2014 Tour de Castroville – Another Success

The 2014 Tour de Castroville is in the books and we can chalk up another successful public service event.  First and foremost I want to thank all the volunteers that madeup our McArc team.  Without our public-minded and spirited volunteers, we could not provide support for these events.  

Thanks to each of you for being there and giving your time and treasure to do your part, as McArc Volunteers, to help make the 2014 Tour de Castroville a huge success.
George Demick, N5GED
Jack Feeney, KT4KL
Bob Rodriguez, K5AUW
Tom Taylor, W5VEI
Gloria Martinez, KD5FAZ
Jay Buck, KE5IFU
Jim Buck, W5CJB
David Ennest, KC5GZI
Curtis Lechner, N5VLV
Walter Hock, KK5LO*

About the Event – Saturday stayed mostly overcast and cool throughout the event.  In years past, it seems to always rain the day of or the day or two before the ride, but not this year.  Like nearly every year we support these bicycle tours, there was a constant breeze.  We aren’t much troubled by the winds and gusts, but the riders feel and deal the winds; the tail winds seem to be the favorites of the riders.  

The ride was relatively uneventful with the exception of a broken chain.  Curtis Lechner, N5VLV, was there to transport the rider to a repair station, but Tom Taylor, W5VEI, being a cyclist (read tri-cyclist) had the needed repair parts and was able to effect repairs and get the cyclist back on tour.

Of specail note are two boy scouts that achieved a merit badge for completing 50 miles!   It was a grueling 50 mile ride for the boys, but they toughed it out and got’er done.  Way to go scouts!

Also worthy of note and special thanks is Walter Hock, KK5LO for operating bicycle mobile while riding the 60 mile tour!  *Walter also attended meetings on our behalf.  Coordination meetings have been held during regular workdays which I was unable to attend.  Thanks Walter for being available.

Event Tee Shrits and lunch were provided.  Being the last SAG back to Regional Park, I can’t say how many volunteers got lunch.  I did get to enjoy lunch with Walter, his brother Carl and Carl’s wife Rose.  As for Tee Shirts the larger sizes that were ordered for we hams were given to others.  It seems that the shirts ran smaller than marked, so our Large, X-Large, and XX-Large were just what some of the riders needed.

Arnold Dollase and Sam Sutter, Tour de Castroville event coordinators, asked that we provide our thoughts and feedback.  They will begin planning the 2015 Tour de Castroville by reviewing feedback and compiling lessons learned.  Our plans won’t start quite so early, but you can bet we’ll be asked back again next year.  Please contact me, Ray Martinez, N5VRE (n5vre@arrl.net)  or Walter Hock, KK5LO (kk5lo@arrl.net) with your feedback.

73
de
Raymond Martinez, Jr., N5VRE

Tour de Castroville – Public Service Event Support

April 5, 2014, the Tour de Castroville, hosted by the City of Castrovill, will run in Medina County.

McArc has been asked to support the event. We will require eight to twelve radio volunteers. Four to six volunteers will provide SAG support on the two bike routes and the balance will be in static positions at the rest stops.

The event will start at 0800 from Regional Park. We will gather at the entrance to the park at 0730. The event should finish, with the 60 mile ride, approximately 1400 to 1500.

We will use the McArc repeaters to provide communications. The event net will be on the 145.290. The two radio sites in Castroville will use the 147.200 as it’s difficult to get over the ridge to the 145.290 from Regional Park and Houston Square. The 443.350 will be for “off-net” chatter. See the McArc Repeater page for tones and other details.   http://www.mcarc.org/?page_id=17

If you can volunteer your time, talent, and equipment, then please contact Ray Martinez, N5VRE at n5vre@arrl.net or (210) 827-4359.

February 8, 2014 – Meeting Agenda

Medina County Amateur Radio Corporation

February 8, 2014 – Meeting Agenda

  1. Call Meeting to Order……………………………………………………………………………………………..0900
  2. Pledge of allegiance
  3. Introductions of all present
  4. Meeting Minutes – Charles Thacker/KE5MQF
  5. Treasurer’s Report – Steve Troudt/KE5WYV
  6. Committee Reports…………………………………………………………………………..0905

Repeater – Curtis Lechner/N5VLV & Walter Hock/KK5LO

Web site – Send all info to Walter email kk5lo@arrl.net

Social Activities – Gloria Martinez/KD5FAZ

Emergency & Public Service

ARES – Walter Hock/KK5LO

Public Service – Ray Martinez/N5VRE

ARRL VE team – Ray Martinez/N5VRE or Walter Hock/KK5LO

  1. Old Business………………………………………………………………………………0910

Amateur Radio Presentation to D’Hanis 4H Club April 2nd Tentative

Field Nic in April or May

Field Day June 28th

New Business………………………………………………………………………………..0920

Medina County POD Exercise Medina Valley ISD March 1st

Tour de Castroville Bicycle Ride April 5th

Adjourn meeting…………………………………………………………………………….0930

 

January 11, 2014 – Meeting Agenda

Medina County Amateur Radio Corporation

January 11, 2014 – Meeting Agenda

  1. Call Meeting to Order………………………………………………………………………….0900
  2. Pledge of allegiance
  3. Introductions of all present
  4. Meeting Minutes – Charles Thacker/KE5MQF
  5. Treasurer’s Report – Walter Hock/KK5LO
  6. Committee Reports…………………………………………………………………………….0905

