Hear Ye, Hear Ye, Hear Ye, come one come all, the Roosters are gathering in the historical Valley Forge Area June 14th through 16th. Washington made history here and we would like you to join in on "Rooster" history. We want this years gathering to surpass all prior events and to do that we need YOU!! We need an overwhelming turnout of all the new crow-ins, prospective candidates, and all of you Roosters from years gone by that make up our membership roster. Reserve these dates for the "time of your life." There is something for everyone. The McIntosh Inn in King of Prussia will again be the hotel of choice; Jim K3CHJ has made the arrangements. You should call directly to make your reservations as soon as possible. The special group rate should be requested by identifying you as part of the "Rooster Picnic", Group #1167-Rooster Picnic. Room rate per day is $74.00 single or double. The toll free number is 1-800-444-2775 or the direct number is 610-768-9500. Other hotels in the King of Prussia area are Motel 6 (1-800-466-8356), and the Holiday Inn (1-800-465- 4329). Our opening event is scheduled for 8 P.M. on Thursday, June 14th on top of Valley Forge Mountain with our host and hostess, Fred, W3PHL and Bobbie, WB3EAO. It is a time to meet and greet friends, make new acquaintances and renew old friendships. Fred and Bobbie graciously supply the refreshments and we would like to say thanks for the hospitality by having a great attendance. Talk in frequencies for 2-meters are 146.76 and 147.21. Friday begins with tee-off time at 7:30 AM for all the golfers. You don't have to be a "tiger" to come out and enjoy the companionship of your fellow Roosters and take advantage of the great outdoors. Even if you're not playing golf, come out to wish the golfers well and enjoy breakfast prior to tee-off. Jim, K3CHJ, chose Twin Ponds for the course again this year. Golfers feel free to organize your foursomes or come out to the course to team up with other Roosters. (Green fees are $20.00, $10.00 for half a cart and a $1.00 discount for seniors. Fees will not be collected in advance; they will be payable at the course on the 15th.) For all the "Damsels in Waiting" for the evening festivities and their husbands to return from golf, a trip to the King of Prussia Mall might be in order. If you are staying at the McIntosh Inn, you may want to car-pool with the other interested folks. A new Friday afternoon event, the gathering at The Chief Rooster, Walt and Donna's, home in King of Prussia, was started in 2000. This gathering is scheduled for 1:30 PM till 4:00PM. If you didn't attend last year you missed a great afternoon with an abundance of wonderful food, drinks, tour of the Gardens and a casual relaxing afternoon with great conversation and companionship. This year the gardens will be in June bloom and it promise to be beautiful. Come join us!!! Our formal activity is scheduled for Friday evening at 6:00- 7:00 for Happy Hour (cash bar) to accommodate an earlier and more convenient time for all to enjoy our annual banquet. This year we will be dining at the Westover Country Club located in Jeffersonville. Our goal is to keep the cost down, but not sacrifice the quality of the food. We also want to cut down on the driving hazards. Dinner will be served at 7:00. Please indicate your selection on the following page with your name, call sign and names of any guests and choice of entrée. All reservations for the banquet should be received no later than June 7th. We will only be able to accommodate a very few additional reservations on the 15th. Dress once again will be jacket and tie for the gentlemen and appropriate attire for our ladies. You have a choice of either entrée at a price of $21.00; each will be served with a fruit cup appetizer, roasted red potatoes, vegetable medley, and dessert. A cash bar will be available. Choice A: Chicken Florentine Stuffed with spinach, ricotta and Parmesan cheese. Served with a light cream sauce. Choice B: Hand Carved Sirloin of Beef Topped with Wild Mushroom Sauce The really big event that we've all have been waiting for will be at it usual location, the Valley Forge Volunteer Fire Company Picnic Grounds. All you eager beavers that want to get there early (8:00 A.M.) can lend Myrtle and Glenn a hand in the set-up process (donuts will be provided for the workers). Picnic chairman this year is Hal, K3ATO, Rooster No. 53 and he promises a good time will be had by all. The fun is scheduled to start at 9:30 and continues till 