Local information can always be obtained, at any time, through the usage of the OVH repeaters (146.97- & 224.660- Mhz). All are welcome.

Letters to the Editor and Classified Ads are accepted and welcome. Approx. Circulation - 170

The meeting was called to order at 2002 by Art Whittum (KW4AW) acting as Chair.

Following the Pledge of Allegiance, all present stated their names and call signs.

Attendance: 20 Members and 2 Guests

The past month's minutes were passed with corrections and current financial status was approved by the membership. Also, Bill South (N4WJN) reports that the three donations ($100 to ARRL for WRC, $100 to QSLNet and $100 to Newsline) have been made.

Fairground contract should be in hand soon for the out years. Preparations for this year are going well. Jack is sending flyers to the Richmond Hamfest. Tickets for this year will be printed on larger format stock. The mailing list generated from last year is in had and postcards will be going out soon.

Two speakers of note at the Vienna WinterFest - Randy Hollingsworth, FCC Enforcement Office, and Mike Martin (K3RFI).

Every one of the students from the winter course that showed up to take the test passed it - a total of four students. With the next VE session during Hamfest (June 3rd) the next class will have to start the 20th of March. Bill is contacting Stonewall Jackson to make arrangements. The message got out the last time, let's do it again.

At this point, the discussion turned to the issue of whether or not the club wanted or could pick up the tab on VE sessions and/or whether or not the Bennett school was a good location for the Hamfest VE session, or if we can host it on the site. These are the issues:

The number of people being lost are hard to quantify - if we are loosing people. Two things to consider for this year's VE session - one, have the police help folks get across 234 when the traffic is busy. Two, improve coordination between the VE session and the Hamfest, there should be at least one person at the session with a radio.

After much discussion, it was generally concluded that we cannot hold the VE session at the fairgrounds. Logistics, testing environment and running afoul of the "pay for exam" issues (you cannot charge admittance to a VE session) were some of the issues.

The general consensus is that the club can pay the fee to the ARRL. There is still a tasking to get the exact amount per examinee that the ARRL wants.

Nominations: Art Whittum (KW4AW) - The following are nominated for OVH Offices:

President: Jeff Poulin (KV4AP)

Vice President: John Palcer (K4KGU)

Treasurer: Bill South (N4WJN)

Secretary: David Lane (KG4GIY)

Further, nominations from the floor will be accepted at the next meeting. Nominees must give the permission to be nominated. The positions of President and Vice President can be filled by any member in good standing of Tech+ or better. The positions of Treasurer and Secretary can be filled by any club member in good standing.

Elections will be held at the February meeting.

ARRL is now a club sign administrator.

Our World Radio ad expires in March, do we want to renew it? Cost is $65. Motioned, seconded and passed. Also, if anyone has a copy of March 1998's World Radio, Jack (N4YIC) would like a copy of it.

Two applications to read in: Dan Roberts (WB4KLC) and David French (N7FAN). Their applications will be voted on at the February meeting.

Dick (WD4AZG) is still hanging in. The week of the 15th of January will be his last week at work and then he will be out on disability.

The next meeting is Monday 19 February 2001. Don "Butch" Blasdell will chair until the new President is elected. No recounts are expected.

Meeting adjourned at 2122.

Happy Birthday to our friends and fellow Hams, born in February: Lloyd/N4OOM, Chris/KG4CKK, Jenny/KF4YYF, Brian/KE4GKH, Vinh/KF4PQI, and Art/KW4AW.

Please keep in your good thoughts and prayers, previous member and past club President Dick Miller/WD4AZG. Dick has had long-term health problems, and has recently had to retire due to them. He would greatly appreciate your visit, but please call first. 703-791-3839 at 11817 Cornwell Drive, Manassas, 20112.

Also, I am pleased to report that Bob/N4RL McCann's wife, Idee (sp?), has recovered sufficiently to be placed in Annaburg Manor for rehabilitation. She also would enjoy visits from club members. Call Bob at 703-361-7335 to arrange a good time.

Have a great month, and enjoying communicating with your fellow Hams!

