Minutes of the East River Amateur Radio Club May 3, 2004 Ryan’s Steakhouse Bluefield, VA. http://www.erarc.com The May meeting of the ERARC was opened at 703pm by George Dietrich KF4YGL, ERARC President. There were 23 members and guests in attendance. George welcomed all. New amateur: James Willis KC8ZOT.
Treasurer's report given by Bob Frazier WB8NRK. Bob listed expenditures made and commented on our 1 million dollar liability insurance policy. He said that he did apply for coverage through the ARRL insurance service and has not heard about our acceptance yet, but when he does will immediately cancel our current policy with Nationwide. He thinks that we should get $200 or so back by doing so.
Hooger Fisher W4OF read the minutes. There were no additions, corrections, etc.
George on Field Day: Asked Dave Cox KG4MCC if he had any new information on Field Day location in Bluefield, Va. at Graham Recreation Park.  Dave said that we had been turned down by Bluefield, Va. and WV and Princeton, WV. The major problem seemed to be with the police and our wanting to do the 24-hour Field Day event.  Dave had written a letter explaining our function, etc. 
and being part of Homeland Security for the country but has not heard anything back.  Hooger Fisher reported that he did receive confirmation on using Camp Roland in Bastian, Va. We’ll table the final location until next meeting. Field Day 2004 will be the weekend of June 26-27, Saturday around 10-11am into Sunday around noon or so.
Don Anderson WD8OOR said that Jay Belt K8CTI had repaired the antenna for the 444.45 machine and also had to replace the finals.  Don said that the bill would be around $100-125.
Bill Sowers K8WBS mentioned that there are around 184,000 Echolink users worldwide and that a new 440 machine, 443.625 WZ8E, also has Echolink on it.
Gary Kadar N8GK said that he had received the Incident Command System self-study training CD from FEMA and was in the process of taking the course. He said that anyone could request the CD from FEMA. (Ed. Note: I looked on the internet and could not find such information but did find a study course at: http://navymars.org/national/training/fema.htm)
******Gary also mentioned the ERARC VE TEST SESSION this weekend at the 911 center in Green Valley, 9am.***** He had also requested and received VE supplies, which John Riddle N8RIG has in his possession.  Gary has been trying to get hold of Doug Barger for the ‘templates’ for the answer sheets but has not been able to catch him. The VE team did have a recent request for a CW accommodation and Gary contacted the ARRL VEC. The VEC told Gary that we could not refuse the accommodation and that we had to try and/or do anything possible to do what was necessary to test the person. The ARRL was to mail him some CW tapes taped with lower frequency tones and they have not been received yet. Bottom line: when this person was notified of our requirements, he said that he would just wait and see if the FCC dropped the CW requirement. Gary also mentioned that the Technician pool changes this June and that the new question pool could be downloaded from the ARRL VEC site.
Bob Frazier said that the 147.06 machine in Princeton was having trouble and that he was in the process of repairing the unit.
Hooger Fisher said that at the first ERARC Field Day that he attended, there were at least 75 people in attendance and that number has declined to 5 members last year. He suggested that unless we get much more commitment for Field Day this year, that we DO have Field Day but do NOT have the dinner and meeting at Field Day.  He suggested that we DO have the July 5 meeting at Ryan’s. Discussion. George asked for a show of hands and we did agree to this suggestion.
David Brewster KC4GIT won the 50/50 drawing for the flower fund.
ARES net control for May: 4th Lonnie Underwood KI4EED, 11TH Jerry Connelly KC8TES 18th Hooger Fisher W4OF, and 25TH George Dietrich KF4YGL.
The meeting was adjourned at 0738pm.
Respectfully submitted, George “Hooger” Fisher 111, W4OF, Sec.