Minutes of the SEMARC Board Meeting

September 8, 2008

 

In attendance:  Jim Boyd KC0QCO, Skip Jackson KS0J, Dick Roberts N0UC, Steve Howard AB0XE, Don Nelson KF0UU, Pete Sigtermans N0FKC, Pat Story W0MCQ, John Thomas W3FAF

 

The meeting was called to order at 7:13 PM by President Dick Roberts, N0UC.

 

The minutes of the August 11th Board Meeting were approved unanimously. 

The treasure’s report was skipped due to his absence.

 

Club Logo Patches (Skip Jackson KS0J)

Fifty club logo patches were received by Skip KS0J but were not made very well.  They will sell for $3.25 each and a few were sold at the board meeting.

This month’s program will be Ground planes for short vertical antennas by Jerry Sevick W2FMI (recorded in 30 years ago at Bell Laboratories).  Jerry is presently 89 years old and retired.  W3FAF will do the presentation from a recording.

 

Scholarship (Jim Boyd KC0QCO)

Jim needs help establishing a time line for the scholarship.  Criteria must be sent to the appropriate school districts.  ARRL has sent us some kits to aid in establishing the scholarship fund.  Everything should be ready by Thanksgiving this year.  Skip and Dick will contact Inver Grove Heights and South St. Paul Schools, respectively.  A meeting will be held on September 25 (October 2 backup) to discuss this.  It is planned to put information into the information package about obtaining an Amateur Radio License.

 

Contacts for possible support include Ecolabs, 3M (McKnight Foundation), TCF Bank and perhaps Marathon.

 

 

 

JOTA

Jim has 36 more brochures from Denny for this event.  Scouting and Amateur Radio pamphlets will have SEMARC information labels made by Skip KS0J.  The board does not have a liaison person to Dan Franz for JOTA.  Pete N0FKC and Jim KC0QCO volunteered to do this.  JOTA will be held at the National Guard Armory.

 

Re-engaging with Cottage Grove (Pat Story W0MCQ)

Pat reminded us that Cottage Grove has supplied us with a meeting place but we haven’t done much in return.  Is our primary input via ARES?  The community does not know the difference between SEMARC and ARES.  We should have someone in the Fire Department in direct contact with SEMARC.  Perhaps this will be a ham in the Department who will become our liaison with the Community via the Fire Department.  Pat will check into this.  Our contact has been via R. Byerly (advocate).  Ham radio has been integral to the Comm Van (Dick N0UC) has been in contact.

 

Other

Don Nelson suggested that we have a trade/sell session at the General Meetings.  This could be done over the winter meetings to add some variety.  Will we have an “Oreo Night” get together in October?  Pat W0MCQ will follow up on this. 

 

Skip KS0J has a meeting with Hastings Hospital Wednesday with someone who is going to be responsible for Amateur Radio/Emergency there.

 

The meeting was adjourned at 8:15 PM (MSA).  

 

Respectfully Submitted

 

 

John H. Thomas, III

Secretary

 

 

Minutes of the SEMARC Membership Meeting

September 30, 2008 Cottage Grove Fire Station 2

 

In attendance:  Pete Sigtermans N0FKC, Roger Kamps KB0HVZ, Tom Polzin KC0UYB, Jim Boyd KC0QCO, Dan Franz WD0GUP, Noel Westlind KC0ZXT, Dennis Ackerman KB0OQQ (Treasurer), Pat Story W0MCQ, Don Nelson KF0UU, John Thomas W3FAF (Secretary), Skip Jackson KS0J, Dick Roberts N0UC (President).

 

The meeting was called to order by President Dick Roberts N0UC at 7:06 PM.

 

Secretary (John W3FAF) passed copies of the previous meeting minutes.  They were read by those present and approved (MSA).

 

Treasurer (Dennis KB0OQQ):

                                                            Starting Balance:           $2704.83

                                                            Donation from KSTP       $1000.00

                                                                        VE Balance           $42.00

                                                                        Expenses             ($46.31)

                                                            Ending Balance             $3699.52

Approved

 

Scholarship (Jim KC0QCO)

A meeting is planned for Thursday at 7PM at the Fire Station.  There have been some meetings with local school districts.

 

JOTA (Dan WD0GUP)

JOTA will be held from 8AM to 4PM (set up 7:30 to 8:00 AM) on October 18.  We expect a large number of Scouts.  Radio merit badge sessions will be held.  The interest in this event is growing.  The event will be held at a new location:  Peter Thompson Park on Highland Hills Drive, Cottage Grove.  This facility has very nice indoor accommodations.

 

SEMARC Patches …$3.25 each see Skip KS0J

 

ARES Events (Dick N0UC):  The Recon Rally is scheduled for October 25th.  See Steve AB0XE.

 

Program Committee (Skip KS0J, Dick N0UC, John W3FAF): 

            Invite Jay Bellows for the October Meeting

 

Nominations Committee (Skip KS0J, Dan WD0GUP, John W3FAF):  If you would like to run for or would like to nominate someone for President, Secretary or Treasurer, let the committee know.

 

Goodies: 

If we have an interest in having snacks at the meeting, we need volunteers to bring things in.  Don KF0UU suggested that we may also hold a RAFFLE of OLD EQUIPMENT (he wants to clean his place out!)  We could try it for a few meetings and see how much interest it generates.

 

Health and Welfare Stations (Dick N0UC): 

We would like to talk to the Fire Chief with regard to putting up an antenna at the Fire Station for a Station (TBD).  Denny will pursue this with the Fire Chief and report back.

 

The meeting was closed at 7:36PM (MSA).

Respectfully Submitted

John H. Thomas, III

Secretary