Date: Sun, 4 May 2003 15:17:30 -0500
From: K4RO Kirk Pickering 
To: tcg@k4ro.net
Subject: [TCG] Meeting minutes May 3 2003

The TCG held a middle Tennessee meeting at the Old
Country Buffet in Nashville.  In attendance were:

K0EJ    Mark
K3CQ    Bill
K4AMC   Jim
K4RO    Kirk
K4WX    Don
WB9BSH  Jerry
WD4K    Tommy
W9WI    Doug

TCG Wins California QSO Party Club Competition!
-----------------------------------------------
The California QSO Party trophy was presented to the
group, who agreed it was a nice looking plaque indeed.
Thanks to the NCCC and to W6ZZZ for sponsoring the
club competition for the first time.  The group noted
a couple of interesting points regarding our victory.
First was the fact that it's not just the top scores,
but in fact EVERY submitted score, including the one on
the very bottom of the list that makes the difference.
Second, this victory basically came to us as an unexpected
surprise.  Looking back at the mail from that period, we
were not actively pursuing this award.  In fact it doesn't
look like we were even aware of it at all.  We just did
what we always do -- get on and enjoy contest operating,
and submit our scores.  We'll do the same in 2003. Who
knows, we may just win it again.

Sweepstakes
-----------
The TCG also placed an outstanding club score in the 2002
ARRL Sweepstakes contests.  TCG came in 3rd in the medium
club competition, with 45 total entries (CW and SSB.)
Again it was noted that the little scores made a huge
difference.  We just edged past the well-established
Frankford Radio Club, and one small score gave us the
bronze in this giant of domestic contest club competitions.
As we searched for a way to demonstrate the value of each
and every score submitted, W9WI suggested an appreciation
certificate to all who submitted a TCG score in SS.  The
TCG could use such a certificate to recognize and thank every
operator who makes the time to contribute the TCG SS score.

The idea was well received, and we are now actively seeking
the help of the membership to create and mail the certificates.
We could start this year with the 45 entries received for
the 2002 SS. Perhaps the certificates could be endorsed for
both modes, reducing the amount of paper involved.  If you are
interested in helping with this project, let us know.

The TCG also re-affirmed that our goal is to get as many
operators on for SS as possible, even if that means crossing
the 50-entry-limit into the "unlimited" category.  Our prime
directive is encouraging more activity.  Winning is a happy
consequence of more activity, as evidenced by our CQP win.
While winning the medium category is a worthy and desirable
goal, we will not exclude any TCG score in an attempt to
manipulate the catergory.  We are proud of the level of activity
generated from TN in contests, and the number of submitted
scores speak for themselves.

Nashville Hamfest
-----------------
The Nashville hamfest is scheduled for June 14, 2003
at the TN Expo Center near Symrna, TN.  The hamfest
officially runs from 8AM to 5PM.  K4RO has contacted
K4ANH to work out the details of the TCG display, and
is awaiting a reply.  How can YOU help the TCG at the
2003 Nashville hamfest?  Glad you asked! :-)  We could
use some help manning the booth, help with setup and
teardown, help with a small VCR/TV combo, help with
laptop computer(s) running everything from contesting
to propagation software.  We would also like to display
as many awards as possible.  If you have any plaques
that we could show off, especially club trophies, please
consider letting us display them.  We'll take good care
of your hard earned awards.  The TCG will also sponsor
a high-speed CW competition at the hamfest. K4RO is the
lead on this, and is accepting suggestions.  We hope to
see lots of TCG'ers at the hamfest, and naturally it
will count as an official TCG meeting for 2003.

Field Day
---------
TCG will carry on its Field Day tradition, by going out
to the various operations around the state and sharing our
love of contest operating.  We have found FD to be one of
our greatest opportunities to demonstrate to a large number
of people the joy of contest-style operating in real time.
Many TCG'ers got their first taste of contesting at FD,
and the tradition continues.  Find a group who is doing
a FD operation near you, and join the fun.  You never know
when somebody might "get it."  We all started somewhere, and
many of us started at FD.

