Legion Birthday Event, Hamvention and more.
A few words from the prez . . .
Legion Birthday Special Event set for Saturday, March 12
March 15 is the designated birthday of The American Legion. It is the day in 1919 when the first American Legion caucus, held by members of the American Expeditionary Force, convened in Paris. Much as the birthday of the United States is celebrated on July 4 – for the day in 1776 when rebelling patriots declared the independence of the British colonies and the spirit of America was born – March 15 is the day on which the Legion came to life.
Each year, Legion posts across the country hold events – public, private or both – to commemorate this anniversary. At the national headquarters of The American Legion there also is an event conducted annually to observe the Legion birthday, and on a worldwide scale.
The American Legion Amateur Radio Club will operate a special event station to commemorate the Legion’s 97th birthday. Working from the radio room at National Headquarters in Indianapolis, ham radio operators at club station K9TAL will celebrate the Legion’s 97 years of service to America’s veterans with both members and non-member amateur radio operators around the world on Saturday, March 12, 2016.
Ham radio operators wishing to contact Special Event Station K9TAL should tune to 20 meters: 14.275 MHz (+/- 5 KHz) USB; or to 2 meters: K9DC 147.315 Repeater at Indianapolis; or IRLP Node 9735; or, to 146.46 MHz simplex in Central Indiana. All operations will be conducted on Saturday, March 12, between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. Eastern time [1400 to 2100 Universal Coordinated Time]. All amateur radio operators are invited to check in. American Legion posts with TALARC stations are encouraged to check in from around the country.
A full-color certificate and QSL card will be sent to all amateur radio operators contacting K9TAL, upon receipt of a 9-by-12-inch self-addressed stamped envelope to:
The American Legion National Headquarters
Attn: TALARC
700 N. Pennsylvania Street
Indianapolis, IN 46204
– 0 –
Don Keith, N4KC, Recognized for "Wave of Popularity"
A recent press release from ARRL Media and Public Relations Manager Sean Kutzko, KX9X, announced, "The ARRL Board of Directors, at their January 2016 meeting and after considering recommendations from the ARRL PR Committee, voted to convey the 2015 ARRL Bill Leonard [Professional Media] Awards to the following recipients:
"Print: Don Keith, for his 2015 article 'Wave of Popularity' that appeared in The American Legion Magazine. http://www.legion.org/magazine/226238/wave-popularity
"Video: Jackie Lukas, reporter and anchor for News 12 Long Island in New York, for her report on the Great South Bay ARC’s Amateur Radio activation of a lighthouse."
According to the release, each winner will receive an awards plaque and a $250 donation in their name to the charity of their choice.
The ARRL release stated that their board was unanimous in the decisions. In citing Don's article they noted, "the active promotion of amateur radio in the media is necessary for generating interest in and growth of the service, preservation of spectrum and fulfillment of our mission;" and that "Don Keith, writer for The American Legion Magazine, provided an excellent overview of amateur radio's current technologies and activities in the article 'Wave of Popularity.’"
Full minutes of the meeting are available at: http://www.arrl.org/board-meetings.
The American Legion Amateur Radio Club extends its congratulations to Don and offers to him a right-hand salute of respect and admiration for his excellent article and for the attention it has brought to The American Legion, its magazine, and the Amateur Radio Club.
– 0 –
Amateur Radio Newsline podcast features K6TAL
(California American Legion Post 519)
ARNewsline Anchor: "California amateurs Tom McLean, KJ6DZT, and Glenn Morrison, WB6RLC, have something in common with entertainment legends Al Jolson, Jack Benny and Bing Crosby, among others. They've all gone on radio from a small broadcast booth inside the American Legion Hall in Palm Springs. Almost 70 years later, that booth has been restored to its glory and is the new home of the post's amateur radio club. Amateur Radio Newsline's Kent Peterson, KCØDGY, tells us what the club's got planned next. . . ."
Above is the introduction to an item in which The American Legion, and particularly Palm Springs Post 519's K6TAL station, were featured in a worldwide podcast from the Amateur Radio Newsline™ on Jan. 29. Local ham radio clubs and nets will rebroadcast this audio piece during thousands of local ham radio net operations over the next few weeks while conducting local emergency practice nets and issuing amateur radio-related announcements across the United States.
This podcast is a nice media hit within the amateur radio and volunteer emergency services groups, as well as among upwards of one million hams in the U.S. and worldwide. It is very complimentary to the Legion and the efforts of TALARC members at Post 519.
Audio can be heard at www.arnewsline.org, or click on Amateur Radio Newsline Report 1996 January 29 2016 at http://www.arnewsline.org/news/2016/1/29/amateur-radio-newsline-report-1.... (Click on "Podcast.") Post 519's part of the podcast starts at about the 8:20 mark and ends at about 12:20.
More information about Post 519's station is at www.legion.org/hamradio. A direct link is at "Live from California: Palm Springs post radio club restores infrastructure from midcentury heyday."
– 0 –
Dayton Hamvention 2016
The American Legion Amateur Radio Club will again have a presence at the Annual Hamvention at Dayton, Ohio, May 20 - 22, 2016. National HQ staff will be on hand at the Hara Arena Complex at Dayton, manning a booth during the three-day event.
TALARC members who plan to attend are invited to stop by to visit. From those who plan to be there and have the time, we seek your help. If you can spare a couple of hours during that weekend, email us at k9tal@legion.org and let us know your availability.
– 0 –
TALARC Monthly Nets
EchoLink, 20-Meter, and IRLP Nets meet the 2nd Saturday of each month.
75-Meter Nets meet the 1st and 3rd Saturday of each month.
D-Star Nets meet the 3rd Monday and 3rd Thursday of each month.
Please Note: Access to the *FMCA-ARC* EchoLink Conference Node cannot be made via a Repeater.
Mode Day Date Time [Zulu] Band Where to find the Net
EchoLink Saturday Feb 13 12 Noon ET [1700Z] *FMCA-ARC* Conference
HF Saturday Feb 13 1:00 PM ET [1800Z] 20 Meters 14.275 MHz [+/- 5 KHz]
IRLP Saturday Feb 13 2:00 PM ET [1900Z] 2 Meters Node 9735 [K9DC-Indy]
D-Star Monday Feb 15 9:00 PM ET [0200Z] Reflector 001C
D-Star Thursday Feb 18 10:00 PM ET [0300Z] Reflector 030C
HF Saturday Feb 20 10:00 PM ET [0300Z] 75 Meters 3.919 MHz [+/- 5 KHz]
HF Saturday Mar 5 10:00 PM ET [0300Z] 75 Meters 3.919 MHz [+/- 5 KHz]
The board of officers is looking to hear from you during the Legion Birthday Event March 12, 9:00a - 4:00p Eastern [1400Z - 2100Z]. Mark your calendar and give a call to K9TAL. We'll be listening for you.
73
Marty Justis, W9WMJ
President
The American Legion Amateur Radio Club
Indianapolis, IN
- Ham Radio