Minutes of the SEMARC Board Meeting

April 14, 2008

 

Attendees: Dick Roberts N0UC (President), Steve Howard AB0XE (Vice-President), Dennis Ackerman KB0OQQ (Treasurer), Pete Sigtermans N0FKC, Skip Jackson KS0J, Jim Boyd KC0QCO, Pat Story W0MCQ, John Thomas W3FAF (Secretary)

 

The meeting was called to order by the President, Dick Roberts N0UC at 7:39 PM. 

 

Secretary’s Report (John Thomas W3FAF):  Board Minutes from March 2008 were presented for approval.  They were approved with inclusion of Jim Boyd’s name and Pat Story’s name to the attendees list. (MSA)

 

Treasurer’s Report (Dennis Ackerman KB0OQQ):

The starting balance was $2096.54 and the ending balance was $2125.99. (MSA)

 

Field Day 2008

Dick Roberts N0UC has interacted with the county regarding the use of Schaar’s Bluff and has come to an appropriate wording that is acceptable to both parties.  The $150.00 deposit was sent in April 8 2008 along with the agreement.  Pat W0MCQ will take care of registering our FD location with ARRL.  We will probably not use helium balloons due to the price of helium.

 

Washington County ARES (Steve Howard AB0XE):

A review of the “a house burning drill” on Gray Cloud Island April 12 fro 8AM to 12PM was presented.  Everything went well.  SEMARC provided ATV coverage of the event.  A large number of pictures were taken.  The repeater was used for check-in only.  The tactical communications were held on simplex.  Traffic was slow due to “over verbiage.”  Our effort was greatly appreciated and thanks were expressed by the local Chief of Police.  Although we have ATV, we need to take stock of what we need to expand in the line of emergency equipment held by SEMARC.  To purchase new equipment, do we go out looking for Grants to do this?  ARES is not in a position to accept equipment.

 

Scholarship Committee (Jim Boyd KC0QCO):

The club appreciates donations made by its membership to date ($595.00).  Applications were distributed to Hastings and Woodbury HS.  The completed applications are due back by May 15, 2008.  Dick N0UC will send out another reminder.  Skip KS0J suggested that we sponsor a fund raising event next year.  If enough cash is collected, we could let ARRL HQ manage the fund for SEMARC.  Some contacts have been made that could be helpful.

 

Strawberry Fest 5K Run (Jim KC0QOC):

This is held June 14, 2008 Saturday.  Do we want to support communications for this event?  We should contact the organizers prior to the event if we are interested. 

 

Tour d’Cure (Steve Howard AB0XE):

8 – 9 operators will be needed May 31 8 – 11AM for this event.  We will provide coverage for the St. Paul side of the bike tour.  3-4 mobiles and a few bicycle rovers would be very helpful.  Volunteers will be solicited at the next General Meeting.  We could set up a publicity table of Harriet Island.

 

Program Committee (Skip Jackson KS0J)

The following programs are ready:

          a.  April       Red Haines WO0W “HF Propagation”

          b.  May        “Medical Missionary Service”

          c.  June        Field Day

 

Membership (Skip KS0J):

We still need a membership list to do this.  Denny Ackerman KB0OQQ will keep an up-to-date listing.

 

The meeting was adjourned at 9:05PM (MSA).

 

Respectfully submitted,

John H. Thomas, III W3FAF

Secretary

 

 

Minutes of the General Meeting April 25, 2008

 

In attendance:  Dick Roberts N0UC (President), Joe Hertzinger KC0OIO, Skip Jackson KS0J, Pete Sigtermans N0FKC, Don Nelson KF0UU, Roger Kamps KB0HVZ, John Dean K0JDD, Jim Boyd KC0QCO, Gary Esler WK0X, Stephen Kolcinski KB0OSH, Joshua Weise KC0ZQA, John Regan KA0HYR, Jerry DeHaven WA0ACF, Vern Reiter WA0KRL, Steve Howard AB0XE (vice-President), Fred Sauer KD0CO, Bernie Hanson KA0GX, Noel Westlind KC0ZXT, John Voxland W0SEI, Pat Story W0MCQ, Dennis Ackerman KB0OQQ (Treasurer), John Thomas W3FAF (Secretary)

 

The meeting was called to order by Dick Roberts N0UC at 1910 CDT followed by a round of introductions. 

 

Secretary: John Thomas W3FAF passed out copies of the Minutes for February and March 2008 which were read and approved (MSA).

 

Treasurer:  Dennis Ackerman KB0OQQ presented the treasurer’s report.

Opening Balance March 2008

General Fund                            $2046.02

                                                VE Fund                                              $    79.97

                                                                                                            $2125.99 

Closing Balance April 2008

                                                General Fund                            $ 2496.02

                                                VE                                                       $     68.80

                                                                                                            $2564.82

  The report was approved (MSA).

 

Red Haines WO0W presented an interesting talk on Ionospheric Radio Propagation.  The formal part of the meeting was resumed at 8:34 PM after his presentation.

 

Old Business Dick Roberts N0UC

This week, the completed radio kits were returned to the Hospital Compact.  Last week, Skip KS0J and Dick checked out the kits and gave them a serial number.  They will be distributed to the various hospitals over the next month.  Thanks to all for their help.

 

Steve Howard AB0XE (ARES) and volunteers did a great job at the St. Paul Park House Burning Drill.  Communications were supplied for the event and supplied ATV to the Fire Department.  A FEMA log was kept for the event.  The group received compliments from the Police and Fire Department on how good we handled communications. 

 

Steve AB0XE and Joe Hertzinger KC0OIO (ARES) presented a review of the Tour d’Cure to be held May 31 (Saturday).  Joe is managing the overall event.  This event is a 45 mile bicycle route.  There will be two nets operating on 2M, one for the St. Paul side and the other for the Minneapolis side.  Registration is at 7 AM and it is generally finished around 2 PM.  There are a lot of locations that must be covered (30 volunteers needed).  Bicycle rovers are also needed.  If you are interested contact Steve or Joe.

 

Committee Reports:

 

1.  Field Day:  The permit for park usage is now in hand.  There will be operating power limitations to minimize interference.  We must discuss what needs to be done.

2.  Programs Skip Jackson KS0J

The May program will be on Medical Missionary Work in Central America.

 

3. Scholarship Jim Boyd KC0QCO (Chairman, Scholarship Fund Committee)

We presently have $670.00 contributed.  The selection process is started.  Some contacts have been made with regard to Corporate and Public Fund Raising possibilities.  John Regan KA0HYR is working with counselors at Woodbury, Cottage Grove, and Hastings high schools.  The good news is that the process went smoothly and we have some applicants and the bad news is that qualifications are missing.  Skip KS0J said that the Certificate to be presented looks nice.  Dick N0UC suggested that the award be dedicated to Dave Harrell (the Club Founder) and have his wife present the first award.  A motion was made by John W3FAF and seconded by Fred KD0CO and approved to make the above suggestion permanent.

 

New Business:

John W3FAF will bring in cookies for the next meeting (May).

 

Briefs:

KA0HYR presented a short story about cleaning up.

N0UC presented comments regarding feed line looping.

KA0GX presented a few comments regarding his new DC 40 Kit.  A few parts were missing but it was completed.  This is a single frequency transceiver.

 

The secretary was directed to send a letter of thanks to WO0W for his talk.

 

The meeting was adjourned at 9:12 PM.

 

Respectfully Submitted

 

 

John H. Thomas, III W3FAF

Secretary