QUICK CALENDAR INDEX

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2009 - Caution, Actual Dates/Details may change when closer to event date

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Lee Besing N5NTG
210-771-7075 cell
Email

Coordinated by Hill Country REACT Team

Run-a-thon - Bandera 100k. This is a 100km Endurance trail running race. On Starts at sunrise on Saturday at 7:30am and ends at sunrise on Sunday 7:30am. The town closest is Bandera but its actually in the Hill Country State Natural Area. The race is pretty busy on the first day, but by 3pm, it slows to a crawl. We have a chef working round the clock, so all meals are provided and are actually pretty good. All the aid stations where the radio folks would work are on the main roads and easy to drive up and park.

More Info Here http://www.tejastrails.com/Bandera.html

Event usually held 1st Saturday - Sunday of month.

SWAPFEST - San Antonio Radio Club's Annual event. The swapfest will be Saturday, January 10, 2009. Swapfest hours are 8:00 am to 2:00 pm. We will be at the Knights of Columbus Hall, 509 Schertz Parkway, near FM78, about 3 miles south east of IH-35.

Event usually held 2nd Saturday of month.

Garyt, K5GST
210-347-7436
Email

Coordinated by Hill Country REACT Team

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Annual Starflight Landing Zone Training Class at Shoreline Christian Center, Fm1325 @ Shoreline. (Austin)
Free Admission to all First Responders, Fire, Police, & ARES
Attendees may Pre-Register on-line for Feb 2007 class in January

Learn how to prepare a landing zone for medical evacuation choppers to pick up victims at accident scenes. Know what to do, or not to do (such as leaving door / hood open when chopper landing nearby, or wearing a hat). Learn how to choose a LZ based on factors such as ground clutter, wires, trees, register on line at www.mset-tx.org

Event usually held 3rd Saturday of February Annually.

Martin KM5CT@arrl.net

Freescale Marathon
Completely different course! Start- Freescale Parmer, Half at Northcross Mall, Finish near Auditorium Shores area (not final)
www.freescaleaustinmarathon.com

Event usually held 3rd Sunday of February.

SWAPFEST - Orange ARC & Jefferson County ARC- OARC/JCARC Swapmeet
VFW Hall North Highway 87
147.180+ (no tone) www.qsl.net/w5nd

Event usually held last Saturday of month.

Contact National Weather Service via email or 830-606-3617

SKYWARN TRAINING CONFERENCE
Saturday, February 28, 8:00 am to 4:00 pm
Bonilla Science Hall Auditorium
University of Incarnate Word
4301 Broadway, San Antonio, Texas 78209

MAP OF LOCATION

EVENT AGENDA

Event usually held on a Saturday in February

March  2009

Ham Class

Houston Swapfest

ROOST

Midland Swapfest

Midland Swapfest

SARR 10m Volksfest

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Ham Radio Class - One Day "Crash Course" for the Technician Class Amateur Radio License. Alamo Area Repeater Organization (AARO) has scheduled a class for this date. More details will be posted here when made available, and on AARO's web site. AARO has established itself as the local leader in putting on such classes.

Class fee per student plus book. Includes continental breakfast, lunch and fee for the exam given at the end of the day. Students supply their own copy of Gordon West's Technician Class book. Location: Lecture Hall, Bonilla Science Building, University of the Incarnate Word, 4301 Broadway, San Antonio, TX. Visit AARO Web Site.

Students would receive suggested study guide in advance and need to purchase the recommended manual (not included in registration fee). Class would start around 8am, ending around 4:30pm, with testing following the end of the class. To improve your chances of passing, advance studying using the information provided plus the manual is highly recommended.

SWAPFEST - Greater Houston Hamfest- formerly BVARC "Mix & Match" Swapmeet. New location- Ft. Bend County Campgrounds
http://houstonhamfest.org/

Talk-In: 146.880 (PL 103.5)

Event usually held first Saturday of month.

