CQ, CQ, CQ……….. calling all hams.
Good afternoon GCARA. Thanks to all of the hams involved, GCARA and ARES/RACES was able to pull off a very successful SUMMER FIELD DAY 2025!!
Sixty-eight plus people were in attendance and thanks to the dynamite PIO team of Tom Savoca K9TJS and Carol Sjursen KJ4AWB, the message got out! They hit the ground running about one month ago, making flyers, posting a lot of social media for us, and sending out invitations to various county personnel on our mutual behalf. They obtained a Margate Proclamation for Field Day. It was also Carol Sjursen’s idea to use this event as a cooperative multi-club Field Day experience and it was brilliant. To illustrate the commeraderie of the clubs, Carol created a most beautiful information table with info and cards from all of the clubs in Broward that attended. Nice work Carol!
Since many hams belong to multiple clubs, almost every Broward Club as well as Boca Raton was represented.
Carol took charge, greeting all visitors and extolling the virtues of ham radio and volunteering. She told me she had several non-hams say they would be looking into joining the clubs and testing for new licenses and were excited about the volunteer opportunities that we are presented with as hams. This Field Day coo follows on the footsteps of a very nicely authored and well presented speech at the GCARA General Meeting on Tuesday June 24, 2025 at the Imperial Point Hospital Auditorium. Due to a technical issue, a recording was not made, however, Carol will do it again on tape for the benefits of the many people who are requesting a copy of it. Thank you Carol for all you do in many arenas!
Both Tom Savoca and Carol Sjursen are ARRL certified PIOs and they both worked very hard for this Field Day in particular and GCARA in general.
There are so many good souls to be thankful for this month! I wish to extend my and the club’s gratitude to Joe McGee NX4T who was the main architect in our Field Day again. He planned the technical issues, enticed and called many hams to volunteer, got us published in The Pelican, a local newspaper, as well as constructing a Field Day antenna at his own expense. He took the bull by the horns, unselfishly contributing a lot of time, effort and money to our Field Day but could not see it through in the last two weeks due to personal matters.
Thankfully we have the versatile talents of Jeff Stahl K4BH, who very graciously took over for Joe and finished the planning and executed a practically flawless Field Day. He was able to cover most of the bases of the exercise with his own equipment and with the help of some great volunteers. Not even the blow of Dan Vasilca’s illness, could deter his positive attitude. (For those who don’t know Dan, he is one the most amiable hams who has championed us every event with CW and many times contributes such a high score with CW that it pushes our phone scores over the top.) Get well soon Dan and thanks for volunteering like you always do.
When I say practically flawless, this is not a criticism at all. Jeff adroitly handed unforeseen obstacles, managed a large communication drill and only in hindsight did we recognize there were things we would like to improve on. Needless to say, one of the improvements was not on a positive spirit and a can do attitude. I was so in awe of the tremendous help occurring from all the the hams from different clubs. Each were helpful, cheerful and encouraging to others.
Special thanks to Jerry Deitch W4LST, who is not only President of the Parrot Club, but one of our own Life Time members. Once again, he stepped up to help me with shopping when we had to reassign the enlisted helper to another task. Thank you, David Pomerantz KO4DKN, President of the Palmetto Club, for being so flexible and so much fun to be around. These 2 gentlemen prove that a title does not preclude them from working hard for the benefit of others.
Digitally speaking, we are very grateful to have our Repeater Trustee Ricky Eaton KD4HGR handling the digital station. I vote him one the our best ambassadors as he also helps the Palmetto Club when Mike Sams KF4ZW, the Palmetto Club trustee needs it. He is unflappable in the face of problems, is generous with his knowledge, encouragement to others and his time. He has helped many members with their antenna or technical problems, DMR programming and an assortment of things ham related. I am always yelling across the floor at FD or meetings for Ricky when someone needs help with an HT or the best idea for the shack. GCARA is so fortunate to have a man like this is our midst and along with a tremendously technical person, Eric Rodriguez KF4LZA, they keep the repeater up and running and make our ham lives easy and worry free. Thank you gentlemen for being members and supporting us.
