Volume 28, Number 5 - MAY 1998

MAY MEETING

Mikel Lechner, KN6QI, will talk about digital modes on HF focusing mainly on RTTY. The talk will cover a bit of the history, development, technology, equipment, and practical aspects of this mode of communication.

This talk should be of particular interest to those participating in Field Day. This year the ARRL will count digital HF communications as a separate mode, which allows stations to garner additional points by using these modes.

FARS will be operating a RTTY station at Field Day this year and we will need operators interested and familiar with RTTY operation. So please attend this talk and volunteer to practice what you learn for our annual Field Day event.

It might be a good idea to bring the model number and instruction manual for your TNC or digital adapter. DW

CALENDAR

Livermore Swap Meet - 1st Sunday of each month at Las Positas College in Livermore, 7:00 AM to noon, all year. Talk in 147.045 from the west, 145.35 from the east. Contact Noel Anklam, KC6QZK, (510) 447-3857 eves.

Foothill Flea Market - 2nd Saturday of each month from March to October at Foothill College, Los Altos Hills.

WEB PAGES

This is the picture that Omri, AA6TA uses to scare people away from his web site. He does kindly mention the club and his interest in Amateur Radio. Unfortunately, an Alta Vista search did not turn up his web site. It did turn up a lot of his other activities. Omri is world famous in a particular aspect of computer technology.

www.svpal.org/~omri

CLUB INFORMATION

President: Jack Eddy WA6YJR
Treasurer: Shel Edelman, N6RD
Secretary: Martin Liberman, KD6WJW
Training Officer: Paul Zander, AA6PZ
Radio Officer: Mikel Lechner, KN6QI
Newsletter: David Wilkes, KD6WRG

Board members: Dirk Thiele, KE6ZUY; Dick, N6ATD; Hans, KE6TGA; Martin, KD6WJW; Herb, KF6BKL.

K6YA Station Trustee: Stan Kuhl, K6MA

FARS Web Page: www.fars.k6ya.org
FARS announcement mailing list is moderated, so you cannot reply directly to the list. To subscribe, send the word "subscribe" to: emarc-request@ham.yak.net; For help, send the word "help" to majordomo@ham.yak.net; For human assistance, email to: human@ham.yak.net.

The FARS Relay is the official monthly newsletter of the Foothills Amateur Radio Society Meetings are held at 7 PM on the fourth Friday of each month except January (Winter Banquet); and 3rd Friday in June, Nov. & Dec. Annual membership $20; family $25. Visitors are always welcome! Directions on the back page. Talk-in: W6APZ (145.23-, 100Hz) or W6ASH repeater (145.27 or 224.36). Contributions to the newsletter from members, family, and guests are earnestly solicited! Contributions subject to editing and/or compression. ASCII files via packet, Internet or diskettes preferred; but all readable forms welcome. Here are the various ways to reach the editor:

Packet: KD6WRG@N0ARY.#NOCAL.CA
Internet: dwilkes@svpal.org, davewilkes@aol.com

AMATEUR RADIO NEWSLINE

Possible mandatory adherence to bandplans

The ARRL has filed its long awaited request to the FCC to codify adherence to what have been till now, voluntary bandplans. Following up on action taken at the January ARRL Board of Directors' meeting, the League has asked the Commission to equate observance of voluntary band plans with good amateur practice.

The League filed its request for a declaratory ruling on April 3rd. In it, the national society asks for codification of several points of ham radio operation. First, it wants the FCC affirm that any amateur radio operation that conflicts with established voluntary band plans, and which causes interference, or, adversely affects those operating in accordance with these band plans to be considered as being in direct violation of FCC rules. It also requests the Commission direct that hams should be familiar with current voluntary bandplans and that they are required to abide by them. Finally, the ARRL wants the FCC to state that those radio amateurs who don't operate in harmony with those band plans are not operating in accordance with good amateur practice.

The League has asked the FCC to issue this Declaratory Ruling as fast as it legally can. Other hams who oppose mandatory bandplans are vowing a court fight if the Commission proceeds without first issuing a Notice of Proposed Rule Making and permitting them time to comment.

As previously reported, Newsline will be presenting a live to the internet debate on this ARRL request from Hamvention '98 next month. This netcast takes place at 10 AM Eastern on Sunday, May 17th. A hot link to the Real Audio server will be available from our website at: www.arnewsline.org

ARRL to hams: Arbitrate - don't sue

The American Radio Relay League is going to try and stop the escalating level of ham versus ham lawsuits. This, by getting radio amateurs to first try arbitrating their ham radio related disagreements.