April  2009

SARC

GVARC

MS150 Houston - Austin Bike Event

Belton Ham Expo

SARR 10k Race

CASI Ladies State Championship

SWAPFEST - Belton Ham Expo - Register on the website! www.tarc.org

More details www.beltonhamfest.org

www.HoustonHams.org

Ham Communications
Mike Hardwick, N5VCX
Email or 713-771-4625

BP Hams
Chuck N5CGA
email or 281.251.4802

SAG Drivers
Jeff Walters, KE5FGA
email or 281-467-8595

MS150 Houston-Austin Bike ride benefiting Multiple Sclerosis research Enthusiastic, committed volunteers are key components of the annual BP MS 150 Bike Tour. Volunteering is a great way to help thousands of people living with MS, meet people, learn new skills and enjoy the largest MS 150 in North America.

It is time to plan and prepare for the largest 2 day bike ride of its kind in the US. The BP MS150 will have over 13,000 riders this year covering over 200 miles of Texas roads. Communications for this event is one of the most important and vital areas of the ride and 135 operators are needed to handle this critical role. To provide the best communications possible everything from HF to VHF to UHF is used during the ride. APRS is also used to track the medical vehicles as well as other critical support vehicles.

Sign up to be an operator for this year's BP MS150 Houston to Austin Bike Tour. You need to sign up as soon as possible to insure that sleeping arrangements are reserved. Due to the large number of riders and volunteers, sleeping arrangements are in short supply. If you planning to volunteer for the event, I must know what kind of arrangements you need.

Positions available:

• Net Control in Bellville, Houston, LaGrange and Austin - total of 20 operators needed
• Break Point operators - 25 operators are needed
• SAG and transport communications - 15 operators are needed
• Supply communications - 5 operators are needed
• Medical Communications - 30 operators are needed
• Houston and LaGrange Command Post communicators - 25 operators are needed
• 911 Center locations - 5 operators are needed
• MS150 staff - 5 operators
  

May  2009

San Antonio Special Olympics Games

5k Run Bulverde

May 2

Lee Besing N5NTG
210-771-7075 cell
Email

Coordinated by Hill Country REACT Team

Special Olympics - Area 20 Spring Games @ Samuel Clemens HS, in Schertz, Texas.. Coordinate commercial radios and run special event ham radio station for demonstrating to SO athletes. Special Event Station time 10am-2pm, 1 day only. QSL available for on-air contacts. All volunters must be pre-registered due to SO's security restrictions, but should receive an event t-shirt for helping.

San Antonio - Austin,

2 Day Bike Ride -Benefiting the American Diabetes.

2009 Maps will be posted ASAP

Route has changed for 2009 slightly on the 80 mile day 1 course

May 30

June  2009

June 13

June 13-14

Ham-Com in Plano, TX (Fri-Sun)
ARRL West Gulf Division Convention www.hamcom.org
Want to volunteer and get in free? Visit: website for details

From US Interstate 75 (North Central Expressway) in Plano, exit at Exit 31 (Spring Creek Parkway) and go east approximately one-half mile. Plano Centre is on the south-east corner of Spring Creek Parkway and Jupiter Road (local Mapsco Grid 659-D).

June 13-14

Ed Franks KE5CAX rot@mset-tx.org or call 512-989-7448
http://mset-tx.org

Republic of Texas Biker Rally- Communication and Medical Volunteers needed. The Motorcycle Special Events Team of Texas (MSET-TX) needs Medical, Communications, and Support volunteers for 2007 ROT Biker Rally.

For the past 5 years, the ROT Rally has been rated the "Best motorcycle rally in Texas" and attracts over 60,000 participants. Events include: parades; live music; over 250 vendor displays; custom bike shows; Monster Truck show, stunt shows and much, much more.

MSET-TX and MSET-TX Volunteers will be providing support. Multiple shift times are available for medical, communications and support volunteers. All volunteers will be granted free access to the ROT Rally (a $45 value) and may participate in the rally before or after their shift/s.

This is one of Austin's largest events and volunteering is a great way to show your support to Austin, the medical, law enforcement and/or communications community and the thousands of visitors to our great city. Don't miss this opportunity to be part of this fun and exiting event.

To volunteer direct with the Republic of Texas Biker Rally, click here.

