Welcome to Northern California DX Club June 18

Welcome to Northern California DX Club June 18, 2009

Tonight’s Agenda • Club Business – – – Introduction of Officers Introductions of Members New members DX news QSTs Election of Officers for 2009 -2010 • The status of the sunspot cycle • Feature Presentation – Remote Radio Operation Over the Internet • by Don Melcher, W 6 CZ • NCDXC Raffle Slide 2

Introduction of Officers • Officers – President – Vice Pres – Secretary – Treasurer Craig Bradley Risto Kotalampi Russ Bentson Jose Picazo Jr. AE 6 RR W 6 RK K 6 KLY WT 6 X • Directors – Steve Jones – Jim Abraham – John Eisenberg N 6 SJ W 6 EB K 6 YP Slide 3

Introductions of Members & Guests • Let’s Go Around the room… – Introduce yourself & any guests – Tell us what new DX you have bagged – Any short Show & Tell? – Any other news you wish to share? Slide 4

New members? • Secretary’s Report – Russ, K 6 KLY – Russ has applications are available… – Membership Voting? Slide 5

DX NEWS Anyone have any news?

QSTs

Dues are Due • Your annual dues are due July 1 st! – Unless you are a Life or Honorary Member of course • The dues are $24 per year ($39 for families) • New! You can now pay by Pal! – Checks, envelopes or stamps not required, just click away! • Go to http: //www. ncdxc. org/ • Click on the [ Make Online Payment ] link below [ Membership Information ] • If you have moved, changed your call, changed your email, etc. please add the new information to the Pay Pal form in the “comment” box NCDXC June 09 Slide 8

NCXDC Summer Picnic • Saturday, August 1 st from 10 to 3: 30 • Lunch served at noon • Mitchell Park, Pine Grove Area, Palo Alto • Burgers, hot dogs, beans, chips, cookies & soft drinks – supplied by the Club • You bring desserts, salads or whatever you wish NCDXC June 09 Slide 9

NCDXC Net • Net coordinator - Don, AA 6 W • If you would like to be a net control, please see or contact Don • Please Remember - NCDXC Net – Every Thursday 8 pm – Except on monthly meeting nights (3 rd Thurs) – On W 6 TI repeater, 147. 360 MHz, PL 110. 9 Slide 10

DXer Material • Editor - Phil, K 6 TT • If you have suggestions for articles, etc. please see or contact Phil • If you would like to contribute (photos, articles, etc. ), Phil will be very happy to talk to you! • This is your newsletter – help make it great! NCDXC June 09 Slide 11

Tonight’s Raffle • Mike W 6 WZ & Carolyn WB 6 ABC have some great prizes! – – – – 1 st Prize: Yaesu VX-3 R Ultra-Compact Dual Band HT w/Wide Band Rx POWEREX 8 Cell Smart Charger with 8 batteries 3 large FAIR-RITE Beads 9 -LED Flash Light Roll of Rescue Tape Yaesu Log Book Door Prize: Key Chain Flash Light • Need Tickets – see Carolyn or Mike – 6 for $5 - 12 for $10 - 24 for $20 • GOOD LUCK! Slide 12

Badges • • • K 6 FCW – Frank KI 6 HLQ – Ken KG 6 TT – Ralph KJ 9 U – John K 6 UJ – Bob • If you here, please claim your badge • If you know one of these Ops, please let them know We Don't Need No Stinking Badges! NCDXC June 09 Slide 13

Additional QSTs • Does anyone have any other announcements they would like to make? • Amtech Day? • Flea Market? NCDXC June 09 Slide 14

Election of Officers 2009 to 2010 Terms

NCDXC Election • Elections of Officers and Directors will occur tonight and they will take office at the picnic on August 1 st. • Officers nominated by the Board are: – President Craig Bradley – Vice President Phil Steffora – Secretary Russ Bentson – Treasurer Jose Picazo Jr. AE 6 RR K 6 TT K 6 KLY WT 6 X Slide 16

