[FPARC] MNUTES OF SEPTEMBER MEETING

[Kd4spw]

      FORT PIERCE AMATEUR RADIO CLUB - MINUTES -  9/14/2011
 
      The regular monthly meeting of the Fort Pierce Amateur Radio Club was chaired by President, Kevin Walker, W4KKW.  Attendance was 19. Visiting was Joann Bolte.
 
      MINUTES: The minutes of the August meeting were approved as distributed, after motion by Keith, W4RPE, and seconded by Jack, K4JAK.
 
      TREASURY: Treasurer Carl, KF4KCI’s report was approved as distributed after motion by Jack, K4JAK, and seconded by Steve, N4SGL.
   
       HAMFEST: President Kevin, W4KKW, started a discussion about our Hamfest. He questioned whether we receive enough benefit from sending out post cards. One idea was to advertise a special door prize drawing for those bringing their post card to the Hamfest. This might give us an idea of how many people that received post cards attended. Steve, N4SGL, said that he believes sending e-mails would be the best way. He suggested we have a special door prize drawing for those that give us their e-mail address. He also suggested that each club member agree to take some time to search QRZ.com by zip code and record e-mail addresses. We discussed how to send group e-mails without causing spam filters to activate. 
       Kevin said that he received a thank you note from one of the handie-talkie prize winners. Pete, KD4SPW, suggested that we get a Hamfest Committee started earlier this year. We discussed changing the date of our Hamfest. We decided to keep the second Saturday of August, so Joe, KD4BTD, sent an e-mail requesting the IRSC KSU cafeteria for August 11, 2012.
 
      Ted, W4ZE, asked if there was any update about Trent Davis, N2WKL's, request of Port St. Lucie for a tower ordinance. Steve, N4SGL, said nothing yet.
 
      Steve, N4SGL, showed one of the Field Day Proclamations where St. Lucie County declared Field Day weekend as "Emergency Preparedness Weekend."
 
      Virgil, W4DUC, suggested we make up and hand out to members wallet sized info cards about FPARC club that can be handed out to anyone of interest. Everyone thought this is a great idea.
 
      Joe, KD4BTD, passed around the plaque that was presented to FPARC at our August Hamfest in recognition of 59 years as an ARRL Affiliated Club.
 
      The Melbourne Hamfest is October 8th & 9th.
 
      Kevin, W4KKW, reminded us that PSLARA has invited us to a BBQ Saturday October 22 at 11am at the PSL marina on Prima Vista Blvd.
 
                              NEW BUSINESS
 
      Herb, W1QPD, started a discussion about our Christmas social. We asked Carl, W7RCW, if he and Betty will host our party at their home again. Carl said that he would check with Betty and said that it would likely be the 1st Saturday, December 3rd, or the 2nd Saturday, December 10th.
 
      DSTAR REPEATER: Kevin, W4KKW, said that he and Carl, W7RCW, have been discussing the possibility of installing a DSTAR repeater at the WQCS site. He said there is an unused feedline on the tower. Carl said he spoke with the WQCS station engineer and the manager and that they were receptive to the idea. Kevin said that it might require an investment of about $6500 and high speed internet access. Steve, N4SGL, said that St. Lucie ARES is interested in DSTAR, especially with high speed data. Steve said a big concern of his is the cost of about $500 each for a radio. Steve suggested appointing an exploratory committee. Ted, W4ZE, suggested a four county wide effort, maybe a Treasure Coast DSTAR. Steve, N4SGL, made a motion to appoint a DSTAR committee, ED, W4EVH, seconded the motion and it passed. Our committee includes W4KKW, N4SGL, W4ZE, and W7RCW. 
      Carl, W7RCW, said that we might want to start a DSTAR fund toward a future expenditure. Steve, N4SGL, suggested we might sell any surplus club repeaters or gear and member donations at the Melbourne Hamfest. Jack, K4JAK, made a motion to make a separate treasury allocation of $2500 from general funds towards a DSTAR fund. Steve, N4SGL, seconded the motion, and it passed.
 
      Don, W4KTD, said that Harold, N3UY, brought him a generator as a donation to the club. Harold has gone back to work in Alaska. Steve, N4SGL, suggested that we send a thank you e-mail to Harold.
 
      ATTENDANCE: KD4SPW, K4JAK, WB4RPV, WB4NOZ, W4ZE, W4DUC, W4EVH, KJ4LWZ, W4RPE, WY5I, KD4BTD, JOANN BOLTE, DONNA ELLMERS, W1QPD, KD4BTG, N4SGL, W4KKW, W4KTD, W7RCW.  
 
                              Submitted by Secretary Peter Amar, KD4SPW.