MEMBERSHIP MEETING MINUTES – MAY 11, 2019
MEMBERSHIP MEETING MINUTES – May 11, 2019
Stillwater Amateur Radio Association
President: Joe KCØOIO
The meeting was called to order at 9:00 AM.
Secretary’s Report: Collin KEØIYN
The general meeting minutes from the April 13, 2019 meeting are posted on the website. Please report any corrections to: Secretary@radioham.org
Treasurer’s Report: Rich ADØSN
Beginning Balance: 4/1/2019 $2,905.64
Income:
Expenses:
Ending Balance: 4/30/2019 $2,889.30 (Not including RBP income/expenses)
$17,367.65 (Including RBP income/expenses)
Education and Training: Bob WØGAF
The Spring Tech Class had 13 whom tested, with 11 successful – 10 new licensees and one upgrade. This included a few students.
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.
New Ham Night/Radios in the Park: New Ham Night will be held May 16th at Valley View Park, which will kick off Radios in the Park. Other dates for Radios in the Park are June 6, June 27, July 18, August 8, and August 29.
2019 Field Day: Field day is June 22-23, and this year we will have overnight operating for a full 24 hours. Operators are needed for the overnight, as well as setup, takedown, and operating the phone, CW, and GOTA/digital stations. Setup will begin at 9am on the 22nd, going on air at 1pm, and broadcasting until 1pm on Sunday the 23rd.
2019 WHITE Rock, SD Three State Special Event: This special event will be held August 16-18. This is held where Minnesota, South Dakota, and North Dakota meet. There will be a guided tour by White Rock historian, former mayor, and SARA member KD0VKB Randy. Full details forthcoming.
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.
Antenna projects are being planned for warmer weather.
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. The W0EQO station computer is on its last legs and a replacement is being searched for.
Recently announced is a new interface for remote operating, the RigPi, available from MFJ, a Raspberry Pi powered, linux-based remote control platform.
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.
Washington County ARES: John KAØHYR
The ARES net takes place on the 3rd Wednesday of each month. April 17th will be the next net on 147.180+ PL74.4 repeater at 6:30 PM.
Check the web site www.mnwashcoares.net regularly for current events, net schedule, and other items of significance.
The Rep Drill is coming up on June 19th, 2019. The hands On session will be May 22nd, 2019 – details to be coming.
The Mobile/Go Kit Picknic will be held July 20th, at Edgewater Park in Woodbury. There might also be a special event station run at the event.
Washington County ARES has stood down from the MOU for flooding, though an eye is being kept on the rivers.
Please note that changes are coming in 2019, so stay tuned for what they will be.
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.
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.
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. The last one will be held April 14th for the season.
A 160 meter emergency net was run one night with operators on batteries or backup power. This Emergency Net Night (ENN) was quite popular and inquiries have led to an anticipation of doing it at 8pm, Wednesday, once a month. An effort will be done to reach out for the 2m net to do the same. This will be done the first Tuesday of the month.
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 August 31st. Contributors wanted!
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:
May: Why Ham Radio?
Sept: Contesting 101 – Bill Mitchel AE0EE
Oct: SDR Dongles, Receivers, and Software – Doug N9TOW and Collin KE0IYN
Nov: Baluns, Ununs, and Chokes – Dave WØOXB
Dec: Can I Get There From Here? Propagation (Tentative)
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.
New Business:
No new business to announce or discuss.
Good of Association
SEMARC Meeting – their next meeting will be held May 28th 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.
Upcoming Hamfests:
Twin Cities FM Club Spring Tailgate – June 1, 7:00 AM Plymouth
Magic Tailgater – July 13th, 8am-12 noon, Galilee Lutheran Church on Rice St. and McCarrons Blvd, Roseville
Brainerd Tailgate Hamfest – August 10th 7:00am-1:00pm, Crow Wing County Fairgrounds at 2000 SE 13th St. Brainerd
50/50 Drawing:
$95 was collected. Zach, AA0U won the drawing, and donated his winnings (47.50) to the newly licensed ham Scott, KE0VOC towards purchase of a new radio.
Program – Why Ham Radio?
Brian N0BJE and Joe KC0OIO ran a talk-show style session, inviting several ham radio operators of varying length of licensure up to the front to discuss what got them into ham radio, what keeps them in ham radio, and what they’d want to pass on to new hams. Several individuals were interviewed from licensees whom have had their licenses for over 50 years to those whom have only in the last few years gotten their licenses. A few newly licensed and re-licensed hams were in attendance and stated they very much appreciated hearing about the range of purposes and focuses in ham radio.
The program and meeting concluded at 11:07 AM.
Meeting attendance: 37