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The MORAnnouncer . The Official Newsletter of the

Mora Open Repeater Association

719 Fair Oaks Drive - Mora Minnesota 55051

https://www.morahamradio.com

Amateur Radio .... .. when all else fails!

Volume 4 Number 1 – February 2019

MORA CHRISTMAS PARTY

The 2018 MORA Christmas Party & Awards Banquet held on Saturday December 8

th opened with

Social Time. [Photo by KJ9W]

There is little doubt that the annual MORA Christmas Party & Awards Banquet is the most popular event of the year. Once again, the 2018 party was well attended, and featured a fabulous buffet meal of chicken and ribs, sides and salads, and desserts.

The party began around 4:30 PM with an hour of Social Time. Live Music was provided during this time by Bill Campbell. Following the meal, the evening was capped off by Santa Claus [KJ9W] and his “Awards” ceremony.

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2018 MORA CHRISTMAS PARTY - continued

Another great Buffet Meal was prepared and served to our group. [Photos by KJ9W]

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2018 MORA CHRISTMAS PARTY – continued

Above: The always entertaining Bill Campbell provided the music – as well as a bit of humor. Below: Sue & Mark Cannon – the owners of Freddie’s Restaurant in Mora – host our Christmas Parties, as well as five scheduled MORA Saturday Breakfast Meetings per year.

If you missed out on the 2018 party, be sure to plan now to attend the next one. The 2019 party has already been scheduled for Saturday December 14th.

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MORA’S ANNUAL CHILI COOKOFF ENDS IN THREE WAY TIE!

As the old expression goes, “Who would have thunk it?”

Through the years, the annual MORA Chili Cookoffs have always ended with a winner.

Not this year!

The 2019 MORA Chili Cookoff that was held during the General Membership Meeting on Thursday Evening January 17th resulted in a most unusual and unpredictable result.

There were three contestants. Defending Champion KJ9W put his Mild but Robust Klondike Chili Recipe on the line against challengers KAØEXL and her Bean Free Chili Recipe, and NØRTY’s offering of White Chicken Chili - a recipe created by Dianne Kasprzak of the “Real Food Organic Buying Club” of Mora.

The MORA Refreshment Committee dished up samples of all three for everyone to try, and then vote for which one they thought was best.

By virtue of all of the submitted votes being evenly split between the three contestants, the result was a three way tie.

With all winners and no losers, it was decided that the final results should remain “as is” without any further process.

“Maybe that is a good result after all,” commented KAØAJF afterwards. “Everybody’s chili was so good, it was great to see a tie.”

A Social Time with a Pot Luck Meal followed the Cookoff.

HELLO MORA SWEDEN FROM MORA MINNESOTA!

The Mora Open Repeater Association was recently contacted on our Facebook by SK4KO, the SBSA Radio Club in Mora Sweden.

Reaching out to us was Daniel Forsström, SM4XAS, Vice-Chairman of SBSA.

SBSA has about 30 members. They operate on several HF bands, and maintain a VHF and UHF repeater in the Mora area. Their VHF repeater is accessible via Echolink.

As a result of the contact, the Mora Open Repeater Association has established a link from our website to the SBSA website, which can be found on our Home Page.

TUESDAY EVENING NET BEGINS 2019 WITH NEW NAME

With the start of a new year, the Tuesday Evening two meter net has a new name.

The new official name is the Mora Open Repeater Association Tuesday Evening Net, which reflects the sponsoring of the repeater by MORA. The MORA Tuesday Evening Net – or simply, MORANET – replaces the Eastern Minnesota Emergency Services Net [EMESNET], however the format and purpose of the net remains the same.

Meanwhile, EMESNET finished its final year with a total of 525 check-ins, which was up two from 2017.