What would a Field Day be without our famous Ricki’s Chili? Ricki Witte KJ4FSJ , our chili chef, is the sweetest miracle to ever cross my path. Since I had invited her many years ago to serve on the Board as Secretary, she has acted as Secretary and as Treasurer (when it was done the hard way) and filled in many years when needed even though she is in demand elsewhere. She is the most generous, fair minded, talented and humble person I have ever met I believe. She wears many hats in life in many organizations, still has a full-time job and STILL MANAGES TO VOLUNTEER in a Special Needs shelter for hurricanes, as a worker for Winterfest Boat parade as well as other endeavors I am not remembering at this time. She is a superb follower and a very gracious leader in many of her organizations. Thank you RIcki, for all you do and have yet to do. You made us two huge crockpots of the best chili in town and we are all grateful to you for doing that despite a painful back injury you were having. Once this gal commits, she commits!! GCARA loves you.
We even had some weather excitement from a micro burst that tore through the Bald Eagle Pavilion close to 9 pm. It upset all of our plastic boxes, ripped the table cloths off the tables, blew down a screened tent that Kenny Hollenbeck had put up for overnighters, and upset all of the food serving area. I heard that it gave our hams present a run for their money chasing the blown about items.
Thank you to Kenny KE4NC and Sally KK4UFH Hollenbeck for providing the Free Flea Table, a tent, solar panels, and all of their service to us at breakdown time. They are both great volunteers and members. Whenever I thank Kenny, he tells me “That is the Lord shining through”. He is storing our FD coolers and boxes for us and is a cheerful person whose everyday disposition is so nice to encounter. He also volunteers in many areas in church as well as ham communication activities. GCARA has no shortage of nice people. When I asked Kenny if he had a successful Free Flea, he replied that he came with 9 boxes of equipment and only went back home with 4. Next event he will place himself more strategically to the front of the venue for a better vantage point. Thanks Kenny and Sally for all of your help.
I wish to thank our helpers and transporters who include Matthew and Tyler Snyder, Half Moon, Jeff Ronner, Mike Wolf, Bill Mercer, Dave Pomerantz, David Warner, Dan Thomas, David Thurman, Mike Meeks, Jim Schwantes, Ben Echavarria, Mark Blanchard and Fred Lindeman. There may have been others unknown to me and God bless you if I forgot to name you. Ben Echavarria N7BBE provided us with educational opportunities with his radios, gave a radio to one of our youngest hams (10 years old and brilliant), and acted as safety monitor for the Field Day. Both he and Mark Blanchard worked diligently with the younger boys that visited us and got them excited about ham radio. Although we wished we could have gotten them on the GOTA station, I am sure they will be back and that this day will be a positive memory for them.
We were visited by Samuel Greenfeld, Henry Seidner and his guest Jane, Hope Smith, Allan Karden, Jay Berman, David Gonzales, Chris Terrell, Stephanie Bergeron, Deborah Cronin, John Williams and his two little girls 7 and 9, (?) Melendez, Vince Adams, Leslie Rood, Andrew Venneman, Julio Herrera, Luis Rodrigues, Mark McGrath and Haylie, Mark Crum, Barry Gardner, Robert White and wife, Aurora Figuieredo, Al Lisner, Warren Oserofsky, Mark Filla, Mickey Baker, James Calcanes, Julio Lopez, Todd Greenstein, Mike Spahn, Lewis Horn, Barry Gardner, Lisa Yau, Brian Guptill, Tom Langford, Ron Keister, Andrew Riviears, Peggy Lindeman, Andrew and Darren Auster, Joe Biddle, Pam Merida, Wm. David Collins, Brad Weidden, Bebe Collins, Jay Silverman, Vincent Croce, Wayne Ferdinand, Sean Robert, Dan Thomas and others who may have forgotten to sign in. Thank you, one and all, for venturing out in the Florida heat to meet and speak with us. Many of you are hams but I conserved electrons by leaving off call signs. Apologies.
