DELARANEWS
DELARA NEWS is the monthly publication of the Delaware Amateur Radio Association, Delaware OH. March 2020 VOL 39 Number 3

Welcome

This is the official newsletter of a great ham radio club! Our DELARA family appreciates what you’re doing with the hobby! Why not take a few minutes and write out what interests you in our hobby! We have room for your article always! Send it to Stan [at] standi.com by the end of the month.

The Prez’s Shack

Just like to thank everyone who made the DELARA meeting in February, we had a good turnout. Let's keep it moving forward in 2020! Thanks to WB2CWJ (Dave) for his wonderful presentation on Satellite Radio. Let's see what Stan N8BHL has in store for us in this month's presentation. The Truth Behind "In Like A Lion , Out Like A Lamb" So you may familiar with this bit of folklore about March: If March comes in like a lion, it will go out like a lamb. Is there any truth to this saying? Weather folklore sayings are as colorful as our imagination. While many sayings are based on careful observations, and turn out to be accurate, others are merely rhymes or beliefs of the people who came before us. Ancestral beliefs or balance, those people often believed that bad spirits could affect the weather adversely, so they were cautious as to what they did or did not do in certain situations. Those beliefs often included ideas that there should be a balance in weather and life. So, if a month came in bad (roaring like a lion), it should go out good and calm (docile, like a lamb). With March being such a changeable month, in which we can see warm-like temps or late- season snowstorms, you can understand how the saying might hold true in some instances. We can only hope that if March starts off stormy, it will end on a calm note but the keyword is hope. However, this saying seems to be simply a rhyme rather than a true weather predictor; sourced from the farmer's almanac. Let's see what happens in 2020. 73, Tim, K8TAT

Watch the road!

And so comes another proposed Ohio bill that would eliminate ~all~ use of wireless electronic devices while driving. This bill, which is just finding its way into Ohio legislature now, started out with a broad ban on anything electronic. So- here we go again. Some of the first official action to force drivers to pay more attention began in the early 2000’s. Most of the state bills that followed included reasonable exemptions for the use of amateur radio. What makes us so special? For one thing, there are studies which show that we are not a threat: In August 2009, the ARRL received correspondence from the National Safety Council, stating that there is no evidence of significant risk by mobile Amateur Radio or other two-way mobile radio usage, and that until there are peer-reviewed studies showing that there is a safety hazard, the NSC does not support legislative bans on mobile Amateur Radio communications. The NSC has applauded the NTSB recommendations, citing evidence that “cognitive distraction” occurs, even when hands-free devices are used. -ARRL Kudos to Bill Morris, K8BTU, who quickly suggested some sharper language, suggestions which were acknowledged by the bills author! Now the Ohio ARRL Section has leveled some big guns at the process as well: Section Manager Scott Yonally has appointed Tim Price, K8WFL (Ohio ASEC and ADEC for District 10) to be a government liaison. Tim is a well regarded lobbyist registered in Ohio and Washington. He is jumping right into the situation! Look, we have to be mindful of the potential for distraction, and use our radio privileges responsibly. Removing texting from drivers will, after all, leave both hands free to carry the Coke and Big Mac down the road. - Stan N8BHL

Wash Your Hands

Another election year, another public outcry over a virus. This year, it’s Covit19, Coronavirus. The best medical advice we’ve heard (contrary to the media hype) is simple: wash your hands. Whether you’re worried about this virus or just the common spring cold, the advice does not include looting the big box stores of face masks, toilet paper or MRE’s. It’s simple hygiene and common sense. A lot of us are up in the age bracket that places us more likely to feel a harder punch from these things. So it’s prudent to consider the hand sanitizer and soap. Many in DELARA have been watching the Arnold’s plight- ordered closed by Ohio health to most sessions. It’s also remarkable that OSU has semi-closed their classroom sessions. Man, ~nothing~ caused OSU to close in days past. …just wash your hands like Momma taught you and we’ll get through!
DELARANews
DELARA NEWS is the monthly publication of the Delaware Amateur Radio Association, Delaware OH. March 2020 VOL 39 Number 3

Welcome

This is the official newsletter of a great ham radio club! Our DELARA family appreciates what you’re doing with the hobby! Why not take a few minutes and write out what interests you in our hobby! We have room for your article always! Send it to Stan [at] standi.com by the end of the month.

