[FARReps] FAR October Meeting Minutes

[Al Brown]

Foundation for Amateur Radio, Inc.
Meeting Minutes
Wednesday, October 11, 2006

The meeting was held at the Fire and Emergency Services Building in
Landover, Maryland.  President Mary Morris (N3TCI) called the
meeting to order at 8:03 pm.

Nine people attended the meeting.

Chip Weems         W4PBG   Historical Electronics Museum ARC
Hugh Turnbull      W3ABC   Goddard ARC
William Hatfield   W3QX    Montgomery ARC
Al Brown           KZ3AB   Maryland Emergency Phone Net and
                            Antietam Radio Association
Dan Blasberg       KA8YPY  Laurel ARC
John Chitwood      K3RGB   Acting Treasurer
Mary Morris        N3TCI   Mt Vernon ARC
Diane Zimmerman    AA3OF   Laurel ARC
Ed Brown           KA3ZPE  MD State Council of REACT Teams
                            Prince George's Co REACT

-- Secretary's Report:

    - President Mary Morris distributed the September meeting minutes.
      One minor typo was corrected and the minutes were approved.

-- Scholarship Committee Report:

    - Scholarship Committee Chairperson Diane Zimmerman, AA3OF,
      distributed a folder containing several thank you notes
      from several scholarship winners.

    - There will be three FAR Silent Key Memorial Scholarships
      for 2007, each in the amount of $3000.  This is an increase
      from last year's amount of $2500.

    - There is a new committee member. He is Dave Prestel, W8AJR,
      from the Columbia ARA.

    - The Committee has established a FAR Scholarships email address,
      which is <Scholarships at Farweb.org>.

      Students may send email to this address to request applications.

      The Committee plans to make the application and award
      regulations documents available in PDF format to distribute via
      email in response to email requests.

      Since the applications require signatures, both of the applicant
      and of club members recommending applicants for scholarships,
      the application will still need to be printed, signed and mailed
      to the Committee.

    - Committee member John Chitwood, K3RGB, received an email from
      the Ozaukee Radio Club in Wisconsin asking for information
      about how FAR handles scholarship money.

      A copy of the email was turned over to Chairperson Diane for
      action.

-- F.A.R.Fest 2006 Report:

    - A reply was drafted and posted on the website,
      <http://www.farfest.org/statemt2006.php>, and various reflectors
      as well as used in replies to e-mails in response to the numerous
      emails received complaining about the unexpected $5.00 parking
      surcharge at FARFest 2006.

    - FARFest Chairman Dan Blasberg, KA8YPY, reported that accounts,
      for the most part, have been settled and it appears that FAR
      lost $436 at FARFest 2006.

      The loss was attributed to the unexpected $5.00 parking surcharge
      collected by the Montgomery County Agricultural Center for parking
      for both FAR and Rodeo.

    - Several of the trustees mentioned they believe that through no
      fault of the committee chairman or the Foundation, the unexpected
      added parking fee at FARFest 2006 has fractured the credibility
      and the integrity of Foundation with respect to future FARFests.

      Therefore, the Foundation's Board of Directors and the FARFest
      Committee agreed to meet and discuss the future of FARFest.

      They will report their findings at the December meeting for
      possible action by the general membership.

-- Treasurer's Report:

    - Acting Treasurer John Chitwood, K3RGB, distributed the Income
      and Expense report and Balance Sheet (excluding scholarships)
      for FAR.

-- Vice-President’s Report:

    - Executive Vice President William Hatfield, W3QX, reported that
      he is collecting complaints and comments about FARFest 2006.
      You may email him at <W3QX at QSL.NET>.

    - William also asked for volunteers to help with the FAR and
      FARFest web pages. Please contact him if you can help.

-- Old Business:

    - A motion was made, seconded and passed to change the FAR
      meeting dates to every other month beginning in February, 2007.

    - Vice President Dan Blasberg, KA8YPY, volunteered to chair the
      Nominating Committee. Please contact him at <ka8ypy at verizon.net>
      if you would like to be nominated as an officer in the
      Foundation.

-- New Business:

    - There was no new business.

-- Announcements:

    - The Marine Corps Marathon will be held on Sunday, October 29.
      If you would like to volunteer, go to <http://www.ncacdc.com/>
      and click on "Sign up page for the 31st Marine Corp [sic]
      Marathon."

The meeting adjourned at 9:19 p.m.

The next Foundation for Amateur Radio meeting is scheduled
for Wednesday, November 8, 2006 at 8:00 pm at the Lee Center
in Alexandria, Virginia.

Everyone is invited to attend.

Respectfully submitted,


/s/ E. Allen Brown


E. Allen Brown, KZ3AB
Acting Secretary for the October, 2006 Meeting