MEMBERSHIP MEETING MINUTES – December 10, 2022
MEMBERSHIP MEETING MINUTES – December 10, 2022
Stillwater Amateur Radio Association
The Membership Meeting took place at Boutwells Landing, Stillwater, MN, and was streamed via Zoom for virtual attendees.
President: Joe KCØOIO
The meeting was called to order by Joe KCØOIO.
Program:
QRO! When Can I Get an Amp? – a discussion facilitated by Zack AAØU and Mike N9MA of a video presentation by Dave Casler KEØOG.
Zack AAØU and Mike N9MA facilitated a discussion of the benefits, and drawbacks, of running an amplifier in your station. The presentation began with a viewing of the YouTube video prepared by Dave Casler KEØOG, current writer of the “Ask Dave” column found in ARRL’s QST. Discussion included the the results of over-driving your amp, the impacts of running “full legal” on your equipment, such as feed line, baluns, and connectors, as well as on your neighbors’ electronics. It was noted that 6 db is one S unit, so from one hundred watts to four hundred watts gives you one S unit. Ten db should make you approximately twice as loud as 100 watts as a general rule. Keep in mind that power and loudness are two different things.
Business Session:
Joe KCØOIO then called the Business Session to order at 10:10 AM.
Secretary’s Report: Dave N9JNQ
The general minutes from the Membership and Board meetings are posted on the SARA website. Please report any corrections or additions to: Secretary@radioham.org.
Treasurer’s Report: Rich ADØSN
Beginning Total Balance: 11/01/2022 $19,140.16
- SARA
Balance: $7,042.82
Income:
Expenses:
Ending Balance: 11/30/2022 $6,900.96
- RBF
Balance: $12,097.34
Income: $0.00
Expenses: $0.00
Ending Balance: 11/30/2022 $12,097.34
Ending Total Balance: 11/30/2022 $18,998.30
Income for the month for the SARA account includes:
- Dues: $580.00
- Cups and decals: $2.00
- 50/50 Raffle: $15.50
- Donations: $15.50
Expenses for the SARA account include:
- Split Rock Special Event – firewood: $28.00
- Split Rock Special Event – miscellaneous $41.26
- Misc. Expense – ACØW (speaker) breakfast $20.00
- Antenna for Scout Camp $128.95
- Fuel to pull trailer to Split Rock $155.84
- Hospitality Suite at Split Rock $308.82
- Flickr account renewal $71.99
As noted in the listing, the biggest expense for last month was related to the Remembering the Edmund Fitzgerald Special Event. Joe KCØOIO noted that Shel NØDRX and Mary NØDXH had recently purchased and delivered poinsettia plants for Boutwells Landing on behalf of SARA in appreciation for the use of the facility.
Activities & Events
Tech Topic Thursdays/Eyeballs
The last Tech Topic Thursday was conducted via Zoom on December 8 and included a well received program presented by Bob WØGAF on how to spruce up your QRZ.com page.
Board Meetings
The Board meeting will take place Thursday December 15, 2022, at 6:30 PM via Zoom and in person at the Stillwater Public Library as part of this week’s Thursday Eyeball. (The in person gathering at the library was later canceled due to weather and the Board meeting was conducted by Zoom alone.) The meeting was moved from its usual Wednesday night due to the CW study group’s use of Zoom on Wednesday night.
All further Thursday night eyeballs will take place at the Stillwater Public Library through February.
Special Events
Remembering the Edmund Fitzgerald Special Event – The Edmund Fitzgerald special event successfully took place November 4 though 6, 2022 at Split Rock Lighthouse State Park, as well as a special from-the-home-QTH session on November 10, the actual day of the sinking, using the call WØF. Shel NØDRX reported on the final QSL numbers.
Ice Station WØJH 2023 – Ice Station WØJH will once again take place this upcoming Presidents Day weekend on the frozen surface of Lake Elmo thanks to the hospitality of Dave KØAIF and Anne KØVOB. The special event will run from Saturday February 18 through Monday February 20. We will be operating from the lake as well as from the club trailer just off of the lake.
