Minutes of the East River Amateur Radio Club
October 6, 2003 Ryan’s Steakhouse, Bluefield, VA.   http://www.erarc.com
The October meeting of the ERARC was opened at 657pm by George Dietrich, 
KF4YGL, ERARC President. There were 20 members and guests in attendance. 
George welcomed all. Hooger Fisher W4OF, ERARC Sec. read the minutes of the 
August and September meetings. Bob Frazier WB8NRK, ERARC Treasurer, report 
given, including the Flower fund. Bob said that he’d received 
several renewals for membership and as of this evening he had 83 paid 
memberships compared to 147 at this time last year. (Please consider sending 
your dues to Bob at: 505 Eads Mill Rd. Princeton, WV 24740. Dues are still 
$10 and $1 for each additional family ham member (at the same address). 
Contact Bob Frazier at wb8nrk@arrl.net.)
George mentioned that the Christmas dinner would be on December 1, 2003. 
After brief discussion, we will have the dinner at Ryan’s at << 6pm >> on 
that date with the meeting to follow. George said that officers were to be 
voted on at tonight’s meeting and Dave Cox KG4MCC made a motion to keep the 
current officers in place. George asked for further nominations for any 
office and there were none. Gary Kadar N8GK said that he’s gladly give up 
the Vice President position to anyone that would like to do it. He said that 
he’d even train the person wanting the job.
Bill Sowers K8WBS told the group that he had called two ERARC members today, 
offering them a ride to the meeting. He said that it would be a good thing 
for other members to do the same in the future to try to increase attendance 
to the meetings.
George brought up the Honda generator needing servicing. John Riddle N8RIG 
suggested that someone contact Russel Taylor’s (KC8GBE) brother at 
Wytheville’s Mark IV Honda to see if he could service the unit. Bill Sowers 
said that he’d do this for the club. George asked Jay Belt K8CTI if the 
repeaters needed any special attention before winter and Jay said that they 
were in good shape. (Jay and John Riddle did get a message on the ’49 
repeater reminding listeners of the Monday evening meeting.)
George asked Gary Kadar for a report on the Sept. VHF contest that he 
participated in on the East River Mt. Overlook area. Gary said that about 
10am on that Saturday he decided to try to work the contest. He got the 
generator, feed lines, etc. from Bob Frazier, the club radio, power supply 
and antennas from John Riddle and was on the air around 2pm until dark. 
Harold Hodges N8NCP came up on the Mt. later and operated some.  The 
farthest contact was 512 air miles in Illinois on 2M. Gary worked 2M and 6M 
SSB and made about 25 contacts in 16 different grids for a total of around 
400 points. Gary said that if we were to use the trailer at the overlook 
that we’d probably do just as well as going to Round Mt. in Bland Co. George 
asked David Sexton AB8D for a report on the Pocahontas Coalfields ARC. David 
said that they’ve received grants for upgrading their radio systems and are 
in the process of placing 2M radios in the McDowell 911 center and in the 
county fire departments.
Hooger Fisher mentioned that Jamboree On The Air would be held on October 
18, 2003 at the Tazewell Co. airport, sponsored by Phil Mohon KU4RK around 
930-1000 am on that Saturday.
Gary Kadar said that he and John Riddle have been going to the Mercer Co. 
Emergency Services meetings and that they are trying to get an “Emergency 
Plan” for the county together. They also discuss Hazardous Materials 
accidents, Weapons of Mass Destruction issues and on chain-of-command issues 
also.  Gary said that the Mercer Co. ARES group needs to get together a 
“call-out” list in case of emergency.  The old list that the 911 people had 
was sorely out of date.
Gary also mentioned that those who have internet access, please check 
http://www.erarc.com and check to see if email addresses are correct and if 
not, contact Dave Lester N8VFR, webmaster, for corrections.
ARES net controls for October: 7th Jerry Conley KC8TES, 14TH Hooger Fisher 
W4OF, 21st George Dietrich KF4YGL, 28TH Tom Gordon WW8D. THE MERCER CO. ARES 
NET WILL BE HELD AT 8PM EVERY TUESDAY IN ORDER FOR MORE (hopefully) CHECK 
INs AND FOR AT LEAST ONE MORE NET CONTROL STATION ONLNE.
Bill McIntosh N8RIH won the 50/50 drawing for the flower fund.
There being no more business, the meeting was closed at 0741pm
Respectfully submitted, George “Hooger” Fisher 111, W4OF, Sec.