BOARD MEETING MINUTES – December 15, 2021
BOARD MEETING MINUTES – December 15, 2021
Stillwater Amateur Radio Association
This was a Cisco Webex online meeting.
Roll Call of Officers – Present: Joe KCØOIO, Bob WØGAF, Zack AAØU, Shel NØDRX, Dave N9JNQ, Doug N9TOW; Excused absence: Rich ADØSN
President: Joe KCØOIO
The meeting was called to order at 6:36 pm.
Secretary’s Report – Dave N9JNQ
The November 2021 Board and Membership Meeting minutes can be found posted to the club website.
Treasurer’s Report – Rich ADØSN
Beginning Total Balance: 012/01/2021 $18,225.84
- SARA
Balance: $6,468.50
Income:
Expenses:
Ending Balance: 12/14/2021 $6,343.502
- RBF
Balance: $11,757.34
Income: $0.00
Expenses: $0.00
Ending Balance: 12/14/2021 $11,757.34
Ending Total Balance: 12/14/2021 $18,100.84
The income to the SARA fund represents dues collected in December through the 14th; expenses reflect the annual payment for liability insurance secured through ARRL ($200.00) and room rent at Boutwells Landing for monthly membership meetings through May 2022 ($125.00).
Trustee’s Report – Shel NØDRX
In response to an inquiry, Shel NØDRX clarified that the liability insurance covers the club for personal injury loss; it does not cover loss of club equipment.
Reports of Committees/Work Groups:
Website: Collin KEØIYN & Bob WØGAF
Joe KCØOIO reported that the website was off-line for a short period due to scheduled maintenance by the provider.
Activities & Events: Dave WØOXB
Ice Station Special Event – Dave WØOXB has been in discussion with Dave KØAIF, our location host on Lake Elmo, to firm up this event. It will take place Presidents’ Day weekend, February 19-21, 2022.
Dave WØOXB has been exploring the possibility of building a simple insulated floor, using one-by-twos, plywood, and foam insulation, for the Eskimo hut. His rough estimate is around $50.00 for construction. It is proposed to be built in four sections using one plywood sheet. The Board encouraged Dave to explore construction, and the associated cost, further.
Dave also noted that Eskimo has an insulated hut and wondered if the club hut could be retrofitted. While it is thought that materials to do so would not be readily available from Eskimo, Dave will give the company a call and inquire further.
M.A.P: Dave WØOXB
All quiet at the moment.
New Ham Resource Group – Brian NØBJE & Mark KEØQQN
Brian NØBJE reported that Rich ADØSN provided him with VHF/UHF radios donated by Pat WAØTDA for use of the club through the NHRG. These radios include three HTs and a mobile rig. Brian noted that none of the radios have DCS, which means they can not be used on the SARA repeater. Brian will give them out to members in need.
Brian also reported that plenty of the loaner equipment is currently out on loan. He also noted that he modified a too bag to be a tote for one of the Yaesu HTs, which he will pair up with a mobile antenna so that it can be used as a mobile set. Dave WØOXB said he could fix Brian up with a mag-mount.
Meetings & Programs – Joe KCØOIO
Monthly Meeting at Boutwells – Shel NØDRX has booked Boutwells through May 2022. Shel reported that the club received credit for the canceled December in-person meeting, and we can probably use up that credit for any VE session that is held this spring after the anticipated Tech class.
The annual White Elephant Exchange Party has been shifted to the January 8, 2022, as a result of the December meeting being canceled due to snow.
Joe KCØOIO thanked those who participated in the December virtual membership meeting program on POTA, the presentation went very well, especially when put together on short notice.
Tech Topic Thursday – Our speaker for the may 5, 2022, Tech Topic Thursday will be Tim Duffy K3LR with the topic “Coaxial Cable.” It was suggested that the club may want to pursue Ward Silver NØAX for a TTT discussion on grounding and bonding. Mike KFØCCL suggested a “Digital Modes Primer,” which Joe KCØOIO will lead for the January 6, 2022, session.
Thursday Eyeball QSO Party – Dan KFØIYF has secured the Stillwater Library meeting room through February 2022. The dates are: December 23, 30; January 13, 20, 27; February 10, 17, and 24.
