[FPARC] April minutes

[Cheryl]

FORT PIERCE AMATEUR RADIO CLUB - MINUTES - 4/13/2003

The regular monthly meeting of the Fort Pierce Amateur Radio Club was chaired by President, Art Lindell, W4ZEF. Attendance was 16. All that attended are members.

MINUTES: The minutes of the March meeting were approved as distributed, after motion by Kurt, W4KFH, seconded by Mel, W4DAQ.

TREASURY: Treasurer Carl, KF4KCI's report was approved as distributed after motion by Kurt, W4KFH, seconded by Mel, W4DAQ.

Total funds: -- $250 designated for WQCS -- $1355.85.

Total members: 34.

OLD BUSINESS

REPEATER: Kurt, W4KFH, asked about hurricane damage, antenna and hardline replacement costs. President Art, W4ZEF, told of St. Lucie County paying for the 2 meter antenna and hardline. He said that members have loaned the club the cost to have the hardline installed. We are expecting our ARRL insurance to reimburse us for that hardline install cost and our previous expenditures for the cost of the 440 antenna and the cost to install both 2 meter and 440 antennas.

Art, W4ZEF, said he knows that there is a problem with the 440 repeater when the 2 meter repeater is also keyed up. He said that Mel, W4DAQ, will be addressing the problem. Mel said he brought and will install tonight a 440 duplexer that may solve the problem. Art said in the future we plan to link the 2 repeaters.

ECHOLINK: Art, W4ZEF, asked which club members beside Kevin, W4KKW, and himself have been using ECHOLINK. We discussed linking the two repeaters with ECHOLINK and running ECHOLINK during our nets. Art suggested members try Echolink, for example to contact old ham friends around the country. Ladd, W2KGV, asked if we had handouts about using ECHOLINK properly. Art said that Kevin, W4KKW, sent out the ECHOLINK access codes to use with our repeater. Art suggested downloading the ECHOLINK software or checking out their website for pointers. Carl, KF4KCI, suggested having an ECHOLINK demo at an upcoming meeting.

IRLP: Art, W4ZEF, said that IRLP is still a work in progress. 

HAMFEST: Art, W4ZEF, said we need to decide on HAMFEST prizes. Art said that since we have increased our admission and table prices, we should spend a little more on prizes. Ladd, W2KGV, suggested asking the radio manufacturers for discounts. Art said that neither manufacturers nor retailers will donate or discount prizes anymore. Kurt, W4KFH, suggested we try GAP ANTENNAS, since they are local. We had a big discussion about HAMFEST prizes and decided to spend about $600 to purchase a dual band mobile and an MFJ 259 antenna analyzer. Art will take care of purchasing the items. Carl, KF4KCI, said he has a like new atomic clock with out a box to donate. Lee, KG4BYG, said he can get some car care kits donated from ROGER DEAN BUICK GMC. Art said he also wants to get a weather station and a weather radio. Art said he expects to get some restaurant gift certificates from his son.

Art said he will ask the VE's if they want to do ARRL VE licensing testing at the HAMFEST. 

Art, W4ZEF, said he had been asked to bring the club VE test session to Stuart for a special test for their students. Art said he declined the offer.

Art, W4ZEF, asked Pete, KD4SPW, for an update on our ARRL hurricane insurance claim. Pete said that the insurance company contact said that our claim has been Okayed and she thought it had been sent out, but we have not yet received it. Pete said he will call and keep after them about it. 

FIELD DAY: Art, W4ZEF, said that he took the club trailer home and has been working on it. He said he is having trouble with the tower crank brake. He said if the HF beam is damaged and will require a lot of work before it can be used. He said he is not going to work on it. Carl, KF4KCI, said there is another part of that beam at IRCC. Kurt, W4KFH, said he would like to have a Tri-band HF beam for FIELD DAY. Kurt said he will get one, one way or another. Art said we need lots of coax to separate the antennas even more this year. Gregg, KB4VVE, said he will check on getting some coax. Carl, KF4KCI, will be in Cuba before FIELD DAY but expects to be home for the weekend. He said he plans to have food plans done before. The Port St. Lucie Amateur Radio Club will join us this year for FIELD DAY. We will need to get a rough head count for meals. We discussed antennas and station captains.

Carl, KF4KCI, said we need to remove the old 2 meter repeater antenna and the old 2 meter repeater from IRCC. We discussed trying to repair the old antenna, for backup, with some scrap parts left at the EOC. We discussed selling the old 2 meter repeater at our HAMFEST. Carl said we need to contact the fellow at the STUART HAMFEST that was interested in our pile of old hardline. 

Art, W4ZEF, said the STUART HAMFEST was a good event. 

Art, W4ZEF, reminded all that dues have increased $5 from $15 to $20 starting year 2006. We Discussed members that have not renewed yet for 2005.

CLUB COMPUTERS: Art, W4ZEF, asked who wanted a computer. He said there are 20 total computers and 10 here at the meeting tonight. 

President Art, W4ZEF, closed the meeting at 21:15 hours.

ATTENDANCE: KD4SPW, W4KKW, W4RPE, W4ZEF, W1QPD, BOBBIE ELLMERS,

W4KFH, W4DAQ, KB4VVE, KG4BYG, WA4NGR, W2KGV, K1VAO,

N9SRO, KD4BTD.

Submitted by Secretary Peter Amar, KD4SPW.