The League has inaugurated an arbitration service for hams, ham organizations, citizens and other groups having disputes relating to Amateur Radio. The ARRL Arbitration Service offers a substitute for litigation by providing binding arbitration to settle disputes. Arbitration will be arranged through the office of Chris Imlay, W3KD, the League's General Counsel. Arbitrators will include ARRL volunteer counsel. Potential cases could involve neighborhood interference situations, disputes within local radio clubs, disagreements between a hamfest committee and an attendee or exhibitor, or even the use of a frequency, typically, but not necessarily, involving one or more repeaters.

Creation of the Arbitration Service is the first step toward a complete Alternative Dispute Resolution system, as envisioned by the ARRL Board at its January 1997 meeting. The ADR system ultimately could include mediation and non-binding arbitration.

Cases may be instituted under the ARRL Arbitration Service by filing a signed Arbitration Agreement together with the $50 per party filing fee with the Leagues' General Counsel. For complete details on this service, contact:

ARRL General Counsel
Christopher D. Imlay
5101 Wisconsin Ave North West Suite 307
Washington, DC 20016

The complete ARRL Audio News is available at: www.arrl.org (Via ARRL)

Wireless privacy bill passes house

From Washington, word that HR 2369, also known as the Wireless Privacy Enhancement Act of 1998, has passed the House of Representatives. The house passed version of the bill includes a report that specifically resolves concerns that the Amateur Radio community raised with the staff of the House Telecommunications Subcommittee.

When HR 2369 was first introduced, the American Radio Relay League feared that it unintentionally could have outlawed all out of band operations including MARS and Civil Air Patrol, as well as most scanning and short wave listening. Working with the office of the bills sponsor, representative Billy Tauzen, the ARRL and the hobby radio industry got the language changed so as to protect the legitimate concerns of radio enthusiasts. The bill now awaits action in the Senate.

No I-Phone fees

If you use Internet Phone for repeater linking, we have some good news for you. For the time being, making calls over the Internet will remain free of tariffs other than regular Internet Service Provider fees.

In a report to Congress, the Federal Communications Commission, says it is not ready to conclude that the long-distance calls carried over the Internet or other data networks should be regulated as a telecommunications service. That could change, says the FCC, but not anytime soon.

The Great Circus Train runs each summer between Baraboo and Milwaukee.

Baraboo is where the. Ringling Brothers Circus got its start in 1884. Milwaukee is the site of Wisconsin's annual Great Circus Parade. Ham radio first came aboard the circus train in. 1965. This, when an ARES member named Don Evenson, K9JYX, got permission to install a VHF station in. one of the cars. That station relayed messages to an High Frequency mobile station that was chasing. the train. As the years progressed, improvements. in VHF technology simplified communications. In. 1994 onboard HF gear was added to complete the ham. station on the rails. But now that's all gone. The museum says that it. evicted the hams because it is attempting to. eliminate as much clutter as it can from the train. cars. This, to open up more space for the. passengers. As a result, all communications will be provided by a commercial communication supplier named Primeco instead of the Wisconsin Amateur Radio community.

Blinking CW. Not knowing the code can be expensive. At least it was for one branch of the U.S. Military. In the conflict between the pro and no-code segments of our hobby, one side usually brings up the argument that the military has abandoned the use of CW. In a recent set of sea trials by two vessels of the U.S. Navy, a combination of tests resulted in a total breakdown in conventional communications. Messages concerning maneuvers, course and speed had to be relayed in morse code by blinker lights. This once common naval communications mode is evidently a lost art. Because the inability to quickly transmit and. receive the messages involved resulted in an aircraft carrier backing into a cruiser at considerable speed. Damage to both ships totaled over $10,000,000. It's not known if the problem with the Navy's blinking light CW was on the transmitting or the. receiving end.

Japanese economy affecting ham radio. The combined net profits of major Japanese. companies plunged almost 25 percent in the last. fiscal year. This, as the slumping Japanese economy is forcing many firms to dump bad assets, including investments in the United States. This, say some, might even impact on imported ham radio gear. A survey by a leading Japanese financial newspaper of 1,744 listed companies shows that net profits for fiscal 1997 nose-dived 24.5 percent. Non-manufacturing businesses were in particularly bad shape. Their net profits fell 51.5 percent in the fiscal year that ended March 31. This is both good news and bad news for the domestic U.S. buyer of ham radio gear. As the Yen and dollar continue to collide, prices will continue to drop. The downside is that the slide cannot go on forever. It means lower and lower profits that can reach a point where there is no profit at all. At that point some companies might decide to withdraw from the North American market, eventually drying up the supply of new gear available to hams.

