Prior to
the meeting the Traditional Pizza & Pop Social began at 6:30 PM.
Hot-N-Ready Pizza from Little Caesars (in many flavors) was delivered by Scott W1BIC. Coke, Diet Coke, and Sprite in iced-down cans
were delivered by Bobby N8CY. Hot coffee
was also available – courtesy of the “Blue Bucket Guy” Ray KD8CXY. Huge amounts of Pizza and significant amounts
of Pop were consumed by members and Visitors present. Those present generously donated $52.50 to
defray the cost of this social to the Club.
Fellowship and techno-babble prevailed, and a good time was had by all.
II. Introductions & Upgrades
The following visitors were introduced:
No
Call – Mike A.
N8ZI
– Tom Tinckell
There were no upgrade announced.
Copies of the minutes from the 21-Nov-06 meeting were available at the meeting and on the GMARC Web Site. Motion to approve the November Minutes by Rich K8OX and seconded by Larry N8WJ. Motion passed.
IV. Treasurer’s Report
T.J. N8RUH was not present, however his reports for November and December were given by Bobby N8CY. The November bank balance (including pending transactions) was $826.96. The December bank balance (including one un-deposited check) is $973.00.
V. Membership Report by Bobby N8CY
We have 72 members who have paid their 2006 dues, and 24 have also paid their
2007 dues (including those noted below).
The following members paid their 2007 dues at his meeting:
K8PJQ
– Rich
KD8CRA – Larry
KE6YRC – Hugh
N1FCK – Greg
N5WCS – Mike
W1IK – Jim
W8PIE – Ray
W8RLV – Robert (thru 2008)
W8SOX – Larry
WB9FJO – Ben
WI8C - Dave
VI. Nets and Newsletter by Dave W8RIT
Dave W8RIT reported that the Dec-06 Edition of The Transmission Line has been published to the Web
Site. Copies were available at the
meeting. He still needs articles for
future editions. The InfoNet from
18-Dec-06 had 9 Check-ins. For calendar
year 2006 the average number of check-ins per week was 10.5 vs. the goal of
15. W8RIT encouraged members to
“tune-in” whenever possible to meet this goal in 2007.
A
Certificate of Recognition was presented to Chuck N8ZA for “Perfect Attendance”
– having checked-in every week to the InfoNet during 2006.
Bobby N8CY noted the fine job done by W8RIT in publishing the GMARC Newsletter in 2006. There was a rousting round of applause (that could be heard as far away as St. Clair County). Bill W8WRB noted that W8RIT has been named the Assistant Emergency Coordinator for St. Clair County. Congratulations Dave!
VII. Club Liaison Report
Mike N5WCS reported that the Hazel
Park Swap will be 21-Jan-07.
Scott W1BIC reported that the Milford
ARC has provided a free table to GMARC for their Swap in Apr
-07.
VIII. Tech Committee Report
Chuck N8ZA reported that both repeaters operational, and there have been no
recent issues reported.
IX. Old Business
Scott W1BIC noted that all Emergency
Radio vests approved to be sold to members at the 21-Nov-06 meeting have been
delivered. All have been paid for
(except as noted below). $120 was
delivered to the Treasurer for vests paid for to date. The five members who purchased vests are:
W8RIT
– Dave
N8EB
– Keith (Still owes $30 to the Treasurer)
KC8WPW
– Rich U.
KD8CXY
– Ray
KD8DHS
– Wes
X. President's Remarks
Scott W1BIC noted that the Club is very fortunate to have a meeting room for
our Monthly Meetings provided by
XI. New Business
Chuck N8ZA brought up the issue that KC8ZVA has been causing some “issues” on
the WW8GM UHF repeater by selecting “Random Links” on EchoLink® that do not connect and keeping the
repeater occupied for long periods of time – sometimes as long as 2-hours. There was considerable discussion about the
issue of how long it is appropriate for any
Amateur Operator to use the UHF repeater for EchoLink®.
