Hello, Everyone,
After a wetter than normal January, we have been dealing with slightly above average temperatures during the first ten days of February. Those of you who know me, know that I am not a fan of the “s” word (snow). So, I look at the recent rain and think “at least it’s not snow”.
Still thinking of winter, I am reminded of the great American philosopher, Yogi Berra, who once said “it ain’t over, till it’s over”. He was talking about winter, wasn’t he?
Speaking of spring like weather, now would be a good time while we still have “see through trees” to get out there and check those antennas. Better now (and easier) than when the foliage returns.
Our monthly breakfast returns this Saturday, February 17th at 8:00 AM. Pioneered by Byron, AK4XR, we get together every Saturday before our meetings at a table or two in the back of Yorkshire Restaurant for some good food and good conversation.
Yorkshire Restaurant
7537 Centreville Rd.
Manassas, VA 20111
(703) 368-4905
Menu: https://www.yorkshirerestaurantmanassas.com/menu/
Next up is the PVARC Ham Fest 2024.
Once again, the Ole Virginia Hams has a table there and we will be handing out flyers for our June Tailgate Party.
The Ham Fest takes place on February 17th 2024 & is held at:
VFW Post 9292, Elkton
13958 Spotswood Trail
Elkton, VA 22827
Talk-in: 146.625 – Tone: 131.8
Overflow parking and shuttle services provided.
https://sites.google.com/view/pvarc/home
And if you didn’t know, it is sponsored by the Page Valley Amateur Radio Club.
A personal ask, if I may: While OVH has a table at each to give out our Tailgate Party flyers, a table full of only flyers is not as exciting as it could be. If you have some gear you’d like to sell or books & magazines you’d like to sell or give away, please consider using our tables at these Hamfests. It would certainly help draw in attendees to our tables, and you might sell some stuff. WIN – WIN.
If this sounds interesting, please contact our Tailgate Party Chairman Don, WA2SWX in advance. He can be reached at: wa2swxdm@gmail.com
Of course, the big thing is elections. That’s right, it’s time once again to decide who is going to sit at the front table. We have a full slate on the ballot this year. Gil, KM4OZH is on the ballot for Vice President, John, KG4NXT and Don, WA2SWX will be running again for their respective positions of Secretary and Treasurer; and I, am asking for another year as club President.
Please remember that your dues need to be paid in order to vote in the elections and our new annual amount is $25.00 this year.
Dues can be renewed online at W4OVH.NET or using the mail-in sheet, later in this Newsletter.
Important: Date change for our monthly meeting
Due to a Federal Holiday (President’s Day) our next monthly meeting will be on Wednesday, February 21st.
This is a one off and we will return to our normal Tuesday meetings on March 19th.
W4OVH Monthly Meeting
7:30 PM – 9:00 PM EDT
Buckhall VFD Hall
7190 Yates Ford Road
Manassas, VA 20111
Gordon, NQ4K, is going to present the VAQP at the Ole Virginia Ham this month. And Gil, KM4OZH, has promised to try again this year to pin Gordon down on his (Gil’s) areas of concern. We look forward to that.
The 2024 Virginia QSO Party will be held during the weekend of 16-17 March 2024.
Saturday, 16 March, 1400 UTC – Sunday, 17 March, 0400 UTC and
Sunday, 17 March, 1200 UTC – 2400 UTC.
Then we have Vienna WinterFest.
Vienna Wireless Society’s 48th WINTERFEST is on Sunday, March 10th, 2024 for a traditional Hamfest. Tailgating and the Indoor Market Fair: Opens at 8 AM ~ WINTERFEST Closes at 2 PM EDT.
Please remember that March 10th is also the start of Daylight Saving Time – so “Spring Ahead”.
Winterfest – The National Capital Area Ham Radio Fair
Oakton High School
2900 Sutton Road
Vienna, VA 22180
https://viennawireless.net/wp/events/winterfest/
Talk-in: 146.520 MHz FM SIMPLEX and via Club Repeaters
K4HTA @ 146.685(-) CTCSS – 110.9 Hz
K4XY @ 448.375(-) MHz
OVH’s involvement with the Tri-It-Now mini triathlons would have started up again in March, but Ina Nenninger, owner & organizer of Tri It Now has retired and moved away. I, for one, will miss the activities, and our “new ham” members have lost a great way to wade in to our hobby. I hope we can find a way to replace it.
Also, a reminder to check in to the OVH’s Thursday night VHF/UHF repeater net at 8 PM.
The details for that are on the OVH’s web site: https://w4ovh.net
Questions, comments or war stories can be directed to my e-mail: KN4DD@arrl.net
73,
Ken, KN4DD
Sorry to hear of the mini-tri sunset. Suggest staying in touch w/ The Running Store (Gainesville) for possible opportunities.
73,
Wayne
N7QLK