[FARReps] Foundation for Amateur Radio, February 8, Meeting Minutes

[Al Brown]

Foundation for Amateur Radio, Inc.
Meeting Minutes
February 8, 2006

The meeting was held at the Fire and Emergency Services Building in
Landover, Maryland.  President Mary Morris (N4TCI) called the
meeting to order at 8:02 pm.

12 people attended and introduced themselves.

Chip Weems         W4PBG   Historical Electronics Museum ARC
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
Hugh Katz          K3HU    Voice of America ARC
W Page Pyne        WA3EOP  Cheese Hollow ARC and
                            Antietam Radio Association
Tom Abernethy      W3TOM   Potomac Valley Radio Club and
                            Charles County ARC
Ed Brown           KA3PZE  Prince George's Co REACT and
                            MD State Council or REACT Teams
Diane Zimmerman    AA3OF   Laurel Amateur Radio Club
Jim Tilton         KD3JA   Central Maryland ARC
Jim Cross          WI3N    ARRL MDC Section Manager

-- The January minutes were approved as corrected.

-- There was no treasurer's report.

-- Vice-President’s Report  - Vice President William Hatfield, W3QX,
reported on our Web site efforts.  Ed Herbrechtsmeier, K3QX, is
building the replacement web page.  The new web is still a work in
progress.

-- Scholarship Report - Diane Zimmerman, AA3OF, reported that World
Radio magazine printed an editorial and a two-page article about the
FAR scholarship program. Since the article was published, she has
received several inquiries.

    The Loudoun (VA) Amateur Radio Group made a $100 donation to the
scholarship fund.

-- ARRL Report - Tom Abernethy, W3TOM, reported on the ARRL Board
of Director's meeting. President Jim Haney, W5JBP, retired after
six years of service and is succeeded by Joel Harrison, W5ZN.

    The "SuitSat-1" batteries are failing and SuitSat-1 is expected to
QRT by the end of the month.

    MDC SM Jim Cross, WI3N, reported that an ARES meeting is planned
for Saturday, February 18 in the Fire and Emergency Services Building
in Landover, Maryland.

    Jim also reported on the Maryland legislation regarding amateur
radio antennas and home owner's associations. See section news at
<http://www.arrl.org/sections/MDC.html> for more details.

    Jim has made a proposal to the Antietam Radio Association in Hagerstown
for them to sponsor a Maryland State Convention in July. More later.

-- F.A.R. Fest - The 2006 hamfest will be September 9 and 10 at
Gaithersburg. The flyer has been printed and is being distributed.
Volunteers are needed. Please contact Dan Blasberg at <KA8YPY at verizon.net>.

Old Business:

-- No progress yet on the by-laws rewrite.

-- The FAR ad on page 56 of World Radio magazine will be canceled.

Announcements:

-- Diane Zimmerman, AA3OF, has been recognized with the QCWA's President's
Honor Award for her outstanding work with FAR Scholarships.

-- Hugh Turnbull, W3ABC, was also recognized with a QCWA award for his many
years of service to amateur radio in various capacities.

-- Upcoming Hamfests:
    Feb 19 - Frostfest in Richmond, VA
    Feb 26 - Winterfest in Vienna, VA
    Mar 25-26 - The Greater Baltimore Hamboree at the Timonium
      Fairgrounds in Maryland

The meeting adjourned at 9:10 p.m.

The next Foundation for Amateur Radio meeting is scheduled for
Wednesday, March 8, 2006 at the Lee Center in Alexandria,
Virginia.

Everyone is invited to attend.

Respectfully submitted,


s/E. Allen Brown


E. Allen Brown, KZ3AB
Acting Secretary