It was the general sense of those present that no Amateur Operator should make more than five (5) EchoLink® contacts during any 1-hour period,
and that it is not appropriate to
select “Random Links”; i.e. connection should only be made to a “Specific Link”. A motion was made to this effect by Chuck
N8ZA (not seconded).
Motion by Al N8ARO to table this motion until Jan-07, seconded by
Brad N8VI. Motion passed without
discussion as required by Robert’s Rules of Order. N8ARO volunteered to help draft a recommended
set of procedures for using EchoLink® on the GMARC repeaters that will become Club Policy upon a motion made and passed by the Club in January
2007.
Ed W8EDX noted that someone was kerchunking the Repeaters on the weekend of 16-Dec-06. It was determined that the source of the signal was coming into the 2-meter Repeater. It was also determined by direction finding that the signal was not coming from St. Clair. Control operator need to be vigilant to unidentified signals coming into the GMARC Repeaters and caution Amateur Operators to identify their stations as required by FCC Rules.
The following nominations for 2007 Officers of GMARC were made at the 21-Nov-06
meeting:
President – Ingo DL5AL
Vice President – Kurt WU8V
Secretary – Bobby N8CY
Treasurer – Joel KC8DQH
Scott W1BIC
asked if there were any additional nominees for Officers. There being none, a motion was made by Brad
N8VI, seconded by Jim W1IK to close nominations and elect the above candidates
by acclamation. Motion passed.
The following nominations for 2007 Director-at-Large of GMARC were made at the
21-Nov-06 meeting:
Directors-at-Large – Mike N5WCS, Hugh
KE6YRC, Rich KC8HMJ, Mark KC8WPS, Brad N8VI, Jeff N8XN
Brad N8VI
noted that there are significant demands on his time for other activities and
respectfully requested that his name be removed from the Ballot. W1BIC asked if there were any additional
nominees for Directors-at-Large. There
being none, a motion was made by Brad N8VI, seconded by Dave WD8IFL to close
nominations. Motion passed. Ballots were passed out to all members
present who have paid their dues (at least) thru 2006. Ballots were gathered by Vice President Joe
N8OZ and delivered to an appointed tabulating committee consisting of Rich
K8OX, Larry N8WJ, and Joe N8OZ.
Thirty-three (33) ballots were cast and tabulated by the committee. The results of their tabulation were summarized, the tabulation was signed by the committee
members, and delivered to the Secretary Bobby N8CY.
There was no 50/50 raffle or drawing at this meeting.
The
donations towards Pizza & Pop by those present were $52.50.
XIV.
Announcement of Election Results by the President
Scott W1BIC announced the results of
the vote tabulation. The new
Directors-at-Large for 2007 are:
Mike N5WCS
Jeff N8XN
Scott W1BIC noted that there
are numerous “appointed positions” – some included in the By-Laws, and some
that are not. W1BIC encouraged members
to volunteer for these positions or seek out other members to fill these
positions:
“Blue
Bucket Duty” – Ray KD8CXY has volunteered for 2007
Program
Director – Currently Brad N8VI
Activities
Chairperson – Open
Newsletter
Editor – Currently Dave W8RIT
Repeater
Trustee – Currently Larry N8WJ
Field
Day Chairperson – Open
Historian
– Open
ARRL Liaison – Currently W1BIC. Dave W8RIT has previously expressed interest
in this position.
Inter-Club
Liaison – Open
ARRL
Public Information Officer – Currently N8CY
Jim W1IK re-joined as a member at this meeting, and (10) members, as noted
above, paid their 2007 dues at this meeting.
One member, Robert W8RLV, paid his dues thru 2008.
34 Members
attended, and 2 Visitors was present.
Total
Collections to be delivered to the Treasurer:
Membership
Dues - $240.00
Payment
for Vests - 120.00
Pizza
Donations - 52.50
Total
-- $412.50
XVI.
Meeting adjourned at 8:52 PM. Motion by Rich K8OX, seconded by Brad
N8VI. Motion passed.
Respectfully
submitted,
Bobby Corr N8CY,
Secretary –
GMARC
N8CY@gmarc.org