[K3pzn-board] Critical Issue Sad News

[John Chesley]

Guys,

 

This past week, I held a private meeting with Tony to discuss his recent
meeting with Carroll County.  Both Scott Campbell and Jim Weed announced
that we have to completely vacate the Kate Wagner property (including the
barn area) by the time construction on the new facility starts.  They did
say that if we want to stay we will have to justify it, but I think it is
pretty clear that we are on borrowed time.  What other justification could
there be than our emergency comms support from our centrally located station
at the FTC.  Apparently the Fire Training people will not allow us to have
any space in their new facility and will not grant us any storage space
either.  At our next Board meeting, we can discuss all of the details but
currently have only three choices within the County system-the New Windsor
site, Gorsuch, or the hospital.  Given the speed at which the County is
working, our exit could be as early as the end of the summer or as far out
as one year from now.  This seems to be a contradictory directive given that
the County wishes to support our repeater system financially.  I can only
surmise that the influence of the Fire department is quite strong. 

 

So I wanted everyone to start thinking about our options.  To ensure we have
an immediate home, we can select one of the above options while we think
this out.  But we will have to evaluate all of our choices carefully and
will even have to consider the possibility of having no permanent station at
all.  And Tony will need to get back to them very soon with our decision.  I
personally think all of the options are not very good-hospital is way too
small, New Windsor is way out at the other end of the county in an old
broken down building on the 3rd floor, and there is really no room at
Gorsuch for us either.

 

I personally have a plan to pursue getting us a home at the CC community
college.  Without going into too much detail, would like to remain a
separate non-profit residing on the campus while making amateur radio,
emergency comms, and storm spotting courses a permanent part of their
continuing education curriculum (which they collect income for and we teach
for them for free to justify our presence).  We will also open the club up
to all the college students (they can be members for free) and hope this
will grow our ranks and maximize our exposure.  I like the idea of the CC
because it is an integral part of the community, has ties to the County,
opens us up big time to younger members, and still provides an avenue for
the average adult to learn about ham radio and possibly join us.  Once we
build a reputation, may get financial support from people who never even
considered us, and a few years ago, may have a new crop of younger members
to carry the club into the future.  But of course if we do go this route,
would like your opinions and concurrence. 

 

So again, I would like to hear all of your ideas and plans regarding this
issue at the next Board meeting.  We have to consider all of our options.
Finding a place to meet will not be difficult.  Finding a place for our
station with facilities for a good HF antenna system will be.

 

John, AK3Z