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MORA EVENTS CALENDAR – February, March & April

SATURDAY FEBRUARY 2: 2019 MINNESOTA QSO PARTY - ON-AIR OPERATING EVENT – CHECK OUR WEBSITE HOME PAGE FOR DETAILS

WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 6: CENTRAL MINNESOTA REGIONAL HOSPITAL NET - ON-AIR OPERATING EVENT – WØSV/R 147.015 MHZ, ST CLOUD MINNESOTA

SATURDAY FEBRUARY 9: CABIN FEVER RELIEVER HAMFEST - NATIONAL GUARD ARMORY, ST CLOUD MINNESOTA

WEDNESDAY MARCH 6: CENTRAL MINNESOTA REGIONAL HOSPITAL NET - ON-AIR OPERATING EVENT – WØSV/R 147.015 MHZ, ST CLOUD MINNESOTA

THURSDAY MARCH 14: MORA SKYWARN TRAINING MEETING - POTLUCK - KANABEC COUNTY FAMILY SERVICES BUILDING, MORA.

SATURDAY MARCH 23: MORA BOARD MEETING - MORA HEADQUARTERS, 719 FAIR OAKS DRIVE, MORA

WEDNESDAY APRIL 3: CENTRAL MINNESOTA REGIONAL HOSPITAL NET - ON-AIR OPERATING EVENT – WØSV/R 147.015 MHZ, ST CLOUD MINNESOTA

MORA TUESDAY EVENING NETS: MORANET – EVERY TUESDAY @ 7 PM ON KDØCI/R 147.240 MHZ SCHEDULED OPERATING ACTIVITIES FOLLOWING MORANET MORA TUESDAY EVENING SIMPLEX NET – FOURTH TUESDAY ON 146.565 MHZ SIDEBAND ON TWO RAGCHEW SESSION – SECOND TUESDAY ON 144.240 MHZ

MORA MEMBERSHIP RENEWAL INFORMATION

If you have not already done so, now is the time to join or renew your membership in the Mora Open Repeater Association for 2019.

Many members already renewed their memberships either at the Christmas Party, or at the January General Membership Meeting.

Annual dues for full voting membership remains at $20, and current members have from now until April to retain their active memberships.

Your dues help us maintain our repeater and provide other emergency communications and amateur radio related services. For more details on how to join or renew, please visit https://www.morahamradio.com/home/organization-membership/

EMESNET is now MORANET

The MORA Tuesday Evening Net

7 PM on the KDØCI/R – 147.240 MHz, PL 146.2 Hz

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WHO IS GOING TO BE THE NEXT MORA MASCOT?

The following are the two current contestants to succeed Roscoe as the Official Mascot for the Mora Open Repeater Association:

On the left is a cute little doggie named Pepper, owned by Dave Lane, KBØRFY. On the right is a handsome dog who - according to Mary Campbell, KEØMAL - is named Sir Chewie Chewbacca Wookie – which is usually shortened to Wookie by Mary or Wiki by husband Dan, ADØQT.

Members are encouraged to study these two adorable contestants carefully and decide who should be the next Mascot. Voting will take place at the June Breakfast Meeting, with the winner to be announced in time for Field Day.

2019 MORA BOARD MEETING SCHEDULE

The following is the list of scheduled meetings for the MORA Board of Directors.

NOTE: All Board Meetings are held Saturdays at 9 AM at MORA Headquarters, 719 Fair Oaks Drive, in Mora Minnesota. Location is subject to change.

January 26, March 23, May 18, July 27, September 21, and November 16.

All members of MORA may attend these meetings, and are encouraged to submit any issues or concerns they may have to the Board – preferably in advance of the meeting.

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2019 MORA GENERAL MEETING SCHEDULE

The following is the list of scheduled MORA General Membership Meetings.

Annual Membership, Chili Cookoff, & Potluck – 6 PM Thursday January 17th

Annual Kanabec Area Skywarn Training & Potluck – 6 PM Thursday March 14th

Saturday Morning Breakfast Meeting – 9 AM May 11th

Saturday Morning Breakfast Meeting – 9 AM June 8th

Saturday Morning Breakfast Meeting – 9 AM July 13th

Annual Great Kadosee Potluck Cookout – 5 PM Thursday September 19th

Saturday Morning Breakfast Meeting – 9 AM October 12th

Saturday Morning Breakfast Meeting – 9 AM November 9th

Annual Christmas Party & Awards Banquet – 4:30 PM Saturday December 14th

NOTE: Breakfast Meetings are in the Banquet Room at Freddie’s Restaurant in Mora.

