Hello All,
As Hurricane Francine prepares to make landfall in Louisiana, if you will allow me, Hurricane Season (which ends December 1st) has been mild for the US this year. After predictions of a heavy 2024 hurricane season, this is only the second named storm hitting the mainland so far. And as always, I hope for a mild winter.
A reminder that September is National Preparedness Month. So, while the weather is warm and mostly dry, now would be a good time to inspect any tree-supported antennas or get a new one up.
Left on our 2024 To-Do List, we have the Manassas Christmas parade on December 7th at 10 AM and our annual OVH Christmas Party. Preparations have begun.
Back on September 7th the Ole Virginia Hams supported the SOWW 7th Annual Bike Ride. It was one for the books. At 74° it was like a spring day, although perhaps a bit breezy.
Best of all, we had no major injuries for the day, but a few non-emergency needs which were reported by the OVH and promptly dealt with.
We fielded 22 operators for the event. I’d like to give thanks to everyone that came out and supported this very worthwhile charity:
Christopher, KN4IJF; Jack, WC4J; Thomas, W4PIO; Michael, KO4BCN; Andy, KJ4MTP; Greg, KM4CCG; John, KG4NXT; Scott, KQ4EOL; David, KG4GIY; Dianne, KI4FVV; Chip, NN4U; Jeremiah, K4HCO; Duane, KK4BZ; Bruce, KN4TS; Lori, KC0EWN; David, KK4ZUU; Patsy, W4SFT; Chris, W3CUM; Erik, K4SOK; George, K4GVT; Robin, KJ4LWN and our guest operator: Frank Smith, KT4LN – Chief of our EMTs – operating both at the Base and in the field.
I can share with you some of the numbers I have:
Amount raised: $95,588 which will fund 38 Warrior family stays at the Warrior Retreat at Bull Run
Number of riders: 320 riders on four separate routes
Number of volunteers: Over 165 volunteers
Manpower hours for the event: over 1,400 hours
NextPoint Group as agreed to be the presenting sponsor for next year’s event to be held on September 6, 2025.
Another big tip of the hat to Andy, KJ4MTP, for organizing and running the whole ham show.
Additional thanks to Ken, KE2N, and Jason, N3JLT, for setting up the temporary links between the OVH and Bluemont repeaters and then standing by in case we needed maintenance. We have offered Jason space at our Mt. Pone location. It is my hope that next year, we will not be setting up temporary links, but using permanent ones.
An OVH web article about the Bike Ride with some pictures will be published in a day or two.
Next up is our monthly breakfast on September 14th at 8:00 AM. I hear it’s the most important meal of the day. Originally developed 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
Our next monthly meeting Tuesday, September 17th
7:30 PM – 9:00 PM EDT
Buckhall VFD Hall
7190 Yates Ford Road
Manassas VA 20111
New OVH member, Retired Admiral Robert (Bob) Shumaker will do a presentation on his POW experiences including the tap code that he invented. You are not going to want to miss this one.
A reminder that the 78th Greater Manassas Christmas Parade will take place on Saturday, December 7th @ 10 AM. Planning is underway, but we will need volunteer spotters. If interested and available, please contact George, K4GVT via e-mail george@k4gvt.com
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
This is a great way to stay in touch.
Questions, comments or war stories can be directed to my e-mail: KN4DD@arrl.net
73,
Ken, KN4DD
I’m a Floridian who was fortnately not impacted by Hurricanes Helene or Milton. But far north of me, Tampa / St. Pete area got a double dose. They had to rush to clean up debris from Helene, because with 150+ mph winds, everything becomes a projectile. It was a quiet season for the most part, but it only takes one storm to cause massive damage.