The Prez’s Shack

Just like to thank everyone who made the DELARA meeting in February, we had a good turnout. Let's keep it moving forward in 2020! Thanks to WB2CWJ (Dave) for his wonderful presentation on Satellite Radio. Let's see what Stan N8BHL has in store for us in this month's presentation. The Truth Behind "In Like A Lion , Out Like A Lamb" So you may familiar with this bit of folklore about March: If March comes in like a lion, it will go out like a lamb. Is there any truth to this saying? Weather folklore sayings are as colorful as our imagination. While many sayings are based on careful observations, and turn out to be accurate, others are merely rhymes or beliefs of the people who came before us. Ancestral beliefs or balance, those people often believed that bad spirits could affect the weather adversely, so they were cautious as to what they did or did not do in certain situations. Those beliefs often included ideas that there should be a balance in weather and life. So, if a month came in bad (roaring like a lion), it should go out good and calm (docile, like a lamb). With March being such a changeable month, in which we can see warm-like temps or late-season snowstorms, you can understand how the saying might hold true in some instances. We can only hope that if March starts off stormy, it will end on a calm note but the keyword is hope. However, this saying seems to be simply a rhyme rather than a true weather predictor; sourced from the farmer's almanac. Let's see what happens in 2020. 73, Tim, K8TAT

Watch the road!

And so comes another proposed Ohio bill that would eliminate ~all~ use of wireless electronic devices while driving. This bill, which is just finding its way into Ohio legislature now, started out with a broad ban on anything electronic. So- here we go again. Some of the first official action to force drivers to pay more attention began in the early 2000’s. Most of the state bills that followed included reasonable exemptions for the use of amateur radio. What makes us so special? For one thing, there are studies which show that we are not a threat: In August 2009, the ARRL received correspondence from the National Safety Council, stating that there is no evidence of significant risk by mobile Amateur Radio or other two-way mobile radio usage, and that until there are peer-reviewed studies showing that there is a safety hazard, the NSC does not support legislative bans on mobile Amateur Radio communications. The NSC has applauded the NTSB recommendations, citing evidence that “cognitive distraction” occurs, even when hands- free devices are used. -ARRL Kudos to Bill Morris, K8BTU, who quickly suggested some sharper language, suggestions which were acknowledged by the bills author! Now the Ohio ARRL Section has leveled some big guns at the process as well: Section Manager Scott Yonally has appointed Tim Price, K8WFL (Ohio ASEC and ADEC for District 10) to be a government liaison. Tim is a well regarded lobbyist registered in Ohio and Washington. He is jumping right into the situation! Look, we have to be mindful of the potential for distraction, and use our radio privileges responsibly. Removing texting from drivers will, after all, leave both hands free to carry the Coke and Big Mac down the road. - Stan N8BHL

Wash Your Hands

Another election year, another public outcry over a virus. This year, it’s Covit19, Coronavirus. The best medical advice we’ve heard (contrary to the media hype) is simple: wash your hands. Whether you’re worried about this virus or just the common spring cold, the advice does not include looting the big box stores of face masks, toilet paper or MRE’s. It’s simple hygiene and common sense. A lot of us are up in the age bracket that places us more likely to feel a harder punch from these things. So it’s prudent to consider the hand sanitizer and soap. Many in DELARA have been watching the Arnold’s plight- ordered closed by Ohio health to most sessions. It’s also remarkable that OSU has semi-closed their classroom sessions. Man, ~nothing~ caused OSU to close in days past. …just wash your hands like Momma taught you and we’ll get through!