(Editor’s Note:) With a little help from our friends (our Webmaster in particular)  we’ll be importing some of the more important items from each issue of Scuttlebutt to this page, starting with the Fall 2004 issue.  We’ll begin with the Commodore’s column and move on from there.

Please don’t hesitate to contact us via E-mail if there is something you would like to see on this page.  Thanks, to Jon Hill, Naoma Lowe and the entire membership of the WRCC for making my job as Editor a real pleasure during the past year.

73’s Don Watson

Ahoy to all!  We have had an interesting/terrifying/challenging/wet/windy hurricane season. (Pick your word!)  Now that the “alphabet” has torn through our states we can all be thankful that we survived, as a whole, much better than `could have been’.  Thanks to so many for sharing their stories.

We will all miss Ed Summersett, WA3FKC, and will honor his memory and service as our 2003 commodore at the Wickam Park Picnic on Nov. 4.  Please send requests for the Sunshine needs to either Jeanie, N4WFM, or me, N4QIW, so we will take care of them until Cori Summersett contacts.  We like to contact, with cards or flowers, the WRCC member or family who has illnesses, hospitalization, or silent keys.  We DEPEND on the family or friends to notify us.

After broadcasting a CG boat watch for three weeks, the Capt. of the 34’ tri hull, Dream Weaver, was located late Sept. 17, still aboard in the Everglades!  He was in good condition but glad to be found.

We each live busy lives but I am happy to be a part of such an important and fun group.  I recently wrote an article for a local magazine about ham radio and hurricanes.  I related to the general public that even with many modes of communication, ham radio is still a vital part of CG “find and rescue” and WX gathering services in times of emergency.

Be thinking about who you believe will take the time to come up the ladder serving the net along the way and will stand as your Commodore in a couple of years.  Nominations will be taken throughout Oct. for a Rear Commodore.  We have three elected positions.

It is my honor to serve the WRCC this year; learned much serving as WX coordinator years ago.  I brought several new persons into the net as new NC and Relays.  The net runs so nicely when we have many who will step up by volunteering in various areas.

Please contact Bob, C6ALD or me if you have been overlooked or wish to serve.

73, Naoma Lowe, N4QIW, Commodore

The Waterway CW Net has 54 active members and all are accounted for after the recent three hurricanes.  There are six of these stations with home QTH’s from St Augustine to Palm Beach and all were hit hard by Frances.  Wire antennas and a few beam elements were blown away, lots of debris but only minor damage to houses or towers.  All these  lost power and most lost phone service, three checked into the net with battery power.  Two stations in Miami were undamaged.

Also, AG4ND, Forrest had stored his 36 ft trawler Trident at the Fort Pierce City Marina and fortunately had only minor hull and rail damage.  Most of the boats in that marina were totaled, as shown on national TV.  When Ivan came along, Bob AD4MZ had left his Westsail 32 anchored at Tyrell Bay 30 miles north of Grenada (see previous Scuttlebutt articles about AD4MZ).  Friends moved the boat from the anchorage into the mangroves where it was undamaged by the hurricane.

Later Ivan went right over the QTH of Roger KC4HCH on the east side of Mobile Bay.  He had no serious damage, but said "eating charcoal cooked dinner by candlelight can be romantic for one or two nights".  He got the power back 10 days after Ivan.

The Waterway CW Net is very active, averaging about 15 QNI’s (check-in’s) per day.  Please join us.  If you want to start slow, try Friday where QRS and straight keys are encouraged.  Full details can be found on the Waterway Net website.

73, Chuck ND7K

Edward L. Summersett, Jr., 66, of Titusville, FL passed away on 9 Sept. 2004.  He is survived by his wife of 20 years, Cori; son, Eric (Terri) & granddaughters Laura, Jessica & Amy of Pelham, AL; daughter Cathy (Joe) Diemer of Columbia, MD; sister, Betsy Ward & nephews, Kevin & Scott (Marcela) of Homestead, FL

He served in the U. S. Navy & retired from the DoD at Ft. Meade, MD.  He enjoyed sailing & amateur radio (WA3FKC).

A memorial service was held at All Saints Church of Port St. John ((321) 632-7634) on Saturday, September 25th.  In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Hospice of St. Francis, P.O. Box 5563, Titusville, FL 32783

This has been a very strange few months for those of us in the path of all the hurricanes.  However, the Waterway Radio and Cruising Club finances are safe and secure.  I pack up the club check book along with my own important papers when we prepare for the each storm (we are getting really good at it now).  It only took us about an hour this morning to prepare for Hurricane Jeanne.

When you get this issue of the Scuttlebutt, please take a moment to check the mailing label to see if you are paid up for 2004, or 2005 and beyond .  If it says 2004 near your name, please pay your yearly dues when the Bill and Ballot arrives in November.  If it says 2005 or 2006, etc, then you are paid up and all you will need to do is vote when the Bill and Ballot arrives.

Speaking of voting, October is our month to nominate officer candidates, and the voting takes place in November.  Even though the votes will be counted in Florida, let me assure you that we’ve automated the system so that there will be no recount required.  Let’s hope the same can be said for the General Election on November 2nd.

I hope to see lots of you at the annual picnic at Wickham Park on November 4th.

If you would like for me to BRING your Bill and Ballot to the picnic instead of mailing it, please let me know before November 1st.

Our stock of heavy duty burgees is strong but we are slowing running out of the light weight ones (we have 93 light weight burgees left, but we’ve only been selling them at the rate of 30 a year).  If you would like us to reorder light weight burgees, please let one of the officers know.  If the interest is high enough, we’ll contact Hong Kong and get another 500 burgees (the minimum order).  If you think the club doesn’t need to stock both types, let us know that too and we will just let the stock run out in due course.  It’s your club, you just have to tell us what you would like.

Let’s hope everyone stays safe for the rest of this hurricane season.

73,  Jeanie - N4WFM,  WRCC Sec-Treas

Here are some photos of Ham gear that Ron, N1GYX is offering from a Silent Keys estate. If interested, please contact Ron direct for more information.