Minutes of the East River Amateur Radio Club meeting.
November 5, 2007 Ryan’s Steakhouse Bluefield, VA.
http://www.erarc.com
The November meeting of the ERARC was opened at 7pm by George Dietrich, ERARC President. There were 27 members and guests in attendance.
George asked Bill Sowers K8WBS to mention what he had read about concerning Echolink. Bill said that he has gone out of town before and tried to connect to Echolink but could not get by Echolink’s firewall. Echolink now has a downloadable proxy program that one can get to load into a laptop, etc. for users to now be able to connect. He hasn’t tried it yet but reports are that it works well. http://www.echolink.org/firewall_solutions.htm
George asked John Riddle N8RIG for a repeater report.
*****He said that the coordination for  the 147.06 and 444.45 move to Windmill Gap are reported to be complete within the next 30 days via the SouthEastern Repeater Association.  **** Bob Frazier WB8NRK, ERARC treasurer, gave his report.  Bob paid Verizon for a phone bill and paid the Club’s SERA dues. He’s received several renewals for Club membership and TONIGHT RECEIVED A $200 DONATION in addition to someone paying their dues for the next year. He said that he got another tax bill from Bland County on the Club’s repeater equipment on the mountain. Bob asked as to whom, last year, took care of this bill by talking to the Tax Office in Bland. It was suggested that it was either Don Anderson WD8OOR or Jay Belt K8CTI. Bob also said that in years past, the Club did not have to claim any income under $25,000 to the IRS due to our 501© 3 not-for-profit designation with the Government. The IRS sent Bob a letter saying that we need to notify them about our income levels but didn’t say how to contact them either by mailing address or email address. Bob will be typing up the Club handbook starting tomorrow and then try to find someone to print them. 
He will not be able to attend the DECEMBER 3, 2007, 6PM CHRISTMAS DINNER/MEETING but will get the handbooks to someone to pass out. We will try to get attendees to take any handbooks that can be hand-delivered to other members in order to save on mailing costs.
Hooger Fisher W4OF went over the October minutes.
There was some discussion about the generator and selling the 147.225 repeater. This will be tabled until Don Anderson is in attendance. Jerry Connelly KC8TES said that his friend still has a 5KW, 10 HP Briggs and Stratton generator for sale for $300. John Riddle said that we need be careful that we don’t start a forest fire (referring to the engine). Jerry said that there is a very small fuel leak in the tank on the unit.
George asked Jerry Connelly, Mercer Co. ARES EC for comments on ARES. Jerry said that back in 1998 there were 79 registered ARES members and now only has 17 signed up. He said that he and Mercer County ARES need help. He said that the October Simulated Emergency Test was done well and that Lonnie Underwood headed it up. Lonnie has been named an AEC for Mercer Co. by Jerry.  Jerry again said that he really, really needs help when help is needed.
Gary Kadar asked if November was the time to elect officers. Discussion. 
Gary made a motion, seconded by Catherine Underwood KG4CTK to keep the same officers for the next year. Vote taken, motion passed. George asked if anyone else would be interested in taking office. Lonnie said that Steven Stefancic would take the Vice President’s job. No dissention by Steven. 
(After the meeting, George, Lonnie, Steven, and others agreed that Steven should have the VP position.) Hooger Fisher read an email from Don Williams W4VT who wants to donate 250-300 pounds of 3-strand, copper clad rhombic antenna wire to the Club with the understanding that if he needs some of it, he could have some at no charge to him. Discussion. No takers on the offer. Lonnie Underwood said that he has 500 feet of antenna wire if anyone needs some.
Lonnie mentioned that Echolink was getting a work-out by local amateurs and that it was working very well. He mentioned a few stations that he and others had worked including Australia and a frequent contact in Michigan.
Patty Dietrich KG4AYM asked that ARES net control stations mention during each net that the DECEMBER 3, 2007 CHRISTMAS DINNER/MEETING  be announced and that NC ask those coming to the event to please donate a door prize.
Gary Kadar said that there was a recent explosion of a comet (named Holmes) and that one could view the orangish glow in the sky at night to the 
North/Northwest orientation.   
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2007/11/071105-ap-comet.html
Gary also mentioned that he and Dave Cox N4DBC had attended the Gray, TN hamfest on October 20. He said that they (the hamfest) were making a really good comeback and that there was a lot of “good” junk to be purchased.
Lonnie Underwood is looking for a 6M mobile to purchase, fyi.
Roger Stefancic KC8LGR won the 50/50 drawing.
ARES net controls for November: Lonnie Underwood 6th,  Jerry Connelly 13th , George Dietrich 20th  and Steven Stefancic 27th .
The meeting was over at 733pm.
Submitted by Hooger Fisher W4OF, ERARC Secretary.
TO DO LIST:
1)	Equipment inventory with serial numbers for Bob for insurance reasons
2) Go over repeater instructions in Club handbook for being current and complete. (Add weather radio information, check 911 autodials, etc.)
2)	Cathy Underwood KG4CTK would like us to look into possible funding via 
the Office of Homeland Security.

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