BOARD MEETING MINUTES – November 15, 2023
BOARD MEETING MINUTES – November 15, 2023
Stillwater Amateur Radio Association
This was a Zoom online meeting.
Roll Call of Officers – Present: Joe KCØOIO, Bob WØGAF, Dave N9JNQ, Rich ADØSN, Brad VE3MXJ; absent: Brian KØPU, Shel NØDRX. A quorum was present.
President: Joe KCØOIO
The meeting was called to order at 6:35 PM.
Secretary’s Report – Dave N9JNQ
The Board Meeting and Membership Meeting minutes are up-to-date can be found posted to the club website.
Treasurer’s Report – Rich ADØSN
Beginning Total Balance: 10/01/2023 $19,039.37
- SARA
Balance: $5,803.89
Income:
Expenses:
Ending Balance: 10/31/2023 $6,365.39
- RBF
Balance: $11,506.18
Income: $0.00
Expenses: $444.44
Ending Balance: 10/31/2023 $11,061.74
Ending Total Balance: 10/31/2023 $17,427.13
Income for the month of October for the SARA account includes:
- Dues: $410.00
- Cups and decals: $0.00
- 50/50 Raffle: $13.00
- Donations: $10.00
- Sale of IC-751A $150.00
Expenses for the SARA account for the month of October includes:
- Battery boxes for the trailer $21.50
Expenses for the RBP account for the month of October includes:
- WØJH remote base accessories $233.48
- WØJH equipment cabinet $210.96
Rich ADoSN noted that there was quite a bit of income since the October report, mostly dues. The only expenses since have been associated with the Edmund Fitzgerald Special Event. Today Rich spoke with Pat WA0TDA and told Pat to sign the club up for a subscription to SplashTop Pro, which runs approximately $100.00 annually. The program would be used to operate the remote stations. That he believes was completed today. There are no other expenditures that need approval by the Board. Rich noted that the club’s Zoom and Flickr accounts are up for renewal and will need to be paid.
Trustee’s Report – Shel NØDRX
Nothing to report.
Reports of Standing Committees:
Activities & Events: Dave WØOXB & Bob WØGAF
Remembering the Edmund Fitzgerald Special Event – Joe KCØOIO noted that there were seven first-time attendees at the special event, and a total of 29 attendees. The unofficial QSO count is in the vicinity of 720. Saturday and Sunday afternoons were a bit tough on the bands due to apparent solar activity.
Ice Station WØJH – Joe KCØOIO noted that the Ice Station Special event is on for Presidents Day weekend, February 17-19, 2024. Dave W0OXB is getting notice printed in QST. Thanks to Dave KoAIF and Anne KØVOB for once again hosting the event at their QTH on the shores of beautiful Lake Elmo.
2023 SARA POTA Challenge – Bob W0GAF reported he has nothing more to report since the November 2023 Membership Meeting. He did note that the updated slides have been posted to the club website. He also suggested that we need to put together the planning committee to discuss the awards ceremony and the budget for the awards. Joe KCØOIO suggested early December for such a meeting to address the event and the needed budget.
MN Parks On The Air Day June 8, 2024 – SARA has been the main planner/instigator/promoter of the first annual MN POTA Day scheduled for June 8, 2024. June 8 is conveniently the free entrance day for Minnesota State Parks, so the thought is to concentrate on state parks, although all qualifying entities are certainly available.
Collin KEØIYN has been doing preliminary work on the mnpota.com web address, and at this time the address goes to the SARA website page. Collin is planning to contact the web host to discuss some issues. Collin is considering themes and the information to be posted. He would like a small work group created for him to work with to formalize input and approvals. Joe KC0OIO as president suggested himself, Collin, Brian KB9TBB, and perhaps Jim KF0IEX as part of the work group. The real question for the group is what do we do with this website.
Once the planning is rolling, Joe suggested that we enlist amateurs outside of the club to promote and work on the event, although they will not be members of this workgroup.
Bob W0GAF made a motion to establish a work group to address the website development and SARA’s involvement in the event; Brad VE3MXJ seconded the motion; the motion passed unanimously.
On Air Activities – Joe KC0OIO noted that the on air activities are doing fine.
Education and Training – Bob WØGAF
General Class – Bob WØGAF reports that the General Class wrapped up last week and the VE session is tomorrow Thursday. The session will take place at the “Town Hall” room at Boutwells Landing, which is located on the south side of the main building. Bob is getting an email out tonight telling the General class members what to bring, the times, and directions to the session. Bob noted that it does not sound like there will be a large turnout for the session.
VE Team – Shel NØDRX
Shel NØDRX reported that the upcoming VE session, scheduled for November 16, 2023, will take place in the Town Hall.
Reports of Work Groups:
Website: Collin KEØIYN & Bob WØGAF
Collin KEØIYN recently talked to Shel N0DRX about using our website to host our photographs rather than using Flickr. While it would be too late to switch this year as the Flickr account is coming due within days the club is in the process of paying its annual subscription, Collin notes that the website would have the room and it would not be too hard to take the photos in-house. Collin did note that there are some performance issues with out site that he is planning to discuss with the web-host, and will bring it up when talking to them about the mnpota.com site.
