MEMBERSHIP MEETING MINUTES – March 12, 2022

Stillwater Amateur Radio Association

The Membership Meeting took place at Boutwells Landing, Stillwater, MN, and was streamed for virtual attendees.

President:  Joe KCØOIO

The meeting was called to order by Joe KCØOIO. 

Joe welcomed all to the first in-person meeting since November 2021.

Program:

SARA White Elephant Exchange Party (SWEEP)

After a two year-plus absence, the annual SARA White Elephant Exchange Party SWEEP was underway.  With 35 gifts and only 25 attendees, ten lucky persons were picked from a random drawing for the extra gifts.

To cut to the chase, the infamous Flying Pig, which spent well over two years lost in KCØOIO Joe’s shack, now resides with Scott W2SAD.  Scott, you lucky devil!

Business Session:

Joe KCØOIO then called the Business Session to order.

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.  Dave N9JNQ is out of town, but will prepare this month’s Membership meeting minutes from the recorded stream.

Treasurer’s Report:  Rich ADØSN

Beginning Total Balance:   02/01/2022     $18,119.79

• SARA

Balance:                                                   $6,362.45

Income:                                                   $140.00

Expenses:                                                $0.00

Ending Balance:      2/28/2022         $6,502.45

• RBF

Balance:                                                 $11,757.34

Income:                                                  $0.00

Expenses:                                               $0.00

Ending Balance:    2/28/2022          $11,757.34

Ending Total Balance: 2/28/2022       $18,259.79

The $140.00 income is from dues payments.  Additional dues payments have come in since the end of the month.

Shel NØDRX reports that the current 2022 membership roster contains 111 members.

Activities & Events

Thursday Eyeball Sessions

Thursday eyeball sessions have resumed at the Stillwater, MN, library, and will continue at the library through April.  The Eyeballs will take place in the commons area when the meeting room is booked for the Tech Class.  Look for the SARA This Week Bulletin for details on upcoming Eyeballs.

SARA Summer in the Park

Beginning May 12, 2022, Thursday Eyeballs will take place outdoors in local parks throughout the summer.  May 12, 2022, will be New Hams Night, celebrating our recent graduates and other new hams.  The Eyeball will take place in Valley View Park, Oak Park Heights, MN, on every third week (May 12; June 2 & 23; July 14; August 4 & 25; and September 15); locations will be announced for the other Eyeballs as the summer progresses.  We plan to incorporate some Parks on the Air (“POTA”) activations into the eyeballs at different sites, as well as some cookouts.

Tech Topic Thursdays

Tech Topic Thursdays currently take place virtually via Webex on the first Thursdays of the month.  Webex will be used through the rest of this and next month, and then the club will be switching to Zoom due to it having a better package and a lesser price.

The topic for the May, 2022, session will be a presentation on coax presented by Tim Duffy K3LR of DX Engineering.

Board Meetings

The Board meeting will take place this coming Wednesday March 16, 2022, at 6:30 PM via Webex.

Manhattan Project

A virtual Manhattan Project get-together is scheduled for Friday evening March 25, 2022.

Special Events

Ice Station WØJH Special Event – Ice Station WØJH Special Event took place over Presidents Day weekend, February 19-21, 2022.  All operations were from home stations.  The Certificates will be going out shortly.  Fun was had by all.

SARA POTA Challenge – Bob WØGAF reports that the year-long SARA POTA (Parks On The Air) Challenge is off and running, and provided an update on standings via the SARA POTA Challenge leader board. Currently, Bob and Brian lead the board for parks worked; Brian is ahead for QSOs as a hunter.  Brad VE3MXJ is a close third in both categories.  On the activation side, only Brad and Brian have been active with one activation each.  Stats will be available throughout the challenge on the SARA club website.

