[SMCARA] SMCARA minutes of 3/24/11

[Walter Rupp]

Hi All,
Here are the  minutes from last month's SMCARA meeting.
See you all next Thursday 4/26/11

de W3GYT, Walt


SMCARA MTG MINUTES 03-24-11
 
Our recently elected SMCARA President, Pete Butt (WA3UMY), called the March 2011 
meeting to order at 1933 hrs.
 
The Minutes for the February 24, 2011, meeting were approved as submitted.
 
The Treasurer, Lee Jamison (N8HTG.), gave the Treasurer’s report and said all 
bills have been paid that have been submitted to him and we have $2,528.28 in 
the treasury.  The Club has voted to purchase a Mosely CL 3 5-element, 6-band 
antenna covering 20, 15, 10, 17 and 12 meter bands.  The antenna will cost about 
$900, but has not been ordered yet.  The antenna is planned to be installed on 
the tower behind the Museum and will complete our emergency radio installation.  
An additional bill, not submitted, is owed to Dan Marcone ? (AA3TB) for repeater 
crystals.
 
The repeater report was given by Tom Clarke (WA4OKW).  The repeater is working 
fine business!   Using the PL tone of 146.2 Hz has eliminated interference from 
other repeater stations on the 04/64 frequency.  The 443 MHz repeater is off the 
air.  Pete Butt said that he would take the responsibility of notifying T MARC 
of the addition of the PL tone.  The Richmond repeater is also on the same 
frequency, but now is not interfering with the Pax  River repeater.  

 
Pete Weiskopf  (WA4EIO) submitted a request for an email up-date on our roster.
 
We discussed preparations for Field Day, June 25/26, 2011. The Field Day 
operations will be housed in the Hollywood Fire House Bingo Hall.  The hall has 
vertically rolling  garage doors to secure and shelter our equipment from 
inclement weather.Walt Rupp will send a thank you note of gratitude to the 
Hollywood Fire Department and Gene Talley (N3NO) for the superior Field Day 
location.  Pat King? is going to take care of Field Day publicity and needs 
volunteers to help her.   A wireless system is planned to be set up at our Field 
Day location.  It will provide internet connectivity to obtain weather 
information and other necessary data for the safe operation of our Field Day 
site.  

 
Pete Butt (WA3UMY) called for a working party to put the rotate r on the tower 
behind the Museum.  The work party is required to hoist the  rota tor to the top 
of the tower and to run cables between the tower and the radio station 
installation in the Museum.  April 2, 2011, was set as a possible Saturday to 
accomplish these tasks.  Walt Rupp (W3GYT) will coordinate the date of 
installation with the Museum.  

 
Steve Franc (K3EZ) provided a detailed plan for an interactive Museum display 
for the SMCARA corner of the Museum.  The display will have a number of stations 
where Museum visitors can interact with amateur radio concepts.  Steve will need 
volunteers to help complete the conceptual design, build, and install the 
equipment.  Additional information about the interactive display will be 
discussed at the next meeting, April 28, 2011.  

 
A Technician Ham Class Licensing session will be held soon and a charge will be 
made for study materials.  A club membership will be given to all new amateurs 
for one year to acknowledge their successful completion of their radio license 
exam.    
 
Eric Heard (N3UH) Provides this update as of 042311.
A recent ad by the ARRL promoting their new General Class license manual just 
reminded me that the current General Class pool expires this June 30th this 
year. The new manual is good for July 1, 2011to June 30, 2015. So, if there is 
anyone studdying for their General Ticket now, I have 2 upcoming sessions on May 
14 and June 11 2011. Give me a call to sign up before the current General Class 
question pool expires and you have to buy a new book July 1,  2011. 
If there is much interest in another license exam, I might be able to do one at 
Field Day in June if possible.
 
Thank you, Eric, for “Keeping the Dream Alive” of Amateur Radio in St. Mary’ 
County and the surrounding area.
 
Respectfully submitted, 
Walt Rupp (W3GYT) assisted by Jan Rupp (KB3BAW)