4 P.M. This year we have made some menu changes which we are sure you will enjoy. We will still have the hotdogs for those who need something to hold them over till the big spread is served. Again, as in the past, Paul, WD4EBA, will set-up a table for any unwanted radio item that you bring along for "free shopping". There will also be a table of Rooster items (tee shirts, hats and pins) for purchasing. Paul, N3CYO and his wife Carolyn will run the prize table, for which we are always looking for worthy prizes. And of course, on the agenda is the annual Crow-In, the horseshoe tournament, the always fun Rooster Photo and the 50/50 drawing (to help defray some of the weekend's costs) will be held. The Rooster of the Year will be announced and we will discuss upcoming events. Once again the cost for the day of food and fun is $13.00; children under twelve are $3.00. Please indicate on the Reservation Sheet the number of reservations and indicate children. Fred, W3PHL, requests that you to bring your QSL Cards to the picnic for the photo board. We promise a fun filled weekend with most of your time spent with great conversation, companionship, and a chance to get to see faces associated with those call signs. Help us make history in the new century. Come out and enjoy. NEWS from the Rooster Board of Advisors Meeting ----------------------------------------------- The status of the Rooster Net was discussed and we want to reemphasize to all that the Rooster Net is a social radio group and is not a philanthropic organization. The Advisors unanimously decided that the Net would retain its status as a social group. In light of that decision, the Advisors voted to dissolve the Admiral Ramage Memorial Fund and recommended contributing the funds to the USS Ramage Health and Welfare Fund in memory of the Admiral. No additional funds are to be submitted to Jay. You will still be able to honor Silent Keys by submitting the request and donation to the general fund and the name will be added to the mast. There will be a memorial plaque with nameplates for all Silent Keys to be displayed at Rooster events. In addition, the Net will not consider incorporation at this time, it will discussed at future annual Board of Advisors Meetings if deemed appropriate. We welcome your thoughts. Please share your ideas with any advisor at the Rooster Picnic. See you then! Walt, WA3PPW, Chief Rooster DIRECTIONS ---------- McINTOSH INN, KING OF PRUSSIA FROM THE PA TURNPIKE (I-76) - use exit #24 and take the Rt. 202 North, third exit about ½ mile from tollbooth. Get into the left lane, 202 will split with the left lane turning left onto North Gulph Road. Proceed on N. Gulph through two lights. The entrance to the McIntosh is just past Denny's restaurant on the right FROM I-95 NORTH - Take I-95 N to I-476, which is just past Chester, PA. Take I-476 about 15 miles to, I-76. Take I-76 West about 4 miles (4 exits - Gulph Mills, 202 N, 202 S, and Mall Blvd) to the Mall Blvd exit. It is the next exit past 202 South. Don't miss the Mall Exit: stay to the right when the road splits (the left fork goes to the PA Turnpike.) When you take the Mall exit you will come to a light right away. This will be Mall Blvd. Make a right and go a couple hundred feet and make a right onto Pulaski Dr. to the back of the McIntosh Inn. THURSDAY NIGHT GATHERING – at Fred (W3PHL) & Bobbie's (WB3EAO) FROM THE McINTOSH INN, KING OF PRUSSIA –Turn right onto N. Gulph Rd. At the sixth light, N. Gulph Rd becomes Rt. 23 West. Continue on 23 West through Valley Forge Park and the Village of Valley Forge, past the Freedom Foundation, to the second light. Turn left at the second traffic light onto Country Club Road & continue about 2 miles to a left onto Horseshoe Trail at top of hill. (If you start down the hill you went too far. You may have to pass this handmade sign and look back to see it since it only indicates the street on one side of the sign). The house is the first one up the hill on the left. Park in the street rather than the driveway. TWIN PONDS GOLF COURSE FROM THE McINTOSH INN, KING OF PRUSSIA - turn right onto N. Gulph Rd. At the sixth light turn right onto Rt. 23 East; take the second right turn into a 360-degree entrance ramp for Rt. 422 West. Remain on Rt. 422 West for approx. 