MEMBERSHIP MEETING MINUTES – December 14, 2019
MEMBERSHIP MEETING MINUTES – December 14, 2019
Stillwater Amateur Radio Association
President: Joe KCØOIO
The meeting was called to order at 9:03 AM.
A moment of silence was held in memorial for Bill Eggers, KD0OTB (SK – Nov 15) and Bill Unger, VE3XT (SK – Nov 16).
Secretary’s Report: Collin KEØIYN
The general meeting minutes from the November meeting are posted on the website; November board meeting notes still need to go up as was unable to do so due to surgery recovery and will be up very soon. Please report any corrections to: Secretary@radioham.org
Treasurer’s Report: Rich ADØSN
Beginning Balance: 11/1/2019 $2776.09
Income:
Expenses:
Ending Balance: 11/30/2019 $2,988.10 (Not including RBP income/expenses)
$17,201.25 (Including RBP income/expenses)
Education and Training: Bob WØGAF
Skywarn 2020 will be held February 29th, with the first Tech Class held February 27th. Normally Skywarn would come first but there are scheduling conflicts with the library.
Activities & Events: Dave WØOXB
Thursday Night Eyeball Sessions are held at the Stillwater Public Library at 6 PM.
Tech Topics (a new feature) will be the 1st Thursday of each month. A Topic Coordinator is needed. Anyone can volunteer to be a Topic Leader. Just pick a topic you want to learn about; study up; then lead the discussion. There will be no topic for November as it will be the Thursday before Split Rock and many will be preparing their final packing for the trip.
Skill Sessions will be on the 4th Thursday of each month. Anyone can suggest and lead a Skills Night. There is no skill session planned for December.
2019 Split Rock Lighthouse Special Event Recap: 26 people were in attendance, with normal activities. Had over 700 contacts, including Ireland, Russia, France, Italy, Puerto Rico, Caymans, and more. Split Rock 2020 will be held November 6-8, 2020.
M.A.P. – Dave WØOXB
A future projects list is maintained by Dave WØOXB and Joe KCØOIO.
Are there other things you need assistance with? Ask. Please let any officers know if help is needed or are willing to assist.
Planners are needed to help with projects.
Remote Base Project (RBP)
Both of the remote stations are currently up and running and are 160 meter capable.
New Ham Help
An initiative to help both technicians currently in the club and newcomers to the club/hobby has been put together. This initiative is headed by Brian, N0BJE, Holly, KE0RZZ, and Mark, KE0QQN to engage and assist new hams. This group is open to all members as a resource, and can be contacted via email at newhamhelp@radioham.org. They have begun by engaging the current Technician class, and are building a survey to find interest in areas of those willing to help support. They also mention the new ARRL effort in the same area, with the new “So Now What?” podcast being put out.
Additionally, the club has purchased two FT-70DR handheld transceivers to run as part of a rental program for new hams. If you are a new ham and/or interested in testing one of these radios, please speak to Brian, N0BJE. Preference will be given to new hams.
A new HF setup including an Icom 718, MFJ 949E, power supply, and end-fed antenna have been added to NHH supplies, as well as two 2M mobile rigs and a 10M mobile rig. Additionally an IC740 with packet controller was donated to be a part of NHH gear.
A new resource card has been made to be available to new hams.
Washington County ARES: John KAØHYR
The ARES net takes place on the 3rd Wednesday of each month. Dec 18th will be the next net on 146.985- repeater at 6:30 PM. A new repeater is being worked on in Forest Lake, 147.18 with tone to get coverage.
Check the web site www.mnwashcoares.net regularly for current events, net schedule, and other items of significance.
AERO will hold classes on amateur radio communications and net control duties. Watch for the schedule after the first of the year. FEMA courses have been updated and the latest versions are on the fema.gov website. AUXCOM certification is becoming a requirement for some of the larger emergency events within the region. Watch for the next course announcement. ARRL has also revised its initial Emergency Communications Course (EC 001). It is a web based course that you can sign up for and complete at your convenience. This is a good course to start with in terms of radio operation. Skywarn announcements will be given with the class schedule after the first of the year.
AWARD: Dave W0OXB
Dave got up and presented a certificate of appreciation for Jim, W0ELC. In addition he noted how Jim has been a fantastic net control backup.
SARA Nets & Ragchews: Joe KCØOIO
2 meter ragchew is held every Wednesday night at 9 PM CDT. You can find us at 147.060 MHz DCS code 026N.
