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50 FOUR SEASONS BREEZE | AUGUST 2021 Hand Crank Emergency Radios Whenever go-kits or home emergency supplies are discussed, one of the first things suggested is a hand crank radio to monitor the weather. The chances are good that during an earthquake or fire, you could lose your power to your home or business. If you were evacuated you may have limited or no access to power. Having a radio to monitor the situation or weather could be critical. Your choice of radio may be dictated by some of the following: 1. The size of your battery. 2. The various ways besides hand cranking that it can be charged. 3. That it has a flashlight or an outlet to charge a cell phone. 4. Is the radio dust proof and waterproof? After a little research, it was determined that a good radio costs between $25-$60. If you pay below $25, it may not have enough features. If it costs more than $60, you may be paying for features that you do not use. Lithium-ion battery sizes range from 2000 mAh to 5000 mAh (milli Amp hour). In an area where solar charging is marginal, it might be worthwhile to get a bigger battery so that you can listen longer between charges. Besides a hand crank or solar cell, some radios can be charged by plugging into a wall outlet. Some other radios have battery backups featuring AA or AAA batteries. Radios without a solar cell built in may have a plug for utilizing an external solar panel. Most of the radios have three ways to keep them charged, but others have four or five. Ham radio operators are famous for carrying extra lithium-ion batteries. I am not sure if these batteries are available for these radios. I believe that almost all of these radios offer a flashlight. Some of them even offer an outlet to charge your cell phone. The most important features for use in the field is a radio that is dust proof and water proof. If Four Seasons residents take their time, they can get a good hand crank emergency radio. They might even wind up with more than one. We are a group of Hams and radio lobbyists who enjoy the radio arts and each others' friendship in our Four Seasons Amateur Radio Club. We conduct radio nets every Wednesday at 5:15 and 5:30 pm and we meet the last Friday of the month at 10 am. This month, we will be meeting on Aug. 27 in the RCN Conference Room. You're invited to join us and become a member! ~ Michael Mendoza, srmendoza@verizon.net and Jim Peterson, jim.k6jwp@gmail. com Radio Club The rainbow is a powerful symbol that represents beauty, balance, peace, and hope. As such, we believe it is a perfect representation for our group. We are residents of Four Seasons Beaumont who also happen to be gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgender. The rainbow is so perfect because it really fits our group's diversity in terms of race, gender, ages, and beliefs. While we strive to serve the interests of our members, we do welcome all supportive homeowners and encourage everyone to attend any of our functions. We believe you will enjoy our company. Everyone leads busy lives (even at our age!), and we often find it difficult to stay connected with our neighbors. Therefore, the Rainbow Group has monthly get-togethers on the fourth Thursday of each month, usually in the Game Room at The Lodge at 6 pm. Our next gathering is Aug. 26. Our monthly get-togethers are mostly informal social gatherings which give members an opportunity to meet new neighbors, catch up on member and community activities or news, and just chat — no stuffy agenda items, roll calls, minutes for us! If you are hungry, feel free to bring your own food items and adult beverages, or order from the Bistro. The Rainbow Group also hosts periodic gatherings for socializing (such as BBQs, potlucks, and holiday parties), LGBT- themed movie nights in The Lodge Theatre, and other events the group may sponsor. Maybe you would even like to suggest your own activity for the group — we are always open to new ideas. As of this writing, we are "back to normal," at least as far as limitations on our group's ability to meet. Our May meeting was well attended in the Ballroom and June was back in the Game Room. Both were so well attended that we may need to consider a change of venue. Stay tuned to our Facebook page or email for any changes. For info, please contact Dale at (951) 797-0364 or dalebeckes@gmail. com. ~ Dale Beckes Rainbow Group