Villages Amateur Radio Club

-- Our Next Meeting --
November 15, 2018 @ Eisenhower Rec Center
MacArthur/Arnold Room
6:00 PM Social/informal "Elmer'ing"
6:45 PM Business Meeting
7:30 PM Program - Recent adventure in the Florida QSO Party, Pete/K2PS and Wayne/N4FP
President's call for Nominations for TVARC Elections 2019
Our "Cookie Monster" - Bridget Wyrick/N1XAU

TVARC club meetings are held on the third Thursday of every month at the Eisenhower Recreation Center (except for the month of December),
at 3560 Buena Vista Blvd., in The Villages, Florida.
Anyone interested in Amateur Radio is invited to attend.
You need not be licensed to attend or join. You do NOT need a Villages ID.

I know it has been said before, but the Amateur Radio Parity Act is still alive and kicking. Although the Senate removed the act from their version of the bill, the two versions now go before a joint house/senate committee to resolve the differences. Here is "one last chance" for us to get the act put back in the bill prior to the President's signature.
Click here to send a letter to Senator Bill Nelson.

Events & Activities (Upcoming/Ongoing) ...

For Sale or Trade area is available, click HERE. We now allow pictures with the item for sale/trade. Keep photos small to minimize load times.

TVARC WAS Standings are calling for your submissions.
For information, click HERE. To view standings, click HERE.

TVARC DXCC Standings are calling for your submissions.
For information, click HERE. To view standings, click HERE.

Licensing Classes:
We are still looking for an Educational Coordinator for the General Class classes. The syllabus was put together. All we need is a leader to coordinate when and where the classes are, and to insure we have instructors in place.

For information for Extra Class classes, contact Cal Fuhrman/WA3CTZ (club's Acting Educational Coordinator for Extra Class classes).

Licensing Exams:
Exams will be held as necessary usually following the ending of the amateur license classes. All license level exams offered. No pre-registration required (walk-ins welcome). For more information, contact Rich Erlichman/ND4G - ARRL/VE Team Liaison.
For details, click here.

TVARC Reflector - Communicate with TVARC

Membership in TVARC is required to join this club reflector. For general information or to join this reflector, click HERE. Contact George Briggs (K2DM), the Reflector's moderator, for more details.

Our Nets…
•     TVARC Ragchew
–    Net meets 7 PM Monday
–    443.225 MHz (+5) PL 103.5 & Echolink at K4VRC-R
•    QCWA Ragchew
–    Net meets 10 AM Friday
–    443.150 MHz (+5) PL 103.5 (NO Echolink at K4LFK-R)
•     SKYWARN
–    Net meets 8:30 PM Sunday
–    147.030 (+600) PL 123.0
•     Sumter EMCOMM NET
–    Net meets 8:30 PM Monday
–    146.925 (-600) PL 123.0

NEW FEATURE: Dr. Tamitha Skov/WX6SWW, the "Space Weather Woman" is featured on YouTube with bi-weekly videos explaining Space Weather and propagation conditions: I will try to post these links at least weekly.
For the October 18, 2018 forecast: Click Here
A "shortie" for October 12, 2018: Click Here.
For a mini course on Solar Activity, Click Here.
OK, not so mini, 1 hour:43 minutes in length, so have a seat and enjoy.
For a presentation on HF Propagation, click here.

Have you heard? (President's Message)
By Ron Adcock/K4YCW
October 17, 2018
Click HERE to read K4YCW's Article.
Article is copyrighted by Ron Adcock, K4YCW.
Disclaimer: The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed in the foregoing article belong solely to its author and do not necessarily represent those of The Villages Amateur Radio Club (TVARC), its officers, or its members.

New Feature: See bottom left corner for Solar Space Weather Forecast.

Volunteers Needed for ...

Emergency Communications (ECT) or EmComm. The club is looking for volunteers for our Emergency Communications Team. Sign up here.

Radio On the Square (RoS). Let's have some "radio" fun. To volunteer, please sign up for RoS, click here.

TVARC Contest Group: To sign up for the Contest Group, please click here.

Events & Activities (Past) ...

Camp Villages - Congrats to our volunteers for Camp Villages. July 5, at Colony Cottage, was a wonderful time had by all, especially the kids. I only received one picture for the "Ham Radio Experience". Sorry.

Field Day 2018 was held the weekend of June 23rd-24th, 2018 at the Sherriff's Annex on CR466. Field Day was well attended. For the wrap-up presentation by George/K2DM, please see the page with our minutes and stored presentations, or click here. This is a big file; please allow a minute or two for loading.
For pictures of the event click here.

Hurricane Expo 2018 was held on Friday, May 4th, 2018 at Rohan Regional Recreation Center. The Expo was well attended. For pictures and who manned the booth, click here.

The "Radio Rodeo" was held at Paddock Square, Brownwood. On Saturday, April 7, 2018. For pictures, click here.

"Walk MS: The Villages 2018" was held on March 24, 2018, at The Villages Polo Field. Earle Hancock/KM4ISN (Activity Lead for TVARC's participation in the event) was assisted by John Spoonhower/NX2I, Neil Schulman/KN4KPD, Jules Deschenes/W1GDE, Larry Peterson/N2AMW, and Tom Grosvenor/NV1U.

Emergency Communications Team
The ECT has been established to maintain information on members who are willing to be called upon during an emergency for communications assistance within The Villages. No training, no paperwork. Just give us your contact information and pertinent equipment. We have 43 volunteers and growing. . .
To sign up Click HERE
To Read about this Program, Click HERE.

Emergency Communications Team Lead
George Rutkoskie (W4GOR) is the volunteer activity lead for TVARC's Emergency Communications Teams (ECT).

TVARC QSL Cards are now available
For ordering information select WHO WE ARE above, then select Logo Items & TVARC QSLs. Or, just click HERE.