Five year old YL passes element 1A.

A New Jersey pre-teen is on her way to becoming the nations youngest ham radio operator. On Saturday, April 25, Ashley Kopacki, age 5, passed her 5 word per minute Morse code test at an ARRL VEC administered examination session hosted by the County Line Amateur Radio Club. Ashley is a kindergarten student in Mount Olive, New Jersey. She frequently attends radio club meetings with her father Dave Kopacki, KF2EW. There, she helps with the sign-in sheets, and is Official Cookie Taster. Ashley now has a year to study for the Novice written exam.

92 year old CW test.

Congratulations to British amateur Les Breeze, 2E1FXS who has become the oldest known U.K. citizen. to pass a 5 word per minute Morse code test. It was even more of a challenge for Breeze because he is blind. He was assisted in learning the code by his wife Doreen who is not a ham but studied with him in order to help him understand the code. But Les Breeze is not finished yet. He has announced his intention to study the code and theory so he can upgrade to a full privilege U.K. Class A license.

LMCC demands 70 cm ham band for commercial use.

The Land Mobile Communications Council has issued a demand to the FCC that it immediately reallocate of most of the 70 centimeter Amateur band over to private mobile operations with private land mobile designated as the. primary user. Technically the document is nothing more than a formal rule making request to the FCC that has been designated RM 9267. In reality it is more a demand by the LMCC for the FCC to immediately reallocate 420 to 430 MHZ and 440 to 450 MHZ away from the federal government and over to the Private Mobile Radio Service on a primary basis. The Land Mobile Communications Council is also asking for news allocations at 1390-1400 MHZ, 1427-1432 MHZ, and 1670-1675 MHZ. It is also demanding a walloping 85 MHZ at 960-1215 MHZ and it wants all of this turned over to the Private Mobile Radio Service no later than 2010. But LMCC is not willing to wait until 2010 to take over the 70 centimeter band even though this is the second most popular of the Amateur radio services' VHF and UHF allocations. Amateur Radio is a secondary user of 420-450 MHZ. There are thousands of FM repeaters operating from 440 to 450 MHZ and a variety of modes on the air every day in the 420-430 MHZ segment. While the Land Mobile Communications Council petition indicates that it is willing to permit Amateur Radio to retain some sort of secondary status, this would be only on a non-interfering basis with the new commercial. interests. Experts say that the best way to kill RM 9267 is though a massive letter writing campaign to the FCC. A campaign that outlines the specific use of the band by Amateur Radio Interests -- informational filings that detail how every hertz of 420-430 and 440-450 MHZ is utilized on a day to day. bsis by hams. The commentary cutoff date on RM 9267 is June 1st. This leaves precious little time for radio amateurs around the nation to react. Those responding. must be certain to reference RM 9267 at the top of your letter. Send comments to the:

Secretary
FCC
Washington DC 20554

Again, that's June 1st as the commentary cutoff date on RM 9267.

RSGB on Morse. The Radio Society of Great Britain says that it no longer supports mandatory Morse code testing for access to the amateur bands below 30 MHZ. This according to several sources in the U.K. who tell Newsline that the national society will lobby the International Amateur Radio Union to try to. get a rules change passed at the 2001 World Radio Conference to support the abandonment of the international statutory requirement for a Morse testing. The change in policy by the RSGB comes only eighteen months after its December 1996 announcement of the results of a survey on The Future of Amateur Radio in that nation. At that time, thirty percent of the societies members responded. Two-thirds said that Morse code should remain as an international licensing requirement. And that's not all. These same sources say that the RSGB will propose to the nations Radiocommunications Agency that a new class of ham license be introduced in the United Kingdom. One that will give all amateurs access to. the HF bands below 30 MHZ by passing a very simple slow speed CW test. Possibly as slow as five word per minute. Word is that the nations Radiocommunications Agency supports this proposal.

Verbal Morse.

The Morse code has a new group of supporters in military circles but not the kind you might expect or want. Australia's Q-News reports that radio operators that are believed to be members of the Southern Sudan Peoples Liberation Army have been heard on the 40 meter ham band. What they are doing is sending messages by vocalizing the Morse code in both English and Sudanese local languages. According to VK2EA, the pirate operators are actually speaking each dot and dash. Presumably they think its giving them a measure of military security.

