Minutes of the East River Amateur Radio Club meeting. April 2, 2007 Ryan’s Steakhouse Bluefield, VA. http://www.erarc.com The April meeting of the ERARC was opened at 7pm by Lonnie Underwood KI4EED, ERARC Vice President. There were 22 members and guests in attendance. Bob Frazier WB8NRK, ERARC treasurer, gave his report including paying the phone bill. Bob has two bills that total $656.00, liability insurance for $320.00 and equipment insurance $336.000. With no expected income from dues expected until August, Bob said that with paying these bills and allowing for 5 more phone bills, we will have about $100.00 left in the Club’s account. We have only 109 members, down from around 190 and thus the reduction in balance. He asked the membership what to do. Discussion. Bill Sowers K8WBS suggested increasing dues for 2007-2008 and offer a $10.00 renewal if paid by this August. Gary Kadar N8GK suggested a dues increase. Dave Cox N4DBC said that we’d have to take a chance on losing members due to any dues increase. Discussion. Bob said to think about it until next meeting and see what comes up. BOB SAID THAT IT’S TIME TO RENEW SAM’S CLUB MEMBERSHIPS THROUGH THE CLUB. THERE ARE 4 MORE ‘SPOTS’ OPEN FOR ANYONE WHO MAY WANT A MEMBERSHIP. EACH IS $35. CONTACT BOB FRAZIER IF INTERESTED. bfrazier@frontiernet.net. Steve O’Dell N8SNR and Harold Hodges N8NCP are up for renewal. Gary Kadar, ERARC ARRL VEC, thanked John Riddle N8RIG, Paul Osburn W8NST, Roger Stefancic KC8LGR and Bob Frazier for helping with the March 17 VE test session. There were 5 new Technicians, 2 General upgrades and 1 Extra upgrade. Jerry Connelly KC8TES donated a box with 3 sets of headphones, 3 external speakers and 3 sets of interface ‘boxes’ with balance controls to the Club for use with Field Day and VHF contests. He will purchase a G5RV multi-band antenna for use with the Club’s FT-100. These two items can be taken off of the “to do” list. Bob Frazier mentioned that the VE team no longer needs the headphones (used for CW testing) and that the Club could use them also. Jerry asked for help in getting the radio equipment into shape at the 911 center so that he can report positively to the State ARES group in light of recent problems with our equipment there. Don Anderson WD8OOR said that since rain is in the forecast for this Saturday, we would go to the 911 Center after breakfast and attempt repair and troubleshoot any problems. Bill Sowers said to take his tower off of the “to do” list since Lonnie Underwood was the proud owner of the tower now. Gary Kadar mentioned that the LEPC (local emergency preparedness committee) 911 group had hired an instructor for ‘Incident Command’ to be held April 24-25 at the Holiday Inn. Gary asked for a spot for the Club and either he or John Riddle (or other interested person) can attend the class. Jerry Connelly suggested having a Hamfest-type flea market at Field Day in order for some of us to unload unneeded equipment and maybe even donating a small percentage to the Club to the General Fund. Gary Kadar suggested that we keep $100.00 in the Flower Fund and roll over all other funds into the General Fund. (This had been discussed and agreed upon in a meeting many, many months ago). J. D. Lawson KD8DQE said that he’s personally been able to get 3 or 4 new members in the Club and he’s getting 5 of his co-workers at the coalmine to study for their Technician license. He wants to see the Club advertise, etc. to get more members in the Club and offer informational topics at the meetings. Gary suggested that we have such meetings to inform new members/Hams on subjects that they need to know and be informed on (autopatch, etc). Hooger Fisher said that he would go ahead and request the use of Camp Roland for the June 23-24 Field Day, whether we use the facility or not. Jay Belt K8CTI said that the 443.625 machine in Springville has been off the air for some time and that it is back on the air now. Gary asked about the 147.225 machine’s move to Windmill Gap and about the cost. The answer was that the 911 Center is still working on the site, building, tower, etc. Gary said that he and Dave Cox would like to have a class on how to build a 2-meter copper pipe dipole at one meeting. Lonnie showed his homemade 2-meter ½ wave vertical made of PVC pipe and connected to his HT. Lonnie had Hooger Fisher W4OF read the minutes from March. Bill Sowers won the 50/50 drawing for the flower fund. ARES net controls for January: 3rd Cathy Underwood KG4CTK, 10TH Lonnie Underwood, 17TH Jerry Connelly KC8TES, 24TH Stephen Stefancic KD8EPJ. The meeting was over at 745pm. Submitted by Hooger Fisher W4OF, ERARC Secretary. TO DO LIST: 1) Bandpass filters for Field Day and VHF contest 2) Equipment inventory with serial numbers for Bob for insurance reasons 3) Multiband antenna, feed lines, etc. with Club’s Yaesu FT100, PS, etc. ((Jerry purchasing G5RV)) 4) Test/maintain HF, VHF, UHF equipment at the 911 Center. ((To done on Saturday April 7)) 5) Go over repeater instructions in Club handbook for being current and complete. (Add weather radio information, check 911 autodials, etc.) 6) Cathy Underwood KG4CTK would like us to look into possible funding via the Office of Homeland Security. 7) IN PROCESS: 147.225 repeater from Bob Frazier to ERARC. 8) Fix the G5RV at the 911 Center.