Upcoming Events - April & May 2016

April and May are busy months for SPARC so below is an update on our upcoming events:

March of Dimes Walk - Saturday, April 30, 2016

Set up for the walk will begin at 7:00 am and volunteers should be in place by 7:30 am.  Registration begins at 8:00 am and the walk begins at 9:00 am.  SPARC volunteers should meet at the District 7 Operations Center parking lot located at the corner of Union Street and Virginia Street to receive t-shirts and decide on operating positions.  This year there will be 2 water stops and 2 poop (sag) vehicles.  We would like to have radio operators at each water stop and in both poop (sag) vehicles. The poop (sag) wagons will pick up their radio operators at the District 7 Operations Center parking lot as they have in the past.   Robert Cockman, WD6ELK will serve as net control again this year.  

SPARC Business Meeting - Tuesday, May 3, 2016

The  May business meeting will feature a program on Hallicrafters SCR299 and it's contribution to WWII.  Jim Caldwell, K1VKD was originally scheduled to present a program on software defined radio but we have moved this program to June because Jim has been sick.  Please keep Jim in your thoughts and prayers as he recovers from his recent illness.  We look forward to his presentation in June!

Upstate Hamfest, Saturday, May 7, 2016

The Upstate Hamfest is a great local event that will again be held at the Spartanburg Fairgrounds.  We plan to take the SPARC trailer this year so stop by and chat with fellow club members during your visit to the Hamfest.

Elmer Night, Tuesday, May 10, 2016

SPARC is having the first Elmer Night beginning at 7:00 pm at the Spartanburg Herald Journal Building.  The rag chew session will be occurring also but we plan to have 4 Elmers (experienced amateur radio operators) available to answer questions about our hobby.  This is a great opportunity for those new to the hobby and those who are thinking of becoming licensed to ask questions.  This will be a relaxed environment to ask all the questions you may have.  Stay tuned for more information on our Elmers and their specialties!

Assaults on Marion and Mt. Mitchell, May 16, 2016

Once again it is time for this great bike event.  Stay tuned for more information about the volunteer meeting and final details.

Thanks in advance for all those who are going to make these events a success.  I'm looking forward to all the fun.  If you haven't volunteered and want to there is still room for you.  Come join the fun!

  

COME TO THE COWPENS! MEET US AT THE COWPENS!

The Spartanburg Amateur Radio Club will set up at Cowpens National Battlefield (BF 03) on Saturday, April 23, 2016, to activate the battlefield and the Overmountion Victory Trail (TR 10) which passes through the battlefield for ARRL's National Parks On The  Air.  Set up will start at 9 am when the park opens and we plan to begin operating by 10:00 am; operations will end at 4 pm.  This is a great way to show off our fun hobby to park visitors and may even recruit some new hams.  We will be operating from the group picnic shelter located in the picnic area of the park (see map below). When you enter the park go past the Visitor's Center on the Loop Road; the picnic area will be on your right.

Fun Fact:  Except for New Jersey there were more Revolutionary War battles and skirmishes fought in South Carolina than in other Colony.

Learn More at The Overmountain Men

652 Net Tomorrow Night

Tomorrow night, April 14th, 2016 at 8:30 PM we will hold a 652 net.  K4XP will be net control.  Please plan to join in the fun on 146.520 simplex; find out who you can hear, and who can hear you on VHF FM simplex!

Ham Radio & Space Exploration Rescheduled

We have rescheduled our special guest speaker, Mr. George Knudsen, W4GCK, for this Tuesday's business meeting (April 5, 2016).  Mr. Knudsen is a former NASA employee who worked with the space program from the launch of the Mercury program until man landed on the moon.  This is sure to be an entertaining and educational program. The meeting will begin at 7:00 pm at the Spartanburg Herald Journal building in downtown Spartanburg.  Make sure to join us for this great program!