Minutes of the East River Amateur Radio Club meeting.
June 3, 2007 Ryan’s Steakhouse Bluefield, VA.
http://www.erarc.com
The June meeting of the ERARC was opened at 7pm by Lonnie Underwood KI4EED, ERARC Vice President. There were 21 members and guests in attendance. He recognized KC9DLD Ed Negosta from Wautoma, Wisconsin who Lonnie ‘met’ via Echolink. Ed was in the area visiting Bramwell where he grew up as a child. 
He also re-recognized KI4SZA Roger Nesselrodt from Falls Mills, Va.
Bob Frazier WB8NRK, ERARC treasurer, gave his report including paying an $18.00 phone bill.
Lonnie had Hooger Fisher W4OF read the minutes from the May meeting.
Gary Kadar N8GK, ERARC ARRL VEC mentioned that there were 4 to test at the May 12 VE test session and that one passed his test. Gary asked VE team members to re-read the VE examiner’s book to keep up on the rules, etc. and help him out when there is a question. John Riddle N8RIG has seen several that tested say that they’ve never seen some of the questions that we’ve given to them on their test. He’s questioned some of these people and found out that they’re only taking practice tests on the Internet and really not studying the material for their upgrade. It seems that when one generates a practice test on the Internet, one would have to sit at the computer for literally hours and hours in order to see most the entire test questions in the question pool. Hence the problem, they’re not ‘seeing’ a good field of questions from the hundred or so questions in each question pool. He encouraged all interested in an upgrade to acquire a study manual and read, understand and study it. (The Club has study guides in the two Bluefields’ 
and Princeton libraries, check the dates on the cover for usefulness).  Gary told Bob Frazier that the new General question pool is coming out soon and to be sure to get the proper question pool for the new test. Bob said that he did.
Gary Kadar asked about Field Day. Discussion.

FIELD DAY WILL BE AT CAMP ROLAND IN BASTIAN, VA. JUNE 23-24 STARTING AROUND 10AM OR SO ON SATURDAY UNTIL NOON OR SO ON SUNDAY. THERE WILL BE A POTLUCK DINNER ON SATURDAY AROUND 6-6:30PM. TALK-IN WILL BE ON THE 145.49 W8MOP REPEATER.

(Directions: Take the Bastian exit on I-77, coming from Bluefield, turn right and proceed to the stop sign. Turn left. Take the very first right. Go
2 ½ miles to the camp, turning in at the red caboose.) We will meet for Saturday breakfast in Green Valley and see who will be going to Bob’s for feed lines, antennas, etc. etc. Several of the members have volunteered to bring gasoline for the generator(s).
<<< THERE WILL BE A JULY ERARC MEETING AT RYAN’S ON JULY 2. The July meeting WILL NOT be at Field Day as was the case in the past. >>>

D.M. Orr KB8FLE had the floor and said that he had picked up a bunch of stuff at the Dayton Hamvention including World maps, frequency charts, hats, a shirt, and other ham-related items. He suggested that we have an auction for the items to benefit the ERARC coffers. Discussion. THERE WILL BE AN AUCTION ON AUGUST 6 AT THE ERARC MEETING for these and other items.(Do you have something that’s OK that you’d like to donate to the cause??? All items for auction will be accepted).
Hooger Fisher mentioned that Randall Hash WB4BBF would like to work CW at Field Day for the Club.
Hooger also read an announcement for an Eagle Scout Ceremony for Steven Stefancic from his parents for “his Eagle Scout Court of Honor, June 16,
2007 at the Rich Creek Baptist Church, Spanishburg, WV at 330pm”. Everyone is invited to witness this great accomplishment of Steven’s. (Directions: 
Court House Road to Rt. 19 North (Beckley Road) approximately 7 miles. The church is on the right).
Don Anderson WD8OOR won the 50/50 drawing for the flower fund.
ARES net controls for June: Steven Stefancic 19th, Lonnie and Cathy Underwood KG4CTK will cover any nets not taken during the month.
The meeting was over at 733pm.
Submitted by Hooger Fisher W4OF, ERARC Secretary.
TO DO LIST:
1)	Bandpass filters for Field Day and VHF contest
2)	Equipment inventory with serial numbers for Bob for insurance reasons
3)	Multiband antenna, feed lines, etc. with Club’s Yaesu FT100, PS, etc.
4) Go over repeater instructions in Club handbook for being current and complete. (Add weather radio information, check 911 autodials, etc.)
5) Cathy Underwood KG4CTK would like us to look into possible funding via the Office of Homeland Security.
6) IN PROCESS: 147.225 repeater from Bob Frazier to ERARC to Windmill Gap location with the 911 Center’s equipment.