PRESIDENT'S CORNER

Field Day is upon us and we still need helpers. Our big need is help with the food for the Saturday night picnic. If you haven't signed up to help please try to do so at the next meeting or call Mike KE6MDW. You voted to buy a Gin pole and Dick N6AD and Larry KM6IU will be making this purchase. The board has appointed Dick and Larry to head the committee that will oversee the Gin pole use. The Gin Pole is here and if you need to use it you may contact Dick or Larry and they will help you.

So you can mark your calendars the club meeting in June is the third Friday since the fourth weekend is field day.

There is a new try to get some of our frequencies again. This time it is on the 70 cm band. Please take up your pen and write the FCC at this time there is no on line way to do this.

I would like to encourage all members to participate in the Thursday night net. I know we are all have things to do but there must be more interested than the 3 or 4 that check in each week. We have more guest checkins than club members lately. A big thank you to those who have been willing to be net control it is appreciated.

Vote on the FARS Constitution and By Laws at the May Meeting

In order to have time for Mikel's presentation, please, please, read and understand the following mark-ups before the meeting. We worked very hard on updating the Constitution and by-laws of the club. Some of the wording was out of date. Some of the rules and procedures have not been observed for years. The spelling was interesting. Items which are underlined are to be deleted; Items which are italicized are to be added. Corrected spelling and grammar errors are not noted.

FARS CONSTITUTION

We the undersigned, wishing to secure for ourselves the pleasures and benefits of association with persons interested in Amateur Radio and wishing to demonstrate Amateur Radio to the public, constitute ourselves "The Foothills Amateur Radio Society". It shall be our purpose to further the exchange of information; to encourage cooperation between members; to advance radio knowledge; to encourage fraternalism; to improve individual operating efficiency; to conduct classes in code and radio theory; and to have programs and activities designed to advance the general interest and further the welfare of Amateur Radio in the community.

ARTICLE I: MEMBERSHIP

All persons interested in amateur radio communications shall be eligible for membership.

Membership shall be by application and election according to the terms provided for in the by-laws.

ARTICLE II: OFFICERS

Section 1: The officers of the club shall be: President, Vice President; Secretary; Treasurer; Training Officer ,Radio Officer, and Relay Editor.

Section 2: The officers of this club shall be elected for a term of one year as provided for in the by-laws.

Section 3: Officers may be removed by a three-fourths vote of the membership as provided for in the by-laws.

ARTICLE III: BOARD OF DIRECTORS

The Board of Directors shall consist of all the elected officers, the immediate past President, and at least one elected member-at-large as provided for in the by-laws.

Section 1: The Board of Directors shall recommend policy and take action on matters concerning the club.

ARTICLE IV: MEETINGS

The by-laws shall provide for regular and special meetings.

ARTICLE V: CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS

Proposals for amendments shall be submitted at a regular meeting in writing and signed by 10% of the club membership in good standing. The proposal shall be voted on at the next regular meeting, provided all members have been notified by mail of the intent to amend the Constitution two weeks prior to said meeting. The Constitution may be amended by approval of two -thirds of those members voting in person or by proxy.

Constitution amended and approved by the membership October 2nd, 1987.

Constitution amended and approved by the membership May 1998

FARS-BY LAWS

ARTICLE 1: OFFICERS

Section 1: The officers of the club shall be: President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, Relay-Editor, Radio Officer, and Training Officer.

Section 2: Officers shall be elected by the membership at the November meeting; installed at the December meeting and take office on January 1st. for a term of one calendar year.

Section 3: Votes for officers may be cast by proxy or in person. Proxy votes must be received by the club secretary prior to the voting in order to be counted.

Section 4: In the event an office is vacated, the Board of Directors shall appoint a replacement at the next Board meeting to fill the unexpired term.

Section 5: Proceedings to remove an officer are initiated by a written request submitted at a regular meeting and signed by at least 10% of the club membership. The proposal shall be voted on at the next regular meeting, provided all members have been notified by mail of the removal proceedings at least two weeks prior to said meeting. Any officer may be removed by approval of 3/4 of those voting in person or by proxy.

ARTICLE II: DUTIES OF OFFICERS

Section 1: The President shall preside at all club meetings; observe and enforce the Constitution and by-laws; decide questions of order; sign all official documents; and perform other duties customary to his office.

Section 2: The Vice President shall assume the duties of the President in his absence as well as those assigned. He shall in addition be responsible for planning the program for the club meetings.

