LWRA Ham Bytes – Week of 9/01/25

Good Monday,

Well, it is Labor Day, now the odd thing about Labor Day is that is started in 1892 and very soon became a nation-wide holiday. There are things that it signifies other than labor. Such as typically it ends the start back to school season, ends the (when I was a kid) women should not wear white, and ends typical the end of grilling out of hot dogs.

The oddities are Labor Day usually is the third most popular day to BBQ with the beloved Frankfurter being the favorite item on the grill. Labor Day is the first official holiday for schools to be out nationwide, with the students on holiday, while 58.97% of the work force works on Labor Day (we need to rethink this a little); it honors 160+ million workers in the US. What ever you do please play safe; it is also one of the most dangerous holidays as well.

QRP WOW! We had 42, that’s FORTY-TWO folks at the QRP and we know several of the CERT teams did not sign the log. The expanded participation was increased at this LWRA event to become one of the largest that I know of, how do say? I know I will miss some, but we had traffic participation from Poinciana, Solaita, South Lakeland, LFD Station 3 (housing the CERT team from NW Lakeland), Winter Haven area, Frostproof, Lake Ashton, and one from Levy County. I know other CERT members and communities were involved. The scripted traffic was well presented. The folks who called in messages had NEVER participated in any training like this. The opportunity to send messages, with sometimes unexpected responses for additional info or updates created the dynamic we wanted to achieve. They now know the calm collected and precise message of Place Location and Event of reporting can be very effective. What did we learn as a CLUB? Our commitment to Education and Camaraderie, as stated in our motto, was certainly on display Saturday. We had 28 Hams (some dual licensed) as well as 14 GMRS folks, several CERT members and wives who did not sign the log.  Great learning, training, location and we had to adapt and overcome as well. One of the “Big Dogs on the Porch” was feeling low, so thanks to Tommy aka Top Cat Cuisine stepped up and made dogs and brats; all is well everyone got to eat and fellowship. You can’t ask for anymore from the great Lake Wales Amateur Radio Club than that!

A special KUDOs to Russ N4RTD and Ben WD8CZP for manning the EOC radios, Russ for creating the scripted messages and exercise format. John W4JFS for the site/park coordinator and station, Christine K4KJN for non-scripted messages suggestions, Darrell for bring the dogs and Brats, Gary N4GHB and Gene WH6DNF for coordination with CERT groups, Tommy for cooking and of course Jim KQ4KJV and others who filmed clips and photos. The biggest Thanks goes to you the LWRA for supporting QRP’s! Never complain about us moving it around or the themes. Your support is appreciated!

We had at least three visitors inquiring about becoming HAMs!

Meeting on the 11th this will be a doozy as they say. We are hands on going to learn about building ¼ antennas for your attic, travel or station.

Don’t forget the nets:       We need ya! Summertime our numbers dip a little so join us if you can. John Thacker will be NC for this week’s net. He always does a great job so join us on Tuesday!
Check out W4JFS’ ‘flavor of the day’ (what repeater we are highlighting that day) on Signal Chat.
Don’t forget WINLINK Monday:  We need you here too!

Thanks, Russ, for the celestial updates.

Net information on the next page

Don’t forget use LWRA Signal Club & Swap group to find or create great deals on this medium. One average item only stays active for a few days before they are sold.

One last thing.

Check out the WINLINK Monday with Gary today, you can find more information on the
www.polkares.org/WINLINK

73 and I hope to ‘see ya on the air.’

Mike
KB4FHP jml610@comcast.net call 863-412-2467