Last spring I read an article in Trailer Life magazine about how an RVing ham used his 2-meter handheld to get help when his rig had a blowout.  He was far from civilization in Wyoming and contacted a friendly ham on the local repeater.  The ham called the Auto Club, who came to his assistance.  Since my wife and I do not always cruise the Interstates with our 5th-wheel trailer, that sounded like all the more reason to get my license.  My brother, N7JQ, had been after me for some time to get my license.  So, I bought Gordon West's book and started studying and got my Technician in July.
In July we went up to Washington to visit relatives.  A borrowed handheld went along.  It did not work well - fortunately it was not needed.  Then in September we headed to Wisconsin for my wife's 40th college reunion.  By then I had purchased both a handheld 2m/440 and a mobile 2m/440.  Both went along on the trip as well as my CB radio.  On the way back home we were driving on I80 about 70 miles west of Des Moines, Iowa when I heard a "Bang."  I looked in the rearview mirror and noticed by the level gauge that the trailer was tilted an inch to the right.  Pulling to the side of the road I discovered that the right front trailer tire had blown.  Just like in the Trailer Life article!  It happened about 6 PM.  I did not figure my pickup jack would lift the trailer, so we waited for a State Trooper to come along.  When 6:30PM came and still no Trooper, I decided to try my CB radio.  I figured that in California the Highway Patrol supposedly monitors Channel 9; maybe they do in Iowa also.  After many tries I raised not a soul on any channel.  So, I got out the handheld and the repeater directory and tried contacting someone on what I figured were the two nearest repeaters.  I heard some conversations, but no one came back to me on my call for help.  So, I got the mobile out of the trailer and set it up and tried the same repeaters.  I had been hearing what sounded like two people talking to someone operating mobile driving westbound on I80.  Finally, the one that seemed to be furthest east signed off and then a bit later the other fixed base guy said goodbye.  I immediately jumped in and the last guy, Steve N0ORU, came back to me.  I told him about our predicament and asked him to call the AAA.  While I stayed on the frequency, he made the call but got an answering machine.  Apparently the local AAA was out on a call.  So, Steve said he had a 2-ton floor jack and would come give us a hand.  He had to pick up his daughter at 7 PM.  Once he had done that he would put the jack in his trunk and come out.  In the meantime Kathy had walked down the highway with her binoculars until she could read what the next off-ramp was, so I was able to tell him where we were.
Before Steve arrived, a State Trooper finally came along about 7 PM.  He called the AAA for us, who said they would be there in about a half hour, and then he left since he was on a call.  Steve arrived about 7:15 PM.  Since the AAA was on the way and neither he nor I had had any experience changing a trailer tire, I elected to wait for the auto club.  Steve said he would wait with us.  While we were waiting, I found out that he lives in Anita, 20 mile east of our location; he is the local ARES EC; and the Iowa state troopers have/had a funding problem, so they were allotted only 10 gallons of gas per vehicle per day.  They were not patrolling but only going out on call.  So, we lucked out; the guy that stopped just happened to be out on a call.  If I had not had the 2-meter radio along, we might have been there a long time otherwise.
So, we learned several things from the experience.  It was a good decision to get my ham license.  Hams are great people who will go far out of their way to lend a hand.  Do not rely on the local highway patrol - they may not -patrol, that is.  By the next trip we should also have a cell phone.

The ARRL has adopted rule changes affecting Field Day and the ARRL Affiliated Club Competition program. The primary Field Day change--effective with this year's event June 22-23--phases out the Novice-Technician station and replaces it with a new station category, the "Get-On-The-Air"--or GOTA--station.

A GOTA station is intended for operation by  Novice and Technician operators or by generally inexperienced or inactive amateurs as well as by as-yet-unlicensed or "under-licensed" operators working under the privileges of a licensed control operator (third-party traffic rules apply--see
The International Third Party Traffic page on the ARRL Web site
<http://www.arrl.org/FandES/field/regulations/io/3rdparty.html>).

