BOARD MEETING MINUTES – November 15, 2018

Stillwater Amateur Radio Association

1618 Pine Street West

Stillwater, Minnesota 55082

Roll Call of Officers – All present..

President: Joe KCØOIO

The meeting was called to order at 6:00 PM. with the exception of: Rich, ADØSN

Secretary’s Report – Notes are up on website.

Treasurer’s Report – Rich ADØSN

Beginning Balance      10/01/2018                 $2,385.67

Income                                                               $538.00

Expenses                                                             $666.63

Ending Balance           010/31/2018                 $2,257.04 (Not including RBP income/expenses)

$16,889.64 (Including RBP income/expenses)

A question was raised about whom was responsible for the purchase of the batteries.  It was determined that it was a SARA purchase and not a RBP purchase.

Reports of Committees:17,149.40

Activities & Events:  Dave WØOXB

Split Rock – A recap was held.  There was a high number on requests of certificates, at about 33%.  They want to send 1 certificate over to the primary folks at Split Rock as a thank you/appreciation method.  There was a large number of new attendees and YL’s/XYL’s who attended this year, with a total number around 40 people.  This has raised questions about how to do more with the growth without losing order of the event.  One idea raised is to put a station in the entry way.  Second monitors were tried, but caused issues so it was considered a good idea to try with another monitor kind that may not be as susceptible to noise.  Dinner on Saturday night may also be done away with and just have it at the same eatery as we go for other meals.  This did stress that size is becoming a problem, however.  It was also encouraged to find ways to help convince folks to operate more.  It was also brought up to have an activity for guests and X/YL’s to do.

Ice Station W0JH – Dave K0AIF has agreed to hosting the event at his place on Lake Elmo once again.  Details are being firmed up.  We may now add a second station since we posess push up masts and guying lines.  We are assured there will be ice.

White Rock 2019 – Dave needs a organizer to assist, but there is some preliminary planning in the works.  Word would need to be heard from Mayor Rudy, with plans to do it in September.

MAP:  Dave WØOXB

A new item was added to the list and there are a few ‘in the wings’.  Still can put up antennas but want to encourage other things as well.

Meetings & Programs – Joe KCØOIO

November – What’s with this FT-8? – Joe KCØOIO

December – Electronic Keyers – John W9LHG

January – S.W.E.E.P.

February – Operating Roundtable

March – Baluns, Ununs, and Chokes – Dave WØOXB

April – Logging Programs for Mac and Linux OS – Collin KE0IYN and Bob W0GAF

May – To be determined

Future Ideas:  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/Park Reservations – John N5JLZ

No updates, but are good through December.

Eyeball Sessions – Tech Nights

Nov 29 – WSJT-X and JTAlert Drill-Down.  This includes showing 1.9.1 for WSJT-X and JTAlert from HamApps.com

Future ideas – Using toroids to reduce noise and RFI, SWR Bridge calibration (KØGW); DX Labs Suite, Logger 32 & N1MM (NØODK); Diagnostic Tools – Using an Oscilloscope;  Hand tools for your workbench

Education & Training – Bob WØGAF

General Class License Course – The training was wrapped up and went well.  Everyone who showed up for testing got something, plus a new Extra.

Extra Class Study Group – One new Extra from testing.

Skywarn Class 2019 – Planning has started for it to be held February 23rd.

Spring Tech Class 2019 – Tentative dates picked with 4 people already signed up; classes starting 28th of February.  The dates need to be given to John.

VE Team – Shel NØDRX

Several new Technicians successfully were licensed, along with a new General and a new Extra class operator.

Newsletter & Website – Pat WAØTDA & Dave WØOXB

The September deadline for the next issue is Nov 24th, with publish by December 1st.

Rag Chews – Dave WØOXB

Propagation has been fairly poor on HF, with even 160m suffering.  Part of Tuesday night’s different schedule was something for techs to work HF, but that’s not really worked out.  And 6m/10m aren’t working now in general, and there’s an issue with no interest, propagation, or equipment.  Dave will do testing on various bands to see if anything will work, but not much hope.  A plan may be made to build 6-10m antennas that are quarter-wave or J-pole style.  This may also move to a 2-m net.

A Gobbler Net/Turkey Trot is planned for Thanksgiving, with 160m/2m crossbanded.

Repeater – Henry KØHAS & Shel NØDRX

There are some noise issues that are being troubleshooted.  The cavities are being retuned as a consideration, as is swapping antennas.  The repeater got into a continual state of ID’ing after each transmission, but that was fixed with a reboot.

The APRS Digipeater will be tested just prior to installation at the stack.  It is currently on hold.

Remote Bases Technical Committee

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

Both remote stations are currently operating OK.

Builders Group

There is a potential for a project for homebrew low power WWV-B style NTP interface/transmitters for home use.  Looking at this more deeply with proposed shutdown of WWV/-B.

Portable antenna building is also considered here.

Unfinished Business

The ICOM ID-31A was sold to N0JOL for $150 cash.  Joe has held the cash for initial expenses for the trailer, including a 25′ 12 gauge extension cord, additional bungee cords, safety cones, 3/16 rope, and red LED lighting/wire.  $45 is still on hand.

The equipment trailer is yet to be completed.  Tire and jack were obtained by Bob W0GAF, with thanks to him.  A heater install will be done this spring with a carbon monoxide detector.  Red interior lighting will be done this spring as well.

John N0YW donated some equipment – 2 push-up masts, several VHF & UHF antennas.  They were from a silent key.  This will be inspected and determined what could be put up for sale.

The equipment inventory is being worked on.  Sent the forms again to the necessary folks to get filled out.

The 501(c)3 application is being researched along with best forms of transition.

New Business

Flickr photo sharing account – Flickr is changing its rules that you must play $50/year for unlimited storage or have things dropped to only 1,000 photos.  The first year is discounted to $35.  Current plan is to do that, and see if we need a second year for 501c3 filings.  Shel motions to pay, with Bill seconding.  The motion is unanimous.

2019 Officers Nominations – Potential candidates include Joe for President, Bob for Vice President, Collin for Secretary, Rich or Treasurer.  Bill may or may not run for director for the 2019/2020 term period.

Pointsettias for Boutwell’s Landing – Shell asks if we will do our annual 4 to them.  Bill moves to allow up to $100 for purchase of the plans, Bob seconds.  Motion passes unanimously.

Liability Insurance – The liability insurance requires renewal soon.  Last year the bill was $200, so should be about that again.  Bill motions for up to $250 for insurance, with Collin seconding.  The motion is unanimous.

A donation was made to the ARRL foundation pool for the W0AIH Scholarship Fund.

The meeting was adjourned at 7:21 PM.