June Minutes of the East River Amateur Radio Club
June 4, 2001 meeting
Westgate ACME , Bluefield, VA.                   (www.inetone.net/erarc)

     The May meeting of the ERARC was opened at 700pm by George Dietrich
kf4ygl. There were 22 members and guests in attendance. New Ham in 
attendance: Mark Meadows, KC8RGY, from Flat Top, WV.
     The minutes of the April meeting were read.  Bob Frazier, wb8nrk,
Treasurer gave the financial report.
     President George Dietrich kf4ygl made note of a reception he had 
attended for the Bluefield Area Foundation, in May and that we were 
fortunate to have received the $1000 grant in that many had only received 
lower amounts for funding requested.  He had information available for those 
that wanted to see ‘who got what’ from the BAF.
     George discussed Field Day, that we could all meet for breakfast at 
Burger King and head to Princeton to Bob Frazier’s home to load up the 
supplies, tents, antennas, etc. and then head over to Camp Roland to setup 
for Field Day. It was mentioned that we’d probably have 5 HF rigs for use 
during the contest. The 6pm meal, on Saturday (June 23, 2001) will be 
pot-luck and the July ERARC meeting will follow the meal. Breakfast will be 
up to those electing to spend the night there.
     Don Anderson wd8oor:  Report on the ’49 repeater: Lightening stuck the 
repeater some weeks ago and burnt it pretty bad.  John Riddle n8rig and Jay 
Belt wa8fnt went to the mountain and put the backup repeater on the air the 
next day.  John has been working with the factory to see how much the 
replacement will cost, etc. and said that the ‘old’ ’49 was insured for 
$4800.  The proposed replacement will cose $4898.00 as per fax received 
today. The replacement repeater is very comparable to the ‘old’ ’49 with 
these exceptions: 1. new one had a ‘weather alert’ feature that will “alarm” 
when any weather notices are broadcast by the National Weather Service. 2.  
new one only had 100 slots for autodial numbers, the ‘old’ one had 200 
slots. 3. there will be no ‘message mailbox’ on the new one.  The power 
supply needs to be replaced as well and was covered by insurance. Don said 
that we needed to take $500 out of the club’s account and send it to 
Advanced Communication Systems so that they can get started on making ready 
the new repeater (crystals, etc. etc.)  John Riddle made the motion and 
Arlie Hicks N8AH seconded, that we take $500 out of the club’s account and 
send it to the company. A vote was taken, the motion passed. The insurance 
check will replace this $500.
     John Riddle reported on the new 6M repeater.  It is on 52.37 in and 
53.37 out.  He and Jay Belt tried to locate the machine at Jay’s building on 
East River Mt., but due to intermodulation, etc. they moved it to the ’49 
site above Wal Mart.   John had since talked to Jay while Jay was on 
Williamson Road in Roanoke, Va.
     Gary Kadar n8gk, made the motion, seconded by Arlie Hicks to provide 
insurance on the 6M repeater.  Rate is $1.50 per $100 replacement value.  A 
vote was taken, it passed.
     OLD BUSINESS: Tom Gordon ww8d made a suggestion that we have a yard 
sale to make monies for the 440 linked repeater system.  Don Anderson made a 
suggestion that we raise the dues (by $5.00) to the ERARC. Discussion 
ensued.  It was mentioned that if we asked the membership for donations 
toward the 440 linked repeater system, that we may very well have enough to 
complete our ‘missing’ $800; the remaining $1000 already received from the 
Bluefield Area Foundation.  Hooger Fisher w4of mentioned that we do have a 
newsletter and that only those that come to the meetings actually get to see 
it and that if we’re to ask the membership for donations, that we email 
and/or mail the request via the newsletter to all members.  Patty Dietrich 
kg4aym made a motion and it was seconded by Don Anderson that we do come up 
with a ‘special edition of the newsletter, with a request for donations, and 
get a copy of the newsletter, by whatever means to all members.  A vote was 
taken, the motion passed.
     Betty Viers kg4ctl, newsletter publisher, mentioned that she’s 
constantly asking for articles, does not receive any, and that this will be 
the last newsletter that we’ll probably see if she does not get any input 
from the members for the newsletter.
     Hooger Fisher had information on the West Virginia QSO party for June 
16, 2001.  He also mentioned that if anyone wanted to buy a club 
tshirt/jacket/cap, etc. to let him know.  Hooger also mentioned that he was 
taking up an order for the 2001 ARRL Field Day t-shirt and/or pin, to see 
him if interested.
     ARES Net Controls for June: 5, Shannon Akers kc8qnc, 12 George Dietrich 
kf4ygl, 19 Hooger Fisher w4of, 25 Tom Gordon ww8d.
     Jim Kerrigan kd4arx won the 50/50 and donated his winnings back into 
the flower fund.


Respectfully submitted, George E. "Hooger" Fisher III, W4OF, Secretary