Minutes of the East River Amateur Radio Club meeting. August 6, 2007 Ryan’s Steakhouse Bluefield, VA. http://www.erarc.com The August meeting of the ERARC was opened at 7pm by Lonnie Underwood KI4EED, ERARC Vice President. There were 23 members and guests in attendance. Lonnie recognized Dave Wimmer KB8UWW, Harry Miller W3BWN and Chris Hatcher KC8AFH. Bob Frazier WB8NRK, ERARC treasurer, gave his report. He said that there is no longer a “flower fund” as of the last meeting when the membership voted to donated $30 to a charity instead of flowers for the death of a Club member/spouse. Bob paid $18 to Verizon for a phone bill. He also said that: *********************************************************************** THE DEADLINE FOR DUES FOR 2007-2008 MEMBERSHIP IS AUGUST 31. IT’S $15 FOR EACH MEMBER AND $1 FOR EACH ADDITIONAL MEMBER AT THE SAME ADDRESS. Please email Bob with any questions/comments at: bfrazier@frontiernet.net and/or mail to Bob at: 505 Eads Mill Rd. Princeton, WV 24740. Every early renewal saves the Club postage. PLEASE RENEW. THANKS! ************************************************************************ *** Gary Kadar N8GK mentioned that there will be an ARRL VE test session *** *** this Saturday, August 11, 9am at the Mercer County 911 Center in Green*** *** Valley, between Bluefield and Princeton on U.S. Route 460. As of now, *** *** he needs one or two more Extra examiners for this test session. *** ************************************************************************ Hooger Fisher W4OF went over the July minutes. Bob Frazier got an email from Don Anderson WD8OOR concerning the 147.225 repeater being ready to go back on the air. Don said that the ‘225 won’t be going up until the 147.06 is coordinated with the South East Repeater Association (SERA) and that the ’06 is now where the 147.225 used to be in Princeton. (The ‘225 will hopefully go where the ’06 is now.) Don received the coordinates for the Windmill Gap site just today from Bob Hoge N8RIR, Mercer Co. 911 director. Don can now fill out the paperwork, with the help of Jay Belt K8CTI and John Riddle N8RIG, for coordination with the SERA. He said that the elevation at the site is about 3950’ or about 1000’ feet higher than 145.49 in Bluefield, Va. He feels that we would have more radio traffic on ’06 from McDowell, Wyoming, Mercer and even Raleigh counties due to the location. The ‘225 competes for the frequency with a group out of Kentucky and thus the choice of ’06 for the Windmill Gap location. When asked about this assessment, Jay Belt agreed with Don. Jay said that all we’d have to get is hard line to the antenna. Don said that we can probably use existing hard line from the public service antennas that are being moved to the ‘new’ emergency services tower at Windmill Gap. Bob Hoge said that the 911 services are moving into the new building in August and by August 15, there will be enough room to move in the repeater equipment for the ’06. Don said that we may have to PL tone the ’06 but would rather not if possible. Gary Kadar made a motion, seconded by Bill Sowers K8WBS to follow Don’s plan for the ’06 at Windmill Gap. Vote taken, motion passed. Hooger introduced Chris Hatcher KC8AFH from Beckley, WV. Chris has a “small” linked repeater system in southern WV and he would like to see us link the ’06 into the system. He has linked repeaters in: Beckley ’37, Oak Hill 147.075, Anstead 146.79, Flat Top ’85, all 2-meter machines, the backbone 440 machine is on 44x.xxx. All repeaters connect to the backbone by 440mHz. He has a 440 radio to be used as a link-radio for us if needed, and other equipment to fulfill the linked system, on hand. Don Anderson said that since the email he received concerning this potential linked system, and after talking to others, he would like to see the Club consider being part of this linked system due to increased coverage and more use of Amateur Radio in Southern West Virginia and for emergency use. Discussion. Don made a motion, seconded by Lonnie Underwood to pursue linking into the KC8AFH linked repeater system. Vote taken, motion passed. Jay Belt said that we still need to look into placing the 444.45 repeater at the Windmill Gap site. Gary Kadar asked Don Anderson about the status of the Club’s big generator that failed at Field Day. Don said that it will cost the Club around $400 for a new stator. Gary suggested eBay for parts or to sell it. Don said that we could get a new 5kw generator for the price of repairing this 13hp 2000-year model unit. Lonnie said that he had a brand new, never-used generator in his possession that we can use any time we need it. Don is looking into other avenues for fixing the generator. Dave Cox N8DBC mentioned that the September VHF contest is coming up on September 8-10, 2007 and that we will need a generator. Trancy Belcher KA8CFR won the 50/50 drawing. ARES net controls for August: Lonnie Underwood 6th and 20th, Steven Stefancic KD8EPJ 14th and Jerry Connelly KC8TES 27TH. The meeting was over at 735pm. Submitted by Hooger Fisher W4OF, ERARC Secretary. TO DO LIST: 1) Equipment inventory with serial numbers for Bob for insurance reasons 2) Go over repeater instructions in Club handbook for being current and complete. (Add weather radio information, check 911 autodials, etc.) 2) Cathy Underwood KG4CTK would like us to look into possible funding via the Office of Homeland Security. WE THEN ENJOYED AN AUCTION BY D.M. ORR WB8FLE. THE CLUB’S TREASURY ALSO ENJOYED AROUND A $40-50 ADDTION.