MEMBERSHIP MEETING MINUTES – May 14, 2022
MEMBERSHIP MEETING MINUTES – May 14, 2022
Stillwater Amateur Radio Association
The Membership Meeting took place at Boutwells Landing, Stillwater, MN, and was streamed via Zoom for virtual attendees.
President: Joe KCØOIO
The meeting was called to order at 9:22 AM by Joe KCØOIO.
Program:
My Year at the Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station – Steve KAØOBI
Steve provided a great presentation on his year as Station Manager at the Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station in 1986. Steve discussed that his interest in Antarctica goes back all the way to the Seventh Grade when he did a book report on a famous polar adventurer Richard E. Byrd, the book entitled “Alone.” Many years later, an ad in the Minneapolis paper on April 6, 1986, caught his eye as it was looking for a Station Manager for the polar station. While he originally thought it was a joke, Steve applied and got the job with the National Science Foundation at a salary of $45,000/year (only the medical doctor made more). After spending five months in a motel in New Jersey hiring staff for the station, Steve was off to the South Pole.
Steve’s discussion of his time at the pole was so interesting, your honorable Secretary failed to take any further notes of the presentation, so engrossed he was in the picture being painted of Steve’s time as Station Manager. Thus, I highly encourage you to watch a rerun of the presentation available for sharing via the SARA YouTube channel. The video has been uploaded and is available now at https://youtu.be/X7aEAEuSnlk. SARA members have exclusive access to the SARA YouTube channel and you will need the above link to access the video. The presentation begins at the 7:15 minute mark.
The program concluded at 11:13 AM.
Business Session:
Joe KCØOIO then called the Business Session to order at 11:18 AM.
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.
Treasurer’s Report: Rich ADØSN
Beginning Total Balance: 04/01/2022 $18,465.79
- SARA
Balance: $6,708.45
Income:
Expenses:
Ending Balance: 4/30/2022 $6,137.02
- RBF
Balance: $11,757.34
Income: $0.00
Expenses: $0.00
Ending Balance: 3/31/2022 $11,757.34
Ending Total Balance: 4/30/2022 $17,894.36
Rich ADØSN reported that the club expenditure is related to the purchase of the Icom IC-7300 from the estate of late SARA member John N5JLZ (SK).
Activities & Events
Board Meetings
The Board meeting will take place this coming Wednesday May 18, 2022, at 6:30 PM via Zoom. A link to the meeting is supplied in the SARA Broadcast for the upcoming week.
SARA’s Summer in the Park
Beginning May 12, 2022, Thursday Eyeballs began with our weekly outdoor QSO parties taking place in local parks throughout the summer. May 12, 2022, was our New Hams Night, celebrating our recent graduates and other new hams. We had 6 or 7 newly licensed or upgraded hams at the event.
This week’s eyeball will take place at Brekke Park, 5500 Omar Ave, Oak Park Heights, MN beginning as usual at approximately 6:00 PM, running until about 8:00 PM.
Further Eyeballs will take place at rotating locations, with Valley View Park, Oak Park Heights, MN, being the location on every third week (June 2 & 23; July 14; August 4 & 25; and September 15). The other locations will be announced in the SARA Broadcast 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.
Special Events
SARA POTA Challenge – The year-long SARA POTA (Parks On The Air) Challenge is well underway, and an update was provided of the standings via the SARA POTA Challenge leader board. Stats are available throughout the challenge on the SARA club website.
Bob and Brian KB9TBB are the primary data sources for the event. It will run though December 31, 2022. You should let Bob and/or Brian know by email if you are interested in participating, you will be added to the list. The list will be used by Brian to pull data off the POTA.org website: https://parksontheair.com, so hunters will not have to do anything but hunt. To participate you must set up an account on the POTA website. All are encouraged to take a look at the POTA resources website as well for more information.
Dave WØOXB reported that on his recent activation, he was contacted by the Paul, brother of the late SARA Member from across the border, Bill VE3XT (SK), who now has Bill’s call. Dave, of course, thought he was hearing from the heavens. Dave suggested the Board consider giving Paul an invite to the Split Rock Lighthouse/Edmund Fitzgerald special event and perhaps a temporary SARA membership. This will be considered at the next Board meeting.
Field Day 2022 – 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 (“Always last full weekend of June”). A beverage permit has also been obtained. We will only be operating during daylight hours; no overnight operation is planned. More on Field Day as the date approaches.
Member Support/Assistance Initiatives: M.A.P. & New Ham Resource Group (NHRG) & More
•M.A.P is readily available for antenna projects and member-to-member assistance via non-contact or in person methods. Dave WØOXB reports that there are several people in need of antenna work, and we will be working through the list. Dave also asked for volunteers to take the second half of the antenna raising operation – that is, operators often need training on how to operate their rigs, tuners, etc., with the new antenna. This does not necessarily have to occur on the same day as the antenna raising as the day is often full just with the antenna activities.
•New Ham Resource Group, found at newhamhelp@radioham.org, is SARA’s outreach & mentoring program providing technical support and loaner equipment. Brian NØBJE reported that there is a new transceiver available for loan – an Icom IC-746 made available by the estate of John N5JLZ (SK). This is a more modern HF radio than the club has had for loan in the past.
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
There are reports that the the Norwegian non-profit organization that is sponsoring the 3YØJ DXpedition to Bouvet Island next fall is in practice and preparation mode. Good news for DXers!
The new ARRL International Digital Contest will debut at 1800 UTC on June 4, ending at 2359 on June 5, 2022. All non-RTTY modes are permitted. This will be an HF – 6-meter event, on 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10, and 6 meters, with single-operator and multi-single entry categories.
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, it always current.
Remote Stations: Pat WAØTDA
Joe KCØOIO reports that the remote bases are up and running; however, the WØEQO station is still experiencing problems on 40 meters due to high SWR. There is ongoing discussion to address the issue.
Newsletter: Pat WAØTDA & Dave WØOXB
The May issue of the SARA Signals Newsletter is now available. As usual, the Newsletter will go on summer hiatus until September. But please consider submitting an article for future issues, or even just photos, for publication.
ARES and Public Service:
The Washington County – Prairie Island Radiological Emergency Preparedness (“REP”) drill will take place May 25, 2022, at the Park High School in Cottage Grove, MN. If interested, contact the acting Washington County EC, John KAØHYR, as some video training for the event must be completed to participate.
Club Business:
@radioham.org and Server Update: Collin KEØIYN reports to Joe KCØOIO that, through discussions with our website provider, the club has unlimited email, groups, etc., of which the club can take advantage. More discussion of this will take placer at the upcoming Board meeting scheduled this Wednesday May 18 at 6:30 PM via Zoom.
Local Activities: The South East Metro Amateur Radio Club (SEMARC), our fellow amateur radio club in Washington County, MN, is celebrating its birthday with a Birthday Bash get-together today from 10:00 AM until 4:00 PM at the Cottage Grove Fire Station No. 3. A healthy debate was had on just where Fire Station No. 3 is located.
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.
New Business:
There was no new business.
50/50 Raffle:
The sale of raffle tickets brought in $37.00. The winner of the resulting $18.50 was Tom AD6QT (for the second month in a row!), who generously donated his winnings back to the club. Thank you Tom!
The business meeting was adjourned at 11:39 AM.
Meeting attendance: 18; Virtual: 7