Under the revised rules, any Class A Field Day entry operating at least two transmitters may include a GOTA station, which will not count as an additional transmitter for the purpose of entry category.

The GOTA station may operate on any Field Day band and mode, but only  one GOTA transmitter may be in use at any given time. The GOTA station may complete up to 400 QSOs to be counted toward the group's total Field  Day score. A Field Day group can claim 100 bonus points if its GOTA station successfully completes 400 QSOs. The GOTA station does not affect the additional VHF/UHF station provided under Field Day rule 4.1.2.

Field Day 2002 will mark the first in which stations throughout the Americas have been invited to participate. As approved at the July 2001 ARRL  Board of Directors' meeting, all International Amateur Radio Union Region 2 countries--North and South America--may take part in Field Day starting this June.

Complete Field Day rules and information packet will be available on  the ARRL Web Contest Forms and Rules page

7:00 PM - 7:30 PM  VOICE 147.93-  pl 127.3 WB6WEY AREA 1
7:00 PM - 7:30 PM  VOICE 147.15+  pl 127.3 WB6ZTQ AREA 3
7:00 PM - 7:30 PM  VOICE 146.97-   pl 127.3 WB6YQN AREA 4
7:00 PM - 7:30 PM  VOICE 145.40-    no pl     N6FL        AREA 5
7:00 PM - 7:30 PM  VOICE 147.975- pl 127.3 N6AHI     AREA  6
7:00 PM - 7:30 PM  VOICE 146.985- pl 127.3 WB6ZTX AREA 7
7:00 PM - 7:30 PM  VOICE   145.28-   pl 100    WB2WIK AREA 8

I know a lot of you would like to know what the highest paid job in the Universe is. Right?  Well, the following should give you a few clues.  "What?" You say, "you're not going to tell me right now!?"   Nope, not until I give you the job description to see if you deserve to both to know and maybe receive the pay.

The job description is as follows:

The person for this job has to have compassion for his fellow man.  The qualities of leadership require both doing a job and following through the job commitment.  The ability to listen and learn from others shall be used to provide others the lessons learned.  This requires a keen sense of responsibility to both self and others.  The process of giving criticism should be only to solve the positive side and never negative.  Any negative issues may stem from feelings and therefore should be analyzed as to their real value to the task.  If the task is flawed, then this person is required to step up to the plate and to provide solutions which can be implemented and not just provide ideas which no one can act upon. Gossip, rumor and non-factual statements are not an acceptable behavior.

This individual is required to have and develop interpersonal skills and work with others in a group.  The ability to focus on the needs of others without adding a bias of ones own self-serving attitude is a requirement.  This individual needs to build upon their own integrity and the integrity of others.

This individual should be willing to accept the "Universal dollar" without regret.  They should be able to share this "Universal dollar" with others when they have proven their willingness to attain the above requirements.

This job requires dedication, long hours, and many opportunities for interaction with many members of the society.  This individual is required to work at a moments notice, be prepared to accept challenges and disappointments.

The reward for the person who is able to meet these minimum requirements is paid the highest dollars in the Universe.  This person is the volunteer.  The Universal Dollar is delivered as infinity of honor, respect, and building of character and self worth.

I hope each of you who have volunteered can reflect upon your commitment and ask where your abilities can be served.  We all have something to offer and learning from others. If you can learn then teach or fill the shoes of those before us you become that invaluable asset called volunteer.  Are you participating or just letting others doing it so you can enjoy the ride?  What could you be doing to help out?  What better way is there to earn this Universal Dollar?
If you have not volunteered then we need your volunteer services for many tasks.  Tasks such as CVARC open board member positions (Secretary being one of them), Communication Van and Trailer project, Emergency operations  (ARES/RACES), Field Day operations, and social events. So, please sign up on the clipboards at the meeting for the projects and activities that can both challenge you and provide you the  "Universal Dollar."

If you have volunteered, then look for someone to "Elmer" or mentor to help "fill the shoes" and definitely the pockets with "Universal Dollars."

73 de Greg