Newsletter – Pat WAØTDA, Dave WØOXB
Joe KC0OIO noted that the November issue had plenty of good material and thanked Mark KEØQQN and Mike NØODK for their articles. Pat WAØTDA noted that the December issue will be his last as editor, so let her lose with the articles! Submissions should be sent in by a week before the December Membership Meeting, although he can squeeze late submissions in a bit later. Joe KC0OIO noted that he would like to get photographs from the W0JH remote station work Saturday into the newsletter.
Repeater – Shel N0DRX, Henry K0HAS, Doug N9TOW
Nothing to report.
Remote Bases Technical Committee – Pat WAØTDA
Joe KCØOIO noted that ten or twelve members are scheduled to be up at the W0JH remote station work day this coming Saturday at the KB9TBB cabin location in Hayward, WI. Rich ADØSN asked whether there had been any consideration regarding the cost of the monthly internet use up at the site. He noted that in the past the club has an in-kind donation to Camp Wilderness in Park Rapids, MN, for the use of its internet service up at the W0EQO remote station (although no donation was made last year). This is something the board should think about in a future meeting.
M.A.P and NHRG: Dave WØOXB & Brian NØBJE
M.A.P. – Nothing to report.
NHRG – Mark KEØQQN has updated the handout that is given to new hams and it will be available tomorrow night at the VE Session. Mark thanked folks for their comments and edits on the card.
Shane W0NKA reported that things are fairly quiet on the loaner program; he has all the major equipment at the moment. Rich asked that the inventory of the NHRG be made available to the Board members via the Google Drive. Dave N9JNQ has not gotten it up and shared as yet, but will do so. Joe noted that all inventories should reside with the Secretary.
Meetings & Programs – Dave N9JNQ, Zack AAØU, Mike N9MA
Program Planning Team – Dave N9JNQ reported that programs are tentatively secured through the February 2024 Membership Meeting. The Zoom presentation on AMSAT at the November meeting went well. Our own Mike N9MA will lead a discussion of EMP (electromagnetic pulse) at the December membership meeting. The SWEEP event in January and the POTA Challenge Awards ceremony in February will follow. We have a couple of possible presenters for the latter half of winter and the spring.
Room Reservations – Dan KE0IYF
Dan is keeping up with the club’s room needs. Joe KC0OIO noted that the November 30, 2023 eyeball will take place in the Stillwater Public Library River Room B rather than the usual conference room to have more space to hold the hybrid in-person/Zoom eyeball to discuss the future of the SARA Signals Newsletter.
Unfinished Business
SARA Club Equipment Inventory – Joe KCØOIO noted that the inventory should reflect that he has taken the the radios out of the trailer for the winter and is housing them at his QTH. That includes the FTM-400 the IC7300, and the TS590. Joe noted that the antenna analyzers are in the trailer and are readily available to anyone who needs to borrow one. The crimper is with Brian KB9TBB for the W0JH installation. Rich asked for access to the NHRG inventory; Shane W0NKA sent a link to everyone on the session. Rich AD0SN asked where the equipment from the estate of a former club member is located as it is not on the inventory.
Remote Base Relocation Purchases– Joe KCØOIO reported that SplashTop has been ordered, and antenna rope has been ordered as well. Rich AD0SN agreed to donate a ground rod for use at the remote site.
SARA Signals Newsletter – Joe KCØOIO noted that the future of the newsletter will be discussed at the November 30 2023 Thursday night eyeball, which will take place in person at the Stillwater Public Library River Room B as well as live via Zoom. No one so far has expressed interest in taking over the editing responsibilities.
W0JH Repeater Manager Position – Joe KCØOIO noted that it appears the club Constitution/Bylaws would allow the appointment of a repeater manager who would report to the Repeater Trustee. This would allow Shel N0DNR to delegate the repeater day-to-day responsibilities to someone who actually uses the club repeater.
New Business
Club Banner for events – Joe KCØOIO suggested that the board consider having a club banner made that can be used at club events. Joe suggested something around four to six feet in length and around two feet wide. Anybody with ideas of possible places to make such a banner should make suggestions. Joe would also like to see a nice table top display developed, which would be an improvement on the tri-fold currently in use.
Nominations for Officers for 2024 – Joe KCØOIO noted that nominations for officers will take place at the December 2023 Membership Meeting. Dave KØAIF has agreed to accept a nomination as Treasurer (thanks to Rich ADØSN for encouraging Dave to take a stab at it). The director position now occupied by Brad VE3MXJ is up for election. Brad is willing to run again and continue in the roll. Dave N9JNQ will run again as Secretary, unless there is someone else who would like take on the roll, but 2024 will be his last year as Secretary, he will not run for the office for 2025.
Annual Renewal of Zoom Account– Joe KCØOIO noted that the Zoom account will automatically renew on November 29, 2023. The cost is $149.90 for Zoom One Pro. We will need to update the credit card information on that account. Rich AD0SN will get the new card information to Joe.
Dave N9JNQ made a motion to approve the renewal of the Zoom One Pro in the amount of $149.90; Bob W0GAF seconded the motion; the motion passed unanimously.
Annual Renewal of Flickr Account– Shel NØDRX has the account and informed Joe KC0OIO that the account is up for automatic renewal on November 19, 2023. The cost is $71.99 annually.
Dave N9JNQ made a motion to approve the renewal of the Flickr account in the amount of $71.99; Rich AD0SN seconded the motion; the motion passed unanimously.
cPanel– Keith AGØH noted that his name is still listed on cPanel, he asked that his name be removed and replaced with Collin KE0IYN.
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 7:23 PM.