2018 WØTBC Memorial Award-NØDRX
Split Rock Lighthouse 2012
2021 W0TBC Memorial Award
2023 Simonet Memorial Award
OXB Special Install
SARA Does Skywarn
Ice Station WØJH 2014
2017 SARA Officers
New Radio Gear For Some SARA Members!
Fitzgerald Crew 2012

MEMBERSHIP MEETING MINUTES – September 14, 2019

MEMBERSHIP MEETING MINUTES – May 11, 2019

Stillwater Amateur Radio Association

1618 Pine Street West

Stillwater, Minnesota 55082

President:  Joe KCØOIO

The meeting was called to order at 9:00 AM. 

Secretary’s Report:  Collin KEØIYN

The general meeting minutes from the May 11, 2019 meeting are posted on the website.  Please report any corrections to: Secretary@radioham.org

Treasurer’s Report:  Rich ADØSN

Beginning Balance:     7/1/2019         $2,690.19

Income:                                                   $50.00

Expenses:                                                $217.35

Ending Balance:          8/31/2019     $2,522.84 (Not including RBP income/expenses)

$16,735.99 (Including RBP income/expenses)

 

Education and Training:  Bob WØGAF

The fall General class has started.  Volunteer teacher Keith is retiring this year; so anyone wishing to teach is encouraged to contact Bob W0GAF.

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.

2019 WHITE Rock, SD Three State Special Event: This special event was held August 16-18.  This was held where Minnesota, South Dakota, and North Dakota meet.  Members are encouraged to read the newsletter to see the favorable comments that were received from those who contacted the event station and thoughts from those whom attended.

2019 Split Rock Lighthouse Special Event: This special event will be held November 1-3.  This is held to commemorate the sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald.  Please let Dave W0OXB know if you will attend, and be sure to get your reservations in at the motel.

Jamboree on the Air: This special event will be held at Fred C. Anderson Scout Camp on October 19th in conjunction with the Boy Scout Jamboree.  Brian N0BJE is the host; speak to him if you wish to be involved.

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.

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.

This special event will be held November 1-3.  This is held to commemorate the sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald.  Please let Dave W0OXB know if you will attend, and be sure to get your reservations in at the motel.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.

A new resource card has been made to be available 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.

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 net will be starting up again soon for the fall.

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 October 5th.  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:

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:

The next board meeting will cover youth activities and a SARA report card.

Good of Association

SEMARC Meeting – their next meeting will be held September th 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.

50/50 Drawing:

UNRECORDED FOR THIS MEETING.

Program – Bill Mitchell AE0EE on Contesting 101.

The program and meeting concluded after 11 AM.

Meeting attendance: UNKNOWN