GMARC MEETING MINUTES 20-MAR-07

 

 

I.  Call to Order by President, Ingo DL5AL at 7:05 PM.

II.  Introductions & Upgrades

            Two Visitors were introduced – Joe Small, N8KA

David Shaw, KD8FNH
Bill Osladil, WB8OAF                                                    

 

            The following call sign changes were announced:

                        Joel WU8Y – Amateur Extra (Formerly KC8DQH)

 

III.  Minutes

 

            Copies of the minutes from the 20-Feb-07 meeting were available at the meeting and on the GMARC Web Site.  Dave WD8IFL noted that Dina N8YIJ’s name was misspelled on Page 3.

 

            Joe N8OZ noted that Captain Jerome Werner was misidentified in the pictures on pages 2 & 3.  Appropriate corrections will be made.

 

Motion to approve the February Minutes (as amended) by Mike N5WCS and seconded by Eddie N8RUE.  Motion passed.

 

IV.  Treasurer’s Report

            Joel WU8Y, our Treasurer, reported that the February bank balance was $1,504.39.  Including deposits of $128.00 and disbursements of $369.51, the total bank balance as of this meeting is $1,263.38. 

 

Motion to approve the Treasurer’s Report by Scott W1BIC and seconded by Brad N8VI.  Motion passed.

 

V.  Membership Report by Bobby N8CY

            We have 73 members in good standing, and 46 have also paid their 2007 dues (including those noted below).  The following members paid their 2007 dues at his meeting:

KC8DBG – Robert

KD8FNH – David (New)  

 

VI.  Nets and Newsletter (Discussion)

           Kurt WU8V is the interim Editor of The Transmission Line.  The March Newsletter has been published and copies were available at the meeting.  WU8V noted that Dick AF8X has contributed many articles to this edition (and future editions) of the Newsletter.  As always, members are encouraged to submit articles of interest to the Newsletter Editor at Editor@gmarc.org.

 

            Scott W1BIC noted that there were 16 check-ins to the Monday night InfoNet for 19-Mar-07 (close to an all-time record).  This does not include our Australian Station – who has not quite figured out how daylight savings time affects him.

 

We need replacement NCOs for the first and second week.  Joel WU8Y is a new alternate NCO.

 

VII.  Club Liaison Report

No report given.
     

VIII.  Tech Committee Report

            Jeff N8XN reported that the batteries in the Digital Voice Recorder (DVR) need to be replaced.  There is potential that we may need to change the PL on the 2-meter repeater because of interference.   There has been a recurring problem of a person kerchunking the 2-meter repeater in the late evenings.  If a member notices this condition, please contact one of the control operators to shut-down the repeater.

 

IX.  Old Business

None.

 

X.  President's Remarks

President Ingo DL5AL noted that there has been a flurry of activity at OnStar.  Bob KZ8N reported that he and Chuck N8ZA fired-up and tested the OnStar VHF transceiver on 13-Mar-07.  Other OnStar employees have expressed interest in seeing “live tests” of the Amateur Radio gear.  OnStar transceiver needs to be programmed with frequencies of other area repeaters.
 

XI.  New Business

            Joel WU8Y is in charge of the Oakland County Siren Net – NE Section covering Avon Township (Rochester), Addison Township, Auburn Hills, etc.  This net operates at 1:00 PM on the first Saturday of each month March thru November using the USECA Repeater 147.180 MHz + 100 Hz PL.  As a part of School Special Awareness for Severe Weather, there will be special testing at 11:30 AM on Wednesday 28-Mar-07.  Reports should be made directly to Oakland County Emergency Response and Preparedness on the W8OAK repeaters 146.900 MHz – 100 Hz PL.

 

            Joel WU8Y reported that there will be a special VHF event on Monday 9-Apr-07 from 7:00 PM to 11:00 PM called the “Spring Sprints”.  The Sprints take place on a different night for each band, as shown in the table:

 

Band

Date

Times

144 MHz

Monday, 9 April 2007

1900 – 2300 Local

222 MHz

Tuesday, 17 April 2007

1900 – 2300 Local

432 MHz

Wednesday, 25 April 2007

1900 – 2300 Local

902, 1296, 2304, etc... MHz

Saturday, 5 May 2007

0600 – 1300 Local

50 MHz

Saturday & Sunday, 12-13 May 2007

2300 – 0300 UTC


Complete information is at the Web page “http://www.sysadnet.com/vhfsprintrules.htm”.  73 and good luck!

 

Chuck N8ZA noted that Jeff N8XN, our Technical Director spends a great deal of time keeping our repeaters in top operating condition and often incurs travel expense and parking expense.  Motion to provide a free membership to Jeff N8XN and reimburse N8XN for his reasonable expense.  Seconded by Dave WD8IFL.  Motion passed.

 

There was brief discussion about the potential interest among members to have outdoor Flea Market space at the Dayton Hamvention.  There is still time to coordinate some shared space before May if members are interested.

 

XII.  Break from 7:54 PM to 8:20 PM

 

            The 50/50 raffle winner was Al N8ARO - $31.00. ($31 to the Club) – N8ARO donated $21 back to the Club.

            Runner up winner was Dave WD8IFL $1.00 – WDIFL donated $1 back to the Club.

 

The donations to the Coffee Fund by those present were $17.00.

 

 

XIII.  Presentation – HF101 – The New General Class – Kurt Broman WU8V

 

Kurt WU8V made a comprehensive presentation entitled HF101 – 30,000 KHz and Down.  This presentation can be found on the ARRL Web Site at www.arrl.org/FandES/ead/materials/HF-101.ppt.

 

GMARC members brought mobile and base station HF transceivers, and they were available at the break for members to evaluate via “hands on” demonstration. 

            it was noted that the Web Site www.AC6V.com Amateur Radio and DX Reference Guide is an awesome Web Site with over 700 Amateur Radio Topics, 6,000 links, and 132 pages.  Members interested in all aspect of Amateur Radio are encouraged to visit this site.

 

 

XIV.  New Members & Attendance

           

            Two (2) members, as noted above, paid their 2007 dues at this meeting.

 

            27 Members attended, and there were 3 Visitors.

 

            Total Collections delivered to the Treasurer:

 

                        Membership Dues          - $ 20.00
                        50/50 Raffle                   -    53.00

                        Coffee Donations            -    17.00


                                    Total --                $ 90.00

 

XVI.  Meeting adjourned at 9:18 PM. Motion by Ingo DL5AL, seconded by Scott W1BIC.  Motion passed.

 

 

            Respectfully submitted,


            Bobby Corr N8CY,

            Secretary – GMARC

            N8CY@gmarc.org

 

Revised: 17-Apr-07