Minutes of the East River Amateur Radio Club
June 2, 2003 Ryan’s Steakhouse, Bluefield, VA. http://www.erarc.com
The June meeting of the ERARC was opened at 7pm by George Dietrich KF4YGL. 
There were 14 members and guests in attendance.
George reminded everyone about Field Day 
(http://www.arrl.org/contests/announcements/fd/)  on June 28-29, 2003 at Boy 
Scout Camp Roland in Bastian, Va. Dave Cox KG4MCC said that he had contacted 
Dave Phipps, of the Boissevain, VA Coal Miners Memorial Park, and the Town 
of Bluefield, Va’s Graham Recreation Park and obtained permission to have 
Field Day at either location. Gary Kadar N8GK had contacted someone at 
Miracle Mountain, #9 Mountain in McDowell Co, outside of Gary, WV for a 
possible Field Day site. (Miracle Mt would not charge for use of the grounds 
but would accept a ‘small donation’, since they are non-profit also.)
<<<The July ERARC meeting will be held in conjunction with a potluck dinner 
at 630pm during Field Day on Saturday, June 28, 2003.>>>
Gary mentioned that we could get 100 extra points for each of the following: 
having an elected political official visit the event, having a 
representative of a ‘served’ agency, such as the Red Cross or 911 center 
visit, press release to local newspapers, etc., having an information booth, 
locating in a public place, etc. He mentioned the GOTA (get on the air) 
station for anyone who’s been out of ham radio for a while who would like to 
operate a stand-alone station, a GOTA station, using their own call and own 
license class privileges.
Minutes of the May meeting reviewed, no changes.
George said that we will need bunches of help in getting the tent, antennas, 
feed lines, etc. before the event. He also asked that John Riddle N8RIG see 
if Benny Mills N8XXA would let the club use the antenna trailer that he has. 
It was mentioned that maybe Mike Quick KF8XP and/or Bob Besenyei NT8X should 
be contacted to see if they’d like to help out with Field Day in the CW 
categories.
Gary Kadar had mentioned to Bob Frazier that the ERARC VE team needed to 
look into maybe getting a VE examiner (Extra class) to volunteer to either 
help Doug Barger N8SNP with the coordinator’s job or take the position over 
all together. Doug has done an excellent job but he has no 
computer/internet, which would greatly speed up the processing of new 
licenses and upgrades. The last ERARC VE test session in May took 21 days 
for the results to show up on the FCC databases. The other members of the VE 
team frequently get many phone calls, etc. from people who have taken a test 
or upgrade.
Gary and others are concerned because we do not know when the data is mailed 
to the ARRL. Each of the VEs share responsibility for all aspects of the 
test session and the paperwork has a definite 10 day time limit to be sent 
in to the ARRL.
It was suggested that we talk to Doug at the next test session.
ARES net controls: 10th George Dietrich KG4YGL, 17th Hooger Fisher W4OF, 
24th Matthew French KC8URG.
  Bob Frazier, WB8NRK, treasurer, gave his report.
There being no more business, the meeting was closed at 0730pm
Respectfully submitted, George “Hooger” Fisher 111, W4OF, Sec.