December 13, 2003. Annual Meeting & Elections.
At the annual meeting officers and directors were elected for a
three-year term. President/Treasurer Tom Whalen, W2QI; Vice-President Larry Rybacki,
WA2ARA, Secretary Robert Rooney, W2AET. Directors elected include: Dan Clark, N2DC; Hank
Kuhn, W2IRU; Norm James, W2VEX; Jack Bratty, KT2V; Bob Jones, W2OZT; Lorraine Jones,
K2ZVS; Gil Brink, W6BNW and Marv Hess, W2WKU.
Just before our annual meeting on December 11th, longtime chapter member, Art Graff,
W2WEX, joined the Silent Keys. Art was a retired broadcast engineer who had worked at WBEN
in Buffalo.
November 8, 2003. Salute To Veterans Meeting. Bob Rooney, W2AET presented A Report NAA Culter, ME, the 2-million watt Navy station on the far east shore of the USA going out into the Atlantic.
"They" are the United States Navy I am a radio ham who wanted to "visit" the 2,000,000 watt radio station, NAA/Cutler. It is a prime media for secret communications with submerged US naval submarines world-wide. "They" didn't tell me a thing. But the nice people of the Cutler, Maine area told me plenty. Add to that...hours of listening in, a half day of probing the huge perimeter of the NAA site with a telephoto lens, a search of literature from all over the world, and a study of Low Frequency Radio applications and...I am was happy to report the story of this giant radio station with its forest of antennae and important mission at our November meeting. ---W2AET
NAA was constructed about 1961. It was a different world back then for radio communications. The US Navy had a nuclear submarine fleet that was fanning out all over the world. The vessels were most always in secret locations deeply submerged so that normal radio waves couldn't reach them. But VLF radio signals do penetrate sea water. The Navy built NAA at Cutler, Maine (and several other, less powerful VLF stations elsewhere) to do the job. To get messages through to the subs regardless of location and conditions. Today, the bulk of sub communication is via innovative procedures involving satellite and relay stations but...when those tanks are submerged, still...only VLF get through. No high-speed data transmission at VLF where baud rates of 50 are "fast."
If you would like to read more/see more about W2AET's long weekend in
the Cutler, Maine area...
Go to:
Retreat To The East ---
A Lockportian Goes "Down East" In Maine
January 8th, Saturday, 12 Noon. Our Chapter's entry into the new millennium! It was celebrated at our annual New Year's Party. At The Flying Tigers.
February 12th, Saturday, 12 Noon. One of our most-looked-forward-to luncheons of the year! It's the QCWA Valentine's Party
January 9th, 1999 Annual New Year's Party at the Flying Tigers.
February 13th. Annual Valentine's Day Party. Radio, romance and reminiscing. At The Flying Tigers, of course.
March 13th. St. Patrick's Day Party.
April 10th. Regular luncheon combined with Board of Directors Meeting. Committee appointed to book and arrange future meeting, banquet, picnic sites and arrangements. The Board gave direction to make the same arrangements in 1999 that had been so well received in 1998. Ken Palmer, K2FJ, reported on a very successful participation with club station W2SD in the latest QCWA QSO Party.
May 8th. Program: Operating From EI-Land Without A License. At our regular monthly luncheon, W2AET reports on his recent trip to Ireland.
June 12th. Regular monthly Noon luncheon at The Flying Tigers.
July 24, 1999. Annual QCWA Picnic. Again at QTH of Dan & Rita Clark in East Aurora. Members brought a dish a pass. Soda pop and coffee was on hand. Hot dogs and/or hamburgers also provided with Dan manning the outdoor grill. The QCWA Contest Committe met to discuss what could be done about the failure of the QCWA contest tellers to receive our chapter's winning entry in the QCWA Spring QSO Party.
August 14, 1999. Board of Directors Meeting at 12 Noon. Luncheon at 12:30 p.m. Flying Tigers. The Board heard that the national QCWA would not take any remedial action to reverse the results of the Spring QSO Party---a contest our local chapter's W2SD won by a huge margin---but the tellers say they never received our logs. Final details for the Annual Dinner Meeting were arranged.
