BOARD MEETING MINUTES – December 19, 2019

Stillwater Amateur Radio Association

1618 Pine Street West

Stillwater, Minnesota 55082

Roll Call of Officers – All present save N9TOW and W0GAF.

President: Joe KCØOIO

The meeting was called to order at 6:00 PM.

Secretary’s Report – Collin KE0IYN

Meeting minutes have been posted.

​Treasurer’s Report – Rich ADØSN

Beginning Balance      11/1/2019                   $2,976.09

Income                                                                  $478.00

Expenses                                                                   $465.99

Ending Balance           11/31/2019                 $2,988.10 (Not including RBP income/expenses)

$17,201.25 (Including RBP income/expenses)

Trustee’s Report – Shel NØDRX

Money was spent for the 2020 liability insurance.  Boutwell’s landing is taken care of for poinsettias.  At the november meeting the January through May Boutwell’s reservations were only verbal, but have since been settled and formally finalized.  Still talking on the VE session.  Also, with the repeater move, need to get a report back to the Repeater Council.  Doug can update on items for it.

Reports of Committees:

Activities & Events:  Dave WØOXB

Ice Station W0JH – This was discussed and will be held February 15-17, 2020.  Will be promoting YOTA, youth on the air.

Discussion was had on the opening event for the Stillwater Lift Bridge Trail.  Dough Plunkett had been contacted for radio support for the event.

MAP:  Dave WØOXB

In an effort to plan for MAP projects this year Dave has produced a Project Request & Planning Form that will help prioritize who needs help with a project, what the project is, have the project materials been ordered, how many volunteers are needed, and what the timing is for the project.  Dave also emphasized that MAP is not just for putting up antennas but can include a multitude of other assistance with ham radio projects.

Meetings & Programs – Joe KCØOIO

December:      Rally Racing – Joe Hibberd

January:         SWEEP

March:            The Art of QSL Cards – Randy KD0VKB

April:               Mini-tailgate?

May:

Future Ideas:  RPi digital stations; Special interest clubs, SKCC (Straight Key Century Club), County Hunters, QCWA (Quarter Century Wireless Assoc.), 070, OMISS (Old Man International Sideband Society), YLRL (Young Ladies Radio League), Diagnostic tools – analyzers, DMMs, and other gizmos, Propagation-Can I get there from here?, Station grounding, Tuners-Manual vs. Automatic and Care & Feeding, Setting Up Your Shack, New Technicians – Here’s what you can do now.

Room Reservations – John N5JLZ

AN issue getting the room for Skywarn, so it’s now on the 29th of February instead of 22nd – so two days after start of Tech class.

Eyeball Sessions – Tech Nights

January 2nd will be a night for GridTracker with WSJTX

Radios in the Park – tentative dates for 2020 are: May 21 (New Ham Night), June 11, July 2, July 23, August 13, and September 3

Future ideas – Tune a Duplexer N9TOW, Using Toroids to reduce noise and RFI, Learning CW and Building Speed WØGAF, Diagnostic Tools – Using an Oscilloscope, Hand tools for your workbench, How to read the Solar Reports, The “Tech” in Technician, Antenna Lab – Theory & Design Discussions, and SWR Bridge calibration.

Education & Training – Bob WØGAF (not present)

Tech Class 2020 starts Feb 27, 2020

Skywarn is planned for February 29, 2020

VE Team – Shel NØDRX

Deferred to March.

New Ham Resource Group – Brian NØBJE, Holly KEØRZZ, Mark KEØQQN

An HF loaner kit is being set up using the IC-718 from KD0OTB’s equipment.

Newsletter & Website – Pat WAØTDA, Dave WØOXB and Holly KEØRZZ

Deadline for Jan 2nd with publishing by Jan 7th.

Nets & Roundtables

Nets are going fine so far.  The digital net has returned.

Repeater – Henry KØHAS & Shel NØDRX & Doug N9TOW

Site visit for tune-up and antenna switch by Dough N9tOW, Dave W0OXB, and Nate KB0UXV.  Sounding fantastic since switching to another antenna higher up.  A jumper is in place and it’s working well, but we will need a new polyphaser.

A request has come up to put us back on CTCSS.  Doug and Henry will discuss this possibility.

A new future site is needed, 3 to 5 years from now, pending the 2029 King Plant planned shutdown.

Remote Bases Technical Committee

All committee members – Pat WAØTDA, Keith AGØH, Eliot KEØN, Bill NØCIC, and Henry KØHAS.

The computer at W0EQO failed, but with a replaced power supply it is back up and online.  The replacement cost $64.41.  Purchase of two computers as specified by WA0TDA is forthcoming.

Builders Group

Nothing new.

Unfinished Business

Solar Controller for Trailer – WWMR Epic PWRGate  was ordered, final cost $168.33 with $35 holiday savings.

Scout Camp Radio funding request to membership – Brian N0BJE – Deferred to January.

YOTA – Maybe join in on with NHH on finding what youth do/don’t have regarding HF privileges and capabilities.

2020 Election of Officers – Nominated at December meeting ,election in January.  President KC0OIO, Vice President W0GAF, Secretary Dave Iverson N9JNQ, Treasurer Rich AD0SN, with director tossup for actual election between Doug N9TOW and Zach AA0U.

AG0H Keith will conduct an annual audit of the books in January 2020.

Replacement headphones and cables – Bob tested one that was an idea and sent it back the next day as extremely uncomfortable to wear after 10 minutes.  Dan motioned to order and try a pair of the recommended Yamaha headphones as well, with Collin seconding.  Motion passed unanimously.  The model is the CM-500.

New Business

Complimentary memberships have been approved for Mayor Rudy, Bill N0CIC, Ryc Lyden KD0ZWM, and Nate Timm KB0UXV.  Joe motioned with SHel seconding and passed unanimously.

KD0OTB Estate Sale – equipment was picked up and is available for uses.  For the club, a VX6R with ICOM V-85 to be paired as an emergency operations HT kit in the trailer.  The IC-718, SEC1223 power supply, MFJ-949E tuner, EFHW antenna, and 60ft RG8U coax are available for new ham help.   Available for sale at some point with be the FT897, FT2900, Telequipment oscilloscope, Mastech digital bench supply, and miscellaneous accessories.  A Vibroplex keyer will be auctioned off to benefit New Ham Help.  Joe motions that the items sold from this benefit fund the New Ham Help program.  Dave suggest we do the same with Lou’s stuff and is approved.  It was recommended to make it a new accounting line item, and everyone agreed.

The meeting was adjourned at 7:13 PM.