Thank you all for a wonderful weekend sharing the fun of the hobby and may you always keep it fun! Come back and see us in January 2026 for Winter Field Day. God bless everyone.
Melanie Fernandez KJ4VCT, President GCARA
Click BELOW to download and print the PDF version NOTE: Meeting minutes are posted online as a draft for review until approved at the following meeting. Corrections can be sent to the Secretary, currently rickiwitte4@gmail.com.
Click BELOW to download and print the PDF version NOTE: Meeting minutes are posted online as a draft for review until approved at the following meeting. Corrections can be sent to the Secretary, currently rickiwitte4@gmail.com.
Interim Announcement
May 17, 2025
Plans are nearly complete for ARRL (summer) Field Day. The site (same as previously) is the Bald Eagle Pavilion at Quiet Waters Park, 401 South Powerline Rd, Deerfield Beach. The dates are June 28/29, with activity beginning Saturday 6/28 at 8:00 AM with equipment setup. The on-air contest will start at 2 PM and end at 2 PM Sunday, followed by tear-down and site cleanup.
All interested persons are invited to attend and participate, regardless of license class or club affiliation. Registration (requested but not required) and details may be found at our website : www.w4bug.org or via texting NX4T at (954)782-3543.
This is a 24 hour contest—and we seek any assistance you may offer us. Areas of interest include :
1. Obtaining a broadcast copy of the W1AW Field Day Bulletin.
2. Helping with food acquisition & preparation
3. Inviting an elected government official and/or recognized agency served by ARES
4. Formal message handling
5. Amateur satellite communication.
6. Provide an educational activity related to Amateur Radio
Food will be available. We request a donation of $10.00/day payable via our website or at the event in person. The menu will be :
Saturday AM : Coffee and Donuts
Saturday lunch : Chili ( ala “Ricki”, KJ4FSJ)
Hot Dogs & Trimmings
Sunday AM : Continental Breakfast (Pastries)
Boiled Eggs
Coffee & Orange Juice
Sunday Lunch : Publix Subs
Potato Salad
Water and soft drinks will be provided throughout the event.
HAM Helpers Free Flea will be set up and operated primarily by Kenny, KE4NC. Kenny asks that we bring equipment donations to add to his existing collection. This will give us an opportunity to rid our shacks of unneeded gear to make room for the new stuff we will acquire from Kenny. Most items are available gratis or for donations to Ham Helpers to help keep this worthwhile organization viable. Equipment for “relocation” requiring remuneration may be displayed and negotiated privately.
GCARA had a fine result in WINTER Field Day (first in Florida). Please turn out and help us continue on this pathway.
73,
Joe McGee, NX4T
Field Day Co-Chairman
Click BELOW to download and print the PDF version NOTE: Meeting minutes are posted online as a draft for review until approved at the following meeting. Corrections can be sent to the Secretary, currently rickiwitte4@gmail.com.
GCARA conducted its 2025 Winter Field Day exercise on Jan 25/26 at Quiet Waters Park in Deerfield Beach. We competed as class/category 3-0 using the callsign N4FL.
Our results of the exercise (the Committee insists it was not a contest) are as follows.
1. Total points awarded : 22,244 (we claimed 19,476).
2. Objectives achieved : 73% ( including things as non-grid power, satellite contacts, etc).
This put us well ahead of all other stations, not only in South Florida, but ALL of Florida including all classes & categories. The 2nd highest score was awarded to W4LX (Ft. Myers ARC) at 17,856 points.
With the OBJECTIVES, we achieved 73% of those suggested, tied with K4P in St. Petersburg. We were surpassed by only one station, K4A (a commemorative station) at 91%
Nationally, there were 476 class O (outdoor) entries. Our points score placed us at #15. It was a remarkable achievement, considering our participation level. (However, to be honest, we probably had the best weather. It was a beautiful weekend).
Sincere thanks for all who participated with this event, from food through setup, operating, and tear-down, and everything in between, including fellowship and the ubiquitous “eyeball QSO’s”. Do make it a point to join with us June 28/29, again at Quiet Waters Park in Deerfield Beach, for Summer Field Day.