Education and Training – Bob WØGAF
Joe KCØOIO and Bob WØGAF reported that the joint SARA/SEMARC Extra Class study group has been completed, with two participants (club member Craig WØGIB being one of them) having secured their Amateur Extra licenses, and two more are taking their tests in January. Thanks to Brian NØBM for is mentoring of the group. Brian attended most if not all of the sessions. It was a successful joint effort between the two clubs.
Bob is still looking at a SARA Tech class following the regular Spring schedule, when classes have roughly begun the last part of February/beginning of March. Bob is unaware at this time whether SkyWarn will be having an in-person training session or not. Bob will reach out to Dan KFØIYF about securing a room or rooms for the anticipated classes.
VE Team – Shel NØDRX
A VE session will be dependent upon the completion of the SARA Tech class and any possible graduates.
Newsletter – Pat WAØTDA, Dave WØOXB
The deadline for the January issue is December 31. Joe KCØOIO once again pointed out that we can not rely on just Joe, Pat, Shel, and Dave to churn out material for the newsletter. Some ideas/volunteers were bandied about.
Repeater – Henry KØHAS, Shel NØDRX, Doug N9TOW
The repeater is functioning fine at the moment. Nothing further to report.
Remote Bases Technical Committee – Pat WAØTDA
Joe KCØOIO reports that they are still working on the RFI issue on 40 meters at the WØEQO remote station. Bob WØGAF stated that he has always had RFI issues on 40 meters using the center-fed zepp antenna, so it is not unusual for them to have such troubles. They are able to avoid the RFI problem by running at lower power of 40 meters.
Unfinished Business
SARA Club Equipment Inventory – Dave N9JNQ has updated the inventory with the repeater information provided by Doug N9TOW and Zack AAØU. Dave will update the inventory that is currently on the SARA Google Drive. Due to weather conditions, a trailer inventory is not in the offing anytime too soon.
Slate of Club Officers for Election – Nominations for club officers were made at the December 11, 2021 membership meeting. Joe KCØOIO, Bob WØGAF, Dave N9JNQ, Rich ADØSN, and Brad VE3MXJ are on the slate unopposed.
Joe thanked Doug N9TOW for his four years as Director.
Joe also thanked Brad for stepping forward and accepting the nomination for Director. The club appreciates Brad’s willingness to give the club an international flavor. Merci Brad pour votre volenté d’être un directeur du club, et nous sommes impatients de travail avec vous.
New Business
Associate Members – Shel NØDRX noted that the club has five complimentary associate members on the roster. Complimentary associate members must be renewed each year under the club bylaws. The five complimentary associate members are:
- Mayor Rudy Rodriguez (our host at White Rock, SD)
- Nate Timm KBØUXV (helps the club with repeater and repeater location issues)
- Ryc Lyden KDØZWM (SEMARC president, a reciprocal grant of membership)
- Bill Jones NØCIC (provides maintenance to remote station WØEQO in Park Rapids, MN)
- Skip Jackson KSØJ (former ARRL Minnesota Section Manager)
Bob WØGAF made a motion to continue the complimentary associate memberships of the five individuals through the 2022 membership year; motion seconded by Dave N9JNQ; the motion passed unanimously.
Remembering the Edmund Fitzgerald Special Event – Shel NØDRX asked the Board to ratify that the dates for next year’s special event will be November 4 -6, 2022. That weekend will not conflict with the ARRL Worldwide SSB contest.
Dave N9JNQ made a motion to ratify that the next Edmund Fitzgerald Special Event will be held November 4-6, 2022,; the motion was seconded by Zack AAØU; the motion passed unanimously.
Shel reported that the DNR does not take reservations more than six months out, but he will contact Split Rock Lighthouse State Park to see if the club can be unofficially penciled in for these days.
Dave WØOXB would like to ask if it is possible to operate for a period from the lighthouse. Inquiries will be made.
Webex Subscription – Discussion was had regarding switching from Webex for meetings to Zoom. The experience of using Zoom for the Bob Heil TTT was good, and the price is a bit cheaper than Webex (Webex is currently $15.00 per month; Zoom runs $150.00 per year). Bob WØGAF noted that Zoom can be easily streamed on YouTube, and it is automatically recorded on that platform. As the current Webex subscription expires in May 2022, further discussion will be had at a future Board meeting closer to the date.
Bob WØGAF made a motion to adjoin the meeting; the motion was seconded by Dave N9JNQ; the motion passed unanimously. The meeting was adjourned at 7:36 pm.