Membership Meeting Minutes – March 14, 2015
Stillwater Amateur Radio Association
1618 Pine Street West
Stillwater, Minnesota 55082
President: Joe KCØOIO
The meeting was called to order at 9:01 AM.
Secretary’s Report: Steve KAØOBI
The minutes from the February 14th, 2015 meeting were approved as published.
Treasurer’s Report: John N5JLZ
Beginning Balance: 2/1/2015 $2,909.29
Income: $43.16
Expenses: $55.04
Ending Balance: 2/28/2015 $2,897.41
Education and Training: Bob WØGAF
Skywarn Class was held on February 28, 2015 – 54 attendees. If you missed this class, check metroskywarn.org for upcoming local classes scheduled.
Spring Technician Classes started March 5, 2015 – 21 at first class, total of 27 as of 3/12.
Spring Technician VE Session – April 30, 2015 at Boutwells from 6 to 9 PM.
New Ham Night – scheduled for May 21st from 6 to 8PM at the Stillwater Library. Topics to be discussed include: selecting your first radio, radio programming assistance, and first contact or planned exercise.
MAP (Member Assistance Program): Dave WØOXB
The weather is becoming more favorable to begin projects again. Dave is looking for volunteers to help with the growing demand.
SARA Mentor Project – Also looking for volunteers to mentor one or two new hams and get them on the air and more involved in the hobby.
Activities, Programs & Events: Dave WØOXB
Ice Station WØJH event was very successful. All the QSLs have been sent out. Most of the activity was on the 20 meter band due to poor conditions on 80 and 40 meters.
Thursday Night Eyeball Sessions – Held every Thursday at 6:00 PM CDT at the Stillwater Public Library.
Field Day 2015 is scheduled for June 27th to 28th at Autumn Hills Park, Oak Park Heights.
White Rock Special Event – planning for middle to late September 2015.
1.966 MHz Round Robin Rag Chew – 8:00 PM CDT every night except Tuesday and Thursday.
River Valley Slow Speed CW Net (reincarnated) – In process of determining a band and frequency. Testing on 80, 40, and 15 meters will be held on March 17th. More details to follow after testing.
Handihams: Pat WAØTDA & Dave WØOXB
HEART (Handiham Equipment Assessment Repair & Tracking) – the storage unit is no longer snowed in so volunteers are needed now to help.
Radio Camp – volunteers are needed for this camp which is one week duration in the middle of August and includes a VE session.
Looking into possibly relocating Courage North remote station. One possibility is the scout camp which also has a tower available that can be used.
Washington County ARES: John KAØHYR (at AERO classes)
Likelihood of flooding this year is low due to the lack of snow this year.
Project Day is scheduled for April 25th.
FEMA graded exercise is scheduled for July 22nd – ARES will be involved.
Public Safety Whole Community Expo – May 2nd – sponsored by the Washington County Sheriff’s Office and the City of Woodbury. Location will be the Bielenberg Sports Center on Lake Road. They will stress the importance of emergency preparedness, weather awareness, and other ways to be prepared.
For additional details go to their website at www.mnwashcoares.org.
Digital Net: Joe KCØOIO
SARA DigiNet will be on air at 1900 CDT on Sunday night. The net will be on upper side band 80 meters at 3.581.150, sweet spot around 1000. Mode will be BPSK31.
Newsletter & Website: Pat WAØTDA, Dave WØOXB, Peter NØGRM, & Keith AGØH
Deadline for articles for the newsletter is the last Saturday of the month.
DX News: Mike NØODK (not present)
SARA has an outgoing DX QSL service. SARA will package and send outbound DX QSL cards to ARRL Bureau for SARA members who are ARRL members. Please include a copy of your QST mailing label showing your ARRL member number. Get the latest DX News by subscribing to ARRL DX News. Also check www.NG3K.com for the DX Contest Calendar.
Good of Association: Joe KCØOIO
Upcoming Meeting Programs:
April – Kyle Koehler KØLR – Software Defined Radio
May – Mike Tabbert KCØIQW – Broadband HamNet
June – Mobile & portable ops show and tell – outdoor location to be announced
Oct – Mike Paskeuric NØODK – Fun with DXing
Future program ideas include: SSTV & EasyPal, fresh look at APRS (Automatic Packet Reporting System), Maidenhead Grid Squares, hamming with smartphones and tablets.
Hamfests coming soon:
March 21st – AES Superfest in Milwaukee – 0900 to 1500
March 28th – Midwinter Madness in Buffalo – 0800 to 1300
April 18th – Brainerd Hamfest in Brainerd Armory – 0900 to 1300
May 2th – ARAC Swapmeet in Superior, WI
SEMARC Meeting – March 23rd – at Zion Lutheran Church, 8500 Hillside Trail S, Cottage Grove.
Show Us Your Shack Photos – Please send in a photo of your ham shack. These will be shown at the membership meetings and may be posted on the website.
The business part of the meeting adjourned at 10 AM.
Program: ARRL Membership Greg Widin KØGW, ARRL Dakota Division Director
Greg gave us an update on some of the ARRL major topics of interest and answered questions from the group regarding these.
– Centennial success
– Change in DXCC remote rules
– Legislative – HR 4969 resubmission in 2015 is now HR 1301. There are 10 bipartisan sponsors of the bill.
– Rules & Regs
– Band plan comments requested – www.arrl.org/bandplan
– Yearly dues
– Logbook of the World
– Strategy planning started
– Spectrum competition (WRC-15)
– Broadband
Meeting was adjourned at 10:50 AM.
Meeting attendance: 21