NCDXC Election • The club’s Bylaws and Procedures call for the election of 2 Directors. A third Director slot is always filled by the past club President. • The Board’s nominations for the 2 elected Directors are: – Steve Jones N 6 SJ 2007/2008 Director – Jim Abraham W 6 EB 2007/2008 Director • Past President – John Eisenberg K 6 YP 2007/2008 Past Prez. Slide 17

NCDXC Election • This slate of officers and directors was published in the June DXer • In accordance with the club’s bylaws, nominations for additional candidates will be open after the introductions of the Board’s slate of candidates Slide 18

President: Craig Bradley – AE 6 RR • I reside in San Jose and I am a Program Manager at a Sunnyvale electronics systems house. I was first licensed in 1961 as WV 6 SVW and then WA 6 SVW. I allowed my license to lapse in 1967 and was re-licensed with an Extra Class ticket as AE 6 RR in 2004. My hobbies are model trains and ham radio. • I operate from a stealth installation at my home QTH in San Jose and can also utilize my remote station located at my vacation home in Truckee CA. Slide 19

President: Craig Bradley – AE 6 RR (cont) • I operate HF, VHF, UHF and 1. 2 GHz mobile. I have worked some good DX from the parking lot at work. • I hold DXCC (173 confirmed), WAC, WAS, WPX, CQ DX Field Award, CQ DX Award. I am also a member of the NCCC. I am mostly a DXer and a casual contester. My next goal is CW DXCC (57 confirmed currently). • I have served as Secretary of the NCDXC for one term and President for the last year. Slide 20

Vice President: Phil Steffora – K 6 TT • Phil was first licensed in Redwood City, 1998 (original call KF 6 PEQ), upgraded to General (with code) October 2006 and to Extra in January 2008 • He currently serves as an (ASM) Assistant Section Manager for the Santa Clara Valley section of the ARRL as well as being a member of many local & state amateur organizations including PAARA, NCCC, NCDXC, SJVAR (San Joaquin Valley Amateur Radio Society) Slide 21

Vice President: Phil Steffora – K 6 TT (cont) • Phil is an avid DXer and enjoys some contesting. He has earned WAC, WAS, IARU Reg III, and just shy of DXCC (93). • Phil has served as editor of the DXer and an exfacto board member since June 2007. He has produced may excellent issues and has been successful in selling additional advertising in the DXer. • He is also responsible for maintaining the club website and was responsible for creating the 2009 Visalia DX convention website. Slide 22

Vice President: Phil Steffora – K 6 TT (cont) • For his day job, Phil is CIO & VP Technical Operations for a Palo Alto based startup and has worked continuous in the Valley for more than 20+ years. He is happily married to his wife Myla, they live in San Jose with their two cats. • Phil has proven to be a hard worker and a valuable contributor to the club; he will make an excellent Vice President. Slide 23

Secretary: Russ Bentson - K 6 KLY • Russ resides in Belmont and is a RF systems engineer for a major local cellular/PCS service provider. He was first licensed in 1957 and operates on all bands from 160 meter thru 10. 3 GHz. He especially enjoys 6 meter DXing where he has way more than 90 confirmed countries!!! • He is an active DXer, and holds #1 DXCC Honor Roll and 8 Band DXCC. Slide 24

Secretary: Russ Bentson - K 6 KLY (cont) • Russ has been a very active contributor to the DX Convention in Visalia and has manned the prize room for the last two NCDXC years with Jim, W 6 EB. • Russ has held the office of Secretary for the last year and has performed an excellent job in his duties. Slide 25

Treasurer: Jose Picazo - WT 6 X • Jose resides in Livermore and is an entrepreneur in the Internet security space. • He was first licensed in March 2007 and earned his Extra Class ticket in April of the same year. He enjoys SSB and RTTY HF operation. • Jose has two sons, both licensed hams, and is an instrument rated/multi engine rated pilot. Slide 26