September 11th. Regular luncheon meeting at The Flying Tigers.
October 9th. Regular luncheon meeting at The Flying Tigers.
October 30th. Annual Dinner Meeting. Back again at Schettler's Restaurant in Elma! Another great dinner at modest cost. Prizes, awards, and "The Old Timer's Press Conference."
Bill Hope, W2EWT, remembers. Life member of QCWA and Chapter #65, Bill Hope was questioned about his activities on December 7, 1941 during the Old Timers' Press Conference. On that date that "will live in infamy" Bill recalled for those attending the annual dinner how he was copying a W1AW code proficiency run. Later in the day he heard the news about Pearl Harbor. Bill was trying to get his code speed up so that he'd qualify for a job he was seeking with the United States Border Patrol. Qualify he did, and Uncle Sam was in a hurry to have his services. Bill was on duty with the Border Patrol along the Niagara Frontier shortly thereafter and stayed at his post long past the end of hostilities. Bill is the former long-time Secretary Treasurer for Chapter #65 and a recipient of the Chapter Meritorious Award.
November 12th. Regular luncheon meeting at The Flying Tigers. Special honorees: Tom Whalen, W2QI, celebrating the 60th anniversary of his licensing in Amateur Radio and...George Guinther, WB2QCK, celebrating his 91st birthday!
December 11th, Saturday 12 Noon.
Regular Chapter Christmas Party at The Flying Tigers. Special observance and program to honor WW-2 veterans and Remembrance of Pearl Harbor Day (December 7th 1941). Santa will had gifts for the first 25 hams attending!
January 10th, 1998. Monthly luncheon and New Year's Party at The Flying Tigers, 12 Noon. Program: Marvin Hess, W2WKU, presented a fine talk on, "Minerals Used As Crystal Detectors." Samples of many of the minerals used in radio and electronics were on display.
February 14th. Valentine's Day. Our Valentine's Party was an outstanding success. Special thanks to Bob Kerns and Anne Palmer who led us in singing old standards like Let Me Call You Sweetheart. Add to that a special "Cupid's Quiz," Valentine displays, and Valentine treats and it was two hours of Radio Romantica!
March 14th, Saturday: St. Patrick's Day Party.
April 11th, Saturday: Easter Party.
May 9th, Saturday: Following regular luncheon pow-wow at Flying Tigers, members toured the nearby office of the National Weather Service. Thanks to Bob Hamilton, N3QOT, for giving us such a fine tour and background.
June 13th, Saturday: Regular monthly luncheon at the Flying Tigers
July 11th, Saturday: Pow-Wow luncheon at 12 Noon at the Flying Tigers.
July 12th, Sunday. Chapter #65 had a table and display at the Genesee Radio Amateurs Batavia Hamfest, at the Alexander Fire Department Recreation Grounds, Route 98 in Alexander, NY...just 8 minutes South of Batavia.
August 15, Saturday. Chapter #65 annual picnic. Dan and Rita Clark hosted our group again at the East Aurora QTH of N2DC. Beautiful weather, great food, and a good turnout. A part of the group is show in the picture below.
August 23rd, Sunday. The Niagara Frontier Chapter of QCWA had a display table at the Greater Buffalo Hamfest and Computer Show at the Hearthstone Manor, Dick Road, Depew.
October 31st. Annual Dinner Meeting. Another excellent dinner and turnout at Schettler's Restaurant in Elma! Norm Contrucci, W2JWJ entertained with old time favorites at the piano.
"Keeping Up With The Jones" (Left)
Bob (W2OZT) and Lorraine (K2ZVS) Jones are some of "the regulars" who make it in from Orchard Park to the The Flying Tigers for the monthly luncheons. That's not the menu Lorraine is looking over but rather a log of the big score W2SD amassed in a recent QCWA QSO party.
November 14th. Our annual Salute to Veterans and what better QTH to observe this event than the Flying Tigers on the north side of the Buffalo airport!
