A long-awaited association with the Caldwell County Department of Emergency Management (directed by Tommy Courtner) has been initiated.  This association will provide a  viable outlet for the Caldwell ARES'  volunteer efforts to help provide the county's residents with a service during times of emergencies as well as augment the EOC with a pool of trained radio operators to help relieve pressure on the EOC during those times.  An impressive guided tour of the EOC premesis was conducted at the last meeting and steps were made at the meeting to initiate a program between the EOC and ARES volunteers to cement relations.   GPS (global positioning system) units are fast becoming a way of life.  Many auto manufacturers are now offering "OnStar" (see last month's editorial!) and the price of small handheld units are now competively priced in the $100-$150 range.  In addition, the Motorola cellphone, Model V-60X, has a built-in GPS (call 911 and you can be pinpointed to within 300 yards)...much better than the older "nearest tower" concept which could be up to 10 miles distant!
     New Car-Jacking                         Scheme! Our Mailing address is:  Lenoir Amateur Radio Club,  P.O. Box 3276, Lenoir, NC, 28645. ARRL Affiliation Membership dues for the Lenoir ARC are due & payable after the 1st of January for the coming year.  Individual dues are still just $12. for the year with a Family Membership at $20.00.  Associate member dues are $7.00...but carries no voting rights. The club's Constitution and Bylaws requires that you be  dropped if dues are not paid by March 31st.
Joining our ranks at the Feb 10, 2005 meeting was Bill Phillips, WB2GRV, Paul Gragg, KI4IPD, and Dorney LePierre, KG4YNM.  Two visitors were present (David Roberts & Mary Litwiler).  Welcome to all !! Please note! Speaking of Addresses... The LARC now has a brand-new web domain identity - thanks to Gary, KD4YTU!  He has secured for us the domain address of Lenoir-ARC.org (and .net) .  Gary will set up a number of email addresses using this domain and later will host our very own website on his server free of charge!  Add ti onally, this newsletter will be available on the website for viewing and/or printing simply by clicking on one of the several "tabs".  Work will begin shortly on the design and implementation of the new website!! The editor reserves the right to edit and/or paraphrase articles or "news" submitted for inclusion into the LARC newsletter due to time and/or space constraints. Submit articles, etc. to Jim, N4EUX, at bozo38@charter.net    tnx! GPS As reported by WBTV-News, the Charlotte Metro Schools are looking at the possible installation of GPS units in each of their school buses. If this comes to fruition, school officials will be able to monitor and track each bus's route and its current location, deviations from its route,  and other statistics such as how fast it is going, where it stops and for how long. A feasibility study is under way.
     Our Newsletter
GPS
Our Mailing address is:  Lenoir Amateur Radio Club,  P.O. Box 3276, Lenoir, NC, 28645. Website Address... Our official website address is http://www.lenoir-arc.org  Be  careful when typing it in to your address window of your browser...that's a hyphen (some refer to it as a dash) between "lenoir" and "arc" - not an underscore! Dues are Due!!!
A "Technician" class is tentatively scheduled for April 2005!  
Nothing new to report this month. Work on the club's repeater and new antenna installation is quietly waiting for the weather to moderate...with warmer spring temperatures just around the corner.  Bold plans include installing the new Ringo Ranger atop the 100+ foot tower, adjusting/tightening all guy wires, a complete rebuilding of the repeater enclosure/building, and general grounds maintenance atop the ridge. Global Positioning System Jim N4EUX No doubt, many will have noticed a slight change in the Newsletter and website (color change on Newsletter main title, new cover picture and a temporary new link [Catawba Valley Hamfest] on the website.  
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Want to see changes in the Newsletter?  Your suggestions for new topics and/or columns are encouraged & welcomed.
Let the editor know!!!
The LARC is now listed as a co-sponsor of the Catawba Valley Hamfest.  Gary Suddreth, Bill Barr, and I are on the Board of Directors and will be working the Hamfest in April.  On Friday, the day before the Hamfest, the staff members of the CVHF help the vendors unload their "wares".  Late in the afternoon on Saturday they help reload.  Also, on Friday evening, there is a cookout (about 6 PM) for the vendors and helpers .   I hope many of you will join us and to volunteer to help with this, our "local" hamfest.    -73,  Tom, KA4HKK
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