THE FIRST CLASS C.W.

OPERATORS CLUB
Editor: G4BUE

NEWS SHEET 581

(Callsigns in brackets indicate G4FOC op)

March 1998

A man should keep his friendship in constant repair - Samuel Johnson (1755).

BANDS OF THE MONTH FOR MARCH ARE 40 AND 12 METRES

Friends The Marathon is now history, and am I the only one to notice we did not have disturbed conditions this year? It was disappointing that 10m did not open between North America and Europe but early reports indicate it was generally one of the better Marathons of recent years. I have received several interesting comments in response to the statement from the Committee about operating standards and the Windle Trophy in the February News Sheet. You are reminded that the Committee will be discussing this at their next meeting and if you have a view, please let me have it by the end of March. Sorry to be a bore about the 1998 Call Book with yet another reminder, but it happens every year! At least one member will report changes they want made to their entry just after we have gone to press. I will be finishing the artwork over the weekend of 7/8 March. Finally, if you are thinking of going to a London show, consider Strindbergs play The Dance of Death at the Tricycle Theatre from 19 March (box office 0171-328-1000) as I understand it features the use of Morse code in one of the acts. Please let me know what its like if you go.

FOC CALENDAR

March - 40 and 12m (G3LTV) 4/14 A3 by OK1KT 10/17 9H3ZV by G4ZVJ 14/23 5W1 by OK1KT 23 3D2 by OK1KT until 1 April 27 Deadline for April News Sheet 27/30 F/G3SWH/P and F/G3RTE/P April - 30 and 17m (G3KTZ) 24 Deadline for May News Sheet

May - 80m and 20m (G3LIK) 1 Deadline for FOCUS 36 1 West Coast Dinner, Visalia 8/10 North American Weekend 9/10 Morse Test Service Weekend 9/16 LA/G4SFO 15/17 Dayton Hamvention 17 Dayton FOC Breakfast 28 Deadline for June News Sheet 29-31 Con-Din

Starred List

MEMBERSHIP INFORMATION by G3MXJ

Amendments
GAYN (A1518): Resigned. G3DCV (649): Silent Key DF2IC (1624): new address - Staatsstrasse 35, D-64668 Rimbach, Germany; telephone - 06253 7348; fax - 06253 85921. JP1BJR (1566): Resigned. K1AJ (1635): amend XYL callsign - K1AJA. K3TW (1177): new call - DL8TWA. W4CK (1515): correct address - 1853 Dunroamin Lane, Fayetteville, TN 37334. W4DGJ (1477): new telephone - 336 723 2577. K4XU (1268): new address - 61255 Ferguson Rd, Bend, OR 97702, USA; telephone - 541 385 6130. K6WG (1621): Return to Active List. SMKY (A957): Delete from records - subscription not received and no reply to correspondence. beginning to lengthen, and with luck we will soon start to dry out and see warmer weather ahead. Now its time to look forward to our once-a-year opportunity to mingle in person and renew acquaintances at the annual International DX Convention in Visalia, California. Yes, the convention is returning to Visalia this year and will be hosted by the Southern California DX Club. If youve had thoughts of passing this one up, kill that thought and make plans to join us at the convention this year, 1/3 May. After having organised the annual West Coast FOC Dinner for 14 consecutive years, Tom N6RA, has decided its time to pass the baton and retire from that role. I discussed this at length with Tom and have chosen to accept his challenge. Thus I am pleased to announce that we will be holding the Fifteenth Annual West Coast FOC Dinner this year on Friday, 1 May. We will be meeting in the Birch Room of the Holiday Inn, Visalia. (This is near the outdoor pool patio, scene of the Friday afternoon Happy Hour.) The room will be open to us at 5pm and dinner will be served at 7pm.

3. W4ZYT: G3LIK, JA1NUT, K1MEM, K5DQ, W3NZ (+G4PKD, K7UOT, SM3BCS, W4YE, G2FDF). 1. DK8IT: G3MCK, DL4CF, DL7AKC, K1YT, W1HMD (+DL6TQ). Invitations have been sent to G3HEJ and N4TY. A reply has not yet been received to the invitation sent to K5AX.

Additional Nominations
5. G3TOK: G3CWW 5. W8LAT: AA5DX, W1FZY. 4. N4IR: W4TAJ. 4. K7OQ: NR7O. 2. K5RC: W4AN. 2. K1AO: N2UU. 2. SV1AOW: G3LZK. 2. G3KMQ: W4QM, SM3BCS. 1. W7VL: K4DL. acquisition of club plaques and trophies. A special item is be published in the February News Sheet about operating standards and the Windle Trophy (see top of page 2 of February News Sheet). The associate membership of five members was considered. The continuation of the Band of the Month will be reviewed at the end of the year. A suggestion for a club calendar from GORH and the poor quality of photographs in FOCUS 33 was considered. The next meeting will be on 18 April at GW3KGVs QTH.

