Minutes of the East River Amateur Radio Club meeting. 
January 7, 2008 Ryan’s Steakhouse Bluefield, VA.
 http://www.erarc.com
The January meeting of the ERARC was opened at 705pm by George Dietrich, ERARC President. There were 24 members and guests in attendance. 
 George asked Don Anderson WD8OOR for a repeater report. Don said that 145.49 and 442.45 were doing well. He said that the 147.06 repeater and antenna are at the Windmill Gap antenna site and we are awaiting the antenna crew to install the antenna and new feed line. Don mentioned that Bob Hoge N8RIR, Mercer Co. 911 Director, was really taking care of the Club with the installation of the repeater, especially for emergency use from the Counties that will have coverage. 
 George asked John Riddle N8RIG and Gary Kadar N8GK about the VE Team. John mentioned that we had a successful test on November 10 and Gary said that the next test session will be on February 9th at the Mercer Co. 911 Center. 
 Bill Sowers K8WBS said that Echolink was working very well. 
Hooger Fisher W4OF went over the  November and December minutes and gave the Treasurer’s report for Bob Frazier WB8NRK. Hooger paid a phone bill and deposited one renewal and received one more renewal tonight. As of tonight, there are 108 members in the Club. 
 Don Anderson discussed Bob Frazier’s condition since his stroke in November. He said that Bob gets around decently on his own but has difficulty with his speech and fine motor functions. Bob went to Charleston last week and was told that no surgery could be scheduled due to the 100% blockage in his right carotid artery. He is still going to physical therapy. Don suggested that we think of someone who could be voted in as an interim Treasurer either tonight or at the February meeting. Discussion. George asked that we think about it until next meeting and then make a decision. We all hope that Bob does well and recovers soon. 
 Don Anderson reported that Bland County is taxing the digipeaters that are on East River Mt. in Bland County, just south of Jay Belt’s (K8CTI) property. Bland has raised the assessments 400 to 425% and this year, the Club’s equipment was included. The County’s attorney(who just happens to be an Amateur) had notified the Tax Department that the Club was not exempt and while talking to Don Anderson, said that we should be exempt. Don asked him to notify the Tax people of this newest decision. Discussion. Gary Kadar suggested moving the digis to the Windmill Gap site. Don said that may be a possibility. 
 Gary mentioned that a former Club member Doug Barger N8SNP had passed away on December 31 and was the past VEC for the Club’s ARRL VE Team. 
 Gary said that there is a VHF contest in January from the 19th to the 21st  and that if the weather was tolerable, he may give it a try on East River Mt. at the Overlook area (on the 19th).   http://www.arrl.org/contests/rules/2008/jan-vhf-ss.html  
 Don Anderson mentioned that the generator is still broken and it will cost around $400 for the parts to repair it. Discussion. Don asked that possibly the VE Team funds could help in the repair. Discussion. 
Gary mentioned that at some point, the Club needs to consider that we need to store the Club’s equipment, that is now stored at Bob Frazier’s, at a different location  Discussion.
Jerry Connelley won the 50/50 drawing for the flower fund.
 ARES net controls for January: George Dietrich 8th , Lonnie Underwood KI4EED 15th  , Jerry Connelley KC8TES 22nd and Lonnie Underwood to fill in for Stephen Stefancic KD8EPJ, if Stephen can’t make the net on the 29th . 
 The meeting was over at 734pm. 
 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.)
3)	Cathy Underwood KG4CTK would like us to look into possible funding via the Office of Homeland Security.
4)	The Communications Bus/ RV that the Club began to work on.