Welcome to the February edition of the CLARA Current! 2025 is off to a great start with Winter Field Day and a great presentation at the January meeting by Ed Fong WB6IQN. Later this month, we will have an opportunity to make a group buy of his antennas at a significant discount, so be on the lookout for that email with more info on how to take advantage of this great offer! Now let’s see what’s on tap for February.
From Bob KØNR
Our next Ham Help Workshop is going to be held Saturday Feb 22 at 2 PM, Casa Del Rio clubhouse in BV. We are looking for your ideas for a main topic that we will cover.
We will always be available to help with getting a new license, programming radios, etc. but we’d also like a main topic to focus on.
Our topic last time was Setting Up an HF station, which Marty WT0Z led and he demonstrated making SSB contacts on HF. (Thanks, Marty!) With the workshop format, we want topics that are “hands on,” not just a slideshow.
Here are some potential ideas for the next workshop:
- How to operate HF digital (FT8, FT4)
- How to use VHF/UHF digital (DMR, D-STAR, Fusion)…this would be focused on DMR based on local repeater availability
- How to make a contact on HF (calling CQ, tuning the band, hunting POTA stations, etc.)
- How to make a contact on FM VHF/UHF (repeaters and simplex)
- How to attach a PL-259 connector (both solder and crimp)
- <insert your idea here>
Please drop me an email with your thoughts – bob@k0nr.com
From Rick WA6NUT
CLARA January Meeting Notice
When: Tuesday, February 11, 2025 Social: 6:00 PM, Meeting: 7:00 PM
Where: Casa del Rio Clubhouse
27665 CR 313 #24 in BV
A Look at Early Communications: The Pony Express, wire-line telegraph, and how ham radio and history play together so well today – by Jim Andera, KØNK
Our guest speaker for the February meeting will be Jim Andera, KØNK. Jim has been actively hamming for the 51 years that he has been licensed. Portable operation, EmCom, and teaching have been particular areas of interest, along with CW, repeaters and blending ham radio with his other hobbies. As an outdoorsman, those other hobbies range from backpacking to hunting to bicycling. He spent 45 years working with the design of aircraft radios, with the majority of that time being spent with the design and application of HF SSB gear on aircraft. Now retired, Jim’s home QTH is in Gardner, KS, just outside of Kansas City.
Jim’s presentation will cover the history of communications, starting with the Pony Express and the wire-line telegraph spanning the United States – up to modern times with the technology now readily available to ham radio operators. You’ll gain a better appreciation of those who came before us and helped establish communications technology as we now know (and enjoy) it.
You’re invited to our February 11th meeting! Social hour starts at 6:00 PM, meeting is at 7:00 PM. Light refreshments will be served.
To join our meeting Tuesday evening by Zoom, click HERE! The passcode is 7373
From Sean KFØIHL
At the January meeting, an election was held for the CLARA board. There
were no nominations from the floor, and Bob, K0NR moved that we re-elect the existing board. The motion was seconded by Russ, N0RCG, with Ken, W0LSD doubling. All present were in favor, none opposed. Brian, KF5WCW, President; Bob, K0NR, Vice President; Rick, WA6NUT, 2nd Vice President; Jim, KD0MRC, Treasurer; Sean, KF0IHL, Secretary.
At the January 16th Board of Directors meeting, club dues of $20/year were proposed. Brian moved we accept & set dues at $20; Bob seconded the motion; the full board was in attendance and voted unanimously in favor.
Finally, for personal reasons, I’ve decided to step down from my position as CLARA Secretary. I should have acknowledged this prior to the elections, so you all have my apology. It’s been a pleasure to see the club come alive again, and I’d like to thank all of the Elmers. I’ll catch you all down the log, as they say.
From Jim KDØMRC
Our High Country Bank balance is $1524.19 and PayPal balance is $73.99 for a total of $1598.18. The BOD decided we would request annuals dues of $20. This will help us build up a reserve for equipment purchase or repair. You can bring you dues payment to a meeting, use PayPal from our website, or mail them to me (Jim Willut; 18133 Ponderosa Lane; BV CO 81211).
Remember that dues are NOT required to participate in CLARA activities. Associate members may join in all of the fun CLARA has going on throughout the year. Aside from raising funds to help keep the club and its assets functioning, paying dues allows us to properly track voting members and makes other administrative tasks easier to manage.
A big thanks to Sean KFØIHL for his service in 2024! Serving the CLARA membership is a big job and we understand that life gets busy. Thanks Sean!! Lastly, you may be thinking “What happened at Winter Field Day?”. We plan to do a short recap at the February member’s meeting that will highlight the fun we had at this great event. Spoiler alert: about half the membership showed up and many members had a blast operating. “If we could hear them, we could work them”, which made the event lots of fun! A special thanks goes out to Tom W9TR and Bill NØIET for helping to organize the event, and to Rich KE5HQK for hosting us at the EOC. 73 on behalf of myself KF5WCW, and the entire board. See you at the monthly meeting!