[FPARC] MINUTES OF MARCH MEETING

[kd4spw at aol.com]

           FORT PIERCE AMATEUR RADIO CLUB - MINUTES - 3/8/2006
 
      The regular monthly meeting of the Fort Pierce Amateur Radio Club was chaired by President, Art Lindell, W4ZEF. Attendance was 13. Visiting was Dave Case.
 
      MINUTES: The minutes of the February meeting were approved as distributed, after motion by Bill, N4XEO, seconded by Paul, KG4MCE.
 
      TREASURY: Treasurer Carl, KF4KCI's report was approved as distributed after motion by Bill, N4XEO, seconded by Paul, KG4MCE.
 
               Total funds:                       (designated for WQCS: $40)                          $3362.60.
               Total members:                                                                                                34.
 
                                                    OLD BUSINESS
 
      President Art, W4ZEF, said the Orlando Hamfest was very nice again this year. He said it is #2, in attendance and size, nationally, only behind Dayton. Art said that almost all of the 100 FPARC Hamfest flyers left on the table in Orlando were taken.
      
      REPEATER:    Art, W4ZEF, said that different 440 repeater is going to go on the air. Greg, KB4VVE, elaborated. He said it will be an MSR 2000 and CAT 1000. He said we will need to get an audio delay board if we want one.
      Greg said he now has a service monitor and there is now a 12 foot workbench in the EOC Doghouse. Greg said we can do FPARC or EOC projects now in the Doghouse. He said we could use a few stools at the workbench if anyone has extras. 
      Greg, KB4VVE, discussed, how, eventually, we should be able to link all the EOC repeaters with the FPARC repeaters. Greg said that an EOC UHF repeater is now on the air at the PSL High School at 290 ft, 443.775 MHz.
      We discussed using multi-band antennas for repeaters and antenna gain compared to single-band antennas.
      Carl, KF4KCI, said he has not yet discussed with Randy, again, about mounting one or more of the FPARC repeaters on the wall in the transmitter room.
 
       HAMFEST:    Kevin, W4KKW, said Hamfest tickets are ordered, but may not be in hand in time for the Stuart Hamfest because we are making changes to the design and size. Art, W4ZEF, said he has ordered the prizes for our Hamfest. The main prizes are a KENWOOD TM-D700A dual-band mobile and an MFJ ANTENNA ANALYZER. 
 
      IRLP/ECHOLINK:  Demo at the April meeting. Enter " * " to access IRLP. Enter just the node # for ECHOLINK.  Enter " 73 " to bring down both.
 
      Art, W4ZEF, said that we should get a new banner. We discussed a few options. Bill, N4XEO, suggested silk-screened letters instead of stick-on. Kevin, W4KKV, said he will check a banner company in Jensen Beach. 
 
      STUART HAMFEST: Our club will have a booth at the Stuart Hamfest. We'll bring our club banner. Greg, KB4VVE, wondered if he should bring the EOC CSV ambulance to the Hamfest. Everyone thought it was a good idea.
 
      FIELD DAY: Joe, KD4BTD, said that the Field day dates have been secured with IRCC. 
                                       Fri - Sun, June 23-25. 
 
                                                     NEW BUSINESS
 
      We discussed the benefits of incorporating our club.
 
      Kevin, W4KKW, said he would like to get the OK to purchase a CAT link box for $180.      
       
 
      ATTENDANCE:    KD4SPW, WA4NGR, KG4MCE, KC0KAC, KD4BTD, W4RPE, WB4NOZ, DAVE CASE, W4ZEF, KF4KCI, KB4VVE, N4XEO, W4KKW.
 
                                                Submitted by Secretary Peter Amar, KD4SPW.