The Rockwall Amateur Radio Club met on Tuesday, 15 January 2013 at Soulman’s Bar-B-Que, 691 E. I-30, Rockwall, Texas 75087. I was in a manager’s meeting for the Seven Loaves Community at 6:05 PM on the West side of Plano, Texas. Also, I did not realize that people arrive at the Rockwall ARC meeting 30 minutes before the meeting starts to eat dinner. Thanks to the George Bush Turnpike and having located the restaurant as I went through Rockwall last Saturday, I made good time from Plano to Rockwall. I arrived just as the business meeting was starting. Minutes of last month’s meeting were read and approved. Officers made their reports. There was discussion about the trailer that the club recently acquired. Two committees related to this trailer were established: one committee is responsible for maintenance and enhancements to the trailer while the other committee will research possible antennas for use with this trailer; a rotatable dipole came with the trailer.

I spoke briefly with a Rockwall ARC club member during the break; however, I could kick myself for failing to get his name and call sign. Following the brake, David Kaun, N5DBK, lead a lively and entertaining auction that raised some money for the club treasury.

Following the meeting, I took a brief look at the trailer that was parked behind the restaurant. I spoke with another person while looking at the trailer; unfortunately, I did not get his name or call sign either. I am disappointed with myself for not becoming better acquainted with members of the Rockwall ARC.

I counted 27 people at this meeting. Typically, each person who attends an amateur radio meeting is expected to introduce their self, state their call sign, and say something about how they are involved in amateur radio. If this happened at the Rockwall ARC meeting, I missed it. When I attend amateur radio club meetings where this is the practice, I use my turn to say my name, call sign, pitch TCINFO Amateur Radio Yahoo! Group, offer a business card to anybody interested in this group, and repeat my name and call sign. Lacking this opportunity, I managed to give away three of my TCINFO Amateur Radio Yahoo! Group http://groups.yahoo.com/group/tcinfo_amateur_radio/ business cards at this meeting of the Rockwall ARC.

If you are an amateur radio operator or interested in becoming one and live near Rockwall, Texas, I suggest that you visit this club on a third Tuesday evening at 6:30 PM at Soulman’s Bar-B-Que and meet some fine amateur radio operators. I enjoyed my visit to this club. Please verify meeting information at https://sites.google.com/site/rarck5rkw/meetings before making the drive.
 

The Quarter Century Wireless Association – Chapter 41 – Dallas, Texas held their monthly meeting at the Midway Point Restaurant, 12801 Midway Road, Dallas, Texas 75244 on Saturday, 05 January 2013. There were 12 or more people in attendance. This was primarily an “eyeball” meeting where general conversation over a meal was the primary event. One conversation was between a former Crosier Tech High School of Dallas, Texas drafting teacher, Jerry Murray W5KUP, and his former student, Jerrold Jones W5TUU. Some people made selections from the buffet and others ordered from the menu. A few people left shortly after they finished eating. Bob Olney, N5NT called the meeting to order when nearly everybody had finished their meal. Each amateur radio operator present introduced their self, stated when they were first licensed, how they became interested in amateur radio, and described their primary amateur radio activities. 

Seven Loaves Food Pantry served 41 families on Thursday, 03 January 2013. Each family made selections from the personal-shopping table, received a bag of potatoes, received peanut butter, and received frozen meats. The personal-shopping table typically includes breads, fruit juices, breakfast cereal, miscellaneous food items, and personal care products. Each family member received one number one bag of food and one number two bag of food. Each number one bag of food contained canned protein and three cans of fruit. Each number two bag of food contained four cans of vegetables or soup, a bag of dried beans, and a grain such as pasta or rice. Specific contents of the number one and two bags vary according to what is in stock in the dry room. All functions of the pantry are performed by volunteers. Volunteer functions include: Food Runner Supervisors; Food Runners; Fresh and Frozen Food Distributors; Setup and Opening Manager; Volunteer Managers; Greeter; Receptionist; Client Intake Supervisor; Client Intake Staff; Spanish Translators; Personal Shopping Supervisor, and Dry Pantry Supervisor. (I am the Dry Pantry Supervisor on most Thursdays.) The pantry is stocked through donations from individuals, donations from food drives, donations from local grocery stores, purchases from the North Texas Food Bank, and occasional purchases from Costco or equivalent business. The pantry is also open on Saturdays. 

Seven Loaves Community held a managers meeting on Thursday, 03 January 2013 at St. Andrew United Methodist Church in Plano, Texas that was attended by 15 people. Reports were presented for Seven Loaves Food Pantry, Joseph’s Coat, West Side Clinic, and Project Hope. Volunteers will begin signing in on a dedicated computer in place of the handwritten log sheets. Annual Civil Rights training and bi-annual MinistrySafe certification are required.