Minutes of the East River Amateur Radio Club.
May 1, 2006 Ryan’s Steakhouse Bluefield, VA. http://www.erarc.com
The May meeting of the ERARC was opened at 658pm by George Dietrich KF4YGL, ERARC President. There were 16 members and guests in attendance.
Bob Frazier WB8NRK, ERARC treasurer, gave his report. These particular expenditures have taken a large chunk out of our treasury. The donation that the club voted on last meeting for Maryland Hospice was brought up by Bob again. He asked if the club would mind to change from Hospice to the Bible in the Schools program locally. No disagreements noted.
Bob again said that it was time to renew the business memberships (up to 8 memberships, this due by May 18) to Sam’s Club. 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. So far, Harold Hodges N8NCP, Steve O'Dell N8SNR and Hooger Fisher W4OF have renewed. Cathy Underwood KE4CTK is going to get her membership tonight. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO OBTAIN OR RENEW A SAM’S MEMBERSHIP VIA THE ERARC, EMAIL BOB FRAZIER at: bfrazier@frontiernet.net.)
Hooger Fisher read the April minutes.
George brought up Field Day, June 24-25 at Boy Scout Camp Roland in Bastian. He asked John Riddle N8RIG if we could still use Benny MIll's tower trailer and John said, "Yes". Hooger asked John if we could also borrow Benny's 'surf caster' fishing rod in order to string dipoles. Lonnie Underwood KI4EED asked it we would be using both generators and John said 'yes'. Hooger said that he did send in a request to the Scout office to use the property.

IT WAS DISCUSSED AND AGREED THAT WE WOULD HAVE THE JULY ERARC MEETING AT FIELD DAY SINCE THE FOURTH OF JULY HOLIDAY INCLUDES THE FIRST MONDAY OF THE MONTH OF JULY.

A covered dish dinner and meeting will start at Field Day, Saturday, June 24, at 6pm.

<< The ERARC VE team will hold a testing session on Saturday, May 13, 2006, 9am at the Mercer County 911 Center in Green Valley, between Bluefield and Princeton off of U.S. Rt. 460 >>>

Don Anderson WD8OOR said that the 444.45 is off the air. Jay Belt K8CTI is in the process of getting it repaired. Don said that Jay has been working some long hours lately. He also mentioned that the noise on '49 as reported at the last meeting doesn't seem to be wind-related as previously thought. He said that there may have been moisture in the feed line and also said that the 442.45 is having receive problems, probably moisture in the feed line also. Lonnie said that Echolink had been down for about two weeks and John Riddle said that he'd look into it.
Someone asked about the "Amber Alert" on '49 last week. All this person said was that the repeater announced "Amber Alert" and that was it. It turns out that the Danville, Va. Amber Alert was originally announced on the repeater in it's entirity and after that, repeated that there was an Amber Alert in progress. Don said that it's the same thing as when the weather radio initially alarms for severe weather, gives the whole report and the announces something like "Severe Thunderstorm Warning" for a period of time.
John Riddle won the 50/50 drawing for the flower fund.
ARES net controls for May: 2nd Lonnie Underwood, 9th George Dietrich, 16th Hooger Fisher, 23rd and 30th no takers yet.
The meeting was over at 0724pm.
Submitted by Hooger Fisher W4OF, ERARC Secretary.