MORANNOUNCER PUBLISHING SCHEDULE

The MORAnnouncer Quarterly Newsletter Publishing Schedule is as follows:

FEBRUARY [SPRING] ISSUE:

Article Submittal Deadline - January 25th, Release Date – February 1st

MAY [SUMMER] ISSUE:

Article Submittal Deadline – April 25th, Release Date – May 1st

AUGUST [FALL] ISSUE:

Article Submittal Deadline – July 25th, Release Date – August 1st

NOVEMBER [WINTER] ISSUE:

Article Submittal Deadline – October 25th, Release Date – November 1st

NOTE: If you have an article or other item to submit for publication in the newsletter, please send to info@morahamradio.com by no later than the deadline dates noted above.

Be sure to check the News & Information Page on our website or on our Facebook page for any possible news updates between publications.

Additional updates are routinely announced on the MORA Tuesday Evening Net.

SILENT KEY REPORT

NØRQM – Cheryl Carson, Siren Wisconsin

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THE MORA MARKETPLACE – Posting effective January 15th 2019

For Sale:

Towers – 36’, 64’ & 72’ Stationary

Tubes – Huge Inventory

Contact: Jerry Whitaker, WBØOFB, Phone 320-384-6241 or wb0ofb@northlc.com

=========================================================

For Sale:

Radio – Kenwood TM-281 2 Meter Mobile, immaculate condition - $100

Radio – Icom IC-746 Pro HF/VHF/UHF All Mode Transceiver, everything works good - $550.

Contact: Tim Hagquist, KEØQ, Phone 320-469-0079 or ke0qtim@gmail.com

=========================================================

For Sale:

Power Supply: Astron RS20M - $45

Radio: Yaesu FT-950 w/added features, hand mic, manual & original box - $850

Accessory: MFJ 4601 Coax Window Feed Thru Panel - $35

Tuner: LDG AT-600 Pro Autotuner, for use with medium power amps [up to 600 watts], like new w/manual & box - $225

SWR/Power Meter: LDG FT Meter with cable, for use with Yaesu FT-857 or FT-897, multiple receive and transmit features, externally powered cool blue light with on-off switch - $45

Accessory: MFJ 1026 Deluxe Noise Cancelling Signal Enhancer - $150

Accessory: Heil PT Foot Switch - $20

Accessory: Yaesu MH-59 A8J Hand Mic - $45

Antenna: Arrow 146/440 Handheld Yagi, work the satellites! - $75

Wanted: Rotor Plate for Rohn 45G Tower.

Contact: Curt Hewitt, NØOK, curt@n0ok.com

=========================================================Look for these items and any updates on each in the MORA Market listings on our website at https://www.morahamradio.com

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MORA JANUARY BOARD MEETING POSTPONED

The MORA Board Meeting scheduled for Saturday January 26th was postponed due to cold weather.

Board Chairman Ken Broshofske, KJ9W, consulted with Board Members by email on Thursday January 24th, advising them of the forecast weather conditions, and solicited their input as to whether to have the meeting or not. The response was unanimously in favor of postponement.

The next Board Meeting is scheduled for Saturday March 23rd.

MARCH KANABEC AREA SKYWARN TRAINING & POTLUCK MEETING

MORA’s annual Kanabec Area Skywarn Training & Potluck Meeting is scheduled for 6 PM Thursday March 14th in the Meeting Room at the Kanabec County Family Services Building, located at 905 East Forest Avenue [Highway 23 East] in Mora.

The meeting will feature a presentation by Kanabec Area Skywarn Coordinator Marc Johnson, KDØTCR. He will likely update the group on changes in procedural and/or reporting methods if any.

This will be a Potluck meeting, so bring your favorite dish, salad, or dessert to share.

ABOUT MORANNOUNCER

MORAnnouncer is the official newsletter of the Mora Open Repeater Association, a tax exempt 501.c.3 Amateur Radio organization based in Mora Minnesota. The newsletter is periodic publication distributed mainly by email to MORA members, public service agencies, and other interested parties.

Hard copies of MORAnnouncer can be published and mailed on request. Subscription price for hard copies is $4.00 per year to cover postal and printing expense.

Please refer to the Publishing Schedule on Page 7 for submittal deadlines and release dates.

HANG IN THERE -

SPRING IS COMING!