160 meters SARA Top Band Ragchew is at 1.966 MHz or close by depending on band conditions and interference. They operate every night except Tuesday & Thursday at 8 PM CDT. Dave reported that over a month long or so period there were 463 checkins, with an average of 10.1 checkins per day on the net.
SARA Tuesday evening Round Robin RagChew – Will now be operating on 75 Meters 3.803 MHz LSB starting at 7PM CDT. This is ON HOLD as the band is long for now.
SARA Monday morning Round Robin RagChew – It will be operating at 3.856 MHz at 9:00 AM CDT. Dave reported that over about 8 sessions there were 62 checkins, averaging 7.8 per day on this net.
The Digital Net is Sundays at 7 PM CDT. The frequency will be 3.582.15 USB or as directed by the NCS. The Net Coordinator will email details (mode, frequency, & NCS) on the day of the net.
Newsletter & Website: Pat WAØTDA & Dave WØOXB
Thanks to Pat and Dave for putting together the newsletter! Additional contributors are always needed. Deadline for the next issue is January 2nd. Contributors wanted!
Thanks was given to Dave and Keith for their SK memorials in the newsletter.
RTL Award Recognition: Ray K0ZZT
Ray presented the RTL award to a very deserving recipient, Jim W0ELC.
DX News: Mike NØODK
Check out www.ng3k.com for DX & Contest Calendar information.
Wearables:
SARA wearables are available from www.hamthreads.com. You can order individually just be sure to give the club name since they have all our logos prepared and on hand.
Program Schedule:
Dec: Stage Races and Ham Radio – Joe W3QLC
Jan: SARA White Elephant Exchange Party
Feb: Hotspots (DMR, Fusion, D-Star) – Bob W0GAF
Mar: The Art of QSL Cards – Randy KD0VKB
Old Business:
SARA coffee mugs are on sale for $3 each – See Keith AGØH.
The SARA Oval Sticker/Decals are on sale for $1 each or you can get the reflective one for $2 from Rich ADØSN.
Repeater Update – Minor adjustments made to the repeater itself, with major change of moving to a different antenna. The new antenna is at 725ft (~425ft HAAT), omnidirectional on the west side of the stack. Thanks to Nate Timm KB0UXV for assisting with the switchover. Additionally, Xcel Energy has announced that in 2028 the plant will be shut down, and a new home for the repeater to be secured.
New Business:
Nominations of officers was held with the below nominations:
- Joe KC0OIO was nominated by Collin KE0IYN and Keith AG0H, moved and affirmed for President.
- Bob W0GAF was nominated by Keith AG0H and Greg K0GW, moved and affirmed for Vice President.
- Rich AD0SN was nominated by Bob W0GAF and Dave K0AIF, moved and affirmed for Treasurer.
- Dave N9JNQ was nominated by Collin KE0IYN and Dave W0OXB, he accepted, was moved and affirmed for Secretary.
- Director 2020-2021 had two nominations, with voting to be held at the January meeting and any final nominations then:
- Zach AA0U was nominated by Bob W0GAF and Keith AG0H, he accepted.
- Doug N9TOW was nominated by Collin KE0IYN and Keith AG0H, he accepted.
Ice Station will be held February 14-16 in 2020 at Lake Elmo!
Stillwater in Spring will open the old bridge. There is a possibility of attempting a human chain loop, with the club being asked to provide radio support and coordination. May also do special event station to commemorate the bridge opening.
Good of Association
SEMARC Meeting – their next meeting will be held January 14th at 7 PM at the Zion Lutheran Church located at 8500 Hillside Trail in Cottage Grove.
The SEMARC monthly breakfast is scheduled for the 3rd Saturday of the month at the North Pole Restaurant in Newport at 7:30 AM.
SEMARC’s VE session is held on the third Saturday of month (except December) at 9 AM at the Zion Lutheran Church, 8500 Hillside Trail in Cottage Grove.
50/50 Drawing:
$84 was taken in; and Greg won $42, took $5 back from it and donated the remaining $37 back to the club.
Program –Stage Races and Ham Radio – Joe W3QLC
Joe presented a wonderful talk on the use of ham radio during stage rallies, what stage rallies are, and the fun that can be had volunteering for them as a ham radio operator.
The program and meeting concluded at 11:18 AM.
Meeting attendance: 31