BOARD MEETING MINUTES – October 22, 2020
BOARD MEETING MINUTES – October 22, 2020
Stillwater Amateur Radio Association
Cisco Webex online meeting due to COVID-19 social distancing
Roll Call of Officers – Present: Joe KC0OIO, Bob W0GAF, Dave N9JNQ, Rich AD0SN, Dan KE0IYF, Doug N9TOW; Absent: Shel N0DRX
President: Joe KCØOIO
The meeting was called to order at 6:32 pm.
Secretary’s Report – Dave N9JNQ
September 30, 2020, Board Meeting minutes have been posted to the club website by Dave N9JNQ.
Treasurer’s Report – Rich ADØSN
Beginning Total Balance: 10/01/2020 $16,967.25
- SARA
Balance: $3,850.17
Income:
Expenses:
Ending Balance: 10/20/2020 $4,006.96
- RBF
Balance: $13,117.08
Income: $0.00
Expenses: $0.00
Ending Balance: 10/20/2020 $13,117.08
Ending Total Balance: 10/20/2020 $17,124.04
SARA income includes $200.58 for membership fees. Expenses include $43.79 for the SARA Flicker account. Rich reports that there are a number of members paid through 2022, and one through 2023. The extra 58 cents for membership fees reflect testing of the PayPal account, which originally included a $1.50 service fee, but the fee was actually 92 cents, reflecting an overage payment of 58 cents.
Trustee’s Report – Shel NØDRX
Due to the unavailability of Shel N0DRX, there is no trustee’s report.
Reports of Committees/Workgroups:
Website: Collin KE0IYN & Doug N9TOW
Collin KE0IYN reported on his work on the SARA website functionality. There are two issues to address: 1) upgrading WordPress; and 2) providing security for online membership applications data. We need to get the website upgraded first, and then address our security issues. Regarding the WordPress, a major upgrade is needed, and it was discovered that it would not execute due to our server not providing adequate memory. The website utilizes cPanel, which provides capabilities for administrators and end-user website owners to control the various aspects of website and server administration through a standard web browser. CPanel should make the upgrade easier, especially considering that our current version of WordPress is old, and the upgrade my have some residual issues that Collin believes he should be able to address without issue. CPanel also provides for the generation of SSL certificate capabilities, so it should make implementing security easier; that is, we use cPanel to attach the certificate to the SARA website. Collin will be working on this upgrade in the near future. Thanks to Collin for his efforts.
Doug N9TOW has been addressing the SSL certificate issue. Doug believes we will need a “wildcard” certificate, which will cover all variations of radioham.org. One third party registrar charges $165 for a wildcard certificate for a five year period, or coverage for a single domain name for $18.85 for five years. Collin noted that he is aware that they may be changing the length of time the certificate is effective to around three-plus years due to security concerns. Doug is looking further into the certificate.
Bob W0GAF reports that he has halted his activities designing the SARA website incorporating PayPal capabilities until the update and the SSL certificate are addressed.
Activities & Events: Dave WØOXB
Remembering the Edmund Fitzgerald Special Event – Dave W0OXB, joining us from the wilds of northwest Washington state and a stone’s throw away from Canada, reports that the W0F site on QRZ has been updated with information regarding the special event. The club has the W0F call available to us from October 21 through November 14. There are a lot of good time blocks available for operation, although at this point we have just about as much on-air coverage scheduled as we do when operating from Split Rock Lighthouse in past years. Next week Dave will send out a broadcast to all scheduled operators containing operation tips, scripts, a history of the Edmund Fitzgerald, etc., for use during the event.
Joe KC0OIO suggested that we schedule a tactics and tips discussion for one of the Tech Session Thursdays prior to the special event. Joe will plan it and get it on the calendar for November 5.
Brad VA3MXJ questioned whether he can use the W0JH call sign in his Canadian location and, if so, in what manner. It was suggested that Brad contact Canadian authorities, and an inquiry will be made to Greg K0GW to see if he has any suggestions.
Nets and Ragchews – Dave W0OXB noted that he has not seen any changes in the nets since his last Membership meeting report.
MAP: Dave WØOXB
Dave W0OXB reports there are currently three projects on the list that we should be able to tackle this winter, weather notwithstanding.
Joe KC0OIO noted that the radio donation graciously proposed by Eliot KE0N was completed this morning, with the radio going to a member in need of an operational HF rig. Dave stated that he has identified a new member that possibly could use the Kenwood TS 570 that belongs to the club but has been stored in Dave’s basement for quite some time. Dave will explore that possible transfer when he returns from the west coast.
Meetings & Programs – Joe KCØOIO
Joe KC0OIO reports that the “virtual meetings” using Webex will need to continue as an alternative to in-person meetings due to the unavailability of Boutwells Landing. Joe noted that Eric NY9D has agreed to provide the program for November Membership Meeting on the topic of mesh mobile networks.
The Virtual Eyeball QSO Parties Thursday Tech Sessions have been reduced to once per month. Joe is looking for someone to take over the organization and management of those sessions. As no volunteer was found at the Board meeting, Joe will make his request to the general membership.
Room Reservations – Dan KE0IYF
Dan KE0IYF reports that he has not heard from the Stillwater Library, and appears to remain unavailable for Thursday Night Eyeball meetings.
Education and Training – Bob W0GAF
The restarted Tech Class 2020 was successfully completed, and Bob W0GAF reports that four of the students passed their Tech license test, with one student immediately upgrading to general, at the SEMARC testing session. As SARA is unable to provide testing due to the unavailability of our Boutwells Landing testing room, SEMARC agreed to accommodate SARA graduates at its October 17 session at its facility. Thanks to SEMARC for making this testing possible. One student missed testing due to illness. A virtual General License class is planned for sometime after the holidays, but has not been scheduled as yet. Bob will reach out to all Tech class students informing them of the class availability. Bob states that the instructors have done great and commends them for their efforts.
VE Team – Shel NØDRX
As SARA does not have access to Boutwells for testing, so there is no activity to report.
New Ham Resource Group – Brian N0BJE
Brain N0BJE reported that it has been fairly quiet recently. He did report that one person in the Tech class asked for and received aid in programming a two-meter HT. Noting that the complete FT-718 HF station remains available, Brian offered its use to a new graduate of the Tech Class who was present (virtually) at the Board meeting.
The recent graduate will be contacting Brian for the particulars and the hand-off.
Newsletter & Website – Pat WAØTDA, Dave WØOXB
Joe KC0OIO reports that Pat WA0TDA is in need of more copy for the upcoming Newsletter, with a deadline of October 31.
Repeater – Henry KØHAS, Shel NØDRX, Doug N9TOW
Doug N9TOW reports that he has finished up work on the YSFReflector unit and is looking to getting it installed at AA0U Zack’s QTH, but at the moment is under quarantine. Doug needs a two meter-only antenna using an SMA connector for the unit,, which Joe KC0OIO will dig around for in his amply-supplied ham shack.
Remote Bases Technical Committee – Pat WA0TDA
Pat was unable to attend, so a current status report was unavailable.
New Business
2021 Officer Nominations and Election – Joe KC0OIO noted that the fact that meetings are being done virtually will not have am impact on the nomination of officers and the election. The use of email or snail mail ballots for the election is available, and it was suggested has been used in the past. The exact mechanism for the election will be discussed over the next month or two. The Director position currently occupied by Dan KE0IYF is up for election this year.
The meeting was adjourned at 7:50 pm on the motion of Dave N9JNQ W0GAF, seconded by Dan KE0IYF, passed unanimously.