MEMBERSHIP MEETING MINUTES – December 13, 2014
Stillwater Amateur Radio Association
1618 Pine Street West
Stillwater, Minnesota 55082
President: Peter NØGRM
The meeting was called to order at 9:03 AM.
Secretary’s Report: Steve KAØOBI
The minutes were read from the November 8th meeting and have been posted on the website.
Treasurer’s Report: John N5JLZ (Not at meeting but sent report)
Beginning Balance: 11/1/2014 $4,358.34
Income: $280.00
Expenses: $395.99
Ending Balance: 11/30/2014 $4,242.35
Education and Training: Bob WØGAF
Skywarn Class for 2015 – February 28, 2015
Spring Technician Classes – March 5, 2015
Spring Technician VE Session – April 30, 2015
Activities, Programs & Events: Dave WØOXB
Ice Station WØJH event is scheduled for Feb 14th-16th at Goose Lake in Scandia.
Remembering the Edmund Fitzgerald event at Split Rock Lighthouse is scheduled for Oct 30th– Nov 1st, 2015
Thursday Night Eyeball Sessions – Held every Thursday at 6:00 PM CST at the Stillwater Public Library.
1.903 MHz Round Robin Rag Chew – 8:00 PM CST every night except Tuesday and Thursday.
Scheduled Saturday monthly meeting programs are:
January 10th – SARA White Elephant Exchange (SWEEP) and the Annual Election of Officers.
Member Assistance Program:
- No projects scheduled.
- Warmer weather required if we plan to work outside.
- Looking for additional assistance with Handiham Equipment Assistance Repair
Tracking System (HEARTS).
Digital Net: Joe KCØOIO
SARA DigiNet will be on air at 1900 CST on Sunday night. The net will be on upper side band 80 meters at 3.582.15. Look for it on the waterfall up 500 – 1000. Mode on Dec 14th will be PSK31.
2 Meter Net: Rick KØBR
Monitor the SARA repeater at 147.06 MHz /+ offset tone 114.8 Hz at 2100 CST on Wednesday nights. The net continues to have good participation by a group of 5 to 6 regulars.
ARES/Emergency Communications: John KAØHYR
For the first part of 2015:
– ID Card needed.
– Prairie Island drill in June.
– Prairie Island graded exercise in July.
– Our efforts will be on planning and execution for these events.
Handihams & Newsletter: Pat WAØTDA
Thanks to Pat WAØTDA and Dave WØOXB for putting together the newsletter.
New Business:
Shel NØDRX recently received a positive OO (Official Observer) Report. The OO Report was presented to Keith AGØH in recognition of his outstanding operational professionalism during the 2014 Split Rock Lighthouse Event.
Nomination of Officers for the Ballot for Annual Elections in January 2015:
President – Joe Heitzinger KCØOIO
Vice President – Keith Miller AGØH
Secretary – Steve Bonine KAØOBI
Treasurer – John Zuercher N5JLZ
Director – Peter Howard NØGRM
The nominations were all seconded and will appear on the upcoming ballot.
The business part of the meeting adjourned at 9:44 AM
Program: Dan Fish KBØXC from Radio City
Dan discussed one of the latest developments in Ham Radio – YAESU DR-1 which is a digital/conventional FM dual mode repeater that covers the VHF and UHF amateur radio bands designed to be used with System Fusion. It was developed to replace conventional analog FM repeaters to provide continued use of conventional FM communications while integrating the use of digital communication functions. The $500 repeater has an AMS (Automatic Mode Select) that will automatically recognize whether the signal is a C4FM digital or conventional FM signal.
Dan also mentioned that he has a new customer base of “preppers” who are interested in communicating ‘off grid’.
He suggested that our local clubs should consider the possibility of planning more joint activities with each other.
Meeting was adjourned at 10:45 AM.
Meeting attendance: 33