COMMITTEE REPORT by G4BUE

All members (except G3WGV) and G3LTV (President) attended a committee meeting at G3LIKs QTH on 24 January. W9KNI had received contributions of $3300 from North American members for the History Book and G4BUE had received 233.50 from other members and pledges of a further 200. G3MXJ was continuing the research for the book and had received a good response from members. The FOC Website is up and running and (from the remarks in the guest book) is being very well received. Non-payment of 1998 subscriptions from ten members (two of whom were on the 1996 nonpayment list) were considered and G3MXJ will write to them. The 1997 accounts are being prepared and will be audited by Doreen (G3LIK/2) and ready for the next meeting. Options for a new supply of club badges was discussed and GW3KGV was authorised to spend up to 800 on them. The current News Sheet red stamp reminder for subscriptions system will not be used for 1999 subscriptions as it is cumbersome to implement and prone to mistakes. A new subscription form will be mailed with the October News Sheet. The 1998 Call Book will be enlarged by four pages to include additional information and will be mailed with the April News Sheet. GW3KGV will take over responsibility for the Windle Trophy and G3LIK will continue the Marathon and

1998 CONDIN by DJ2BW

It is very important that hotel bookings must be made through me on the form I will send you on request (Tannenweg 2, D-54317 Osburg, Germany). The form must be returned by 16 April for the Hotel Blesius-Garten or by 15 May for the hotels in Osburg. (See February News Sheet for general information).

WEST COAST DINNER by N6NT

The Marathon is over for 1998, the days are

Score updates can be passed to any G3LIK, G3MXJ, G4BUE or any committee member. An asterisk against the call indicates the score has been updated this month. Table shows the scores received by 0800z 28 February 1998.
EA8CN N2KW W9GIL K4KQ DL6TQ G3HZL G3LIK G2FDF 236 221 214 206 161 161 160 140 GORH N3SZQ K5DQ G4BJM G3KTZ SMCCE W3NZ K1YT 135 135 117 111 110 108 106 105 K4FU G3IY GW3HCL WA4SNI W4DGJ ZS6AL G4HZV 101 98 98 93 92 92 91 G3KKQ G3IZD F5VEX G3MCK G4BUE G4OEC WB2YQH 89 85 84 83 77 76 75 N4WJ K4BAI GW3SB K4II G3PQC JA7SSB W1YE 73 72 70 68 65 65 61 G3NKS U3DR G4SFO GW3KGV G3LHJ G3LTV G3MXJ 58 58 55 53 52 52 52 ZL1MH K2VCO G2HKU OH2FOC PAINA AC5K G4XRV 49 48 44 43 43 40 38 G3SXW GVLW W1HT SM5COP VK8AV N1BB F3AT 37 36 36 27 27 26 25 W1HT ZL1AH N1DG W4PM W8XM W2GW W4CK 24 24 22 21 20 18 12

THE 1998 WINDLE TROPHY

The menu choices this year will be: 1. Cornish Game Hen, filled with mushroom herb stuffing and served over a mushroom Marsala wine sauce, accompanied with wild rice and Green Beans Almondine; 2. New York Steak, with a Cognac green peppercorn sauce, served with a baked potato and Green Beans Almondine. Either choice of entree will also include a mixed green salad, sourdough rolls, and lemon raspberry cake for desert. We will also have coffee and iced tea, plus both red and white wine at each table. The cost of this years dinner will remain at $35 per person. Please make reservations with me as soon as possible, but in any case all cheques must be received by me no later than 23 April when I will have to make final arrangements with the Holiday Inn. Please specify your choice of entree when making your reservation. If you do not specify, you will be served the Cornish Game Hen. Please make your cheque payable to Bruce B. Sawyer. As always, members are encouraged to bring guests to the banquet, but reservations should be made with me by the member inviting and not by the guest himself. If you need information concerning the Convention and have not received a mailing directly from the Southern California DX Club or via your home club bulletin, please contact Don Bostrom, N6IC, at (818) 784-2590 or write to him at: Don Bostrom, N6IC, 4447 Atoll Avenue, Sherman Oaks, CA 91423, USA. For hotel reservations at the Holiday Inn, call the hotel directly at (209) 651-5000. If the hotel is full, which is likely, the reservations desk at the Holiday Inn can assist you in finding a room at one of several nearby hotels in Visalia.

Dinner: $49 per person (US members please pay Bob, N2UU, in advance. Overseas members may pay upon arrival; however, please inform N2UU of your plans to attend.) Venue: DoubleTree Hotel, 7801 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA 22043. Telephone (703) 893-1340, Fax (703) 847-9520. Ask for the special North American FOC rate of $79 per night.