Bob and Brian are the primary data sources for the event.  It will run though December 31, 2022.  You should let Bob and/or Brian KB9TBB know by email if you are interested in participating, you will be added to the list.  The list will be used by Brian (thanks Brian) to pull data off the POTA.org website: https://parksontheair.com, so hunters will not have to do anything but hunt.  Activators will need to take a few more steps; see Bob or Brian for the specifics.  To participate you must set up an account on the POTA website.

Bob displayed the POTA spots website, which contains parks that are activated in real time.  You can use the filters to limit your search to band, mode, etc.  There is much information to be found on the POTA website for the curious.

Field Day 2022 – Bob WØGAF reports that a permit has been obtained for the Autumn Hills Park Shelter in Oak Park Heights, MN, for this year’s Field Day scheduled for June 25-26, 2022.  A beverage permit has also been obtained.  More on Field Day as the date approaches.

Education and Training

Bob WØGAF reports that we are having great turnout for our Tech class.  Nine folks have attended classes so far, and that does not include any Stillwater High School students.  Bob anticipates that we may get some high school students after the winter school break.

Thanks and a hardy handshake to Dave WØOXB for getting the class promoted in the local newspaper, to Dan KEØIYF for securing the rooms for the class, and to all the instructors.

Member Support/Assistance Initiatives:  M.A.P. &  New Ham Resource Group (NHRG) & More

M.A.P. & NHRG –  Remember M.A.P. and NHRG are available to members:

•M.A.P is readily available for antenna projects and member-to-member assistance via non-contact or in person methods.  Nothing is on the calendar at the moment, but with the approaching thaw it is time to start thinking of antennas.  In fact, a new ham at the meeting has an interest in taking advantage of this service.
•New Ham Resource Group, found at newhamhelp@radioham.org, is SARA’s outreach & mentoring program providing technical support and loaner equipment.

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

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.

The CQ WPX SSB Contest, based on an award offered by CQ Magazine for working all prefixes, is scheduled for March 26-27, 2022, 0000 UTC Saturday through 2359 UTC Sunday.  The Bouvet Island DXpedition is still on the calendar for January 2023.

Remote Stations: Pat WAØTDA

Joe KCØOIO reports that the remote bases are up and running; however, the WØEQO station is receive only on 40 meters.  Pat WAØTDA keeps us up to date with the remote base situation in the SARA Signals Newsletter.

Newsletter: Pat WAØTDA & Dave WØOXB

The March issue of the SARA Signals Newsletter is available, and the deadline for the April edition is March 31, 2022.  Please consider submitting an article, or even just photos, for publication.

ARES and Public Service:

While Washington County is without an EC, John KAØHYR has kept the position running until a new EC can be found.

The Washington County – Prairie Island Radiological Emergency Preparedness (“REP”) drill will take place May 25, 2022.

Club Business:

Purchase of Icom IC-7300: A motion was made by Keith AGØH to purchase the Icom IC-7300 from the estate of John N5JLZ (SK) for club purposes.  John intended to donate all his equipment to the club, but the club intends to pay for this nice radio in fairness to the family.  Membership approval at a regular Membership Meeting is needed for the purchase as it is over the $350.00 threshold set forth in Article 6, section 1, of the club by-laws.

The motion was seconded by Greg KØGW.  The motion was passed unanimously.

Local Activities:  The South East Metro Amateur Radio Club (SEMARC), our fellow amateur radio club in Washington County, MN, has an upcoming SEMARC Virtual Meeting scheduled for either March 22 or March 28, 2022, at 7:00 PM.  Joe KCØOIO will clarify the correct date.

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.  Keith AGØH was also on hand at the meeting with SARA coffee cups for sale; contact Keith at any time to purchase on of these dandy cups bearing the SARA logo.

50/50 Raffle:

The sale of raffle tickets brought in $96.00.  The winner of the resulting $48.00 was Scott W2SAD, who generously donated his winnings back to the club.  Thank you Scott!

The business meeting was adjourned on a motion and second which were carried unanimously.

Meeting attendance: 25; Virtual Meeting attendance: 2