BOARD MEETING MINUTES – February 15, 2023
BOARD MEETING MINUTES – February 15, 2023
Stillwater Amateur Radio Association
This was a Zoom online meeting.
Roll Call of Officers – Present: Joe KCØOIO, Bob WØGAF, Shel NØDRX, Dave N9JNQ, Rich ADØSN, Brad VE3MXJ, Brian KØPU.
President: Joe KCØOIO
The meeting was called to order at 6:35 PM.
Secretary’s Report – Dave N9JNQ
The January 2023 Board Meeting and the February 2023 Membership Meeting minutes can be found posted to the club website.
Treasurer’s Report – Rich ADØSN
Beginning Total Balance: 01/01/2023 $19,039.37
- SARA
Balance: $7011.03
Income:
Expenses:
Ending Balance: 01/31/2023 $7,035.87
- RBF
Balance: $12,028.34
Income: $0.00
Expenses: $0.00
Ending Balance: 01/31/2023 $12,028.34
Ending Total Balance: 01/31/2023 $19,064.21
Rich ADØSN reports no change in the report since the February 2023 Membership meeting.
Trustee’s Report – Shel NØDRX
Shel NØDRX reported that he filed the small tax-exempt organization Form 990-N with the IRS. The IRS has a new access, which took a few minutes to decipher. The due date is May 15, so we are good until May 15, 2024.
The ARRL accepted our renewal for Special Service Club status.
Before the end of the year, we will need to file our annual report with the Minnesota Secretary of State’s office.
Shel dropped off the new Technician License Manual at the Stillwater Public Library, checked on the check-out rate, and discussed the status of the old books with the librarian.
Reports of Committees/Work Groups:
Website: Collin KEØIYN & Bob WØGAF
Collin KEØIYN solved the problem with the Special Interests area of the website. Collin reported that he fixed a problem with the SSL certificate. Joe KCØOIO noted that the website recommends that we delete unused plugins, which Collin said is a common recommendation. One of our plugins is Weather Underground, which is broken, so should go. Collin will take a look at it. Collin also noted that there was a cache problem that he solved.
Activities & Events: Dave WØOXB & Bob WØGAF
Ice Station WØJH 2023 – This special event will take place February 18-20, 2023 on Lake Elmo. Joe KCØOIO has already sent a broadcast to members noting the directions to the QTH of Dave KØAIF on Lake Elmo. Dave took some measures to protect the steps from the rain storm to prevent an ice buildup. There was ankle deep water on the ice after the rain. Joe will bring two radios and the laptops to the Thursday night Eyeball to hand off.
Field Day 2023 – Field Day will take place at Valley View Park in Oak Park Heights, MN. Rich ADØSN has squared away our reservations and permits. Bob WØGAF suggested that we take one of our early Radios in the Park at Valley View to do a Field Day site survey to determine suitable locations for the SSB and CW station and associated antennas. Joe KCØOIO suggested June 8 as a good date for the site survey. Bob noted that we may have a livelier CW tent this year with the recent CW work group folks chomping at the bit for some practice. Radios in the Park days are tentatively scheduled for May 18, June 8 and 29, July 20, August 10 and 31. Joe thanked Zack AAØU for securing the park for the events.
M.A.P and NHRG: Dave WØOXB & Brian NØBJE
M.A.P. – Dave WØOXB noted that there has been a lot of talk about antennas, there being up to six folks in need of antennas. Dave suggested that maybe we could have two antenna-raising crews this year. Joe KCØOIO noted that we also have to consider the relocation of the WØZSW remote station up to the Hayward, WI area and the associated antenna-raising needed.
NHRG – Nothing to report.
Meetings & Programs – Joe KCØOIO
Program Planning Team – Dave N9JNQ reported the committee has secured Rob Sherwood NCØB of Sherwood Engineering to make a virtual presentation at the March 2023 Membership Meeting on the results of his tests of various rigs, as well as a tour of his contest station.
The April program will be an “ask the elmer” presentation. It was suggested that the presentation be hyped in the Tech Class, which will be ongoing at that time, with the goal of bring in prospective new hams who most likely would have many questions for the panel.
The May meeting will be a virtual presentation by Mike Walker VE3MW of Flex Radio Systems on SDR radios and the history of Flex.
Dave noted that he had a recent HF contact with Tom Schuessler N5HYP who happens to be an AMSAT Ambassador and has given many presentations on satellite communications. He offered to do a virtual presentation in the fall, and if the satellites and weather cooperate, he could do it in his backyard and have a satellite station set up to demonstrate a contact. Dave will keep in contact with Tom and try to coordinate a presentation in the spring.
Dave noted that the panel has leaned into securing virtual presentations as opposed to putting the touch once again on the handful of members who have provided the bulk of the presentations over the years. Joe KCØOIO agreed that we should leverage the ability to now get known hams from around the country through Zoom to make presentations.
Room Reservations – Dan KFØIYF has secured the Stillwater Public Library for all of the Tech Classes, which are scheduled to begin March 2. The Eyeballs are a bit more touch and go and Dan has secured the Lake Elmo Library for the February 23 and March 2 Eyeballs. Dan has also secured the Stillwater Public Library for the upcoming Skywarn class.
Education and Training – Bob WØGAF
Technician Class – Bob WØGAF reports that the class dates are set, beginning March 2. The instructors have been contacted and are all available. Bob is working with Greg KØGW on the first class. Shel NØDRX has secured the new Technician Class Manuals, and will be passing them off to Bob. Bob will scan one of the books to distribute appropriate chapters to instructors in a “fair use” manner. Bob usually sends out notification of the class to various clubs he has on an established notice email list, and encourage anyone to contact the local newspapers to have notice included.
