Minutes of the East River Amateur Radio Club
May 2, 2005 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 including new member Bud Kelly AD4BG and his fiancé, Ann Miller who is studying for her Technician license.
Treasurer's report by Bob Frazier WB8NRK. Flowers were sent for Karen Gordon’s father’s funeral and for Trancy Belcher’s wife’s funeral. He also listed expenditures he had made including: $343.00 for equipment insurance, $325.00 liability insurance, phone bill, and for Post Office Box rental. Bob mentioned that he’s currently accepting payment for current Sam’s Club dues and that there are 5 more openings available through the club if anyone is interested. This is a “BUSINESS” membership, which allows one to enter Sam’s ‘early’ from 7 to 10am, before the ‘regular’ member’s are allowed in.

THERE IS AN ARRL VE TEST SESSION MAY 14TH, 9AM, AT THE MERCER CO. 911 CENTER, GREEN VALLEY, WV, BETWEEN BLUEFIELD AND PRINCETON, WV. Talk-in will be on the 145.49- repeater.

Bob said that the VE team is still looking for a CD player for the CW testing, Gary Kadar also working on this.
Hooger Fisher W4OF, Secretary, read the March minutes, there were no corrections or additions. He mentioned that he was not present at the April meeting and that no one took the minutes of that meeting. George said that there were ‘only about 4 people’ at the meeting and Gary Kadar, N8GK, said all that was brought up was Field Day.
2005 FIELD DAY: George asked for suggestions for FD. Lonnie Underwood KI4EED suggested the site on East River Mt, across from the overlook, as discussed last meeting. Jay Belt K8CTI said that he had talked to Keith Bowman, who will talk to Mike Shott, owner of the property, and see if we can, indeed, use the site. Keith will get back with Jay. Dave Cox KG4MCC asked about the availability of trees for stringing up dipoles, which antennas we’d use and possibly using Ben Mill’s N8XXA tower trailer as a hook point for a dipole. 
Ed Viers KD4WOO said that there were trees to be used, as he’d been there turkey hunting just this week. Gary Kadar asked if 40M would work as an inverted vee, answer: yes, by John Riddle N8RIG. Bob said the club has a 40M vertical but Gary said he’d tried it and the dipole worked better. Bill Sowers K8WBS asked if anyone would plan on spending the night. Hooger asked if the gate could be locked, Jay said yes. Dave Cox said that we’d definitely need the tents due to sun shading. George asked about taking food. Only discussion was that “Pizza Hut delivers”.
Jay Belt said that he and John Riddle have discussed linking the 53.37 to the 444.45 repeater. Jay said that all he needed was a link radio and that he may have one. Some discussion, general consensus: ‘go ahead with the project’. He also said that the power was reported as being down on the
444.45 repeater (by Mark Williams KQ4Q) and Jay said that he would check it out.
Bill Sowers said that he talked to Trancy Belcher KA8CFR, who’s wife passed away two weeks ago, is needing a 2M radio that he can use since his have all ‘gone south’. Discussion. Bill suggested that we get up with Trancy and see what he has and as to what we can do to help him get back on the air.
ARES net control for May: 3rd Lonnie Underwood, 10th George Dietrich, 17th Hooger Fisher, 24th Lonnie Underwood and 31st Jerry Connelly KC8TES.
Lonnie Underwood won the 50/50 drawing (again) for the flower fund and donated his winnings (again) to the fund. The meeting was adjourned at 734pm.
Respectfully submitted, George “Hooger” Fisher 111, W4OF, Secretary.