Section 3: The Secretary shall keep a record of the proceedings of all meetings; keep a roll of members; submit applications for membership to the Board of Directors; carry on all correspondence; read communications at the appropriate meetings; and ensure that the membership is notified of meetings, voting, removal proceedings and other special events as specified in the Constitution and by-laws.

Section 4: The Treasurer shall receive and receipt all moneys paid to the club; he shall keep an accurate account of all moneys received and expended. He shall expend only those moneys authorized by the membership or Board of Directors. At the end of each quarter he shall submit an itemized statement of disbursements and receipts to the Board of Directors.

Section 5: The training officer shall conduct classes in code, radio theory and any other training deemed necessary by the membership.

Section 6: The Radio Officer shall have control over the operation and maintenance of the club station. He shall ensure that operation is consistent with the wishes of the Station Trustee policies of the board and the rules and regulations of the FCC. He shall establish operating rules to govern the use of the station and determine that those operating the station are qualified in the use of the equipment and understand the rules and regulations which govern its operation.

Section 7; Each officer shall maintain records appropriate to his duties which will form a history of the club; serve to assist incoming officers; and form the basis of the Annual Report. These records shall be given to the incoming officers no latter than January 1 of each year.

ARTICLE III BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Section 1: The Board shall comprise: The club officers, the immediate past President, three or more members-at-large and the Station Trustee.

Section 2 The members-at-large shall be elected to a three year term. one shall rotate off each year. The latter shall be replaced by a vote They shall be voted on by a vote of the membership at the Annual meeting according the practices relating to the election of officers as specified in these by-laws, Article !, Section 2 and 3.

Section 3: The Station Trustee shall be either one of the club officers or a member-at-large.

Section 4: Officers of the Board shall be the same as the officers of the club and shall carry their duties as specified in these by-laws.

Section 5: The Board shall recommend policy and take action on club matters. A 12 month calendar shall be prepared by the incoming Board and presented to the membership no later than the February meeting.

The board shall prepare and present a budget by the March meeting.

Section 6: The Board shall meet at least every other month during the year to conduct club business. No business shall be conducted unless a quorum is present. A quorum shall be 1/2 of the members of the Board.

Section 7: In the event that the term of a Board Member-at-large will not be completed, the President shall call for nominations from the membership at the next regular meeting. The vote will be taken at the following regular meeting according to the practices related to the election of officers as specified in these by-laws, Article I, Sections 2 and 3. The term shall be the unexpired term of the vacated position.

Section 8: The maximum the Board may expand on any single item without the approval of the general membership shall be limited to $150.00.$250. The Board shall be empowered to authorize expenditures that exceed the above amount in the special circumstances set forth below:

• Editor of Relay may be advanced postage.
• Normal advances for Flea Market.
• Normal advances for Field Day.

ARTICLE IV: CLUB MEETINGS

Section 1: Regular meetings of the club shall be held each month.

Section 2: Special meetings may be called by the President or The Board of Directors. or upon written request of not less than five members to the President or Board of Directors.

Section 3: The Annual Meeting shall be held the first Friday in Novemberat the regular November meeting and shall be for the purpose of electing the club officers, and one or more members- at-large in a manner specified in Articles I and II of these By- Laws. Such other business as may properly come before the meeting under the club's regular order of business may in addition be enacted.

Section 5: The order of business in regular meetings of the club, except at the Annual Meeting shall be in general as follows:

a. Call to order by the President

b. Reading of the minutes and their approval.

c. Reading of communications and correspondence.

d. Treasurer's report.

e. Board of Director's report

f. Committee reports.

g. Unfinished business.

h. New business.

i. Announcements

j. Installation of officers at the December meeting.

k. Adjournment.

l. Club program

Section 6: The order of business at the Annual Meeting shall in general be:

a. Call to order by the President.

b. Reading of the minutes and their approval.

c. Summary of communications and correspondence.

d. Written Annual reports from:

1. The Board of Directors

2. The Club Treasurer.

e. Election of officers a and members-at-large.

f. Announcements

g. Adjournment

h. Club Program.

ARTICLE V: AMENDMENTS TO THE BY-LAWS

SECTION 1. Proposals for amendments shall be submitted at a regular meeting in writing and signed by 10% of the club membership, or may be recommended by the board of directors. The proposal shall be voted on at the next regular meeting, provided all members have been notified by mail of the intent to amend these by-laws two weeks prior to said meeting. The by-laws may be amended by approval of a majority voting in person or by proxy. Proxies must be received by the Secretary prior to the vote.

