[MohawkARC] September 2013 MARC Meeting Minutes

[Doug Lepisto]

Below are the meeting minutes I typed up based on my notes from the September meeting.  If the format looks weird let me know.  I converted it to plain text from MS word so that it would go through on our e-mail system ok.

Thanks,
Doug



Mohawk ARC Meeting Minutes 9/25/13

Meeting called to order at 7:00 p.m.

12 people were in attendance:  Doug N1DBL, Kevin N1ERS, Paul KB1WUG, Lynda W1LMK, Mark N1ZYG, Erich KB1TGN, Bob KB1DPD, Mark KC1AHT, Allan K1UCY, Nils KA1IMO, Nate KC1AHR, Bill N1UZ

Special welcome to Mark KB1AHT, Allan K1UCY, and Nate KC1AHR

Secretary’s Report:  Matt NM1C is sick tonight.  No report.

Treasurer’s Report:  Balance $499.65

Vice-President’s Report:  No report.  Will discuss during rest of meeting.

President’s Report:  Dues are due.  Please see Lynda to fill out out your paperwork and pay your dues.

Old Business

* Motion made to create Pay-Pal account for collecting club dues and donations with a $1 fee for online transactions to cover transaction fee that Pay-Pal Charges
o Motion passed- Erich will set this up and see Lynda for bank info.

* Wednesday night net will be starting up again in October.  Anyone willing to help as Net Control should talk to Doug, N1DBL.

New Business

* November meeting will be moved to Wednesday the 20th due to Thanksgiving

* Skip Youngberg K1NKR from Townsend and the Nashoba Valley ARC will be able to speak at our October 30th meeting.  The club decided to have him present on Radio Interference.

* Motion to increase club membership dues starting in September 2014.  New dues structure will be $30 or $15 for senior citizens/fixed income.
o Made by Kevin N1ERS
o Seconded by Mark N1ZYG
o Passed, one abstention

* Motion to amend membership form so that e-mail address will be added to club mailing list when a member signs up.  If a member does not want their e-mail added to the list, there will be an “opt-out” for them to check.
o Made by Kevin N1ERS
o Seconded by Bill N1UZ
o Motion passed

* Motion to create a Meeting Attendance Incentive Program/Certificate to increase attendance and participation.  Members will be entered into a drawing for each meeting they attend.  If a member misses a meeting they can pay a $5 “fine” to get entered into the drawing.  The yearly drawing will take place in June with a prize to be decided by the club officers based on club funds/availability.  The certificate will only be available to those who actually get perfect attendance at all club meetings (no $5 option).
o Made by Kevin N1ERS
o Seconded by Bill N1UZ
o Motion passed, one abstention.

* Kevin N1ERS was appointed as “Refreshment Coordinator” for the monthly meetings.  He will work with other members to make sure there are snacks and drinks at the club meetings.

* The topic of a membership drive was brought up to pick a month and have each club member bring a new person to the meeting.  Possibly in February.  The club will revisit this idea at a future meeting.

* Bill N1UZ presented a lengthy spreadsheet of the club’s inventory based on the meeting held by the “Trailer Committee” on September 9th.  There were estimated amounts based on what things were typically selling for on EBAY, EHAM, QTH, and other online sites for selling ham radio gear.  There were also some items that should be thrown away such as ARRL informational handouts from the 1980’s and 1990’s.  Total value of club belongings was estimated at $9,236 with $3,857 we could consider selling.

* Motion to take the several items marked on Bill’s spreadsheet as “NEAR Fest” plus the box of accessories in Mark’s (N1ZGY), basement to “NEAR Fest” to try to sell them.
o Motion made by Bill N1UZ
o Seconded by Lynda W1LMK

* The plan for the other items marked on the spreadsheet as “EBAY, EHAM, QTH, etc.” will be to offer them to club members for a 10% discount from the asking price and then put online to sell.  The list of these items will be e-mailed to club members to give them a heads up and we will continue to discuss this at the October meeting.

* The “Trailer Committee” will meet again on Monday, October 7th at 7 p.m. at the South Gardner Fire Station/EOC.  Erich KB1TGN will check on building availability.

Announcements

* CQ World Wide DX RTTY Contest is this weekend.  0000Z Saturday – 2400Z Sunday. (8 p.m. Friday through 8 p.m. Sunday.)  Exchange is RST, CQ Zone, and State/Provence for US and Canadian Stations.

* Meeting Adjourned at 8:10 p.m.