The ARRL Board voted to increase membership dues from $34 to $39 annually for full members younger than 65, and from $28 to $34 for full members 65 and older. The dues hike goes into effect July 1, 2001. The last ARRL dues increase was in July 1997. The dues increase resulted from the need to fund initiatives to expand the League's advocacy activities on behalf of Amateur Radio-including the defense of amateur spectrum-and to enhance ARRL's ability to serve members during a period of projected deficits. The Board approved a $1 greater increase for seniors in an effort to narrow the gap, as more and more ARRL members fall into this category.

The OVH Nominating Committee met recently and they have recommended the following slate of officers for the coming year. Elections will be held at the next meeting on February 19, 2001. Nominations may be made from the floor, as long as the person being nominated has given their permission prior to the Election, and that the nominee meets the criteria as stated in the Bylaws. Election will be by Secret Ballot.

The following members of Ole Virginia Hams have agreed to run for office:

President: Jeff Poulin KV4AP

We urge all members of OVH who are able, to attend the February meeting and cast your vote for the new Officers. Then we can offer our cooperation, support and assistance to the incoming officers for the tasks ahead.

SB SPACE @ ARL $ARLS004

ARLS004 AO-40 Future Rests on Reducing Spin, Regaining Attitude Control

ZCZC AS04

QST de W1AW

Space Bulletin 004 ARLS004

From ARRL Headquarters

Newington, CT February 6, 2001

To all radio amateurs

SB SPACE ARL ARLS004

ARLS004 AO-40 Future Rests on Reducing Spin, Regaining Attitude Control

The key to a successful AO-40 recovery effort continues to be a matter of reducing the satellite's spin and regaining the ability to adjust its attitude from the ground. ''The current problem is the lack of accurate AO-40 attitude data,'' AMSAT News Service said. Accurate data are not available because AO-40's sun sensor is not seeing the sun because of the satellite's attitude.

Only when ground controllers can accurately determine the satellite's attitude will it be possible to change it and correctly aim AO-40's high-gain antennas for optimal reception on Earth—and that's assuming the transmitters are functioning on bands other than 2.4 GHz. Ground controllers have had no luck hearing AO-40's transmitters on the omnidirectional antennas on 2 meters, 70 cm or 1.2 GHz. Since the satellite's computer was reset and telemetry resumed December 25, the AO-40 ground team has been analyzing telemetry sent via the 2.4 GHz beacon--the only transmitter now operating.

AMSAT-Germany described AO-40 as ''in the fog'' because its high angle with respect to the sun temporarily prevents the sun sensors from providing attitude data.

Ground controllers have been pinning their hopes on a previously announced ''de-spinner'' programming routine that would permit AO-40 spin control without having to rely on the sun sensors. The satellite's current spin rate is reported to be 17.7 RPM. But even if the programming fix fails, ''it's no cause for panic,'' AMSAT-DL said. By April, controllers reason, the satellites sensors will again see the sun and ''thanks to magnetorquing, spin and attitude can be actively improved upon the rising tide.'' Once the spin is reduced, sun angle improved, and antennas pointed, testing can resume. Still outstanding are tests of the VHF and UHF transmitters, the arc-jet motor, and the reaction wheels, among others.

Both AMSAT-DL President and AO-40 Project Leader Karl Meinzer, DJ4ZC, and AMSAT-NA President Robin Haighton, VE3FRH, have continued to be optimistic that AO-40 will have a useful life of Amateur Radio service. Command stations James Miller, G3RUH, Stacey Mills, W4SM, made a long-term prediction of AO-40's new orbit. They say that even after last year's incident--which silenced the satellite for nearly two weeks--and the resulting decrease of perigee, AO-40's orbit will be stable, although perigee will oscillate by several hundred kilometers.

AMSAT-DL says the recovery effort has been slowed somewhat because of limited access time on the part of the command team, due to AO-40's current orbital parameters.

Discussions of the future of AO-40 are expected to dominate the eighth AMSAT-DL Symposium on March 17, AMSAT-DL said.