Minutes of the East River Amateur Radio Club meeting. June 2, 2008 Ryan’s Steakhouse Bluefield, VA. http://www.erarc.com The June meeting of the ERARC was opened at 658pm by Steven Stefancic KD8EPJ, ERARC Vice President. There were 16 members and guests in attendance. Hooger Fisher W4OF, interim Treasurer, gave his report. He paid a $38.80 phone bill (2 months) and Sam’s Club $245.00 for our member’s memberships that they individually paid for themselves. He then read the minutes from May’s meeting. The Club’s insurance bill was discussed and Don Anderson WD8OOR said that the final billed amount was now somewhere around $192.00, down from $336.00 after tweaking the equipment list. Don will take a check with him, fill it out and mail it to the Marsh Company and pay the bill for the upcoming year. Generator: Don said that the Coleman Powermate division is out of business and there is no service or parts available. Much discussion. Don talked to Dennis Peery in Beckley who is a generator repairman. Dennis said that we have an alternator, not a generator and to get a unit that will fit our needs (as they are all about the same). Don said that Tractor Supply has a 4KW unit for $300.00 but didn’t know what kind of engine it had. John Riddle N8RIG heavily encourages us to get a unit with a Honda motor due to its quietness and reliability. Gary Kadar N8GK read an article in QST magazine in relation to generators for Field Day/Electronics use. The article mentioned that the suggested one to use was an “inverter” type but is cost prohibitive. Discussion about state surplus units. FIELD DAY generators for use: Lonnie Underwood KI4EED said that we could use his, the Club has a ‘small’ one and Don Anderson has two smaller ones that he can procure for use also. John Riddle suggested looking into funding through the Bluefield Area Foundation as we’ve done in the past. VE: Gary Kadar: On May 10, tested one new technician, one upgrade to Extra (Chuck Marshall N8VFD), one upgrade to General (Cathy Underwood KG4CTK) and one failure to upgrade to Extra. The VE checking account balance is the same as last report. Repeater report: Don Anderson: THE VHF ECHOLINK HAS BEEN MOVED TO THE 145.49 MACHINE DUE TO CONTROLLER PROBLEMS ON THE 147.06. Don still is looking for a home for the old ’06 repeater building, a 4X4X5 double walled, heated, insulated, vinyl-sided and shingled roof ‘box”. Dave Lester N8VFR said that his church may want to place their Low Power Radio system in the building and he will get back with Don. FIELD DAY FIELD DAY FIELD DAY……………………. June 28-29 at Boy Scout Camp Roland in Bastian, VA. Gary hopes to meet attendees at breakfast on Saturday in Green Valley and then go to Bob Frazier’s home for feed lines, antennas, etc. etc. Don Anderson said that he would go to Benny Mills N8XXA home on Friday for the antenna trailer. He will also bring the two generators that we can use with him to Roland. Radios: Gary Kadar radio, the Club’s radio, Randall Hash wants to work CW and presumably will bring his rig. Dave Cox MAY be able to participate and possibly bring a rig. ***** THERE WILL BE A DINNER ON SATURDAY, JUNE 28 AT 6PM AT CAMP * **** ROLAND AT FIELD DAY. EVERYONE IS WELCOME. There will be chicken * ***** and we do ask for side dishes to be brought to the event. Please bring something to drink also. THANKS ******************************************** Hooger read an email from Lonnie Underwood saying that he has a tribander antenna (10-15-20) that he would like to donate to the Club. Discussion. Overwhelming agreement to take the antenna off of his hands with our thanks. *** THERE BE A JULY ERARC MEETING ON JULY 7TH AT RYAN’S *** Hooger read a letter from Roger Nisselrodt KI4FZA who is resigning as NC for the East River Trader’s Net due to the illegality of trader’s nets on the Amateur bands. Roger had contacted the FCC and was advised of this fact. Roger went on to say that the W5YI group advised him that it WAS legal to hold Trader’s nets. The local Trader’s Net is no more. George Leedy KJ4BXS won the 50/50 drawing for the flower fund. ARES net controls for June: 3rd and 24th Lonnie Underwood KI4EED, 10th Stephen Stefancic KD8EPJ, and 17TH Jerry Connelly KC8TES. The meeting was over at 744pm. Submitted by Hooger Fisher W4OF, ERARC Secretary. TO DO LIST: Equipment inventory with serial numbers for Bob for insurance reasons Cathy Underwood KG4CTK would like us to look into possible funding via the Office of Homeland Security. The Communications Bus/ RV that the Club began to work on.