We all thought 2022 was a crazy, crazy year! This year has been an absolute maniac! On steroids, even!

But 2023 is almost over, and that means it’s now Christmastime.

So, since it’s December, Christmas is just 3 short weeks away, and the first Tuesday of the month is upon us, we really should meet for a hearty Christmas meal. And that is precisely what is planned for this month’s meeting of the Decatur Amateur Radio Club  We will hold our monthly meeting and annual Christmas dinner on Tuesday evening, December 5th, at 6:00pm at Libby’s Catfish and Diner on top of Priceville Mountain on Highway 67 in the Priceville area. Just drive out of Decatur on Highway 67 (the Beltline, if you prefer), cross under the I-65 overpasses, and head up Priceville Mountain. Libby’s it at the top of the hill on the right just past the big white cross.

If you feel like you MUST meet in the basement auditorium of the Morgan County Courthouse in Decatur, please arrive early at the lower entrance off of Lee Street and let yourself in somehow so you can admire the building decorations by yourself. Enjoy the solitude, but please don’t get in the way of the building cleaning crew and don’t argue with the nice security or law enforcement people. And note that you’ll still be hungry afterwards!

This meeting will NOT be streamed on Microsoft Teams. For some unexplainable reason no one really wants to watch us stuff our faces with good food. We will resume the live streaming of the meeting in January.

Unfortunately the club had to cancel the VE license testing session last Saturday (December 2nd) at the Decatur Public Library. We were not able to get the required number of VE volunteers to help with administering the tests. The next testing session is scheduled for January 6th, 2023. If you have an extra-class license, you can help the club while helping new and upgrading hams with their tests. Please let the club leadership know at the email address below. If you wish to take a test or know of someone who wants to take a test, the testing sessions are scheduled to be held in the Decatur Public Library on 6th Avenue NE (Highway 31) at 1:00. Please bring ID (especially your FRN, which is required on the license application) and your $15 fee. And, most importantly, PLEASE send an email to DecaturHamTest@w4atd.org so we can have the testing materials prepared and available for you.

The other continuing reminder:  the roster of current club members is now online at www.HamClubOnline.com. Set up your free account and if you have paid your dues (and the Secretary has updated the database) you should see that you’re associated with the DARC. If there’s an issue, let us know.

And it’s not too early to pay your dues for 2024. If you have not paid for this year, paying in December gets you 13 months for the price of 12! And $20.00 is all it takes. See one of the officers at the meeting, or mail your dues to DARC, PO Box 9, Decatur, AL  35602-0009.

See you on Tuesday evening! Come hungry!