Well happy Spring everyone. The way things are looking, we should be able to have our regular RATS meeting at our new home, come this fall. About that time, we are planning a big blow out BBQ for RATS members and Steve KA6UGS is working on having a micro-hamfest-swap meet. It’s all in the planning stages, so we’ll keep you informed.

One up and coming fun event is the ARRL VHF contest in June (just before Field Day). You can take a mobile rig and go park on a hilltop somewhere and see how many simplex contacts you can make on 6 meters and up.

As always, the last full weekend of June is the ARRL Field Day. Again, this year we will not be working from a fixed location, but out of our homes or wherever you feel like setting up a portable location. All RATS members can submit their logs to Joe KJ8O who will compile them for the club combined score. Or you can strike out on your own. Maybe team up with a friend.

If you have not checked out our web site in a while, please do so. Along with lots of good general information for Hams in The Valley, we’ve added some new features, like a Buy / Sell page. Got something to sell? Looking for stuff…? We always need more stuff… Check out the page, everything from coax to transceivers and antennas. It’s under the MEMBERS ONLY banner. You will need to sign in and generate a password for access. There is the membership roster, a documents library and the For Sale section. Check it out. Oh, by the way, you can register (or reset) your password here.

See you on the bands. 73

Glenn WB6RLC President Desert RATS ARC