Friends-

We regret to inform you that after nearly two decades of monthly Sunday morning amateur radio and electronics swap meets, the Livermore Amateur Radio Klub (LARK) is pulling the plug and canceling all future swap meets effective immediately. There will NOT be a May swap and all swaps for the foreseeable future have been canceled. This was a difficult decision, one that was avoided several times in recent months, but the reality cannot be avoided any longer. Declining attendance by both sellers and buyers, rising costs and the difficulty in recovering from the loss of the swap being held at Los Positas college are just a few of the reasons that led to this decision. It takes an enormous amount of work and resource to make these swaps successful and as a club we have witnessed a steady decline in both revenue and manpower to make the swap a worthwhile venture.

We greatly appreciate your support over the years, it has been a fun ride while it lasted. LARK would especially like to thank all those who volunteered and rose at the crack of dawn on Sunday mornings to get the swap meet up and running to provide this fun and rewarding event for the amateur radio community at large. The swap will be missed.

LARK is looking at the possibility of a bi-annual event that may look more like a Hamfest including a swap meet. For that reason we are keeping the Yahoo swap list alive and we hope that you will keep your subscription active. Stay tuned as we work out those details.

73 from the Livermore Amateur Radio Klub (LARK)

** Please pass this along and help us get the word out if you can, thanks again.

On November 6^th, 2010 Alameda amateur radio operators will conduct a Simulated Emergency Test (SET) along with amateurs from Oakland. This is the first joint disaster preparation drill conducted by members of the Amateur Radio Club of Alameda (ARCA) and members of the Oakland Radio Communication Association (ORCA). Both groups are members of the Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES®), the emergency communications arm of the Amateur Radio Relay League (ARRL).

The purpose of SET is to:

1.     Find out the strengths and weaknesses of the ARES groups in providing emergency communications

2.     Provide a public demonstration to served agencies such as local fire departments and the American Red Cross and to the public, through the news media, of the value that Amateur Radio provides, particularly in time of need.

3.     Help radio amateurs gain experience in communications using standard procedures and a variety of modes under simulated-emergency conditions.

This year’s SET will begin at 8:30AM and continue until 11:00AM. The exercise begins when volunteer radio operators gather and announce their availability via a “Resource NET”. This is an on-air assembly point at a pre-designated Amateur Radio frequency. During the exercise this pool of volunteer radio operators will be dispatched to different locations and transmit simulated emergency radio traffic. Locations for this exercise will include a city Emergency Operations Center and an Emergency Shelter.

Exercise organizers will conduct the drill using simulated emergency radio message traffic based upon a pre-designed Disaster Scenario. To test their training and preparation, participants will not know the nature of the disaster nor their assignments prior to the beginning of the exercise. Radio operating skills will be tested through the transmission and reception of messages via fixed, hand held, and mobile transceivers. Operating modes will include voice and digital communications.

At the completion of the exercise the group will gather for an evaluations session or “hot wash”.

During September, the Amateur Radio Relay League (ARRL) was among dozens of organizations and agencies that took part in National Preparedness Month. The ARRL Simulated Emergency Test (SET) is a nationwide exercise in emergency communications, administered by ARRL Field Organization Leaders including Emergency Coordinators, District Emergency Coordinators, and Section Emergency Coordinators.

Please direct questions to:

Sanford Lavine, KO6JF

ARES Emergency Coordinator for the City of Alameda

(510)522-7152 or KO6JF@ARRL.NET

(from: http://nccc.cc/40th.html (http://nccc NULL.cc/40th NULL.html))

The Northern California Contest Club is having a party and you’re all invited! This year marks 40 years of excellence in amateur radio contesting for NCCC, and to share our excitement, we’re having a special on-air celebration.  It’s the NCCC 40th Anniversary Party — a two week event taking place from September 18 to October 1, 2010, and open to all amateurs worldwide.

During this time period, which includes the NCCC-sponsored Sprints (www.ncccsprint.com (http://www NULL.ncccsprint NULL.com/)) and precedes the California QSO Party (www.cqp.org (http://www NULL.cqp NULL.org/)), NCCC members and club stations will be “on the air” — ready to have a 40th Year QSO with you.  To facilitate easier identification during this event, NCCC member stations have been encouraged to add “/40″ to their callsigns, during non-contest periods.  In addition there will be a few 1×1 special event callsigns assigned, which will also count as NCCC members stations.  A complete list of all eligible NCCC stations and callsigns can be found at: www.nccc.cc/40thcalls.html (http://nccc NULL.cc/40thcalls NULL.html)

To further commemorate this event, NCCC is offering an attractive Certificate to anyone who works at least 40 NCCC member stations during this 40th Birthday Party event.

So please mark your calendars now, and help us celebrate 40 Years of memories in this great hobby.  CU On The Air!

73,
Your NCCC 40th Anniversary Committee

Event Details

Eligible Stations:
1. All amateur radio stations may participate.
2. You can work an NCCC station for credit only once regardless of band and mode (see list here (http://nccc NULL.cc/40thcalls NULL.html))
3. NCCC members are encouraged to add /40 to their call signs for easier identification on-the-air and be as active as possible during this event.

Exact Dates and Time: 0000 UTC September 18 until 2359 UTC October 1, 2010

Bands: All Amateur Radio Bands

Modes: All Modes (CW, Phone, Digital)

Exchange: Recommended (not required):
1. NCCC member stations: RS(T) + California County. This will help you qualify for the NCCC sponsored WACC award.
2. Non-NCCC stations: RS(T) + State. DX stations outside the U.S. and its territories send RS(T) + “DX”.

Note:  Stations operating during contest periods send exchange in accordance with contest rules

40th Anniversary Commemorative Certificate:
1. This special certificate is available for making contacts with at least forty (40) NCCC member stations — any band, any mode — during the event period.
2. No RS(T) data other than worked eligible call signs will be required to apply for the award.
3. Apply for the award online at www.nccc.cc/40thaward.html (http://nccc NULL.cc/40thaward NULL.html)
4. Please make sure your entry has been submitted by October 31, 2010.

The Salvation Army with the Mt. Diablo Amateur Radio Club will be holding a 6 week Course where you can learn everything you need to earn your Technician (entry level) FCC Amateur Radio License.

The Technician license is your gateway to the world-wide excitement of Amateur Radio …

— and now you do NOT need to learn Morse code!

Classes begin on …

Wednesday September 1^st

At 7-9 pm

The Salvation Army

3950 Clayton Road, (at West St.)

Concord 94520

Registration is recommended

Class is FREE and Textbook, if needed, about $23

For Information, contact:

John Primus, AF6RJ AF6RJ@arrl.net (AF6RJ null@null arrl NULL.net) or 925 825-7670

To sign up email: HamRadioClass@gmail.com (HamRadioClass null@null gmail NULL.com)