MEMBERSHIP MEETING MINUTES – December 9, 2017
Stillwater Amateur Radio Association
1618 Pine Street West
Stillwater, Minnesota 55082
President: Joe KCØOIO
The meeting was called to order at 9:09 AM.
Secretary’s Report: Steve KAØOBI
The general meeting minutes from the November 11, 2017 meeting are posted on the website. Please report any corrections to: Secretary@radioham.org
Treasurer’s Report: John N5JLZ
Beginning Balance: 11/1/2017 $2,783.72
Income: $574.50
Expenses: $720.00
Ending Balance: 11/30/2017 $2,631.22 (Not including RBP income/expenses)
$16,624.15 (Including RBP income/expenses)
Education and Training: Bob WØGAF
Looking forward to spring planning for the 2018 Tech classes which will begin March 1st and the SkyWarn class on Feb 24th.
Activities & Events: Dave WØOXB
Thursday Night Eyeball Sessions – held every Thursday at 6 PM at the Stillwater Public Library.
Skills Night took place on 11/30 as Part 1 about FLDGI. Part 2 will be held 12/28. The Board Meeting is scheduled for 12/14 but may be rescheduled due to a possible time conflict.
Ice Station WØJH – will be held on President’s Day weekend 2018 (Feb 17, 18, 19) at Lake Elmo at KEØAIF’s QTH.
2018 Remembering the Edmund Fitzgerald – the event has already been scheduled for Nov 2, 3, 4 and the Park reservations have been made.
M.A.P. (Membership Assistance Program): Dave WØOXB
There are several members who need assistance – Diane needs a 2 meter antenna installed, Dan needs an HF antenna installed in his attic, Mike NØODK needs a big center fed Zepp antenna installed at Forest Lake, and we need to install a community antenna at Silver Lake in North St Paul.
Remote Base Project: Pat WAØTDA
Everything is up and running.
SARA Nets & Ragchews:
SARA Tuesday Round Robin Ragchew – on 12 meters at 24.955 MHz at 7PM. We may experiment with some different band choices in the future depending on propagation conditions.
SARA Monday morning Round Robin Ragchew – will be meeting on 75 meters at 3.856 +/- MHz at 9 AM.
SARA Digi Net – will be on 7 PM Sunday at 3.582.15 MHz. The net coordinator will email the details (mode, frequency, NCS)
SARA 160 meter Top Band Ragchew – is on 1.966 MHz every night at 8PM except Tuesday & Thursday.
DX News : Mike NØODK (not present)
Bouvet Island is coming up in Jan 2018. This is the most expensive DXpedition to the most remote island on earth. The Norwegian island is 1600 mi SSW of South Africa and 1100 mi N of Antarctica.
The departure of 3YØZ will be approximately mid-January, 2018, possibly sailing to Bouvet from King George Island. They expect a 9-11 day voyage to Bouvet. They expect to be at Bouvet for 21 days, and allowing for weather, hope to be on the air for 14-16 days. It is the second most wanted DX entity.
Wearables:
Be sure to contact www.hamthreads.com for all your club clothing needs. They do a great job of personalizing hats, shirts, and jackets.
Old Business:
The new reflective SARA Oval Sticker/Decals are on sale for $2 each from John N5JLZ.
The SARA Coffee Mugs are on sale for $3 each from Keith AGØH.
New Business:
Pay your 2018 club dues and you will get a new ID badge lanyard.
Discussion of a suggestion to establish an online forum for members:
It is better to get help in person at Eyeball Sessions.
Provide a hit list of contacts from which you can get assistance.
Possibly create a closed Google Group.
Reactivate the Facebook page for club.
Get recommendations from Radio City.
Nominations of Officers for 2018:
President – Joe KCØOIO
Vice President – Bob WØGAF
Secretary – Collin KEØIYN
Treasurer – Rich ADØSN
Director (2018-19) – Doug N9TOW
Good of Association:
SEMARC meeting will be held Jan 9th at 6PM at the Green Mill in Hastings. A Saturday breakfast will be held at 7 AM every 3rd Saturday at the Perkins located at 80th and Hwy 61.
They have a regular VE Session scheduled on the 3rd Saturday of each month at the Zion Lutheran Church in Cottage Grove.
50/50: We took in $46 and Ken won the payout pot of $23.
Program: Ask/Stump the Elmer – Joe KCØOIO, Dave WØOXB, Joe KCØOIO
A number of questions were posed to the group. As the club members gave answers to the questions, Bob recorded the consensus of what was generally agreed upon to be correct. Those multiple answers will be posted on the club website. Since we were not able to get to all the questions, we may choose to pose one or two questions at each Eyeball Session as well.
The program and meeting concluded at 11:20 AM.
Meeting attendance: 30