[LeArc] LEARC June Meeting information

[Wayne K9DI]

		Hi folks,
 	Wayne K9DI es Sequoia (Ret.) here.  We had a fairly busy and
productive meeting on Tuesday 10 June 2003.  I just wanted to send
this out to bring those that could not make the meeting up to speed on
some things...:)
 	The club voted to have our technicians (Rich Sample N9EWQ
and Joe Rossmiller AG9Y) look over the 147.060+ machine to
determine if it is feasible to keep patching it up (I understand it is over
30 years old and parts are hard to get as Motorola quit supporting
Mycors several years ago), or would bringing in a new repeater be
more practical to allow LEARC members to perform public service 
duties better. Tony Coniglio KB9NAB mentioned that if a new repeater is
warranted that he can approach the McDonough County Board, the
City of Macomb and WIU about possible help with funding.  If I
remember right a new repeater will cost in the range of $4,000.00 to
$5,000.00.  In checking the May meetings minutes, Tony KB9NAB
mentioned that the Eagles club has offered the possibility of financial
support for a new repeater as well.
  	This motion was NOT a commentary of the fine work Rich
N9EWQ has been doing keeping the 147.060+ machine going, but as
was pointed out we can not keep putting patches on patches, and
other counties and communities rely on us for advance warning
during severe weather.
    	I would like to interject here and give a hearty "Well Done" to
our storm spotter team! They did a bang up job of carrying on when
the 147.060+ machine went down during the severe weather on 10
May, 2003!!
 	Another motion was passed stating that a simplex net could be
called on the 147.060 machine's output frequency after the regular
Sunday net at least once a month and at the discretion of the Net
Control Station.  The reasoning behind this is to give LEARC members
practice in directed simplex nets and relaying traffic if the repeater is
knocked out.  It was also suggested that it might be a good idea for an
NCS to call a simplex net from the radar room at WIU to ascertain the
gaps in simplex coverage from there before severe weather hits.
	I gave a short report on the scouting trip I had made to the
Lakeview Nature Center to scope it out as a possible Field Day site.
The site looks interesting.  I also called for a sighted volunteer to go
out there with me to help ascertain the length's of feedline needed to
connect our antenna's to the operating position inside the Nature
Center's basement.  Feedline, and operators are going to be our
biggest challenge again this year.  We will have a couple of guest
operators coming to LEARC's Field Day efforts this year, Tom
McMahan KF9HL and Leader Dog Shadow of Piper City, IL, will be
visiting with us again this year (Tom had to retire Bonsi the Leader
Dog he had with him during FD 2002), and from Plano Iowa Rob Matherly
W0JRM will also be joining us. I'll also attempt to get ahold of Dave 
Gill K9FHX the son of Chuck Gill W9SSP (SK) as he has expressed an
interest in operating with us using his Dad's old call.  Don Johnson
KA9SQB will be heading up LEARC's Heritage Days Parade
communications support, which will coincide with LEARC's Field Day
effort again.  If you can help with parade communications please contact 
Don KA9SQB.
 	I also announced that 19 June, 2003 (which will mark 3 years,
1 month and nine days that Sequoia and I have worked together) will be 
Sequoia's last day on active duty as he can no longer handle guidework 
and that he will be adopted by a local family where he will be able to 
just be a pet and a friend to a disabled teenager.  Due to Sequoia's 
retirement.  I will not be able to attend LEARC's August 2003 meeting, 
as I will be attending training at Leader Dogs for the Blind of 
Rochester Michigan to train with a successor dog.  Also, I will not be 
seeking re-election to the post of LEARC President, or any post for that matter,
so don't try to pull any fast ones while I'm gone guys :) :)
	A couple of things forgotten at the June meeting were:
	a.) planning for LEARC's annual picnic 8 July, 2003.
	b.) election of officers.
	I'll talk to Pam Johnson about perhaps using the picnic area
out at Lakeview nature center for our July picnic. LEARC will provide
drinks and attendees are asked to bring a dish to pass and their own
table service.  The club might also want to consider starting at 1800 
instead of our usual 1900 start time.
	The election of officers was postponed last year due to there
not being a quorum at the 2002 LEARC picnic, so come on out.
Another possibility would be to just wait until August to elect the new
slate of officers.
	If you have any questions or comments please feel free to call
me at 309-833-2357 or email me at k9di@k9di.org
73
de
Wayne K9DI
-- 
		   Sincerely and Respectfully Yours


Wayne M. Scace           |  Come on out and join the fun of Field Day.
ARS K9DI                 |  28-29 June 2003 1800-1600z (1300-1100). 
LICQ 315313              |  Please listen for W9SSP (LEARC)  
k9di@NOSPAMk9di.org      |  "QRP: Where the FUN is!!"
Proud Flying Piggie #217 |  "Let's Get Radioactive People!!!"