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<p class="gmail-western" align="left" style="font-size:large;font-family:"comic sans ms",sans-serif;margin-bottom:0in;line-height:100%;color:rgb(0,0,0);background:transparent">I submitted this too late to make the December newsletter. Here it is now, by itself.</p><p class="gmail-western" align="left" style="font-size:large;font-family:"comic sans ms",sans-serif;margin-bottom:0in;line-height:100%;color:rgb(0,0,0);background:transparent"><br></p><p class="gmail-western" align="left" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:100%;direction:ltr;color:rgb(0,0,0);background:transparent"><font face="comic sans ms, sans-serif" style="font-size:large">December has always been a month where you do things for others. Most
charities are looking for donations, Toys for Tots is going strong,
</font><font color="#000000" style=""><font style="" face="comic sans ms, sans-serif" size="4"><span lang="en-US" style="">Food
Shelters</span></font></font><font face="comic sans ms, sans-serif" style=""><font size="4"> are looking for extra food donations.
It is a very good time for people to donate their money and time in
many possible ways.</font></font></p>
<p class="gmail-western" align="left" style="font-size:large;font-family:"comic sans ms",sans-serif;margin-bottom:0in;line-height:100%;direction:ltr;color:rgb(0,0,0);background:transparent"><span style="background-color:transparent">December is also a great time for you to help out fellow hams. To
help them get comfortable with their equipment, to get on HF for the
first time or possibly even to get on VHF for the first time. To help
the new hams or any hams with whatever help they need.</span><br></p>
<p class="gmail-western" align="left" style="font-size:large;font-family:"comic sans ms",sans-serif;margin-bottom:0in;line-height:100%;direction:ltr;color:rgb(0,0,0);background:transparent"><span style="background-color:transparent">The old term for this “help” was called Elmering. The newer term
is called Mentoring and is a much more modern and appropriate word.</span><br></p>
<p class="gmail-western" align="left" style="font-size:large;font-family:"comic sans ms",sans-serif;margin-bottom:0in;line-height:100%;direction:ltr;color:rgb(0,0,0);background:transparent"><span style="background-color:transparent">What does this have to do with you? The December ARRL 10 meter
contest (December 11-12, Friday at 0000z – 7:00pm to Sunday at
2359z – 6:59pm) has long been an HCRA (Hampden County Radio
Association out here in Western MA – think Springfield area)
favorite. For years and years, club members participate and have fun
making many contacts on 10 on both SSB and CW. Digital modes such as
FT8 and others are not allowed in this contest.</span><br></p>
<p class="gmail-western" align="left" style="font-size:large;font-family:"comic sans ms",sans-serif;margin-bottom:0in;line-height:100%;direction:ltr;color:rgb(0,0,0);background:transparent"><span style="background-color:transparent">The goal is to work as many stations as possible and only once per
mode. The report is simple as it is just 59 WMA or 59 CT for SSB or
599 WMA or 599 CT for CW.</span><br></p>
<p class="gmail-western" align="left" style="font-size:large;font-family:"comic sans ms",sans-serif;margin-bottom:0in;line-height:100%;direction:ltr;color:rgb(0,0,0);background:transparent"><span style="background-color:transparent">There are a number of logging programs with N3FJP or N1MM being two
of the </span>est<span style="background-color:transparent"> and easiest to use.</span><br></p>
<ol style="font-size:large;font-family:"comic sans ms",sans-serif">
<li><p class="gmail-western" align="left" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:100%;direction:ltr;color:rgb(0,0,0);background:transparent">
<font color="#000080"><span lang="zxx"><u><a href="http://n3fjp.com/10meter.html">http://n3fjp.com/10meter.html</a></u></span></font></p>
</li><li><p class="gmail-western" align="left" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:100%;direction:ltr;color:rgb(0,0,0);background:transparent">
<font color="#000080"><span lang="zxx"><u><a href="https://n1mmwp.hamdocs.com/">https://n1mmwp.hamdocs.com/</a></u></span></font></p>
</li></ol>
<p class="gmail-western" align="left" style="font-size:large;font-family:"comic sans ms",sans-serif;margin-bottom:0in;line-height:100%;direction:ltr;color:rgb(0,0,0);background:transparent"><span style="background-color:transparent">The ARRL 10m Contest is a perfect time to get newer hams into your
shack and to help get them on the air. It’s a great introduction to
contesting without it being so madcap crazy. It’s a perfect time to
instruct someone how to make a contact and have someone log for them
or instruct them how to log at the same time. It’s a perfect
contest to coach newer hams on making contacts. It’s similar to
Field Day but with </span>less<span style="background-color:transparent"> stations.</span><br></p>
<p class="gmail-western" align="left" style="font-size:large;font-family:"comic sans ms",sans-serif;margin-bottom:0in;line-height:100%;direction:ltr;color:rgb(0,0,0);background:transparent"><span style="background-color:transparent">Do you know of someone who would like to visit and possibly get on