June 20

June 27-28

July  2009

July 4 8am-12noon

Sponsored by Hill Country REACT Team

July 11

Swapfest - Tidelands Amateur Radio Society Texas City
Doyle Convention Center 2010 5th Avenue North
Talkin-147.14 (PL 167.9)

August  2009

Aug 7-8

Joe Makeever, W5HS
Email
512-345-0800

www.austinsummerfest.org

Austin Summerfest Texas State Convention Red Lion Hotel
Austin ARC, Austin Repeater Org., & Texas VHF-FM Society. Austin Summerfest hosts the summer meeting of the Texas VHF-FM Society. Also, it's this year hosting the ARRL Texas State Convention. Other influential and informative amateur-radio organizations are represented by presenters, attendees, and dealers.

Amateur-radio conventions, presentations, and meetings, including civic, technical, and crafts events, and discussions, prizes, exams, and swapfests for ham-radio operators, aspirants, dealers, and their families.

Admission is $8.00/person for advance registration, but $10.00 at the door. Advance registration closes out July 26. Registration at the door begins at 5:00 p.m. on Friday, August 4th.

Prizes: On Saturday, at half-hour intervals. prizes will be awarded throughout the day through 1 o'clock. Unclaimed door prizes, a super door prize, a special prize, and a grand prize will be awarded at the drawing that takes place at 4:30 p.m. The winner of the super door prize must be present, so drawing will continue until that winner is found.

With your registration, you get one ticket good for the hourly door prizes, the super door prize, the bonus prize, and the grand prize. Additionally, when you register in advance you get a chance to win the advance-registration prize. You can purchase additional tickets for a chance at everything but the advanced-registration prize for $1 each. Also, if you stay at Red Lion Hotel for one or more nights, you get five bonus tickets for each room-night, up to a total of ten tickets.

Event held on 1st Friday/Saturday in August with all programs held on Saturday. Special hotel room rates available thru July 21st.

Aug 22

James N5ZPU
Email
940-668-7511

Swapfest - Cook County ARC Gainesville Civic Center
311 South Weaver Street Gainesville
Talkin-147.34 & 442.775 (both PL 100)

Event held on last Saturday of August

September  2009

Sept. 5

Parade - Boerne, Texas. Kendall Amateur Radio Society coordinating staging area of parade in downtown Boerne.

Event always held on Saturday of Labor Day weekend

SWAPFEST - HLARC's annual swap meet at the Pavilion in Marble Falls, TX. Tables $5.00 each Visit their club web site for more details.

Event usually held 2nd Saturday of September.

LaVernia Wild West Hammerfest Bike Tour - New event in 2007 with multiple courses, single starting and ending point. Hams needed to volunteer for SAG Drivers and Watering Hole Operators.

Welcome to the La Vernia Wild West HammerFest Bike Ride & Festival. Sponsored by the La Vernia Historical Association and Bike City Chain Reaction, a San Antonio Cycling Club.

More Info At Web Site
www.txqp.org

The Texas QSO party is sponsored each year by the Northwest Amateur Radio Society to encourage contacts between Texas amateur radio operators and amateur radio operators throughout the world. This event is also an excellent opportunity for county hunters to add to their list of Texas counties worked.

The contest occurs on the last full weekend in September each year.

One of the planning goals each year is to have operators in each of the 254 counties in Texas.

This the best - and in fact it may be the only - opportunity to make contact with operators in some Texas counties.

Event usually held last Saturday of September

October  2009

Oct. 3-4

NEW ROUTE FOR 2009

Milton N5HMJ
email

Communications volunteers coordinated by SARO

MS-150 Bike to the River.

SARO needs more Hams than ever to staff 25 ham equipped SAGS in 2009, plus staffing for break points, etc. See SARO club website for info from previous years events. Over 5 dozen hams are needed to staff break point stations, operate / drive SAG vehicles, ride with medical or supply vehicles, or serve in other capacities. Free basic meals provided to volunteers, plusT-shirt.