And remember that it will be combined with Ham Helper’s Free Flea Market ! Details on www.w4bug.org.
73,
Joe McGee, NX4T
Field Day co-Chairman
Click BELOW to download and print the PDF version NOTE: Meeting minutes are posted online as a draft for review until approved at the following meeting. Corrections can be sent to the Secretary, currently rickiwitte4@gmail.com.
Click BELOW to download and print the PDF version NOTE: Meeting minutes are posted online as a draft for review until approved at the following meeting. Corrections can be sent to the Secretary, currently rickiwitte4@gmail.com.
CQ, CQ, CQ Calling all hams!
GCARA is entering a troublesome period at this time. While many hams are still enthusiastic and happy to join in on activities, we are experiencing a lack of participation from many hams in the club. This begs the question: are we still a viable club with a useful purpose and are we still interested?
I invite every GCARA member to respond to the questions. Please feel free to give me the reason I do not see you at club meetings or dinners or the picnics. This is merely to accurately understand the problem and to find some ways to bridge the gap. As I have spent less time communicating with you directly, I seem to have lost sight of the difficulties, desires, and concerns. For my part, I apologize. 😭
Two years ago, once the threat of COVID was gone and it was safe to venture out into public again with common sense precautions, many of you ( over 50% ) stated they wanted in person meetings again. It was said, people enjoyed meeting and talking to their fellow club members as well as feeling closer to others. Yet, although we have had several meetings thus far, there is a very low turnout to the hospital auditorium for the meetings. I am wondering why? 😳
The Board and I try very hard to get us interesting and useful speakers so that we can learn more in a casual setting while enjoying coffee and donuts with our fellow hams. We advertise well in advance and offer a split opportunity with in person and ZOOM availability for those who are homebound or ill so that we all may share the experience. Are we doing something wrong? Could we do things better? Is your absence from either venue a statement we are not anticipating? 🤷🤷🤷
Furthermore, while most of the younger hams are okay with volunteering and that is understandable, we are not seeing our older hams participate or attend to support us. We love everyone and want us all to enjoy our times together while learning, socializing and supporting our fellow hams.😀
I am finding that it is difficult to get people to pay their dues on time, too. Is that a personal reason or are you confused as to when they are due? Please help me understand how we can help to make this a more successful undertaking.🙏
While I am talking about volunteering, let me take this opportunity to advise everyone that I am helping out this year as President and Ricki Witte is helping out as Secretary as well. Neither of us anticipated being a fixture and would enjoy the flexibility in our schedules to attend to other interests and home life duties now. Is there any way anyone can look into their skillset and volunteer for a Board position? It is rewarding and if everyone will volunteer to help us out, it is really not that much work. 👍
Well, what do you think? Can we all take a look at our situations and make an effort to support the club a little better? I need a Sunshine committee. You will just need to send cards out to the indisposed people or people who have lost a relative. A couple of phone calls to people in need is also a boon to keeping the group in the loop with everyone’s status. I have enjoyed being the point person for many jobs in the club as I always have fun, however, I can no longer do it all. Please consider helping us out!❤️
Because we are running out of volunteers to help with the Hospitality Committee, we are scaling back our efforts this year at FIELD DAY. We will offer less food and it will primarily be prepared off site and brought in. We will not have a grill available to use this time. Kenny needs space in his van to bring his free flea equipment and we have no one willing to man the grill anyway.😒
I do not want anyone to think of this note to the membership in a negative manner. I am just trying to understand the situation so I can facilitate a better solution for everyone concerned. Your comments will be greatly appreciated and I promise to consider all reasons with a hope of finding palatable solutions. I look forward to hearing from you either by phone (954)560-3706 or by email earthymel1950@gmail.com, at your earliest convenience. Thank you and God Bless! 👌
-Melanie KJ4VCT.