Skywarn Class – Bob WØGAF announced that he the SkyWarn class will take place May 6 from 10:30 AM – 1:30 PM at the Stillwater Public Library. Joe KCØOIO noted that the Skywarn folks on their website state that “we will be requiring preregistration,” so if you are planning on attending you will want to comply. Apparently they have concerns about space for all the attendees. Bob noted that they probably will not turn you away at the door if you do not preregister.
New Ham Night – Joe KCØOIO suggested we set a date for New Ham Night. All agreed that May 18 at Valley View Park would be a good night as many of the Tech Class students may be licensed by then.
VE Team – Shel NØDRX
Shel NØDRX has scheduled the next VE Session for April 27 and he has listed the session on the ARRL website. He will notify the VE Team when we get closer to the date.
Newsletter – Pat WAØTDA, Dave WØOXB
The deadline for the March issue is March 4.
Repeater – Henry KØHAS, Shel NØDRX, Doug N9TOW
The scuttlebutt is that Xcel may not shut down the King Plant as early as they had planned (2028) due to lack of replacement power. So the stack may still be an option for the foreseeable future.
Remote Bases Technical Committee – Pat WAØTDA
The relocation of WØZSW to the Hayward, WI property of Brian KB9TBB should take place in the spring of 2023.
On-Air Activities – Dave WØOXB
Dave WØOXB noted that the Two-Meter Tuesday (TMT) round robin ragchew has been going well. His last rotation as group leader lasted and hour and a half.
The Monday morning 75 meter ragchew has been going well.
There was an inquiry as to whether digital Sunday would reappear. Joe KCØOIO noted that his plate is full, if someone else wants to host they are welcome to pick up the mantel.
SARA’s POTA Challenge 2023
Bob WØGAF noted that the February stats will be coming out soon. Rich ADØSN noted that we came in under budget for the awards and that we can role that extra cash into next year’s awards. Comments were made on the fact that many folks are active in the challenge this month.
Joe KCØOIO announced that June 10 will be the Second Annual SARA POTA Activity Day. Other possible days are July 27 and August 21, which are POTA Support Your Parks Weekends.
Unfinished Business
Financial Audit of SARA’s Books – Joe KCØOIO announced that Keith AGØH completed the annual audit and found all in order other than one item. Rich ADØSN explained that the Board agreed to share in the cost of the hospitality room at the Mariner Motel for the Edmund Fitzgerald Special Event for 2022, but did not formalize that decision in a motion. Rich found in the minutes that we did approve the 2021 expenditure in a motion, but the minutes do not reflect we did the same for 2022, although the 2022 minutes do reflect that the Board discussed the issue and agreed to the expenditure. Keith is not questioning the amount, or that the Board had not discussed the matter, only that the Board did not approve the expenditure by motion.
Shel NØDRX made a motion to approve the SARA expenditure for the 2022 Edmund Fitzgerald Special Event hospitality room at the Mariner Motel; Dave N9JNQ seconded the motion. The motion was approved unanimously.
Thank you to Rich and Keith for working on the audit as well as this issue.
KØZZT (SK) Estate – Dave reported that it is difficult to contact by the widow of Ray KØZZT (SK), but has made contact. Dave may be able to do a walk-through of the shack this weekend to determine what there is to do.
W9LHG Equipment Donation – Shel NØDRX has completed an inventory of the donated items and has sent an inventory to Joe KCØOIO and Bob WØGAF. There is a fair amount of Elecraft equipment.
SARA Club Equipment Inventory – Rich ADØSN noted that, while we still have to inventory the trailer, it is really just an update of the inventory we already have. He expressed concern that we have yet to inventory or create a check-out list of equipment in the NHRG. Agreement was had that we should address this issue.
Handiham radio Camp – The camp has been scheduled for September 9-13, 2023. Pat WAØTDA has suggested that the club set up its trailer and operate portable stations at the hotel in Bloomington, MN where the camp will take place. We will discuss logistics as we get closer to the date.
New Business
Technician License Manual purchase – Joe KCØOIO noted for the record that the Board approved by email on February 4, 2023 the club purchase of eight Technician License Manuals for use at the upcoming Tech classes. This includes one copy for the Stillwater Public Library, one for the instructors, and six available to sell to students. The purchase was made necessary in that the Technician question pool has been updated, making the previous edition obsolete. The request was presented to the Board by motion made by Bob WØGAF and seconded by Shel NØDRX, and approved by the Board unanimously on February 4, 2022.
Representative for the Minnesota ARC Group – Joe KCØOIO noted that the Minnesota ARC Group, an informal group of mostly Twin Cities clubs, have been meeting in an attempt to secure a future Dakota Division Conference in the Twin Cities area. Conversations have leaned toward working to get the Minnesota Section Conference first. Joe needs a volunteer to participate in the monthly meetings as his plate is overly full. Bob WØGAF agreed to virtually attend future meetings and report back.
Washington County ARES MOU – Joe KCØOIO presented the February 14, 2023 Washington County ARES MOU listing Joe Hibberd W3QLC as the Emergency Coordinator and is four assistant ECs, including Joe and John KAØHYR. Joe asked the Board to consider allowing Washington County ARES to use the SARA Zoom capabilities and account for its meetings. SARA has purchased an annual Zoom account to conduct its Board and Membership meetings, as well as other informal get-togethers, for the past couple of years.
Brad VE3MXJ made a motion to allow the Washington County ARES group to use the SARA Zoom account and capabilities, which has already been purchased by SARA for club use, for its future virtual meetings; Rich ADØSN seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.
Bob WØGAF made a motion to adjourn the meeting; the motion was seconded by Brad VE3MXJ; the motion passed unanimously. The meeting was adjourned at 8:13 PM.