Tennessee QSO Party
-------------------
The results for 2002 have been completed.  There was a mixup
with getting the results properly published on the TCG web
page.  W9WI and K4RO will put a crew on it and post the 2002
results along with an announcement for the 2003 TQP.

Soapbox QRM
-----------
WD4K reports that Top Ten has created the prototype
band decoder for the Ten Tec Orion.  The Orion has
a built-in band decoder, but it is not compatible with
the standard Top Ten outputs.  The new device basically
uses the Orion band decoder to drive a Top Ten decoder,
which will drive Top Ten relays etc., which an operator
may already have installed.

K0EJ has been using some advanced topographic mapping
software at NSTI, and would be willing to provide terrain
profile slices for your location.  You must know your
exact location in latitide and longiture.  Limit 2 terrain
slices per customer.  Mark can't do this all day. :-)
W9WI notes that there is a freeware software package by
VE2DBE called "Radio Mobile" which also provides terrain
mapping applications as well as site coverage maps.  More
infoemation on Radio Mobile is available at the following URL:
http://www.cplus.org/rmw/english1.html

K4RO notes the large blank space next to his call in the
NAQP RTTY team scores in this month's National Contest Journal.
Bottom line -- if you join a team, make sure your score
actually gets sumbitted!  Sorry team members, I was sure that
I submitted my log before the deadline.  I'll check twice
next time, if you'll let me back on a team.

WD4K reports that the RATS Board of Directors has agreed to
allow a TCG liason keep a list of TCG members attending RATS
meetings. The idea is to provide even more opportunities for
TCGers to make their two-meeting-per-year requirement, and
to extend a further welcome to TCG members from the RATS.
The TCG appreciates the welcome from RATS, and thanks the
BOD for allowing us to attend.  All interested TCG members
are encouraged to participate in and/or join other radio clubs
in their local areas, as each member's desire leads them.
What better way to introduce contesting to new hams?

Several folks who have been operating a lot longer than
your writer recalled the days of paper logging and specifically
dupe sheets. It sure sounded like a lot of work!

The usual suspects are headed to Dayton again this year.
Hopefully W4PA can keep a sign-in sheet at the Ten Tec
booth for TCGers to make yet another meeting opportunity.

Wo4o continues to aggressively battle the cancer affecting
his right hip.  Ric has also been building up his station,
and is assembling a competitive SO2R LP setup. The setup
includes a FB rotating side mount built by K4AMC.  K4OOO
underwent liver transplant surgery on April 22.  Larry is
at home, and beginning the long process of recovering from
very major surgery. We wish our TCG brothers a swift and complete
recovery, and hope to hear them on the bands again soon.

New Meeting Locations Needed
----------------------------
When our meeting started, the manager of the Old Country Buffet
asked to speak to "whoever was in charge."  I agreed to talk
to him after our meeting.  We were informed that unless EVERY
person ordered breakfast, he would have to charge us $100 to
meet at his restaurant.  Basically the manager was rude, and
said that we we're not welcome to use the OCB as a meeting place.
This was somewhat of a shock after meeting there at least thirty
times over the last six seven years.  The manager accused us of
having never been there before, desipte some of us being on a
first name basis with some of the waitresses!

There was no point in arguing with the manager, and we left
without making any kind of scene. Note that this all happened
completely unprovoked, as far as I can tell.  It was just like
every other meeting we've held there over the years.  Since
the TCG is no longer welcome there, I personally won't patronize
the establishment any longer.  There is also the issue that not
every TCG member wants to have to purchase a meal just in order
to meet and talk contesting with thier fellow operators.  We need
meeting places where everyone will be welcome.

So once again, I'll put out the plea for operators to consider
hosting a TCG meeting at their ham shack.  Most of us would
much rather be in a radio room than a restaurant anyway.  May
and June are covered with hamfest meetings, but come July we
will need a place to meet.  Volunteers are sought.  If no one
else is interested, I'll gladly host more meetings here at K4RO.

The meeting adjourned around noon, following the "discussion"
with the OCB manager.

Respectfully submitted,

-Kirk  K4RO    TCG EA 2003