REPLY to Your CQ CQ CQ
From: Jesse Shannon
Date: May 1, 2025,Hello Melanie, I wanted to take this opportunity to reply to your plea to our members asking each one of us to explain what we thought about the apparent lack of interest and lack of active participation in club activities and affairs.
When I was interested in HAM radio communication started when I was nine or ten years old. This was just as World War II was coming to an end. My dad built a shortwave receiver and he and I would listen to overseas broadcasts from England and other English speaking stations from that war torn area of the world. As I grew up I read about Morse Code and how the HAMS of those days needed to be able to use the code and it was a requirement to get a license.
During the fifties one of my assignments was in Panama and then a temporary duty in Costa Rica. My Job in Costa Rica was to be the Army’s Contracting Officer’s Representative in San Jose, Costa Rica where I had to communicate with the supply base in The Panama Canal Zone to coordinate the shipment of repair parts for my aircraft in Costa Rica undergoing refit and repairs. This communication was done through HF radio. AH6AA and AH5AX were our call signs back then. I used them so frequently that I remember them after seventy years.
Later, while still in the Army in the seventies I had a second posting in the Panama Canal Zone and the CB craze was going strong and I bought a J.C. Penny SSB CB. An Air Force Sergeant was my Elmer then in 1974 and we built a three element beam and with that antenna and my CB I was able to talk to other CB stations in the United States and ships at sea. It was all illegal of course, but we all did it. To make a long story shorter, I was hooked. But, and it was a big but, I did not know Morse Code. The radio activity for me cooled down for me for many years. After my Army career and several other careers I finally retired here in Hollywood in 2003.
Guess what…the code requirement was dropped and as soon as I could I looked for a HAM radio club somewhere and found the Gold Coast Amateur Radio Association with their meetings being held at the Imperial Point venue. I applied, took my Tech. test. I met up with Mike’s Electronics and bought all of my initial radio gear from him with the exception of my HF antenna, this I bought on line from GAP. When the antenna arrived I assembled it next to my house and started to talk on 10meters. The thrill was there and I loved it. When I passed the General exam I settled down and did a lot of SSB work. During that time I attended all of the meetings, bought my shirt and because I was so new at the HAM game I just sat back and listened but never participated except for the 50-50 which I won once and donated all back to the Club.
Fast forward quite a number of years to now. While I still am active with my KJ4FKK station I find that age and home personal responsibilities have caused my interest to be lost. During these last years Joe McGee and Ricky have been out to my place many times to help me with antennas and three years ago, I dug trenches for thirty or so radial wires in my yard to support my vertical antenna. Thanks again to Joe, I learned to build dipole antennas and now my backyard looks like a real antenna farm. I put up the vertical 14 ft with the radials, cut and installed two sets of fan dipoles and ran all of the antenna leads under ground to a three way switch outside. One main lead goes into my shack and I have two complete sets of HF transceivers.
Before COVID I was a regular attendee at our meetings but never raised my hand to volunteer however I tried to give the Club back something and all that I could do was to buy and donate a small, quiet generator for our Field Days and contribute $800 to the Club.
When you asked for volunteers I sat on my hands and felt very sorry that others did not offer their time and help you. It was always the same people who, over the last ten years, have carried the burden, always the same ones. You and they are tired. Since my activity building up my station I have grown tired personally. I will turn 90 in September and I have become painfully aware of my physical limitations and no longer can do many things. My wife of 67 years needs help now and I find myself running the house, and planning and preparing all meals. I am tired and no longer feel the need or want to do much of anything except a day to day life.
So Melanie, if you have read to this point, I just have no energy or desire to participate. The Club has given me the opportunity to join the HAM community but I will enjoy it from home now. Maybe the world situation and the present economy is a cause for a lack of interest in Club activities. Since Mike’s Electronics is no longer in existence maybe this has caused less informal companionship between members.
Could you possibly check with the other Clubs in the area and see whether or not they are experiencing the same lack of participation? I admire you for your leadership and give a special thanks to Joe for being my friend and for helping me along.
Sincerely, Jesse
KJ4FKK
73