SARA POTA Challenge – The year-long SARA POTA (Parks On The Air) Challenge is nearing its end, and an update was provided by Bob WØGAF of the standings via the SARA POTA Challenge leader board. As stated by Bob, “nothing like waiting to the last minute!” There was a lot of movement on the leader board, with some operators moving up the board.
Bob reported that nine folks have moved into the Legends category this past month, with a few additional knocking on the door. Jim KIØB continues to set the pace with 2,3551 QSOs and 1,713 parks worked. Dave WØOXB maintains second place in the most parks worked category. Most improved this month include Steve KAØOBI, Dave KØAIF, and John NØEBQ. Brian KB9TTB continues to lead all categories in the activator division. Second place is a moving target with Dave WØOXB, Joe KCØOIO, and Brad VE3MXJ all in the hunt.
Club totals: are 8,414 parks worked; 13,130 hunter QSOs; 308 activations by club members; 193 parks activated; and 11,046activator QSOs.
All stats are available throughout the challenge on the SARA club website.
The Prize Committee is hard at work putting together a wonderful collection of prizes for all categories. And it was happily announced that the vendor has granted the club a 25% SARA discount! So we may come in under the budget that the membership graciously approved a the last Membership meeting. Prizes will include stickers, T-shirts, coffee mugs (with call signs), patches, and flags.
Education and Training
Technician License Class – A spring Technician License Class is in the planning stage. Thanks in advance to all instructors.
CW Study Group – The CW study group is well underway with the first official session this past week, following an introduction meeting the prior week. We have 17 participants at the moment, plus Bob WØGAF and Greg KØGW as initial facilitators. All sessions are done via Zoom on Wednesday nights. There will be four further group meetings, at which time the participants will decide activities in the future, such as additional get-togethers, etc. Thank you to the mentors in and out of the group who have provided help and insight to the participants.
Member Support/Assistance Initiatives: M.A.P. & New Ham Resource Group (NHRG) & More
•M.A.P is readily available for antenna projects and member-to-member assistance. Keep in mind that M.A.P. is available for more than just antenna raisings, contact Dave WØOXB with any issues you may have.
•New Ham Resource Group, found at newhamhelp@radioham.org, is SARA’s outreach & mentoring program providing technical support and loaner equipment. Remember gear is available for loan for those without a means to get on the air. Remember that the NHRG is available to all members, not just new hams. There has been a continuing demand for various equipment other than just radios, such as power supplies, tuners, etc.
Brian KØPU noted that the club has one two meter/440 mobile radio that has been quite popular and has been out for some time. As such, the NHRG could use another similar radio. If anyone has a two meter/440 radio that is DCS-equipped (so it can be used on the SARA repeater) and would be willing to donate it to the program, please contact Brian.
Groups.io – Remember that the SARA email reflector group is now online at https://groups.io/g/StillwaterMNAmateurRadioAssoc. This reflector is available to SARA members only, so you should apply at the groups.io site and you will be given access by the site moderator.
DX News: Mike NØODK
The 3YØJ DXpedition to Bouvet Island in January 2023 is still on the schedule. Bouvet Island is #2 on the most wanted DXCC entity.
Today the ARRL 10 meter contest is currently underway. The contest runs the second full weekend of December, starting at 0000 UTC Saturday and running through 2359 UTC Sunday (December 10-11, 2022).
Get the latest DX news by subscribing to the ARRL DX News www.arrl.org/contest. Also check out www.ng3k.com for DX. For contests try the WA7BNM Contest Calendar contestcalendar.com, it always current.
Remote Stations: Pat WAØTDA
Pat WAØTDA reported that remote station WØEQO is off the air for an unknown reason at this time. (Later determined that the laptop is the problem.) With winter conditions up at the Park Rapids, MN Scout Camp, repairs will be delayed. Pat will notify folks via the Groups.io reflector when the station is back on the air.
Joe KCØOIO reported that participants on last Thursday’s Tech Topic Thursday spent some time looking at Google maps of the possible future site of the WØZSW up near Hayward, WI, generously offered by Brian KB9TTB at his cabin location. Pat noted that he has a Hy-Gain Hightower antenna available for use at the site.
