Minutes of the SEMARC Board Meeting

February 11, 2008

 

Attendees: Dick Roberts N0UC (President), Steve Howard AB0XE (Vice-President), Dennis Ackerman KB0OQQ (Treasurer), Pete Sigtermans N0FKC, Skip Jackson KS0J, John Regan KA0HYR, John W3FAF (Secretary)

 

The meeting was called to order by the President, Dick Roberts N0UC at 7:42 PM.  The minutes of the annual meeting were read (taken by Jim Boyd) and will be submitted to the membership for approval.  Dennis Ackerman KB0OQQ presented the

 

Treasurer’s report: 

As of January 31 2008, the balance of the accounts was General: $1985.46 and VE: $108.19.

 

OLD BUSINESS

At the annual meeting, the voting ballot was corrected (an error was present as a result of verbiage confusion) and resubmitted to the membership. Dennis KB0OQQ made a motion that we accept the ballots as received and reviewed by the board.  The motion was Moved Seconded and Approved (MSA).  The new results show that Pat Story W0MCQ was elected as member-at-large.  An e-mail will be sent out by Dick N0UC to this effect.

 

BUSINESS

Committees

President Dick Roberts suggested the following committees:

          Club Scholarship Committee:  Chaired by Jim Boyd KC0QCO

          Program Committee:  Chaired by Skip Jackson KS0J

          Field Day Committee:  Chaired by Gary Esler WK0X

Dennis Ackerman made a motion to accept the above list of committees as given (MSA).

 

Club Scholarship Committee:

Our discussion was limited due to Jim KC0QCO absence due to illness.  The details of the committee’s activities must be completed by May 2008 (John KA0HYR).  The board discussed how the scholarship is to be focused.   The board will further discuss this and make recommendations.  A preliminary funding idea was proposed by Steve Howard AB0XE such as having a pancake breakfast at the VFW.  Skip Jackson suggested that we could approach some of the local ham radio distributors.  He will talk to Dan Fish, Jay Bellows and Twila Greenheck regarding possibilities.   John Thomas W3FAF moved that the Treasurer provide a line item for the Scholarship and seconded by Steve Howard. 

 

Programs:

Skip has a program for February but is lacking programs through May.  Steve suggested that we have a program on digital voice or perhaps D-star.  It would be good to have an overview talk on propagation (John W3FAF?).  Another talk topic of GMRS was suggested.

 

Field Day:

We will move to another location (presently being investigated) this June.  Locations will be discussed at future meetings.

 

Membership:

Skip suggested that we give new members a picture guide to the present membership and officers of the club.  Also, it would be a good idea to hand out plastic IDs to the membership. This will be “developed.”  Regular e-mails will be sent out to the membership.

 

ARES:

Steve is setting up another ARES Website.  The “Radio Team” will show that we are organized at the county level.  There will be a meeting on February 17 (no details).  The “Adventure Race” provides a good practice field for ARES membership.  It will be held May 10th, runs for 10 hours and needs volunteer operators (6AM to 6PM with a barbeque afterwards).

 

Hospital Radio Kit Project:

Skip suggests that we schedule a program for February to complete the remaining 11 kits to be assembled.  Operating procedures will be written.  Just a note, this kit is not intended to be a final station for the hospital.

 

The meeting was adjourned at 9:40 (MSA).

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

John H. Thomas, III W3FAF

Secretary

 

 

Minutes of the SEMARC Membership Meeting

February 26, 2008

 

Attendees: Dick Roberts N0UC (President), Steve Howard AB0XE (Vice-President), Dennis Ackerman KB0OQQ (Treasurer), Pete Sigtermans N0FKC, Skip Jackson KS0J, Jim Boyd KC0QCO, Jerry DeHaven WA0ACF, Vern Reiter WA0KRL, Don Nelson KF0UU, Bernie Hanson KA0GX , Pat Story W0MCQ, Gary Esler WK0X John Dean K0JDD, Dave Glass W0OXB, Roger Kamps KB0HVZ, Dan Franz WD0GUP, Kevin Osborn KD0ABR,* Pat Osborn KA0RXX,* John W3FAF (Secretary)

* visitor

 

The meeting was called to order by the President, Dick Roberts N0UC at 7:11 PM. 

 

Minutes (John W3FAF):

The minutes of the board meeting were passed around and read. They were accepted as written. 

 

Treasurer’s report (Denny KB0OQQ): 

As of January 31 2008,

 

General Fund

VE Fund

Jan 1 2008

$1583.66

$125.30

 

$575.00

$57.81

 

($47.90)

($74.92)

Feb 26 2008

$1985.46

$108.19

MSA.

 

Old Business:

At the annual meeting, irregularities in voting were discussed.  A re-vote was called and performed there.  Pat Story W0MCQ was elected as member-at-large.

 

Scholarship Committee (Jim KC0QCO, Skip KS0J and Jim KC0HYV)

Jim presented recommendations obtained at the Committee Meeting held Jan 14th.

Some of the questions addressed were:

          How to get high school students involved/interested in this,

          How to start raising funds,

          Criteria for awarding the scholarship,  

Requirements (must be science, engineering, mathematics or technology) and have an immediate family member licensed as an Amateur Radio Operator,      

have a cumulative GPA of >3.

The school districts covered were discussed with the initial results including districts: 834, 833, 200, 196, Forest Lake, Mahtomedi, Inver Grove Heights, Hastings, Cottage Grove, Oakdale and South St. Paul (numbers may be duplicates).  Initial funding was also discussed.  Short Term funding will be about $250.00 this year.  A motion was made by Skip KS0J to adopt this as our goal.  It was seconded by Gary WK0X and approved by the membership.

 

New Business:

Dick N0UC presented that 3 committees be formed as a result of the Board Meeting recommendations: 

          Field Day Committee chaired by Gary WK0X,

          Scholarship Committee chaired by Jim KC0QCO,

          Program Committee chaired by Skip KS0J.

Field Day Committee Report:  Gary WK0X said that details were needed.  Last year we operated as 6F at the Fire Station.  This was a good choice.  We have had a lot of different sites in the past.  Perhaps we should have a different site this year. 

An operating plan is needed.  Pat Story discussed interference between the stations operating.  Filters and proper antenna orientation may help this situation.  This will be discussed in more detail later.

Program Committee Report  Skip KS0J asked for volunteers to help with this.  John Dean K0JDD and John W3FAF volunteered.  There were requests for a program on propagation.

John K0JDD will bring food for the March Meeting.

A Short program was presented by Skip KS0J on LED Lighting.

 

The meeting was adjourned at 8:30 so the club members could work on assembling the Hospital Quick Response Kits for the Metro Hospital Compact (MSA).

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

John H. Thomas, III W3FAF

Secretary