Minutes of Meeting – January 03, 2012

The meeting was called to order by the President, Mike, KC9AOM. He reminded everyone to sign in on the Attendance Sheet. He asked if everyone had received the Newsletter, and upon motion of K9TZJ and a second of W9EEL, the Minutes were approved as printed in the last Newsletter.

It was reported that former member Max Knotts, WA9HMI, was now a Silent Key. Also Phil, WB9URL, who is in rehab after surgery has been heard on the radio and is recovering. Former member Crutch, W9OJH, is in rehab also.

Treasurer, Tim, KB9VE, reported that the Treasury is: Checking balance initially $1,675.41. Disbursements of $132.65 for the yearly Web Hosting which has been upgraded, $320 to have the defective weather station components repaired (to be reimbursed by EMA) plus $24.49 shipping back to Davis for a total of $477.14. Income is in the amount of $284.00 for a new balance of $1,482.27. A question was raised as to how the dues income could include $4 and it was pointed out that new members who join in the course of a year have pro-rated dues so the $4 is for two months dues. Upon motion of K9TZJ and Second of KB9SCC the report was approved by the membership unamimously.

The floor was opened for Nomination of Officers for 2012. K9TZJ moved “that the Secretary be directed to cast a unanimous ballot for the current slate of Officers”. Upon a second by KB9SCC all present voted in favor and the current Officers were re-elected for 2012. President Mike, KC9AOM, thanked the membership for their support and confidence. Therefore, the 2012 Officers are:
President,           Mike Dewey, KC9AOM
Vice-President:  Doug Townsend, KB9DXO
Secretary:           Steve Riley, WA9CWE
Treasurer:          Tim Galbraith, KB9VE
.82 Repeater Trustee: Tom Ecker, KA9SYP
.09 Repeater Trustee: Tim Galbraith, KB9VE
Technical Committee: Tom Harbron, W9EEL - Guido Politano, WB9ZJR - Phil Miller, WB9URL

Tim, KB9VE, reported that he had in the course of renewing and upgrading our web site increased the web hosting to a Delux Site and he also reserved the address of: andersonrepeaterclub.net . He has been using that address to test another weather station data reporting format. Tim explained it and demonstrated it. This work is to provide an alternative in the event that our current weather computer fails and we can’t reconstruct the software program.

.82 Repeater Report: Tom, KA9SYP, reported that there have been no problems.

.09 Repeater Report: Tim, KB9VE, reported that it is working “flawlessly”.

IRLP: Tim, KB9VE, reports that it’s working fine. There was a failure of a power supply in the computer that caused it to be down for a couple of days but he replaced the PS and it’s working fine again.

Weather Station: Tim, KB9VE, reports it’s working fine. Other than the occasional “soy bean” that gets in it the station has been working OK. He noticed that the wind speed went to “zero” a while back, so he had to replace the battery in the transmitter. He asked that if anyone sees the data output to be zero they let him know so he can perform maintenance. Tim also noted that the Anderson Newspaper yesterday reported on weather “from the Anderson Repeater Club weather site”. Mike said he’d also heard the site referenced on WQME.

UHF Repeater: Steve, WA9CWE, reported it’s working fine also.

Web Site: Paul, KC9BKZ, noted that it’s working fine. He has updated the calendar and added VE Testing and a number of contests and other activities submitted to him.

VE Testing: Paul, KC9BKZ, reflected upon the report in the Newsletter about the number of upgrades and new hams who have been successful this year. Nearly everyone who has come for testing has been successful.

Weather Report: Tom, W9EEL, noted that the January forecast is for above average temperature and it will stay above average into May. A LaNina is still in force but other patterns such as the North Atlantic-Arctic Oscillation is resulting in a high pressure area that is keeping the cold weather up in the arctic. It’s possible that this could “flip” in a couple of weeks or it might stay the way it is. The last time the weather situation was like this was in 1961. Tom reviewed the forecast maps which indicated that we may have above average precipitation thru April and hopefully most will be as rain rather than snow. If the weather pattern stays into spring it’s possible that the May weather may be less severe.

EMA Report: Dick, K9FOI, the Executive Director suggested that an invoice be submitted for the repair of the weather station components. He’s preparing to work with the new Anderson administration and expects that we’ll have a good relationship as we have had in the past. He has new ID Card software and is working on getting them out.

Tom, KA9SYP, reported that the upcoming exercise at Muskcatatuk is a full scale District exercise that includes districts 4, 5 and 6 and is Wed-Fri, April 25 to 27. The District is taking 75 people and 25 vehicles. They must provide one 12 hour Operational Period. The senerio is a Tornado. All of the Section Chiefs will need help, so anyone who would like to go would be welcomed. Tom will have a video of the last exercise at the Comm. Div. meeting. They sleep in tents but the food is catered. Dick said that anyone with a camper would be welcomed to go along.

Membership Applications: None

Correspondence: None

Ham-Of-The-Year Award: Steve, WA9CWE, gave a detailed review of the Award and the previous winners starting with Bob Sheets, WB9KJZ, the first awardee. Over the 43 years we have awarded it to only 15 hams. This is a very prestigious award that is taken seriously by the membership. For 2011 the award is made to PAUL HUGHES, KC9BKZ. The plaque was awarded to Paul by the President after reviewing Paul’s ham carreer and his achievements this last year. Everyone congratulated Paul upon his receipt of this award.

Tim, KB9VE, asked what happened to the “Knob Twisters Award” that we used to give? No one seems to know just where it is.

Upcoming Activities: On January 21 the Winter RACES Test will be held. We will be activating a net at 9AM and take checkins. The report will then be relayed to the State on the various frequencies as in past tests. We talked about the various modes and the interest by State DHS to begin to strengthen the “digital” modes. Anyone interested in those modes would be helpful in improving our capabilities. Tom, KA9SYP, announced that POCAR is the 13th to 15th. They will be using 6 meter FM and APRS, PSK-31 and will be camping outside again.

We again talked about the benefits of operating “contests” as a means of improving our listening capabilities and the ability to dig a signal out of the noise. We must be better than just being able to pass traffic with full quieting signals.

Old Business: None

We did talk at length about an interference problem that we’ve been asked to assist in determining the cause.

Show-and-Tell: None

Technical Presentation: None

Door Prize: The door prize was won by Jason, KC9IYI.

Upon motion of KC9BKZ and KC9JWO the meeting was closed at 1950. There were 19 signatures on the Attendance Sheet.

Respectfully submitted,
Steve Riley, WA9CWE, Secretary, ARC