Minutes of the SEMARC Board Meeting

March 10, 2008

 

Attendees: Dick Roberts N0UC (President), Steve Howard AB0XE (Vice-President), Dennis Ackerman KB0OQQ (Treasurer), Pete Sigtermans N0FKC, Skip Jackson KS0J, Don Nelson KF0UU, Jim Boyd KC0QCO, Pat Story W0MCQ, John W3FAF (Secretary)

 

The meeting was called to order by the President, Dick Roberts N0UC at 7:33 PM. 

 

Field Day 2008

Gary Esler WK0X had to resign as Chairman of the committee.  Pat Story W0MCQ has volunteered to take his place.  The Field Day location this year is planned for Shaars Bluff (Spring Lake Park).  Dakota County requires a $150.00 deposit (to be returned after the event) and a $50.00 fee to use the park facilities.  Dick N0UC will send a message regarding this to the Dakota County Parks Department confirming our intent to use the facilities.  He will also send a request to Marsh for Insurance coverage during Field Day in the park. 

 

Washington County ARES

Steve Howard AB0XE presented a brief review of an upcoming event “a house burning drill” on Gray Cloud Island where ARES has been invited to cover communications.  SEMARC will provide ATV coverage of the event.  It will be held April 12 fro 8AM to 12PM.  Six volunteers are presently needed (a total of 12 are needed).

 

General Meeting Minutes

John W3FAF passed out typed copies of the minutes.  Spelling and typos were corrected.  The minutes was approved by the Board as modified. 

 

Dennis Ackerman KB0OQQ presented the

Treasurer’s report: 

 

General Fund

VE Fund

Scholarship

Feb 26 2008

$1985.46

$108.19

 

 

$20.00

$14.00

 

 

 

($31.11)

 

Mar 10 2008

$2005.46

$91.08

$110.00

MSA

 

 

 

Scholarship Committee

Jim Boyd presented a Draft of Solicitation letter (see attached).  This letter will be sent to the membership and friends of SEMARC by e-mail.  Dick N0UC will write an introduction with instructions attached to the letter.  A few will be sent out by mail.  They will be marked as to be returned by April 18. 

 

Program Committee

Skip Jackson presented a brief overview.  The following programs were suggested by board members:

Digital Voice and Related Topics (Frank Karnauskas N1UW), Digital Format for TV (Skip Jackson), VHF/UHF Propagation (Gary Mohrlant W0GHZ), HF Propagation (Red Haines WO0W), Equipment Specifications at ARRL Labs (unidentified)…  “what do all the numbers mean?”,  Boat Anchors (unidentified), Antennas (unidentified).

 

Membership

Skip KS0J suggested a picture display of the present members of the club.  We need a membership list to do this!

 

The meeting was adjourned at 8:44PM (MSA).

 

Respectfully submitted,

John H. Thomas, III W3FAF

Secretary

Minutes corrected 4-15-2008

 

 

SEMARC Membership Meeting March 25, 2008

 

In attendance:  Dick Roberts N0UC (President), Skip Jackson KS0J, Pete Sigtermans N0FKC, Don Nelson KF0UU, Roger Kamps KB0HVZ, John Dean K0JDD, Jim Boyd KC0QCO, Gary Esler WK0X, John Regan KA0HYR, Shel Mann N0DRX, Steve Howard AB0XE (vice-President), Fred Sauer KD0CO, Noel Westlind KC0ZXT, Dan Franz WD0GUP, Pat Story W0MCQ, John Thomas W3FAF (Secretary)

 

The meeting was called to order by Dick Roberts N0UC at 1909 CDT followed by a round of introductions. 

 

John Thomas W3FAF (secretary) was unable to present the minutes for the previous meeting.  This will be done at the next monthly meeting.  Our Treasurer was not present.

 

Scholarship Fund

Jim Boyd KC0QCO said that funds are building and checks are coming in.  Any questions regarding this should be addressed to Jim.

 

Hospital Project 

Steve Howard AB0XE, Skip Jackson KS0J and Dick Roberts N0UC have been working with the Metro Hospital Compact.  The next step is to discuss policy and procedures at a separate meeting.  This will occur in two or three months.  One unit has been supplied to Lakeview Hospital in Stillwater as a Beta test site for the project.  Skip is working on the radio packs.  We will still need one evening to finish out contribution to the project.

 

Field Day

Gary Esler has a conflict with Field Day.  Pat Story W0MCQ has volunteered to chair the Field Day committee (thanks to Gary).  The paper work to use Shaars’ Bluff needs to be completed.  Dick N0UC has been working on this.  All fees have been waived but we still need a $150.00 deposit.  They asked us to give up one of the shelters.  SEMARC is willing to do this.  There was a minor problem with Dakota County approving all advertisements for Field Day.  They cannot have the final say on web postings by ARRL headquarters.  Dakota County asked to not be listed as a sponsor.  Wind power will not be available.  We will need a FOOD chairman!  In general, Field Day is in good shape.

 

Programs

Skip Jackson KS0J Program Chairman listed the following:

March 2008  HamCAP, (John Thomas)  and new Digital TV  (Skip Jackson)

April 2008  Dynamics of Propagation  Red Haines WO0W

May 2008   John K0JDD suggested a talk by a ham from Honduras.  He will be checking into this.

 

ARES

The Home Burning Exercise is being covered by Steve Howard AB0XE (Vice President/ARES Washington County Emergency Coordinator) is taking care of our involvement from an ARES point of view.

 

American Diabetes Association’s Tour d’Cure Bike Marathon is being held soon.  SEMARC will do the St. Paul side of the route.  We would like to set up a table for NCS.  This will help to advertise SEMARC and Ham Radio.  If we have enough people, it would be nice to set up an HF station also.  Steve will have an update ready for May 31st.  We could use 9 volunteers with perhaps two willing to do Bicycle Mobile.

 

Jim Boyd volunteered to get the food for next months meeting. 

 

Our meeting was suspended until further notice to hear the presentations by John Thomas and Skip Jackson. 

 

The meeting was adjourned at 8:44 PM.

 

Respectfully Submitted

 

John H. Thomas, III W3FAF

Secretary