[FARC] draft FAR minutes

[Scott Galbraith]

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Foundation for Amateur Radio (FAR)
Meeting Minutes
August 10, 2005

The meeting was held at the Fire and Emergency Services building in
Landover, Maryland.  President Mary Morris (N4TCI) called the
meeting to order at 8:00m pm.

Al Brown (KZ3AB) agreed to record and publish the meeting minutes.

The people attending the meeting introduced themselves. They were:

Chip Weems         W4PBG   Historical Electronics Museum ARC
Hugh Turnbull      W3ABC   Goddard ARC
Diane Zimmerman    AA3OF   Laurel ARC
Ed Brown           KA3ZPE  MD State Council of REACT Teams and
                            Prince George's County REACT
Don Kirby          KR3A    Calvert ARA
William Hatfield   W3QX    Montgomery ARC
Mary Morris        N4TCI   Mt. Vernon ARC
Al Brown           KZ3AB   Maryland Emergency Phone Net and
                            Antietam Radio Association
John Chitwood      K3RGB
Jeanne Rexroad     N4ZGI   NCAC
Dan Blasberg       WA8YPY  Laurel ARC
Hugh Katz          K3HU    Voice of America ARC
William Riley      N3SNU   MD State Council of REACT Teams and
                            Prince George's County REACT

The July, 2005 meeting minutes were corrected and approved.

There was no treasurer's report presented.

Old Business:

-- Auto-Call: Auto Call subscriptions have dropped by about
    50 per quarter for some time now and it has now reached a
    point whereby only 500 issues will be published for the
    next issue in November.

    At this point, the per issue cost becomes prohibitive.
    William Hatfield (W3QX), announced that if capable volunteers
    needed to publish, edit, sell advertising and service
    subscriptions do not step forward and take over the magazine
    by September 23, 2005, he will recommend that we discontinue
    the magazine.

    The cause of this was discussed and it appears that both the
    financial success and the lack of support from individual
    clubs and for responsible key staff are significant factors.

    It was noted that William Hatfield and a few others
    have given Auto-Call a very strong effort for several years.

    The FAR representatives' consensus was that the magazine had
    improved considerably and continues to serve a unique purpose in the
    local area amateur community.  When polled, less than 50% of the
    attendees were subscribers and they said they would like to see
    the publication continue.

    A discussion then ensued on what functions that Auto Call serves
    that would be missed or could be provided by alternative means;
    The factor that Auto-Call was a 'victim' of technological
    obsolesce was mentioned.

    An annual scholarship accounting was cited as a necessity.
    The training classes and VEC schedule was mentioned and it was
    pointed out that the ARRL now has that service online on a
    national basis but that not enough clubs keep it up to date.

    An Internet site for training classes in the region would be
    very valuable.

    The FAR representatives' consensus was to recommend that if
    Auto-Call is terminated, a web site should provided for the
    local area that would include: Training classes, information
    on all the local clubs, the VEC schedule, information on the
    scholarship program, FARFest and other items of local area
    interest.


-- Scholarship: Diane Zimmerman (AA3OF) reported that the
    scholarship checks had been sent out and the annual 'state of
    the scholarships' will be reported in the upcoming Auto-Call
    magazine.

-- FARFest: FARFest 2005 will be held Saturday and Sunday,
    September 10 and 11 at the Montgomery County (MD) Fairgrounds
    in Gaithersburg, Maryland. Volunteers are needed to to work
    in, at least, four-hour shifts to help set up on Friday,
    September 9, sell tickets (and other duties) on September 10
    and 11, and help to clean up on Sunday afternoon, September 11.
    Please contact Vicki at <VickiG at adelphi.net> or Dan Blasberg
    (KA8YPY) at 1-301-345-7381 or via email at <KA8YPY at ARRL.net>.

-- By-Laws: There has been no progress on modifying the by-laws.

New Business:

-- There was no new business.

Announcements:

-- The Laurel ARC is planning a benefit "crab feast" in support
    of member Frank "HD" Scott (K3HDM). 'HD' has been an active
    member in LARC and has been an avid supporter of the
    "Foundation" and LARC.

    'HD' is hospitalized and is suffering from paralysis to his
    legs because of an infection in his spine. He is self-employed
    and has *no* medical insurance.

    All proceeds from the planned "crab feast" will go toward
    "HD's" medical expenses.

    More information will be published in the future.

The meeting was adjourned at 9:21 pm.

The next Foundation for Amateur Radio meeting is scheduled for
Wednesday, September 14 at the Lee Center in Alexandria, Virginia.

Respectfully submitted,


s/E. Allen Brown


E. Allen Brown, KZ3AB
Acting Secretary


-- 

73 de Scott Galbraith
N3OK, Frederick County, MD
FM19ji
ARRL, QCWA 30013, GERATOL 2198, PVRC
NAVMARCORMARS - NNN0OPY, NNN0GAW
National Communications System SHARES
scottg (at) n3ok.com
nnn0opy (at) navymars.org