[FARC] FARC "Approved" Minutes for May 21, 2012

[Herb Palm]

Frederick Amateur Radio Club “Approved” (FARC) Minutes for May 21, 2012

Meeting: The club meeting was called to order at 7:15 pm by President 
Jim Ridgley - N3HTA

Introductions: See Attendees. We welcomed visitors Buzz Lerch - NV3X and 
Charlie Kelley - KB3VVZ at our meeting.

Last Months Minutes: “Approved as read”

New Licenses: None

Upgrades: Jeff Fishman - KB3FIO passed his “EXTRA” exam. Congratulations!!!

Treasurer Report: The checking account balance is $15,683.74 . That 
includes the “Rolled Over CD”. The officers are working on getting bank 
records changed over to our new treasurer.

New Member Application(s): None

Old or Ongoing Business:

-The Constitution & By-laws are being amended to read the that the 
Treasurer will be responsible for filing all necessary Tax papers and 
maintain our tax exempt status. Until we compile a current membership 
list, we will not be able to vote on the proposed Constitution & By-Laws.

The secretary Herb Palm - K3HCP suggested that members and all 
interested parties in FARC activities to be subscribed to the 
“Reflector” in order to be on the e-mail distribution involving club 
activities.

- The club station located on the second floor of the our meeting place 
has been moved. Jeff Fishman - KB3FIO will contact the person in charge 
of the fire house to get the station back into a workable state.

- Field Day will be on June 23 - 24, 2012 on the Frederick Memorial 
Hospital 4th and 5th floor parking decks of the garage. Jeff Fishman - 
KB3FIO needs to know your name, your call sign, your license 
classification, and when you will be available as a volunteer. Hopefully 
an Extra Class License operator will be on site all the time so that we 
can operate in those sections of the various bands. Individuals can set 
up their own station on the top deck. Parking is provided also. Jeff 
will be contacting Scott Davis - N3JFP about his suite of logging programs.

- Stu Benner had to cancel his presentation for the May meeting due to a 
work conflict.

- Mark Whitmore has received old club records from Bob Maroney which 
will be put into the clubs archives.

New Business:

- A letter from Carolyn Freed has been received wishing to sell her 
deceased husband’s radio gear. Mark Whitmore - AB3KS will post a listing 
on the reflector.

Committee Reports:

- ARES
The March of Dimes event for “March for Babies” was held at Baker Park 
as scheduled. The coverage on the 2M repeater 146.640 MHz was 
consistently better for all nine stations over simplex operation on 
146.580MHz

-RACES
There was a COMEX drill last week. Communications across the state is 
really good with the Western Maryland Net into all of the western 
Maryland counties, if stations are operating. The WAN(Wide Area Network) 
works well should the situation arise for RACES to get urgent/emergency 
communications throughout the state with the hub being at MEMA(Maryland 
Emergency Management Agency).

-SKYWARN
Curtis Campbell - KB3WHX and two HAM family members are now trained on 
SKYWARN receiving lots of valuable information. Weather reports can be 
sent over any media. Programming the number for Skywarn Spotters of 
1-800-253-7091 in you cell phone puts the number at your fingertips.

This Month’s Program:

-This months program was presented by Jeff Fishman - KB3FIO on a 
“Beginners Guide to HAM Radio Contesting.

End of Meeting: The meeting ended at 8:12 pm

Attendees:

Jeff Fishman - KB3FIO
Mark Whitmore - AB3KS
Lou Popowsky - KB3RNT
Emmett Bonner - WA4UWD
Buzz Lerch - NV3X - Visitor
Charlie Kelley - KB3VVZ - Visitor
Richard Cody - KB3ML
Curtis Campbell - KB3WHX
Jim Ridgley - N3HTA
David Kindred - K3PO
Herb Palm - K3HCP

Respectfully submitted, Herb Palm - K3HCP