COVID-19

COVID-19, the respiratory disease caused by the new virus, stands for coronavirus disease 2019. The disease first appeared in late 2019 in Wuhan, China, but spread around the world in early 2020, causing the World Health Organization to declare a pandemic in March.

For your personal protection; please adhere to all recommendations from Federal, State and local officials like social distancing and hand-washing among other precautions.

   - Texas Department of State Health Services
     [map of Texas Case Counts COVID-19 by counties]
     
   - Abilene, Texas COVID-19

   - Taylor County Judge declares 'Local State of Disaster'

   - Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM)

The Abilene Taylor-County Public Health District continues to urge residents to protect themselves, and our medically fragile community members by:

- Practicing social distancing
- Staying home as much as possible
- Washing or sanitizing hands often
- Covering sneezes and coughs
- Avoid touching your face
- Staying home if you are sick
- Routinely cleaning commonly touched surfaces

If an individual feels they may be showing symptoms for COVID-19, it is important they first call their medical provider or the Abilene Taylor-County Public Health District at 325.692.5600 for screening and further instruction. Please do not arrive at a medical office, facility, or hospital without first making contact by phone and receiving instruction.

The CDC still warns that older adults and those with underlying medical conditions continue to be at higher risk for serious complications from the virus. Its website says fever, cough,  shortness of breath, chills, repeated shaking, muscle pain,  headache, sore throat and new loss of taste or smell could all be symptoms that appear between two and 14 days after exposure.

Steam-N-Wheels

Steam-N-Wheels Bike Race is sponsored by the City of Abilene Parks & Recreation Department. Additional information will be discussed at the March 9th club meeting.

   Date: March 14, 2020
   Time: 10:00 am
   Location: Abilene Zoological Park
   Address:  2070 Zoo Ln, Abilene, TX 79602

Midland ARC Hamfest

UPDATE: Due to the COVID-19 coronavirus scare and the unpredictability of venue management and public officials, we are postponing the St. Patrick’s Day Hamfest and West Texas Section Convention scheduled for March 21, 2020. We are exploring the options to host the event this summer in either June or July. The new date will be announced as soon as it is confirmed.

The Midland Amateur Radio Club 65th Annual St. Patrick's Day Hamfest / ARRL West Texas Section Convention is on Saturday March 21, 2020 at the Martin Luther King Center in Midland, Texas. The doors are open to the public @ 8:00 am.
 
For more information, please visit http://hamfest.w5qgg.org.

Mentoring

Mentoring Begins with the Local Club

At the national association for Amateur Radio we have always felt that the local radio club is where the learning takes place.  The local radio club is where the newcomer begins the journey of discovery and the seasoned veteran keeps informed of the latest technology.  Regardless of where we are on our ham radio journey our local radio club is where we find our friends.

The term “Elmer” means someone who provides personal guidance and assistance to would-be hams.  The term first appeared in QST in a March 1971 “How’s DX” column by Rod Newkirk, W9BRD (now also VA3ZBB). Newkirk called them “the unsung fathers of Amateur Radio.”

As you can see, the term is not very old.  Prior to the first use of Elmer as the one who guided and encouraged us, what were these folks called?  We have received a lot of suggestions; teacher, mentor, tutor, guide, helper, sage?  All are appropriate but my guess would be that first and foremost they were called friend. 

<ARRL>

Mentorship is a relationship in which a more experienced or more knowledgeable person helps to guide a less experienced or less knowledgeable person. The mentor may be older or younger than the person being mentored, but he or she must have a certain area of expertise.

<Wikipedia>

Newly Elected Officers

The following KCARC members have been re-elected to serve another term as officers in their respective positions for 2020.  May their leadership help move our club to new heights during this coming year!

PRESIDENT
   Allen Brooks, KF5SPQ

VICE PRESIDENT
   Lynn Bailey, K5AVJ

SECRETARY
   Jacob Bachmeyer, KE5WHG

TREASURER
   Peg Richard, KA4UPA