[FPARC] MINUTES OF DECEMBER MEETING

[kd4spw at aol.com]

                 FORT PIERCE AMATEUR RADIO CLUB - MINUTES - 12/14/2005
 
     The regular monthly meeting of the Fort Pierce Amateur Radio Club was chaired by President Art Lindell, W4ZEF. Attendance was 12. 
All attending are members.
 
     MINUTES: The minutes of the November meeting were approved as distributed, after motion by Paul, KG4MCE, seconded by Kevin, W4KKW.
 
     TREASURY: Treasurer Carl, KF4KCI?s report was approved as distributed after motion by Paul, KG4MCE, seconded by Dave, WA4NGR.
 
                         Total funds: (designated for WQCS -- $30) $3164.00.
.
                                          OLD BUSINESS
 
     HAMFEST: President Art, W4ZEF, said that we need to resolve the issue of Hamfest prizes. He said it shouldn't be taking this long to decide. He said it seems there was confusion as to what the prize committee was presenting to the meeting in November. Art said that after listening to a tape of November's meeting, it seems the club postponed voting on Hamfest prizes, in lieu of e-mail voting. He said that he has sent an e-mail to the group with some prize group choices. Each member should then e-mail Art directly, off of the club e-mail list, with their choice. Art will tally the votes by the middle of January, so we can have Hamfest flyers ready by the end of January. 
     Art, W4ZEF, also said how hard it was to follow the meeting while listening to the tape. he said many conversations take place at once, making it impossible to get an accurate recording of the meeting. He asked that we do a better job of having just one person speaking at a time.
     He said this year the flyer will include any major sponsors, such as HRO. Art asked Joe, KD4BTD, if we have the Hamfest dates locked in yet. Joe said as far as he knows, yes, but he has not been giving an acknowledgement in writing yet. The date is August 12, 2006. Art said he needs the dates in writing before sending out flyers. 
     Kevin, W4KKW, asked if the Hamfest admission prices had been finalized. Art said yes, same as last year: $4 admission, $7 table w/o electric & one admission, $10 table w/electric & one admission. After some discussion about other Hamfest's prices, the consensus was to reconsider admission prices after this year's Hamfest. We discussed how important it is to get our Hamfest publicized much earlier this year.
 
     REPEATER: No Mel at this meeting, and no changes to report. Art, W4ZEF, said that Greg, KB4VVE, will see if the County can help in getting our 2 meter repeater looked at, as it is the County EOC backup repeater. Pete, KD4SPW, commented that the EOC south 2 meter repeater, 147.015, went back on the air today this day.
 
     ECHOLINK / IRLP: Kevin, W4KKW, said a new node is here, but the intermittent 2m/440 interference is back. Kevin said he had the 440 link radio to install tonight after the meeting, which will allow ECHOLINK on our 2 meter repeater. He also said that he will not be able to leave the ECHOLINK connected to a node system with the interference we now have. We discussed maybe taking the complete repeater rack assembly to the shop to be tested as a unit. We also talked of having a Plug & Play back-up 2 meter repeater. We discussed where the old Kenwood repeater is located. Carl, KF4KCI, said it had located at the IRCC maintenance building. He said he didn't see it last time there. Kevin discussed some of the upcoming IRLP/ECHOLINK features.
 
     Art, W4KKW, thanked Carl, KF4KCI, for a great Christmas Social the club had at Carl and Betty's home. Art said he would love to do it again next year. 
 
                                        NEW BUSINESS
 
     Don, KC4GXF, asked what dues are now. Dues are now $20 plus any possible donation each member chooses to support WQCS Radio Station. 
 
     Carl, KF4KCI, asked for clarification about how many years? membership we are extending to Dock, N4HYK, to show our appreciation for the rotor he donated to the club. Kevin, W4KKW, made a motion and Dave, WA4NGR, seconded, to make Dock's membership current through year 2007. The motion passed.
 
     ATTENDANCE: KD4SPW, W4RPE, W4ZEF, KF4KCI, K4ZEF, WA4NGR, KG4MCE,       WB4NOZ, KC4GXF, W4KKV, KD4BTD, KC0KAC.
 
                                  Submitted by Secretary Peter Amar, KD4SPW.