The Spark Gap 1989-03

THE SPARK

MIDSTATE AMATEUR
RADIO CLUB

NODLN/R
146.835

PRES.-JOAN KEMP NODON VICE-PRES.-JGE VERGARA KA9ZPA EC-DAVE WENDT KA9SOOH
SEC-TREAS LENDEL COOK W9LNX ACTIVITES-KEENAN HARDISTY NOHCK

SPECIAL WEATHER EDITION--MARCH 1989
SPRING STORM SEASON APPROACHES; JOHNSON COUNTY READY

Once again the spring heavy weather season
is coming on us, but this year Johnson
County is ready, probably more ready than many
counties in Indiana. With a full-time Civil Defense
director, Sam Williams, and a concerned and active
Amateur community, Johnson county will get weather
information faster and more accurately than many
other areas in the state.

We have already wired the Sheriff's dispatch office for
weather radar, a setup which | believe is unique in
Indiana, if not the US. When necessary, the dispatchers
can observe the radar directly to see whether, and
when, their county is threatened. Together with with
our “on the scene" reporting, the county will be one of
the best informed, and best protected, in Indiana. This
is a heavy responsibility on MSARC, but | believe we
are ready for it.

At the February meeting, CD Director Sam Williams and
Sheriff Doran Miller discussed ways the club can assist
in weather spotting. While details aren't complete yet,
you can be sure that we will be very much involved in
such activities. Let's be ready, and be extremely good
at what we do.

AMATEUR WORK YITAL IN JANUARY STORM
Your editor was called to the Indianapolis Airport office
of the National Weather Service when the heavy
weather began to build on January 15, 1989. Along
with NSGSL, a “new” spotter sent for practice, | was
able to see first hand just how much the NWS depends
on us amateurs. They especially appreciated the work
of twa MSARC members, NSDLN for tracking the storm
almost to Decatur County, and KBSBGYV for relaying
reports from the Vincennes area via the 145.25
machine. At the NWS, we are not shoved off into a
corner and told to be quiet; we are mvo/ved/ Our infor-
mation is vital to the Weather Service, and don't ever

think otherwise. If you should get the chance to visit
the NWS office during a weather alert, do so; you'll see
how important amateur radio is to them.

de KASO0H

DE NODON
First, congratulations to our Kerchunker winners for
January, NOSDON and KBSBGS, and to KBSBGS again in
February.

Speaking of winnerge, the winning design for our
N20GDLN QSL card ig Seth, KBQGEV. Az you know,
the N2Q0DLN call was used to represent MSARC in
the "We The People" Bicentennial WAS contest, and
the winning card will be printed and sent to the
700-zome ham2z who worked it. The card will ligt the
oxviginal seven persons who entered the contest from
MSARC. Congratulations, Seth; you may pick up your
prize st the March meeting.

VE testing in Johnson County will begin on Saturday,
April 15, and will be held every szecond month
thereafter in Franklin. Each session will begin at
9:00 AM at the Sheriff's building. During the
alternate months, there will be testing in Rushville
on the same day; contact Mac NV9K for details if you
might want te go there. Other March dates and cities
for VE testa are:
18--Plymouth
Michigan City
Morristown
19--Auburn
25--Ledanon
By the way, to keep posted on ham activities in
central Indiana, you cancall 897-6676 day or night
for a recorded message of current activities,
including VE sessions and Fests. Also, if we have
any activities that we want mentioned, we can call

Mike Head WB9ZQE at 898-2792 ta have them included
on the Hotline.

DUES ARE DUE NOW!
By club vote at the January meeting, dues were
increased to $18.00 per year, but now include
autopatch privileges on the 146.835 machine. (If you
need your codes, contact Larry N9DLN.) If you haven't
paid for 1989 yet, please do so; the club needs the
money!

SPOTTER’S GUIDE

Attached is a handout from the National Weather
Service, showing weather spotters what to look for,
where to look, and haw to estimate wind speeds. if you
go out spotting, take this with you to help give
accurate, concise reports. Remember, if there ts bad
weather around, net contro] and the airport operator
get pretty busy, so they need quick, accavale reports.
This should help. if you have anything to transmit on a
weather net, please think before sending, and make
sure it's short and concise, but accurate and helpful.
Tall order, isn’t it?