19½ miles to the Route 100 North (Allentown) exit. Continue on Rt. 100 North for 3½ miles to the Farmington Avenue exit. Turn right and go to the traffic light. Take the hard left (almost 180°) onto Gilbertsville Rd. The clubhouse is a large white building with a red roof about 1½ miles on your right. Drive time about 45 min. FRIDAY AFTERNOON GATHERING – at Walt (WA3PPW) & Donna's FROM THE McINTOSH INN, KING OF PRUSSIA - turn right onto N. Gulph Rd. At the sixth light turn right onto Rt. 23 East. Go east on 23 to the third light. Stay on Rt. 23, turn left to next light, about one block. Turn right at the light, you are still on 23. Go to next light, Henderson Road, and make a left onto Henderson Road. Go down the hill about 3 blocks and there will be a large Rooster on the right. Go one block and turn left onto Robin. Go to the dead-end (one short block) and turn right onto Hidden Valley Road. We are the fifth house on the right, 677 Hidden Valley Road. The phone number is 610- 337-2198. FROM RT. 202 NORTH AND SOUTH - go to Henderson Road North. You pass the Hilton, then a cemetery. Make a left at light. Southbound go to Henderson, past a Hess gas station on right, next light turn right. Continue on Henderson approximately ½ mile. (There's a new light at the WAWA & the car wash. It should only be blinking. Just continue to the next light at the top of the hill.) Continue on Henderson down the hill about 3 blocks and there will be a large Rooster on the right. Go one block and turn left onto Robin. Go to the dead-end (one short block) and turn right onto Hidden Valley Road. We are the fifth house on the right, 677 Hidden Valley Road. The phone number is 610- 337-2198. FROM 422 EAST - go over Betzwood Bridge, take the first exit, make a left at the top of the ramp, and go east on Rt. 23 to the second light. Stay on Rt. 23, turn left to next light, about one block. Turn right at the light, you are still on 23. Go to next light, Henderson Road, and make a left onto Henderson Road. Go down the hill about 3 blocks and there will be a large Rooster on the right. Go one block and turn left onto Robin. Go to the dead-end (one short block) and turn right onto Hidden Valley Road. We are the fifth house on the right, 677 Hidden Valley Road. The phone number is 610-337-2198. WESTOVER COUNTRY CLUB – Jeffersonville, PA Approximate time 15-20 Minutes FROM THE McINTOSH INN, KING OF PRUSSIA - to Route 23 (see the golf course directions) turn onto Route 422 West. Take 422 W. to the first exit "363 North" to "Audubon, Trooper". On Trooper Rd (Rt. 363) go 5 traffic lights (approximately 1.6 miles) make a right onto Egypt Road. On Egypt Road go 2 traffic lights (1.2 miles) bear right onto Main Street (Don't make the hard right turn). On Main Street go 1 traffic light (.2 miles) make right onto Schuylkill Avenue. On S. Schuylkill Avenue go .6 miles make a right into the Club drive, parking is at the top of the grade with the banquet entrance at the left end of the building. ROOSTER PICNIC FROM THE PA TURNPIKE (I-76), use tollbooth on the far right side, take the first off-ramp to N. Gulph Road, pass Park Ridge Hotel and continue straight ahead. At the fifth light N. Gulph Rd. will become Rt. 23 west. Continue on Rt. 23 west through Valley Forge Park. The Valley Forge Post Office is on the right, immediately look for the left turn for Valley Park Rd. Turn left onto Valley Park Rd., the entrance to the picnic grounds is on the right side of the Valley Forge Fire Co. parking lot. FROM THE McINTOSH INN, KING OF PRUSSIA - turn right onto North Gulph Rd. At the sixth light, N. Gulph Rd becomes Rt. 23 West. Continue on Rt. 23 West through Valley Forge Park. After passing the VF Post Office, immediately look for the left turn for Valley Park Rd. Turn left onto Valley Park Rd.; the entrance to the picnic grounds is on the right of the Valley Forge Fire Co. parking lot. Drive time about 15 min. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- PLEASE SUBMIT YOUR RESERVATIONS BY JUNE 7, 2001 Name: _____________________________ Call Sign: ____________________ Guests' Names: _______________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________ _______ Number of Picnic Reservations @ $13.00 $_____________ _______ Number of Children Picnic Reservations @ $3.00 $_____________ All Dinner Costs $21.00 _______ Number of Entrée A - Chicken $_____________ _______ Number of Entrée B – Beef $_____________ TOTAL $_____________ If you're planning to golf, please indicate how many people _________ Checks are to be made payable to "The Rooster Net" and submitted with this reservation sheet to me at the following address: WALT SHARRAR, WA3PPW 677 Hidden Valley Road King of Prussia, PA 19406