Minutes for the Tennessee Contest Group meeting held September 6, 1997

Roll call:
----------
K0EJ     Mark      Hendersonville
K1KY     Tom       Smyrna
K4AMC    Jim       Madison
K4RO     Kirk      Pegram
KE4KMG   Mike      Murfreesboro
KQ4HC    Jeff      Ringgold, GA
KT4WZ    Chet      Murfreesboro (with guest - sorry I missed her name)
NN4T     Steve     Murfreesboro
W9WI     Doug      Pleasant View
WA4GLS   OD        Nashville
WD4K     Tommy     Nashville
WO4O     Ric       Ridgetop

Thanks to everyone for showing up. 

Topics Discussed
----------------

** Sprint Teams **
We now have the following players lined up for the September Sprints.

CW Sprint:
N4ZZ    Don   TN
W9WI    Doug  TN
WO4O    Ric   TN
W4PA    Scott TN
K1KY    Tom   TN
K0EJ    Mark  TN
W0MU    Mike  CO
K4RO    Kirk  TN

SSB Sprint
WA0ETC  Larry IA
W9WI    Doug  TN
K1KY    Tom   TN
WO4O    Ric   TN
K0EJ    Mark  TN
W0MU    Mike  CO
KE4OAR  Chuck TN     

Contact K4RO before Friday Sept 12 to join the TCG SSB Sprint team.
Update: the TCG CW Sprint results are now available for viewing on the
new TCG WWW page.

** TCG WWW Page **
Chet KT4WZ pointed out that there has not been much done with the TCG
WWW page lately.  He is looking for someone to take over the work on
this page, if anyone else is interested.  A few possibilities were
discussed, and K4RO volunteered to look into some alternatives.  The
decision was mde to house a new WWW page on a server which K4RO will
configure.  The new TCG WWW page is now up and running.  Progress on
the new TCG WWW page can be viewed at:
	
	http://www.k4ro.net/tcg.html

Having the page on a server which is completely configurable by K4RO 
opens up many possibilities.  We can put just about anything we want to 
on the page; all we need are some ideas and some work.  At the moment,
you'll find some basic information, a few scores, and meeting minutes.
Please contribute your ideas and/or HTML writing skills if you can.

** K4TCG Club Call **
We now have an official club call, K4TCG.  Anyone planning to use this
callsign should first announce their intentions on the TCG reflector.
Cards will have to be printed up at some point, and QSL chores will be
distributed among the TCG'ers.  K4RO may use it in the upcoming Tennessee
QSO Party.  I'll let you know as the date draws closer.

** Tennessee QSO Party **
Doug W9WI, TQP Contest Chairman, distributed some flyers on the upcoming
TQP contest.  The contest will be held Sunday September 28.  Any questions
regarding the TQP should be directed to W9WI.  K4RO asked for someone else
to take over the printing of the TQP certificates.  K1KY offered.  Many
thanks for taking over this task Tom.

** NCJ Article on TCG **
Mark K0EJ has been approached by Dennis K7BV, the National Contest Journal
editor, about doing an article on the Tennessee Contest Group.  Apparently
our level of activity has garnered some attention, and folks want to know
how we're doing it.  K0EJ will write the article, with editorial assistance
from K4RO and Wo4o.

** TCG Officers for 1998 **
Just a reminder that in January 1998, we will be electing new officers
for TCG.  Now is a good time to start thinking about who you want to help
lead TCG in 1998, whether it is yourself or someone else.  I personally 
have found it a very rewarding experience so far.

** YT Statistics Files **
Thanks to the efforts of Dean Straw N6BV, we now have a set of IONCAP 
generated elevation angle statistical data generated for the Nashville, TN 
area.  These will be placed on the TCG WWW page when K4RO learns how to do it. 

** K1KY Contest Site **
Tom gave us an update on his developing contest site in Gallatin on Music
Mountain.  He now has several wire antennas up, and has two towers to work
with in the future - 180' and 80' (!)  The Sprint will be the first QRO
shakedown for the site.  (He is now armed with an Omni VI and Alpha 78.)
Tom also handed out 1998 Radio Shack catalogs to those present.  Thanks Tom!

** NN4T Family Fun Day **
Steve reported that he may move the 1998 event to sometime in September.
There will always be a conflict for someone, but there may be fewer in
September.

** Scores on the Internet **
Chet KT4WZ asked where one could find contest scores on the Internet.
Bill Fisher W4AN maintains a great contesting site at www.contesting.com.
Scores going back to December 1995 are all available at:

	http://www.contesting.com/_3830/

For the curious, 3830 kHz is the traditional post-contest frequency for
score reports and general bragging by the big guns after a contest is over.
Give it a listen after any major contest for the latest comments.

** ARRL Club Affiliation  **
The ARRL Tennessee Section Manager O.D. Keaton WA4GLS presented TCG with
a nice plaque holding our Affiliated Club certificate.  Thanks for working
with us O.D.; it is always good to see you at our meetings.

** Misc. **
AA4NU is offering a computer for a young ham interested in getting started
in contesting.  Contact Billy if you know of a candidate.

KE4KMG has HP Dumb Terminals for sale. $20.00.  They make great packet
monitors.

September 30 is the deadline to submit your QSL cards to ARRL if you
want to receive a copy of the DXCC Yearbook.

The KQ4HC station is available for CW SS.  Contact Jeff if you'd like
to operate from his fine station in Ringold, GA.


*** Next Meeting **

Date:  Saturday October 4 1997
Time:  9:30 AM
Place: Old Country Buffet restaurant
Agenda: TBA

73 and see you in the contests.

-Kirk  K4RO