BOARD MEETING MINUTES – October 18, 2018
BOARD MEETING MINUTES – October 18, 2018
Stillwater Amateur Radio Association
1618 Pine Street West
Stillwater, Minnesota 55082
Roll Call of Officers – All present with the exception of: Rich, ADØSN.
President: Joe KCØOIO
The meeting was called to order at 6:00 PM.
Secretary’s Report – Notes are up on website.
Treasurer’s Report – Rich ADØSN
Beginning Balance 09/01/2018 $2,880.03
Income $252.40
Expenses $116.30
Ending Balance 09/30/2018 $3,016.13 (Not including RBP income/expenses)
$17,149.40 (Including RBP income/expenses)
Reports of Committees:
Activities & Events: Dave WØOXB
Split Rock – Dave K0AIF will be pulling the trailuer up and back. Have offered to pay for gas as he’s hauling it. Henry is prepping the TS590 Radios, and Joe has the tuners and one power supply. Dave W0OXB is suspected of having the second power supply. Connie is planning meatball hoagies for the Saturday meal. Snacks and other items are welcome, healthy stuff is not a bad idea, but it is not expected. Driving up, the calling frequency is to be 147.555, and a plan is to bring a lunch Friday or stop in Two Harbors for a bite to eat. The laptops have been prepped, but have been asked about second monitors to aid in seeing items. Joe will bring extra monitors if his work, but will ask others about it.
Radios in the Park – We were extremely lucky this summer to have six nights with almost no rain. Everyone is agreed we will continue with this activity next year. The antenna shootout was a lot of fun and very enlightening to everyone involved.
MAP: Dave WØOXB
Holly’s antennas went up. No other updates at this time.
Meetings & Programs – Joe KCØOIO
October – System Fusion – Chris K9EQ – A lot of information and a good session.
November – What’s with this FT-8? – Joe KCØOIO
December – Electronic Keyers – John W9LHG
January – S.W.E.E.P.
February – Operating Roundtable, no longer tentative
March – Baluns, Ununs, and Chokes – Dave WØOXB, no longer tentative
April – To be determined
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 should be good through December.
Eyeball Sessions – Tech Nights
Oct 25- ACLog and Special Event Station Operations Familiarization.
Nothing in November between Split Rock and Thanksgiving.
Future ideas – Using toroids to reduce noise and RFI, SWR Bridge calibration (KØGW); DX Labs Suite, Logger 32 & N1MM (NØODK)
Education & Training – Bob WØGAF
General Class License Course – Six have signed up/registered, two weeks left to go.
Extra Class Study Group – Slow attendance.
Already have two signed up for the spring tech class.
VE Team – Shel NØDRX
The VE session will take place November 8th at 6 PM at Boutwells Landing Auditorium B. The bill has been received and paid. The contact person has changed again.
Newsletter & Website – Pat WAØTDA & Dave WØOXB
The September deadline for the next issue is Oct 24. It should be posted on Nov 1.
Repeater – Henry KØHAS & Shel NØDRX
There are some noise issues that are being troubleshooted. The cavities are being retuned as a consideration.
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
The group will be researching any possible new kits to be considered for Fall & Winter months.
Unfinished Business
The Elecraft K3 sold for $800 at Radio City, with SARA receiving $600. Joe has the check to turn over to Rich for deposit.
The equipment trailer is yet to be completed. A spare tire and jack will be gotten before Split Rock. Bob W0GAF has volunteered to do this, as well as a tongue mount tire holder he has if it fits. A heater will be installed.
John N0YW donated some equipment – 2 push-up masts, several VHF & UHF antennas. They were from a silent key. Joe wasn’t able to meet up and get them yet but will make arrangements.
The equipment inventory is being worked on, Collin will touch base with necessary folks at Split Rock.
The FTM-400DR was purchased Oct 6. Joe has it with further programming to be done.
Purchase of UB12750 equivalent batteries has been approved. Northern Battery in St. Paul has them at $198.50. Could order them online from Amazon for $140, but not sure this option is trusted.
The 501(c)3 application is being researched along with best forms of transition.
New Business
Bob moves to book Split Rock for 2019 while we are up at the event, with Collin seconding. Motion carries unanimously.
The meeting was adjourned at 6:51 PM.