Some expenses not eligble for reimbursement depending upon your assignment, such as over-night hotel expense on Saturday. To volunteer, or ask questions about this event, contact Milton Johnson, N5HMJ

As many of you know, there has been a change in the route.  Here are the details:

• Event Name: bikeMS Valero 2009 Alamo Ride to the River
• Dates: Oct. 3-4, 2009
• Day 1: Alamodome to Schlitterbahn Water Park (75 & 100 mile routes)
• Day 2: Schlitterbahn Water Park to Alamodome (~65 miles)
• Registration Opens: March 2, 2009
• Attached is a map of the new route

Why the change in routes?  The reason is a desire to increase the ridership, consider the following:

• In the 6 years I've been involved in the ride, the maximum number of riders has been ~3,300.  The ridership has essentially remained flat.
• Each year the percentage of first time riders has increased and the percentage of returning riders has decreased.  For 2008, 58% of the riders were first time riders meaning only 42% were returning riders.
• Complaints with the Bike to the Beach ride included:
• The rough road surface
• The never ending construction
• The length of the first day's ride (~92 miles)
• Long ride back to San Antonio at the end of Day 2

So what does this mean for us, the Amateur Radio volunteers?  Lots of changes and surprises.  While the individual duties (Breakpoints, SAGs, Net Control, etc.) remain the same, but we will be functioning in an entirely new environment.  New repeaters, frequencies, course, breakpoints, etc., and they will all present their own share of surprises, some good and some undesirable.  Last year a lot of the problems were well known and understood friends.  This year success will depend upon pre-ride preparations and flexibility during the ride.  Pre-ride preparations are starting, this Saturday, Shane (NS5D), Gordon (K5SUZ), Alfred (KG5QW) and myself (Milton – N5HMJ) will tour the route.  We will be surveying the identified Breakpoints and investigating the repeater coverage.

For flexibility we will be dependent upon you the Amateur Radio community.  It is your preparedness, professionalism and ability to adapt to circumstances that will determine the success of this event.   Ultimately the mission is to safely move >3,000 riders ~150 miles, which depends upon logistics.  Communication is the backbone of logistical support which is our role.  Without your volunteer efforts  this event would not be the success it has been.

As we fill in the details, I will make them known to you.  There is something you can start to think about and that is the overnight in New Braunfels.  Depending upon where you live and your circumstances, you may want a motel room in New Braunfels.  The closest hotels are ~2-3 miles from Schlitterbahn on I-35. 

Looking forward to seeing during the Alamo Ride to the River,

Milton – N5HMJ

Event usually held 1st full weekend of October

Contact local ARES Emergency Coordinator.

www.bexarcountyares.org

www.kendallares.org

2009 National ARES SET Exercise: Annual event to test local and regional emergency plans. HF Nets will be activated in morning. Some local traffic may occur on the 147.14 repeater or elsewhere.

Event usually held 1st Saturday of October

SWAPFEST - Belton Ham Expo - One of the largest event in the state of Texas, a must attend event for all hams. Register on the website! www.tarc.org

Event usually held 1st Saturday of October

SWAPFEST - Ham Association of Paris
Red River Valley Fairgrounds Coliseum, 570 East Center Street, Paris, TX
Talk-In- 147.040+ (PL 100.0)

Event usually held 2nd Saturday of October

For more info visit San Antonio Radio Club's web site at www.w5sc.org as it becomes available.

SPECIAL EVENT STATION - 51st Jamboree on the Air

Event usually held 3rd Saturday of October

There was a new JOTA event at Canyon Lake Dam hosted by K5BSA out of New Braunfels that was started in 2008. We'll post more info here as it becomes available.

Oct. 23-24

Oct. 24

w5aum@yahoo.com or kd5hre@yahoo.com orbenw@texasparadise.com

Brenham Swapmeet Washington Co. Fairgrounds. All-weather pavilion, near 1305 E. Horton St. in Brenham, Texas. Free Admission - 7 a.m. to 12 noon, Flea market, swap tables, and commercial vendors, Covered tailgating area and raffle prizes, Free-will donation coffee and doughnut concession, $10 private trading tables, free commercial vendor tables. Talk-in frequency 147.26  (+600)  pl 103.5

Website Link For Event

Event usually held 4th Saturday of October

Oct. 31

Gary Trangrady K5GST

Sponsored by Hill Country REACT Team

SPECIAL EVENT: Halloweenfest - Sattler. Radio operators observe the event at key points and call in reports of problems. Need to be on site by 4pm, event over by 8pm. This is an annual event held in Sattler, Canyon Lake, TX on FM 2673.  A community event for a 'safe' environment for our kids to 'trick or treat' the businesses, clubs, involved individuals in a confined area. 

Always held on Halloween night.