MEMBERS NEWS by G4BUE

D F 2 I C : Bettina and Greg have bought a pharmacy and a big house in a small town about 20km north of Heidelberg. GAYN: Ian has decided to resign from FOC due to the pressures of a diplomatic post in Washington DC and a gorgeous 16-month old daughter who takes up 110% of my spare time. He says FOC has been a major part of my life for a number of years. Through the club, I have met the most warm, jovial and faithful friends who all share interests both within and outside of ham radio. At the same time, my memories are tinged with the memories of close friends who are no longer with us. I hope the club continues the long traditions of first class operating long into the next millennium and I hope to be part of that tradition again when time permits me in the future. Many thanks for your support in the past, Ian, and best wishes for the future. G2FFO: Dick will not be going to the Washington Dinner, but Jim, G3IY, is still going. G3CWW: Tony has just received the International Call Book on CD and says it is magic and how nice it is to heave those two huge books out of the shack! Tony has recently given up his job as Awards & Contest Manager for the RSARS after 14 years. G3DCV: Alan became a Silent Key suddenly on 16 February after a heart attack. He was 76 years old. Our condolences go to his wife Vera, son Tony (G4GML and ex-FOC member) and all the family. G3HZL: Don has now put up a sloping halfsize G5RV and a long wire at his new bungalow QTH, the latter working well for W6/7 and ZS. He received help from two of his Novice class pupils, who are also learning the code from Don. G3SWH: Phil and Jim, G3RTE, are hoping to be QRV 27/30 March from Ile de Sein (EU-068) as F/G3SWH/P on CW and F/G3RTE/P on SSB. G4CEO: During the weekend 9/10 May, the Morse Test Service will be running its annual

26TH NORTH AMERICAN FOC WEEKEND 8/10 May 1998 by W4CK

Washington, DC always surprises with its beauty. Monumental Washington is a city of classically proportioned buildings, their gleaming marble facades complemented by the green of the beautiful lawns surrounding them. This beauty is no accident. Washington was designed as the physical embodiment of the ideals of the new republic, with broad avenues radiating out from the White House and the Capitol building itself, a logically laid out city, with circles balancing squares and breathtaking vistas complementing dramatic monuments. The result: a capital that is one of the nations loveliest cities, and one that is at its most beautiful in spring. Why not join your FOC friends and families for the 26th Annual North American Dinner?

CW celebration weekend when County Examiners in each county will be using Special Event callsigns. Bob will be using GBBFD for Bedfordshire and says several other members will be using different Special Event callsigns in other counties. Sadly,Maun and Bob have had to cancel their plans to attend the Washington Dinner. G4HZV: Adrienne and Bob have booked for the Washington Dinner. JP1BJR: Hal has decided to resign from FOC as he is unable to devote the time chatting to other members that he considers a good member should. He has recently been spending more and more time with his new hobby - his PC computer. Hal will be active occasionally. K4XU: Chris and Dick have bought a new house in Oregon and move in on 13 March. It is set in 1 acres and has no antenna restrictions! K6OU: Bruce is recovering from hernia surgery performed six days before the Marathon, but still managed 146 QSOs! LA3FL: Per now has an IC-706 and Outbacker whip on board his vessel and has a Tongan callsign, A35FL. He hopes to be QRV occasionally while in various ports - (thanks ZL1MH.) W4CK: Laura and Mark have to attend a convention in London starting 5 October, so no surprises to hear they will be flying over a few days early to attend Lords for the first time. W6DU: The SSIDXG/MKIDXG DXpedition to KH1 and KH5 QRV as I write this, has been named the Eric Edberg W6DU Pacific DXpedition in memory of Eric who became a Silent Key on 19 January. ZL1MH: Mike applauds the 9MC DXpedition (with G3WVG, G3SED and K5VT as part of the team). He has bought a new TS-570D (review for FOCUS, Mike?) and was waiting for it to arrive to replace his TS930/TS940 back-up for his Omni VI. ZL3GQ: Regarding Peters request for help with single handed keyboarding (February News Sheet), Bob, VE7BS, says About Peters need for a way to use sequential control for ALT and SHIFT characters on the keyboard: maybe it could be done mechanically, with a lock epoxied to the keyboard beside the shift and alt keys. I dont know how the caps-lock and num-lock is done, but maybe that can be done for shift and alt too. I dont know anyone that uses scrolllock, so that key may be usable. ZP6CW: Doug is staying with his ill mother in Florida into March. He says, Never saw propagation so bad, it is lower than the bottom of the last cycle, at least it is from here with my dipole. I am hand carrying a rotor back when I return in March. The tower is up and I will order a Force12 7 element Yagi when I get back.

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