, California. 
• White minorities are still trying to have English recognized as California's third language. 
• Spotted owl plague threatens northwestern United States crops and livestock. 
• Baby conceived naturally -- scientists stumped. 
• Authentic year 2000 "chad" sells at Sotheby's for $4.6 million. 
• Last remaining Fundamentalist Muslim dies in the American Territory of the Middle East (formerly known as Iran, Afghanistan, Syria, and Lebanon). 
• Iraq still closed off; physicists estimate it will take at least ten more years before radioactivity decreases to safe levels. 
• Castro finally dies at age 112; Cuban cigars can now be imported legally, but President Chelsea Clinton has banned all smoking. 
• George Z. Bush says he will run for President in 2036. 
• Postal Service raises price of first class stamp to $7.89 and reduces mail delivery to Wednesday only. 
• 35 year study: diet and exercise is the key to weight loss. 
• Upcoming NFL draft likely to focus on use of mutants. 
• Average height of NBA players now nine feet, seven inches. 
• Microsoft announces it has perfected its newest version of Windows so it crashes BEFORE installation is completed. 
• New federal law requires that all nail clippers, screwdrivers, fly swatters, and rolled up newspapers must be registered by January 2036. 
• Congress authorizes direct deposit of illegal political contributions to campaign accounts.

-- found on packet, author unknown

Canadian Temperature Conversion Chart

50 degrees Fahrenheit (10 C): Californians shiver uncontrollably. Canadians plant gardens.

35 Fahrenheit (1.6 C): Italian cars won't start. Canadians drive with the windows down.

32 Fahrenheit (0 C): American water freezes. Canadian water gets thicker.

0 Fahrenheit (-17.9 C): New York City landlords finally turn on the heat. Canadians have the last cookout of the season.

-60 Fahrenheit (-51 C): Mt. St. Helens freezes. Canadian Girl Guides sell cookies door-to-door.

-100 Fahrenheit (-73 C): Santa Claus abandons the North Pole. Canadians pull down their ear flaps.

-173 Fahrenheit (-114 C): Ethyl alcohol Freezes. Canadians get frustrated when they can't thaw the keg.

-460 Fahrenheit (-273 C): Absolute zero; all atomic motion stops. Canadians start saying "cold, eh?"

-500 Fahrenheit (-295 C): Hell freezes over. The Leafs win the Stanley Cup.

-- from "Joke of the Day"

Expecting

When our son was five, we discovered we were expecting again. At three months, we decided to tell him, before other people could "see" that another baby was on the way.

One evening, his Dad sat down with him on the couch and asked him if he wanted to know a secret. Of course he did, so his Dad whispered in his ear, "Momma's going to have a baby."

Our son whispered back into his Dad's ear, "Does she know yet?"

-- Glenda E. via packet from W1GMF