Minutes of the East River Amateur Radio Club meeting. November 3, 2008 Ryan’s Steakhouse Bluefield, VA. http://www.erarc.com The November meeting of the ERARC was opened at 703pm by Lonnie Underwood KI4EED. There were 19 members and guests in attendance. Lonnie welcomed two new members who joined the Club just tonight: John Jennelle W4BXX and Melvin Simpson KI4TMT who traveled to Bluefield from the Tazewell area. (These two fellows helped Lonnie, Ronnie Childress KD8HBO and others at Jamboree on the Air (JOTA) on October 18). Hooger Fisher, W4OF, ERARC Secretary / Interim Treasurer read the October minutes, with one noted correction and gave the Treasurer’s report.Twenty three memberships/renewals have been processed since the last meeting, two phone bills were paid at $38.79 total and there are now 96 renewed memberships as of tonight, as is the best count as of this writing. Lonnie mentioned JOTA briefly and said that Cub Scout Andrew Vance from Bluefield, VA Pack 94 was a natural-born Ham who did a wonderful job with the radios, talked on them like a real professional, was very polite, respectful and responsible. Lonnie had told him that he would give him a 2M radio if he’d get licensed. Gary Kadar N8GK said that the next ARRL VE test session will be this Saturday, November 8, 2008 at the Mercer County 911 Center at 9am. He’s already been contacted by two persons wanting to test. Three VEs tonight said that they would be there for the testing. GARY ALSO MENTIONED THE DECEMBER 1, 2008 CHRISTMAS DINNER/MEETING AT RYAN’S AT <6PM>. HE SAID THAT ANY DONATED DOOR PRIZES WOULD BE APPRECIATED. Discussion about elections for ERARC leadership. Each office was named and the membership was asked if anyone would be interested in holding a particular office. President: Lonnie Underwood said that he would like to be voted into the Office and that he would do his best for the Club. No other takers. Lonnie was ‘voted in’ by a show of hands. Vice President: Roger Stefancic KC8LGR said that Steven Stefancic KD8EPJ (not present tonight) would continue in that Office unless someone else would like it. No takers. Steven was ‘voted in’ by a show of hands. Treasurer: Don Anderson WD8OOR said that he would do the job, only for a full year, unless someone else wanted to take the Office. No takers. Don was ‘voted in’ by a show of hands. Secretary: Hooger Fisher will continue the Office unless someone else wanted it. No takers. Hooger was ‘voted in’ by a show of hands. Brian Leedy KI4URO (brian@4seasonswireless.com ) has a Yaesu VX-7R quad band HT for sale if anyone is interested. (2M, 220, 440, 6M). Cathy Underwood mentioned that Terry Hendrix KC8OEX has been linking into the ’49 and wanted to say “Hello” to the membership. Terry lived in Bluefield several years ago. She also wanted to know if anyone is trying to procure funding for the Club through local charities for the storage/deployment trailer mentioned last month. Steven Stefancic is checking into funding opportunities. Lonnie said that he had heard that the Beckley, WV Ham Club(s) were contacted by FEMA in order to ‘train’ the Amateur community as to what FEMA needs from them and as to how to accomplish what they need via their protocols, etc. Discussion about Incident Command (IC), training, etc. Gary Kadar said that he and David Cox N4DBC had taken IC training for the hospital. http://training.fema.gov/EMIWeb/IS/IS100a.asp He and John Riddle N8RIG said that learning about it and seeing how one ‘fits’ into the System is interesting and they’ve learned how Amateur Radio can help in an emergency situation. Gary also mentioned that there was to be a Mercer County mock disaster in the next month to several months and that the LEPC (local emergency planning committee) wants Amateur Radio to be involved also. BE ALERT TO ANY REQUEST FOR HELP WITH EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS, THANKS. Cathy Underwood said that the Mercer County Civil Air Patrol had requested training on radio communications and the possibility of some of their members taking Amateur classes in order to become licensed. Discussion including MARS (military affiliate radio system) http://ckycs.com/kyarmymars/whatismars.htm , CAP http://www.cap.gov/ and desktop simulations at the LEPC meetings at the 911 Center. Lonnie said that he had talked to Tom Carroll, Bluefield, Virginia Rescue Squad Administrator, during JOTA and the possibility of installing an Amateur 2M antenna and radio. Hooger suggested not placing a radio but go ahead and install the antenna. During any emergency, an Amateur must be in place to use the antenna system on 2M and would have a HT or mobile radio to couple with the antenna. Cathy Underwood asked as to why the Club no longer offers licensing classes. (We’ve tried before and the interest just hasn’t been there). Discussion. Cathy said that she and Lonnie would put out flyers, contact newspapers, etc. and see if there is interest in the community for classes. Don Anderson asked for suggestions for content for the Club handbook that he’s putting together as he will hand them out at the Christmas dinner. Discussion. Lonnie asked the newest members, including Steve Rector KA8QHC if they had any input or suggestions for the Club at that time. No suggestions noted. ARES net controls for October: Lonnie Underwood KI4EED said that he would take any net night and if someone wanted to run the net that he’d standby and then join the net. John Jennelle W4BXX said that he would help out also and was given a copy of the preamble. The meeting was over at 806pm. John Jennelle W4BXX won the 50/50 drawing for the flower fund and donated his winnings to the Club. THANK YOU FOR THE DONATION! The 50/50 donations allow the Club to purchase memorials for the families of family members that have passed. Legally, we are not allowed to use Club funds for these functions unless we donate the funds since we are a not-for-profit organization. 1. Equipment inventory with serial numbers for Bob for insurance reasons 2. Cathy Underwood KG4CTK would like us to look into possible funding via the Office of Homeland Security.