VOL. 9, #8

August, 2000

August Meeting

The next SFARC meeting will be held on Wednesday, August 30 at Sillivan’s Restaurant (Highway 36 between Bellville and Kenney) If the retaurant should be closed, the fallback location will be Manuel’s Mexican Restaurant, in Bellville. Dinner will be at 6:30 PM, with business meeting to follow.

Tom Martin of the Sealy Lions Club will attend this meeting, to hand out information packs for the Sealy Cross Roads Classic bike ride (See Coming Events, below). Please attend!

July Meeting

Dan, W5AOV, called the meeting to order at 19:15.

Old business:

Discussed the SWR meter/alarm/timer that was installed on the 440 machine to evaluate its worth. This meter keeps track of the repeater usage and TX/RX time. If the SWR goes above a preset limit, the alarm/timer can shut the repeater down (this feature has not currentlly been implemented).

Carl, K5OWC, moved we purchase the unit – the price is $50. Linda, N5LXG, seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous in favor of the purchase.

Field Day results were given by Dave, K5KX. The club had 714 points this year, which was about half of last year’s score. (The reduction was most probably due to having only about one half the FD crew as last year.)

New business:

Dave, Dan and Carl attended the July Austin County Local Emergency Planning Commission (LEPC) meeting to find out what part SFARC can play in assisting the Austin County Emergency Operations Center during an emergency. We were assigned the task of updating the communications portion of the "plan". Dave and Dan went to the Sheriff's office and met with Linda, the chief dispatcher, and updated the forms.

Dave, Dan, and Carl also met briefly with County Judge Carolyn Bilski to discuss the permanent installation of a dual-band antenna on the tower at the sheriff’s office. Judge Bilski indicated that she would try to find funds for coax and a dual band antenna. We are to provide her with the cost and specification for these items, which would include:

· Comet GP-6 10' 2" dual band antenna: ($149.99), or

· Diamond X200A ($139.99)

· 100 feet of LMR-400 ($57)

· Shipping (about $10 for each item)

· Ground/lightning block (about $35).

· A few miscellaneous pipe pieces and U clamps will also be need for mounting to the tower at the SO.

Dan, W5AOV had the big Club sign modified to include W5SFA Austin County in the blank area. The cost for this additional artwork was $20.30.

Dave moved to adjourn as he had a TV program to watch. Carl seconded and the vote was unanimous.

Harry Pfeiffer – SK

With sadness we report the passing of Harry Pfeiffer, W5CTZ.

HARRY PETER PFEIFFER was born October 29, 1911 in Houston, Texas, the son of Peter and Martha Wuenche Pfeiffer. He grew up in Houston graduating from Jeff Davis High School.

He was united in marriage with Lyllian Slate on June 2, 1934 in Houston.

Harry served his country in the U.S. Army during Word War II in the CBI Theater, He refired from the army after 30 years of service, having attained the rank of Lt. Colonel.

Harry and Lyllian made their home in Spring where Harry owned and operated his own printing business. They have made their home in Bellville for the post 19 years.

A dedicated amateur radio operator for many years, Harry's call letters were W5CTZ. A Catholic by faith, he was also an officer of the Good Sam RV Club.

He passed away Wednesday, August 23, 2000 in a Brenham hospital at the age of 88 years, 9 months and 24 days. He is survived by his WIFE OF ALMOST 66 YEARS: Lyllian Pfeiffer of Belliville; DAUGHTERS: JoAnne Seward of Wallis and Kathleen Smith and her husband, Dennis, of Marshall; SONS AND DAUGHTERS‑IN‑LAW: Stephen and Jessie Pfeiffer of Round Rock, Eugene and Linda Pfeiffer of LaMarque, John and Gwen Pfeiffer of Splendora; 11 GRANDCHILDREN; 14 GREAT GRANDCHILDREN; BROTHER: Chester Pfeiffer of Spring; SISTER: Helen Brendgen of Wallis; other relatives and many friends. He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother, Fritz Pfeiffer.

Funeral Mass was celebrated at 10:00 A.M. Saturday, August 26, 2000 at Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Belliville, Father Timothy Bucek, Celebrant. Graveside Service followed at 3:00 P.M. at the Forest Park Cemetery on Lawndale in Houston.

In lieu of usual remembrances, friends who wish may make memorial gifts to the Bellville General Hospital Auxiliary, c/o Mrs. Grace Crawford, P. 0. Box 977, Bellville, TX 77418.

Coming Events

· The Sealy Cross Roads Classic will be held on 9/23 and we would like to provide breakpoint coverage for them. They will have six break points, eight SAG trucks and one Base control station. Tom Martin of the Sealy Lions Club is the event leader and Dan White, W5AOV, will be coordinating the volunteer effort for hams needed from our club and the Katy club.