[FARReps] FAR minutes august 2005 FINAL

[Mary Morris]

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.

Treasurer, John Chitwood, K3RGB, gave the treasurer’s report.  It was
accepted as  presented.

Old Business:

-- Auto-Call: Auto Call subscriptions have dropped by about50 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 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