Treasurer: Jose Picazo - WT 6 X (cont) • He also enjoys sailing his Swan 48 up and down the California coast and even finds time to produce superb California Merlot. • Jose has the business background required to manage NCDXC financial resources. He has served as Treasurer for the last year and has done an excellent job managing the club’s finances and keeping us straight with government filings. Slide 27

Board Nominees for Director • Jim Abraham - W 6 EB Jim is an active NCDXC member, DXer and contester. He is currently a NCDXC Director and a Visalia team leader. • Steve Jones - N 6 SJ Steve is also an active NCDXC member and active DXer with over 325 counties to his credit. He is currently a NCDXC Director and was cochairman of the 2009 International DX Convention. Slide 28

Past President - Director • John Eisenberg - K 6 YP John is a past VP and President of NCDXC. He enjoys DXing and has 315 countries confirmed. John was the co-chair the DX Convention with Steve in 2009. As the past president he is automatically a Director according to the bylaws. Slide 29

Ex Officio Director • Risto Kotalampi - W 6 RK Risto has served as Vice President for the last 3 years and has done an excellent job organizing speakers for meeting and his other duties. Normally the editor of the DXer is an Ex Officio Director, however as Phil has been nominated to the office of Vice President, the board wishes to appoint Risto to that position in order to continue to allow him to contribute to the club. Slide 30

Nominations from the Floor • Are there any other nominations for any of the officer or director positions? • If so, please introduce yourself, name the office you wish to run for and take a few minutes to tell us about your qualifications. • If there are no additional nominations, a motion to close the nominations is in order • Is there such a motion? – Second? - Vote Slide 31

Candidates Nominated to be voted on • Officers – President – Vice Pres – Secretary – Treasurer Craig Bradley Phil Steffora Russ Bentson Jose Picazo Jr. AE 6 RR K 6 TT K 6 KLY WT 6 X • Directors – Steve Jones – Jim Abraham N 6 SJ W 6 EB Slide 32

NCDXC Election • If there additional nominations a written ballot is in order • If there are no additional nominations, I will entertain a motion to elect the Board’s entire slate of candidates with one voice vote of the membership • Is there such a motion? • Second? • Voice vote? Slide 33

NCDXC Officers for 2009/10 • Officers – President – Vice Pres – Secretary – Treasurer Craig Bradley Phil Steffora Russ Bentson Jose Picazo Jr. AE 6 RR K 6 TT K 6 KLY WT 6 X • Directors – Steve Jones – Jim Abraham – John Eisenberg – Risto Kotalampi N 6 SJ W 6 EB K 6 YP (Past President) W 6 RK (Ex Officio) Slide 34

Our Sunspot Cycle The Sun is NOT Broken!

Mystery of the Missing Sunspots, Solved? NCDXC June 09 Slide 36

This is Easy to Explain • A helioseismic map of the solar interior • Tilted red-yellow bands trace solar jet streams • Black contours denote sunspot activity • When the jet streams reach a critical latitude around 22 degrees, sunspot activity intensifies. NCDXC June 09 Slide 37

Butterfly Diagram NCDXC June 09 Slide 38

No Maunder Minimum! • The current minimum has been long and deep • Some scientists have speculated that the sun might enter another Maunder Minimum • This new data dispels those concerns • The Sun is NOT BROKEN! • Credit: http: //science. nasa. gov NCDXC June 09 Slide 39

Spotless Days • • Current Stretch: 0 days 2009 total: 131 days (78%) Since 2004: 642 days Typical Solar Min: 485 days NCDXC June 09 Slide 40

SOHO MDI Continuum Latest Image Tiny sunspot 1021, which appeared yesterday, is already fading away. Credit: SOHO/MDI NCDXC June 09 Slide 41

Remote Radio Operation Over the Internet Don Melcher, W 6 CZ

RAFFLE TIME! • Does anyone need tickets before we start? NCDXC June 09 Slide 43

Thanks for Coming Tonight! • Remember the net next Thursday night! • Pray for sunspots! • 73 & Good DX! NCDXC June 09 Slide 44