BOARD MEETING MINUTES – November 16, 2017
Stillwater Amateur Radio Association
1618 Pine Street West
Stillwater, Minnesota 55082
Roll Call of Officers – All officers were in attendance except Keith AGØH
President: Joe KCØOIO
The meeting was called to order at 6:01 PM.
Secretary’s Report – Steve KAØOBI
Minutes from the Board Meeting on October 19, 2017 have been posted on the website. No additional comments from the group.
Treasurers Report – John N5JLZ
Beginning Balance 10/1/2017 $2,676.72
Income $132.00
Expenses $25.00
Ending Balance 10/31/2017 $2,783.72 (Not including RBP income/expenses)
$16,865.57 (Including RBP income/expenses)
Reports of Committees:
Activities & Events: Dave WØOXB
Remembering the Edmund Fitzgerald – was held at the Split Rock Lighthouse State Park on November 3, 4 & 5. We should consider reimbursing Dave KEØAIF for transporting the trailer to and from Split Rock. So far we have had 278 confirmed requests for eQSL certificates and will be sending those out in the next two weeks. There were about 848 contacts made this year.
Ice Station WØJH – will be held on Presidents Day weekend (Feb 17, 18, 19 in 2018) at Dave KEØAIF QTH in Lake Elmo.
MAP: Dave WØOXB
Quite a few new antennas were put up and some were repaired this season. Mike NØODK and Diane WD9DNQ need antenna assistance if possible before the weather gets too cold.
Meetings & Programs – Joe KCØOIO
November – ARISS School Contact with John Dean KØJDD
December – Stump the Elmer Round 2.0
January – SWEEP
February – Russian Woodpecker – Skip KSØJ
March – Digital Modes Update – the FT-8 Craze – KCØOI
April – WØAIH Contest Station – Paul Bittner WØAIH – Falls Creek, WI
May – BITX40 Builders Showcase
Additional ideas for future programs: Special Interest Clubs: SKCC, County Hunters, QCWA, 070, OMISS, YLRL; Operating Portable Roundtable, Diagnostic Tools: Analyzers, DMMs and Diagnostic Gizmos; Tuners: Manual vs. Automatic + Care & Feeding; Setting up your Shack; New Technicians: Here’s what you can do now; Show us your Shack-Supersize, SSTV, ATV.
Eyeball Sessions – Skills Night
Projects include: Baluns, SWR Bridge Calibration (KØGW), crimping coax cables, exploring FT8 and WSJT-X software, programming HTs, DX Labs Suite, Logger32 & N1MM (NØODK).
Education & Training Report – Bob WØGAF
General Class 2017 has been completed. The SkyWarn class will be held Feb 24th and the Tech class will start March 1st and end April 19th with VE examination on April 26th.
VE Team – Shel NØDRX
VE session was held on Nov 9th. Three out of four examinees passed and were upgraded.
Newsletter & Websites – Pat Tice WAØTDA (not present) & Dave WØOXB
The December issue deadline is November 28th with a publishing date by December 3rd.
Repeater – Henry KØHAS & Shel NØDRX
Dave WØOXB volunteered to be the second member credentialed for digipeater access. The APRS Digipeater parts are all at Joe’s house and will be brought to the next eyeball session to be assembled and tested.
Remote Bases Committee – Pat WAØTDA, Keith AGØH, Eliot KEØN, Bill NØCIC, and Henry KØHAS.
The remote stations are both functioning.
Builders Group – The Bitx40 7 watt transceiver is the next group project. So far we know of five members who have ordered the kit.
Unfinished Business
Remote Base Project – There are still two items that are at Radio City on consignment – the Kenwood TS570 and the Kenwood TS480 200-watt transceivers. There was a price drop on these but still no takers. The Elecraft K3 and Flex-1500 will be offered for sale to the members in the near future.
Equipment Trailer – the trailer shakedown at Split Rock went well. The table worked out nicely and the folding chairs were comfortable. No more than five can occupy the trailer at any one time. The remainder of the wiring project will be done in April 2018. There was a suggestion that an inexpensive pair of wheel chocks should be purchased.
SARA lanyard purchase – lanyards were received on 11/2 and distribution to members began at Split Rock. Final cost was $101 for 100 pieces. Thanks to Collin for a rapid turnaround that turned out very well.
New Business:
Nominations are coming up for officers for 2018. There will be a Director 2018-2019 position also on the ballot.
The Information Sheet that is sent to new members needs to be updated. It was also suggested that the member application form be able to be filled out on the computer so it can be sent right in.
It was suggested that we research the purchase of a coax cutter prep tool and cable grip that will work for RG-8 cable.
Motion: To purchase 100 club decals for $101. Motion was made, seconded and carried.
Motion: To pay club event insurance for $200. The current policy expires in Jan 2018. Motion was made, seconded and carried.
Motion: To purchase poinsettias to send to Burwells for about $60, not to exceed $100. Motion was made, seconded and carried.
The meeting was adjourned at 7:30 PM.