Minutes of the East River Amateur Radio Club meeting. 
May 5, 2008 Ryan’s Steakhouse Bluefield, VA.
 http://www.erarc.com 
The May meeting of the ERARC was opened at 703pm by George Dietrich, ERARC President. There were 17 members and guests in attendance. 
 George asked Don Anderson WD8OOR about Bob Frazier’s (WB8NRK) condition since his stroke last fall. Don said that his condition is basically the same.

 Hooger Fisher W4OF, interim Treasurer, gave his report. There were no bills paid during the past month. He asked about the $336.00 equipment insurance bill for the repeaters, antennas, etc. etc. Don Anderson said that he and Jay Belt K8CTI had edited the equipment list and will get the reduced bill to Hooger before the May 15th due date. Gary Kadar N8GK, ERARC VEC, reported the bank balance for the VE Team. Gary paid $11.36 for checks for the VE Team. Don Anderson spent between $35.00 and $40.00 to mail the Club Handbooks out so therefore, the Club will be paying his $35.00 membership fee to Sam’s Club. (He’s put a lot more of his own monies into the Handbook publication and printing than this. – Hooger)

 Gary also mentioned that THERE IS AN ARRL VE TEST SESSION THIS COMING SATURDAY, MAY 10, 2008 AT 9AM at the Mercer Co. 911 Center in Green Valley. He said that he knows of at least two persons coming to test. He received the ARRL VE Letter via email this week and it mentions going from test generation via software to a Web-based format soon. We will now generate the actual tests via the Internet. He also mentioned that the NEW EXTRA TEST question pool starts on July 1, 2008. IF you’re studying now for the Extra exam, be sure to get it done by July 1st or you will need to get the new question pool after that.

 Don Anderson made up a Club Handbook to give potential members, such as those testing at the VE test site, (along with a Club application). The Handbook has no present-member’s information, has no repeater codes but does include information on the repeaters, functions, Echolink, remote base, weather radio, etc. etc. etc. It gives a potential member good information on what the Club’s machines have to offer and hopefully will entice them to join and get all of the information on how to actually use the machines and their add-ons.  147.06 Echolink: Andy said that it seems that the Echolink can be accessed via the Internet but one cannot connect from the radio’s side. Roger Nisselrodt KI4SZA said that his son and other’s he has heard from can connect via the Internet but can hear nothing. Andy says that the 147.06’s controller has a problem and suggests taking the controller off of the 444.45 repeater and switch it out with the ’06 controller to fix this problem with Echolink. 

 Generator: The Club’s 6500W generator has had a broken stator since last June. It was purchased for around $1500.00 when new. Bill Sowers has a 4KW generator w/Brigg’s and Stratton engine for sale, wanting $300.00. Discussion. The stator for the old unit costs around $400.00 plus shipping. Discussion. John Riddle N8RIG suggested that we do repair the old power plant especially due to the wattage and the quietness of the engine. Discussion. John made a motion, seconded by Bill Sowers K8WBS to order the stator and get the generator fixed. Vote taken. Vote passed. John said that since it ‘was a done deal’, that he wanted to make a donation to the “generator repair fund”. He did make a donation right then, as did L.A. Farmer KB8OOK, Steve O’Dell N8SNR, Bill Sowers, Ronnie Childress KD8HBO, Doug Ritchey WG8D, Dreama Ritchey KD4NQF and Brian Leedy KI4URO. ( I hope I got them all – Hooger). Preston White KB8MWI donated his $7.00 from the Flower Fund 50/50 drawing to the generator fund also. A total of $155.00 was collected tonight!

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO DONATE TO THE GENERATOR REPAIR FUND, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO DO SO AND THANK YOU! P.O. BOX 1362, BLUEFIELD, WV 24701.

  Gary Kadar mentioned Field Day, June 28-29. 2008. http://www.arrl.org/contests/announcements/fd/ . Hooger said that we don’t have an official declaration for having FD at Boy Scout Camp Roland in Bastian, Va. yet. Gary made the motion, seconded by Bill Sowers to have FD at Roland. Vote taken. Vote passed. Gary went on to talk about 5 gallon gasoline vs. Bob’s 15 gallon barrel, etc. Discussion. We’ll discuss more at the June meeting. Hooger will send in the request for the Camp for that Saturday and Sunday. 

 Don Anderson is in possession of the old ’06 repeater ‘house’ and would like to get it off of his property if someone could use it. It is about 4x4x5.5’, insulated, shingled roof and has baseboard heat. Brian Leedy expressed possible interest. Any other takers? Let Don Anderson ( dlanderson@citlink.net ) or Hooger Fisher ( w4of@hotmail.com ) know.

 Hooger asked Don Anderson about the approx. $200.00 personal property tax bill from Bland County, Va. (for ERARC repeater equipment located in the County). Don said that the machines have been removed from the County and he’s not heard from the Tax Office and that we would just “sit” on it until something else comes up. 
 Preston White KB8MWI won the 50/50 drawing for the flower fund.

 ARES net controls for May: 6th George Dietrich, 13th Jerry Connelly KC8TES, 20th Stephen Stefancic KD8EPJ and 27th Lonnie Underwood KI4EED. Lonnie graciously offers to run the net for anyone that can’t make the net on their night.

 The meeting was over at 733pm. 
 Submitted by Hooger Fisher W4OF, ERARC Secretary.

TO DO LIST:

Equipment inventory with serial numbers for Bob for insurance reasons

Cathy Underwood KG4CTK would like us to look into possible funding via the Office of Homeland Security.

The Communications Bus/ RV that the Club began to work on.



Check out a radio-active site at: http://www.erarc.com , The East River Amateur Radio Club. We'll be glad that you did!