Minutes of the East River Amateur Radio Club.
March 6, 2006 Ryan’s Steakhouse Bluefield, VA.                
http://www.erarc.com
The March meeting of the ERARC was opened at 658pm by George Dietrich KF4YGL, ERARC President. There were 22 members and guests in attendance.
Bob Frazier WB8NRK, ERARC treasurer gave his report.

Bob said that it was time to renew the business memberships (up to 8 memberships, this due by May 18) to Sam’s Club and wanted to know if the membership still wanted to participate. He said that Harold Hodges N8NCP, Steve O’Dell N8SNR and Hooger Fisher W4OF were the only ones on the club’s list and that the only difference between a business membership and a ‘regular’ membership is that one can enter Sam’s before and after regular business hours. The price is the same at $35.00. Bill Sowers K8WBS, Cathy Underwood KG4CTK, Lonnie Underwood KI4EED and Hooger Fisher do want a membership through the club.

< IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO OBTAIN OR RENEW A SAM’S MEMBERSHIP VIA THE ERARC, EMAIL BOB FRAZIER at: bfrazier@frontiernet.net. >

Hooger Fisher, ERARC Secretary, read the minutes of the February meeting.
Gary Kadar N8GK reported that the February VE test session was attended by 6 examiners but no test-takers showed up. He mentioned that he would be sure that the ARRL has our testing dates on their site. Gary said that he and John Riddle N8RIG had attended the Local Emergency Planning Committee meeting at the 911 Center but since Bob Hoge N8RIR, Director of the 911 Center, was sick that no real business was done. There was an emailed letter from Bob to a 911 Director in Florida being emailed locally this week in which Bob suggested that the Florida manager use Amateur Radio Operators during emergencies. Gary said that it’s one thing to say you can be of help and another to actually do it. We need to be prepared.
Lonnie Underwood said that the Bluefield 442.45 Echolink was down and that Dave Garrett KA4TXY, who lives in Florida, had emailed Hooger with a similar report. John Riddle was not in attendance tonight and could not be questioned as to the condition of the Echolink system here in Bluefield. 
Lonnie said that there are around 248,000 registered users and that on average in a day’s time there are around 2,100 users online.
Jerry Connelly KC8TES, Mercer Co. ARES EC, said that at the Charleston, WV hamfest on March 18 there will be an ARES forum (at no charge) and encouraged attendance to learn about WV ARES. He said that in April, he hoped to conduct local ARES drills, hopefully on Saturdays after breakfast. 
He hopes to have those that participate to test equipment, protocols, etc.
Bill Sowers K8WBS reminded all that up to 12 local amateurs have been meeting for breakfast at the Country Valley Restaurant, Green Valley, around 8am every Saturday. He invited any and all to attend.
Cathy Underwood thanked the club for sending flowers to her mother’s funeral. Cathy then mentioned a Morse Code class forming, to meet at the Wytheville Community College on Saturdays if there is enough interest. If interested, please email Lonnie Underwood at: ki4eed@comcast.net. She said that 16 of 18 passed the Code test after the last instructional classes were held.
Bill Sowers was asked about internet viruses, etc. He said that they were really bad and that one should be sure to keep all virus definitions up to date etc. He mentioned using: SPYBOT, AVG, HIT DEFENDER (does have a free antiviral version), and CW SHREDDER.
Jay Belt K8CTI said that the interference to the 444.45 has been has been taken care of but now has a problem with the 444.45 to 53.37 N8RIG link antenna.
Gary Kadar said that it was not too soon to be thinking about a site for Field Day. Lonnie Underwood said that we could still use his home and property up Laurel Fork in Bland County.
George had everyone to stand up and introduce themselves to 5 new Amateur members/guests that included: D.M. Orr WB8FLE, Gerald Hylton K4YPP, Willie Carr N4XE, Pat McNulty K8VIP, and Keith Akers KI4NWV.
Bill Sowers won the 50/50 drawing for the flower fund.
ARES net controls for February: 7th Lonnie Underwood, 14th Hooger Fisher, 21st George Dietrich and 28th Jerry Connelly.
The meeting was over at 0727pm.
Submitted by Hooger Fisher W4OF, ERARC Secretary.