the air?</span><font color="#000080" style="background-color:transparent"><span lang="zxx"><font color="#000000">
Open your station to them!</font></span></font><br></p>
<p class="gmail-western" align="left" style="font-size:large;font-family:"comic sans ms",sans-serif;margin-bottom:0in;line-height:100%;direction:ltr;color:rgb(0,0,0);background:transparent"><span style="background-color:transparent">Participating in this contest is great fun and a great time to get on
the air. Don’t miss out.</span><br></p>
<p class="gmail-western" align="left" style="font-size:large;font-family:"comic sans ms",sans-serif;margin-bottom:0in;line-height:100%;direction:ltr;color:rgb(0,0,0);background:transparent"><i style="background-color:transparent"><b>Mentor a newer ham today. Help get them on the air for the 10m
contest December 11-12th.</b></i><br></p>
<p class="gmail-western" align="left" style="font-size:large;font-family:"comic sans ms",sans-serif;margin-bottom:0in;line-height:100%;direction:ltr;color:rgb(0,0,0);background:transparent"><span style="background-color:transparent">Here are the full rules: </span><font color="#000080" style="background-color:transparent"><span lang="zxx"><u><a href="http://www.arrl.org/10-meter">http://www.arrl.org/10-meter</a></u></span></font><br></p>
<p class="gmail-western" align="left" style="font-size:large;font-family:"comic sans ms",sans-serif;margin-bottom:0in;line-height:100%;direction:ltr;color:rgb(0,0,0);background:transparent"><span style="background-color:transparent">Another annual ARRL operating event happens on New </span>Years<span style="background-color:transparent"> Eve. It’s
called Straight Key Night or SKN for short. SKN is a CW only
activity. It runs New Years Eve from 7:00 pm for 24 hours to 6:59 pm
the next day. The goal is to make at least one contact with a
straight key, not a keyer. Have an actual Qso. Make it more than 599
EMA and 73. Give yourself the time to enjoy the Qso in a non-rushed
way.</span><br></p>
<p class="gmail-western" align="left" style="font-size:large;font-family:"comic sans ms",sans-serif;margin-bottom:0in;line-height:100%;direction:ltr;color:rgb(0,0,0);background:transparent"><span style="background-color:transparent">Here are the full rules for SKN:
</span><font color="#000080" style="background-color:transparent"><span lang="zxx"><u><a href="http://www.arrl.org/straight-key-night">http://www.arrl.org/straight-key-night</a></u></span></font><br></p>
<p class="gmail-western" align="left" style="font-size:large;font-family:"comic sans ms",sans-serif;margin-bottom:0in;line-height:100%;direction:ltr;color:rgb(0,0,0);background:transparent"><span style="background-color:transparent">This is always a fun night to get on and make a few cw contacts that
are slower and more conversational.</span><br></p>
<p class="gmail-western" align="left" style="font-size:large;font-family:"comic sans ms",sans-serif;margin-bottom:0in;line-height:100%;direction:ltr;color:rgb(0,0,0);background:transparent"><span style="background-color:transparent">I hope to hear you all on the air for both events.</span><br></p>
<p class="gmail-western" align="left" style="font-size:large;font-family:"comic sans ms",sans-serif;margin-bottom:0in;line-height:100%;direction:ltr;color:rgb(0,0,0);background:transparent"><span style="background-color:transparent">Wishing everyone a healthy and happy holiday season.</span><br></p>
<p class="gmail-western" align="left" style="font-size:large;font-family:"comic sans ms",sans-serif;margin-bottom:0in;line-height:100%;direction:ltr;color:rgb(0,0,0);background:transparent"><span style="background-color:transparent">Best 73,</span><br></p>
<p class="gmail-western" align="left" style="font-size:large;font-family:"comic sans ms",sans-serif;margin-bottom:0in;line-height:100%;direction:ltr;color:rgb(0,0,0);background:transparent"><span style="color:rgb(11,83,148)">Larry, W1AST</span><br></p></div><div><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_signature" data-smartmail="gmail_signature"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><ul><li><span style="color:rgb(0,0,102);font-family:"comic sans ms",sans-serif;font-size:large"><span class="gmail_default" style="font-family:"comic sans ms",sans-serif;font-size:large;color:rgb(0,0,102)"><a href="mailto:W1AST@arrl.net">W1AST@arrl.net</a></span></span></li><li><span style="color:rgb(0,0,102);font-family:"comic sans ms",sans-serif;font-size:large"><span class="gmail_default" style="font-family:"comic sans ms",sans-serif;font-size:large;color:rgb(0,0,102)"></span>HCRA President</span></li><li><font color="#0000ff" size="4">Visit my Ham Radio club website at: <a href="http://www.hcra.org/" target="_blank">www.HCRA.org<br></a></font></li><li><span style="color:rgb(0,0,102);font-family:"comic sans ms",sans-serif;font-size:large">Team K2H - 13 Colonies Massachusetts State Manager<span class="gmail_default" style="font-family:"comic sans ms",sans-serif;font-size:large;color:rgb(0,0,102)"> - ask to be an op for July 2022</span></span></li></ul></div><div dir="ltr"><font face="comic sans ms, sans-serif" color="#0b5394" size="4"><br></font></div></div></div></div></div>