ARTICLE VI: PARLIAMENTARY AUTHORITY

Section 1. The rules contained in the current edition of Robert's Rules of Order shall be the authority in all cases not covered in these By- Laws.

ARTICLE VII: MEMBERSHIP AND DUES

Section 1: All persons interested in amateur radio shall be eligible for membership. All members shall have full voting privileges. Members prior to June 18 , 1973 shall be designated Charter Members.

Section 2: The President, Radio Officer and 51% of the membership shall be licensed radio amateurs. Membership shall be temporarily closed to non-licensed radio amateurs at such times as the membership would be less than 51% licensed radio amateurs, when counting the prospective member.

Section 3: Any prospective member may apply for membership at his first meeting. Applications will be considered by the Board at its next meeting. A majority vote at the Board of Directors meeting shall be required to approve application for membership.

Section 4: Dues and an initiation fee shall be paid upon application for membership. These shall be returned if the application is not accepted.Dues for new members shall be prorated on a quarterly basis through the third quarter thereafter the full membership will be charged and will cover the following year.

Section 5: Dues shall be payable on January 1 for the ensuing year. Any member who fails to pay his their dues by March 31 shall, at the discretion of the Board of Directors, be dropped from membership.

Section 6: The dues and initiation fee shall be determined by the members at a regular meeting.

Section 7: A member who is dropped from membership for failure to pay his their dues, will be reinstated with full privileges, if his their dues are paid in full within the same calendar year in which he is dropped. Thereafter, he they shall be considered to be a prospective member and Sections 3 and 4 of this article shall apply.

Section 8: Family membership shall be available to members who reside at the same address as follows:

• One member of the family shall pay the full yearly dues or prorated as appropriate.
• Additional members of the family shall each pay yearly dues as determined by the membership at a regular meeting.
• The full initiation fee shall be paid by each and every family member if appropriate.
• Full membership privileges are granted to each family member.
• One copy of the FARS RELAY and other material shall be mailed to the family.

ARTICLE VIII: COMMITTEES

Section 1: The club shall have those committees which are necessary for the operation of the club affairs. Committees and their chairman shall be appointed and removed by the President as required.

FOOTHILLS AMATEUR RADIO CLUB.

By-Laws: Amended and approved by the membership on October 2, 1987. Amended and approved by the membership on July 7, 1989. Amended and approved by the membership in May 1998

Underlined material will be removed and material in italics are the changes to be made This is a copy of the by -laws that will be voted on at the meeting.

TWO DIGITS FOR A DATE

This song seems to have been written by Felecia Vlahos at Emory University in Atlanta. It was sent through several people by email and finally got to Dennis, KC6PUN. Dennis has been sharing it.

TWO DIGITS FOR A DATE
(to the tune of "Gilligan's Island," more or less)

Just sit right back and you'll hear a tale
Of the doom that is our fate.
That started when programmers used
Two digits for a date.
Two digits for a date.

Main memory was smaller then;
Hard disks were smaller, too.
"Four digits are extravagant,
So let's get by with two.
So let's get by with two."

"This works through 1999,"
The programmers did say.
"Unless we rewrite before that
It all will go away.
It all will go away."

But Management had not a clue:
"It works fine now, you bet!
A rewrite is a straight expense;
We won't do it just yet.
We won't do it just yet."

Now when 2000 rolls around
It all goes straight to hell,
For zero is less than ninety-nine,
As anyone can tell.
As anyone can tell.

The mail won't bring your pension check
It won't be sent to you
When you're no longer sixty-eight,
But minus thirty-two.
But minus thirty-two.

The problems we're about to face
Are frightening, it's for sure.
And reading every line of code is
The only certain cure.
The only certain cure.

[key change, big finish]

There's not much time,
There's too much code.
(And Cobol-coders, few)
When the century is finished with,
We may be finished, too.
We may be finished, too.

Eight thousand years from now I hope
That things weren't left too late,
And people aren't then lamenting
Four digits for a date.
Four digits for a date.

How to get to meetings:

(Visitors always welcome)

FARS meets at the Covington School District building, 201 Covington Road, Los Altos. Take the El Monte exit (The same exit as for the Foothill Fleamarket) off of I-280 and go East on El Monte. Cross Foothill Expressway and turn right at the next light on to Covington (Note Saint William church on corner). Stay to your left as the road forks. Just past the fork, turn left into the school parking lot. Walk through the center hallway and turn right. The meeting room is the first door on the left. Talk in on 145.23 or 145.27, negative offset, 100 PL.