December 12th. Annual Christmas Party. Join your friends at QCWA for a stress-free party. One of our most popular events of the year. Of course, it's at the Flying Tigers!
January 11th 1997: Chapter New Year's Party at The Tigers, 12 Noon. Meeting cancelled due to giant snow storm in Buffalo. Tigers closed for lunch. Mayor declares snow emergency, no unnecessary travel. Buffalo airport closed, too.
February 8th: Monthly Pow-Wow Luncheon at The Flying Tigers. 12 Noon. Our scheduled program, was postponed until the March luncheon as, presenter, W2AET, will be /4 this weekend.
March 8th" Monthly Pow-Wow Luncheon at The Flying Tigers. 12 Noon. Program: Amateur Radio On The Internet.
April 12th Monthly Pow-Wow Luncheon at The Flying Tigers. 12 Noon. It's our Member-Guest Invitational!
May 10th Monthly Pow-Wow Luncheon at The Flying Tigers. 11:30 A.M. Board of Director's Meeting preceeds luncheon to discuss picnic, club station, and membership.
June 8th, Sunday. Chapter #65 was at the Lancaster Hamfest. We signed up five new members at our hospitality table. Welcome to: Gil Brink, WB2IKM; Larry Christensen, KB2EE; Tony Domagala, W2TD; and Marvin Hess, W2WKU.
June 14th: Our monthly Pow-Wow luncheon featured Ken Palmer, K2FJ talking on DX-expeditions. Ken will continue his talk at the September meeting.
July 12th" Our monthly Pow-Wow luncheon featured Hank Kuhn, W2IRU, speaking on packet radio.
August 9th. Monthly Pow-Wow luncheon at Flying Tigers.
August 16th. Annual Chapter picnic at QTH of K3GQX at Wilson, on Lake Ontario. About 25 attendees enjoyed the cooling lake breeze while elsewhere residents baked in 80+degree temperatures at relative humidity levels of near 100%. A great time had by all! Many thanks to Jim and Beth for graciously hosting this event!
September 13th 1997: Monthly Pow-Wow Luncheon at The Flying Tigers. 12 Noon. Annual re-organizational Pow Wow with programs announced for the coming fall-winter season. Ken Palmer, K2FJ, will give his talk on A DX Story To Remember. This is the same report on one of Ken's most exciting DX-peditions that we had previously scheduled but postponed.
October 11th: Monthly Pow-Wow Luncheon at The Flying Tigers. 12 Noon. Program: QCWA Scholarship Availabilities.
October 25th, Saturday, 1 P.M. Annual Meeting and Banquet. At Guest Speaker John Zach (K2VOZ) former news anchor for the 50,000-watt Buffalo blowtorch, WKBW, gave an excellent presentation with beautiful displays of Buffalo broadcasting history...from the technical home-built transmitters to photos of all-time great personalities. Eleven new QCWA members were introduced and Officers and Directors elected (re-elected).
November 8th, Saturday, Noon. Monthly Pow-Wow Luncheon at Flying Tigers. A salute to veterans---radio in the military.
November 23rd, Sunday 9AM-5PM: Field Trip to the VE3HC, Hammond Radio Museum at Guelph, Ontario
December 13th, Saturday: Niagara Frontier Chapter Christmas Party at The Flying Tigers! Pre-party holiday cheer and one of our biggest gatherings of the year!
October 12th 1996: Monthly Pow-Wow Luncheon at Flying Tigers. 12 Noon. Program: Spread Spectrum Demonstration and Overview by Bob Rooney, W2AET.
October 19th: Annual Chapter Dinner Meeting. 2PM at Schettler's Restaurant, 2221 Transit Road, (Rt 78) south of Rt 400 in town of Elma. Theme: Hail and Farewell: CW Forever?
November 9th: Monthly Pow-Wow Luncheon at The Flying Tigers. 12 Noon. Theme: A Salute to Veterans---Radio in the Military.
December 14th: Chapter Christmas Party at The Tigers, 12 Noon.