CALENDAR
May NGARC meeting:  Monday, May 16 at Hancock Park, just off the square in Dahlonega  on North Park Street (essentially behind Caruso's).  The Methodist Church as a back up in case of inclement weather.  6PM to eat and talk.  Some business may be conducted at the meeting, but there is no program.

Reminder:  Club dues of $10 are for the year Jan to Dec.  The Secretary or Treasurer will be collecting at the next meeting for 2005 for those of you not already paid up.  Also, please fill out one of the new NGARC club application forms even if you are a long time member so we will have your information for our records.  Diana is working up a roster for all the members.

Other May Ham Radio happenings:

May 7, Exam Session by the Forsyth ARES group. 10AM, Grace Chapel Church, Majors Rd. Cumming.
May 14, 6 meter Spring Sprint.  Google Search East Tennessee DX Association for rules, etc.
May 20-22 Dayton OH Hamvention

From the President:

Hello everyone,

I wish to extend my thanks to everyone that worked on the Tour de Georgia Bicycle Race.  Everyone did a great job in the challenging conditions. Once again our radio groups professionalism and dedication was noted by not only our local officials but by state and national folk's. Let me pass on the following remarks:

(From Hal Williams, Manager of the Chamber of Commerce -)

Dear Folks,

Thank you for all the hard work which made Dahlonega's participation in the Dodge Tour de Georgia a tremendous success. Neither rain nor sleet nor hail or snow keep this team down. We were the talk of the media and the race organization for the hospitality and professionalism we showed.

Please pass on to all your volunteers a sincere thank you from all of us at the Chamber. We will have a get together in the next 2 weeks to thank everyone personally.

Hal Williams, Manager, Dahlonega Visitors Center

(From Guy Laboa, Director of Volunteers - Lumpkin County)

My sincere thanks and congratulations to you all  for making the 2005 Tour de Georgia in Dahlonega a total success. This same team last year made it happen and  you did it even better this year.  While the Chamber of Commerce will get a big thank you from the Georgia Tour de Georgia folks, without the dedicated hard work of this team it would not have happened.  What a great pleasure it is to work with a group of professionals like you .   My sincere thanks to you all for making this the best Tour de Georgia in Dahlonega. 

Guy

This event, and the Six Gap, are demonstrating to the community the value and benefits of having an organized ham radio group. It was very evident to the local folk's as well as the Tour de Georgia officials that ham radio works, dependably, where other communications systems drop out. Even with an airborne repeater, their system was plagued with coverage problems. We supplied accurate and timely information even in the middle of a raging thunderstorm.

The next meeting of our group will be in the Hancock Park right off the square in Dahlonega. The club will be supplying several turkeys if everyone else will bring a covered dish. Contact Mrs. Diana to put your name on the list. We won't have an official program for this meeting but we do have several things to discuss. Don't forget to bring your ideas for a QSL Card for our Gold Rush Special Events Station.

See ya'll soon, TomCrowell KD4DK