Newsletter: Pat WAØTDA & Dave WØOXB
The December issue of the SARA Signals Newsletter is now available. Thanks to Pat WAØTDA, Dave WØOXB, and Randy KDØVKB for their contributions. The deadline for submittals for the January edition is January 6, 2022.
ARES and Public Service:
John KAØHYR, the Washington County ARES spokesman (as opposed to Emergency Coordinator) noted that this summer will be the federal review of the Prairie Island Evacuation Drill, and that anyone interested in participating should contact him. There is a need for approximately 14 to 16 people to run the drill. The county would appreciate your participation as it frees up the nurses, etc., to do their thing. Watch www.mnwashcoares.org for particulars.
Club Business:
Dues Reminder: Dues run from January 1 through December 31. Payment is $20 for full membership, $10 for associate membership, $30 for family of 2 membership ($10 for each additional). Payment can be made in person (cash or check), by mail (to NØDRX), or online by PayPal at the club website.
Nomination for club officers: Nominations for club officers were made as follows:
President: Brian KØPU nominated Joe KCØOIO; seconded by Dave KØAIF. Joe accepted the nomination. After three additional calls, there were no further nominations. Motion made to close nominations and elect by unanimous consent made by Tom NØUHR; seconded by Randy KDØVKB. Motion passed unanimously.
Vice-President: Dave KØAIF nominated Bob WØGAF; seconded by Zack AAØU. Bob accepted the nomination. After three additional calls, there were no further nominations. Motion made to close nominations and elect by unanimous consent made by Greg KØGW; seconded by Jim KIØB. Motion passed unanimously.
Secretary: Brian KØPU nominated Dave N9JNQ; seconded by Dave WØOXB. Dave passed word that he is willing to accept the nomination. After three additional calls, there were no further nominations. Motion made to close nominations and elect by unanimous consent made by Tom NØUHR; seconded by Doug KEØGOM. Motion passed unanimously.
Treasurer: Greg KØGW nominated Rich ADØSN; seconded by Tom NØUHR. Rich accepted the nomination. After three additional calls, there were no further nominations. Motion made to close nominations and elect by unanimous consent made by John KAØHYR; seconded by Randy KDØVKB. Motion passed unanimously.
Director for the 2023-2024 period: Dave WØOXB nominated Brian KØPU; seconded by Jim KIØB. Brad accepted the nomination.
Greg KØGW nominated Zack AAØU; seconded by Mike N9MA. Zack accepted the nomination.
After three additional calls, there were no further nominations. There will be a contested election for Director 2023-2024 at the January 2023 Membership meeting.
(At the subsequent December 15, 2022 Board meeting, it was determined that the SARA Constitution requires the election to take place at the January Membership meeting. Thus, the election by unanimous consent of the unopposed officers at this December Membership meeting was ineffective and, thus, the elections will take place at the January 14, 2023 Membership meeting as required by the Constitution.)
Local Activities:
- The South East Metro Amateur Radio Club (SEMARC), our fellow amateur radio club in Washington County, MN, does not meet in the month of December. However, its annual banquet will take place Saturday January 22, 2023 at the Zion Lutheran Church, 8500 Hillside Trail South, Cottage Grove, 55016.
- The MN ARC Club Leaders are organizing to attain the ultimate goal of hosting the ARRL Dakota Division Convention in the Twin Cities area for the first time since the early 2000s. There is planning for the ARRL MN Section Conference to take place tentatively November 11, 2023. The location is to be determined. The focus is on having a true conference rather than an event that coincides with a hamfest-style swap meet. Their next Zoom meeting is January 11, 2023.
- Dave WØOXB noted that the Two Meter Tuesday script is being modified, and he is working on confirming net control operators for the month. The Top Band evening net is back on 160 meters (1.966 mhz) for the winter, and the Monday morning 75 meter group still meets at 8:15 AM at 3.856 mhz.
Wearables: Do not forget that SARA-labeled hats, shirts, jackets, and other wearables are available from www.hamthreads.com. SARA members will receive a discount on all orders.
New Business:
None to report.
50/50 Raffle:
The sale of raffle tickets brought in $62.00. Bob KFØHZG was the winner of $31.00, which he generously donated back to the club. Thank you Bob!
The business meeting was therein adjourned.
Meeting attendance: _; Virtual: _