Minutes of the East River Amateur Radio Club
January 3, 2005 Ryan’s Steakhouse Bluefield, VA.                
http://www.erarc.com
The January meeting of the ERARC was opened at 700pm by George Dietrich KF4YGL, ERARC President. There were 20 members and guests in attendance. 
George welcomed all.
Treasurer's report given by Bob Frazier WB8NRK. Bob listed expenditures he had made, including the SERA renewals for the club’s repeaters. Bob has received 109 renewals for membership, there were 149 last year. He said that he was contacted by the liability insurance company in reference to their sending us a refund check when they actually shouldn’t have. Bob told them that he would mail the check back to them. He reminded us that the next ERARC VE test session will be on Saturday, February 12.

CORRECTION IN THE ERARC 2005 HANDBOOK: page 40, the Echolink repeater should be <442.45>. Please change the frequency in your book.

George and Bill Sowers K8WBS brought up suggestions for increasing attendance and/or participation with the Club’s meetings, events as well as to increase membership. They suggested that we bring SOMEONE with us at each meeting; a ham, someone who may be interested in Amateur Radio, an inactive member or even someone who may just need a ride to the meetings. There was much discussion. Patty Dietrich KG4AYM suggested putting announcements in the newspaper while Gary Kadar N8GK suggested the Trading Journal. John Riddle N8RIG said that we had tried sending out questionnaires before with little response. Gary said that he personally would like to see what an actual repeater looks like and that it would be good to have the equipment at a meeting for all to see and ask questions about the functioning parts.
Don Anderson WD8OOR gave his usual “They’re working fine” repeater report. 
Gary asked about trying to quell automatic announcements when trying to talk on the repeaters. Don had called the repeater manufacturer about that and that they expected an upgrade in the spring so that one could key their mic and stop the announcement. John Riddle asked about putting a “Weather Alert” 
module on the ’49 repeater. Discussion. Bob Frazier made the motion, seconded by Bill, to purchase such module. Vote taken, motion passed.
Lonnie Underwood KI4EED is looking to purchase a CW keyer if anyone has one to sell.
ARES net control for January: 4th Jerry Connelly KC8TES, 11TH George Dietrich KF4YGL, 18th Hooger Fisher W4OF, 25th Lonnie Underwood KI4EED.
Jerry Connelly won the 50/50 drawing for the flower fund.
The meeting was adjourned at 735pm.
Respectfully submitted, George “Hooger” Fisher 111, W4OF, Secretary.