Repeater – Curtis Lechner/N5VLV & Walter Hock/KK5LO

Web site – Send all info to Jay Buck email ke5ifu@gmail.com

Social Activities – Gloria Martinez/KD5FAZ

Emergency & Public Service

ARES – Walter Hock/KK5LO

ARES on line Registration at this newest url

http://www.wcarc.com/arrlstx.org/vault_area/vault_gateway/site_gateway/vault_gateway.php

ARES Online Training ICS 100, 200, 700, 800 can be taken on-line on FEMA

Independent Study Website

Public Service – Ray Martinez/N5VRE

ARRL VE team – Ray Martinez/N5VRE or Walter Hock/KK5LO

  1. Old Business………………………………………………………………………………….0910

 

  1. New Business…………………………………………………………………………………0920

Amateur Radio Presentation to D’Hanis 4H Club March 5, 2014

Field Nic in April or May 

Field Day June 28th

Adjourn meeting………………………………………………………………………………….0930

Notes:

Go to http://r.i-info.com/medinaco and register as MCARC Ham Radio Operator. This will allow the County Emergency Manager, Keith Lutz, to contact us in an emergency.

Ham Radio Fiesta in Schertz TODAY

TEST SESSION AFTER MEETING

 

Meeting Minutes for December 12, 2013

1:00 PM Meeting called to order by President, Walter Hock.

Followed by Pledge of Allegiance. Then introduction of all present

1:03 PM Meeting Minutes from November. Postponed until January meeting

1:05 PM Treasurer’s Report…Full report postponed until January meeting.

1:10 PM Committee Reports

Repeater,…Walter Hock… . both repeaters operating ok

    1. Web site, … Send any web site items to Jay Buck at: ke5ifutx@yahoo.com
    2. Social activities,….. having one.
    3. Emergency & Public service.… No report
    4. ARES…Walter Hock… Ares online training ICS 100, 200, 700, 800 can be taken online at FEMA independent study website.
    5. Public service… No report
    6. ARRL VE team…No test today

1:15 PM Old Business

  • November Field Nic… Six people attended at the D’Hanis rest stop.
  • Domain name has been renewed

1:20 PM New Business

  1. Election of officers for 2014. No nominations from the floor. Following people elected by acclamation:

President… Walter Hock   Vice President… Tom Taylor        Secretary… Charles Thacker

Treasurer… Sandy Vaello         Member at Large… Curtis Lechner

1:30 PM Motion to adjourn meeting …. Tom Taylor     Second….. Evelyn Courtney

 

Members in attendance:

Walter Hock KK5LO                                  Ed Ringgold N5LVQ

Lee Taylor KE5MQF                                 Stan Stanukinos KA5IID

Tom Taylor W5VEI                                    Steve Troudt KE5WYV

Phil Courtney K7PGC                               Evelyn Courtney K7EVE

Ernest Christilles KE5BYJ                        Charles Thacker KE5MQF

Dave Ennist KE5GZI                                Daniel Golenski K5DVM

Curtis Lechner N5VLV                              Linda Lechner KD5GXM

Ernest Christilles KE5BYJ                        Bob Rodriquez K5AUW

Nancy Perez KF5HGW                            Armando Perez KF5DZI

Sandy Vaello K5DSQ                              Ernest Reich W5FQA

Frank Ziegler KE5SMP                            Frank McKinley KE5RYJ

Wanda Kosler N5SXT                              Joe Kosler N5LLS  

Meeting Minutes for November 9, 2013

 

9:00 AM Meeting called to order by President, Walther Hock.Followed by Pledge of Allegiance. Then introduction of all present

9:03 AM Meeting Minutes from October meeting, not availible

9:08 AM Treasurer’s Report…Presented by …Walter Hock

Motion to accept….Evelyn Courtney

Second……Phil Courtney Vote……approved

9:15 AM Committee Reports

  1. Repeater,…Walter Hock… . both repeaters operating ok
  2. Web site, … Send any web site items to Jay Buck at: ke5ifutx@gmail.com
  3. Social activities,….. December 14th at Herman Son’s in Hondo.
  4. Emergency & Public service
    1. ARES…Walter Hock… ARES on line registration at this url: http://www.wcarc.com/arristx.org/vault_area/vault_gateway/site_gateway/vault_gateway.php
    2. Public service…Ares online training ICS 100, 200, 700, 800 can be taken online at FEMA independent study website.

c. ARRL VE team…No test today

9:25 AM Old Business

  • November 9th Fiel Nic at US 90 rest stop west of D’Hanis.
  • Renewal of Domain Name an moving to new web host.
  • October 26th is ARES/MARS/RACES exercise

9:35 AM New Business

  1. No new business

9:40 AM Motion to adjourn meeting …. Evelyn Courtney Second….. Sandy Vaello

Members in attendance:

Walter Hock KK5LO                                                  Ed Ringgold N5LVQ

Frank Ziegler KE5SMP                                             George N5GED

Tom Taylor W5VEI                                                    Sandy Vaello K5DSQ

Phil Courtney K7PGC                                                Evelyn Courtney K7EVE

Charles Thacker KE5MQF                                        Dave Ennist KE5GZI

Curtis Lechner N5VLV