ARCARS
June 2011
Meeting Minutes
The meeting was called to order on June 5, 2010 with 14 members and guests present.
MOTION: To accept the May minutes by Russ (KD8FRE), seconded by Angela (KD8HMS), approved.
TREASURES REPORT: Suzanne (KB8GFY) reported our balance reported last month was $198.50. Since then our balance has grown to $5,154.50 due to our ongoing fundraising efforts at the Feast of the St Clair and the Poker House.
DISASTER REPORT: There were no events reported in the area that required a callout.
NET REPORT: Edgar (KC8VLV) reported that 9 or10 amateurs have been participating.
SPECIAL EVENTS: The museum ships weekend produced about 140 contacts. The event was manned by Chip (N8CNJ), William (KD8PZT), and Ken (KD8PZU). They worked the event for about 6 hours at the Huron Lightship.
An upcoming Lightship and Lighthouse weekend is scheduled to be held August 20 & 21st. The Fall Harvest Days event is scheduled for August 26th through the 28th. ARCARS is planning to attend and support that event with a working amateur radio station to demonstrate to the attendees. Other events that will likely require our support will include the 4H Fair, Cruise Night on July 8th, and the Port Huron to Mackinac sail boat race event scheduled for July 21st to the 23r
CLUB STATION: Echolink has been added more access to the repeater. K8ARC-R if you plan to connect via computer, please contact Andrew and he will add you. The interface is being kept to a minimum to ensure ample local repeater access.
Our administrative staff has approached the ARRL for a grant for a DStar repeater. The initial outlay is expected to be about $3,000 with that amount to be refunded to us if we are able to gain 10 new DStar registrations. The DStar is a digital repeater that will allow a wider service area as well as access to the internet using the hand held transceivers. The frequency of 146.690MHz has been secured. We have other elements of the repeater in hand including; duplexers, feed line, and an antenna. Once this is in place we will be one of three American Red Cross chapters that have a DStar system.
We are planning to purchase 60 sixteen channel handheld business band radios to be used by non-licensed disaster responders. They will also be offered to be rented by organizations that need radios for their events.
NEWSLETTER: The web pages are located at www.qsl.net/arcars and www.bandopening.com/arcars . There is a wealth of information available on the website including the RSS feed. Please be sure to visit the swap list link has recently been updated.
CLUB PROJECT: Paul (KG8OU) finished the tower support project on the trailer.
OLD BUSINESS: Now that the trailer project is done we need to finish moving the equipment that has been stored at Gene (NA8I)’s garage.
Orders for ARCARS apparel are being processed by Russ (KD8FRE).
NEW BUSINESS: none covered
FIELD DAY: The event will be held on June 24th to June 26th at the St Clair County Park in Goodells MI. Camping set up will begin on Thursday the 23rd. The event officially starts at 2pm Saturday with station set up prior. We are planning to have one tower erected with multiple antennas available. There will be one HF station set up with another on standby in case we have enough demand for the additional radio.
Food for Field Day will be provided by a combination of attending members and a donation from the Chapter House.
Hot Dogs and Hamburgers with plastic ware will be provided by the Chapter House.
Mark and Joann will be bringing beans
Angela will be bringing condiments
Suzanne to bring pie
Mark (egj) also bringing pie
Dan to bring watermelon
Dennis to bring something not yet determined.
More field day information will be conveyed in future emails.
DX SPOTS/ SPECIAL EVENTS: None reported as the bands have remained in poor condition for HF.
MOTION TO ADJOURN: by Suzanne (KB8GFY), seconded by Edgar (KC8VLV), approved.
ANNOUNCEMENTS and other info:
The ARCARS & International Traders Net is held every Tuesday evening at 8pm on the 146.800 K8ARC repeater.
The International Friendship Net is held every Thursday at 9pm on the 145.370-VA3SAR repeater
The Thumb / Mid Michigan Nets are held Monday through Saturday at 9:30pm on the 147.300 repeater.
HF: The Great Lakes Emergency and Traffic Net is held nightly at 8pm on 3.932 kHz
Our scheduled events are located on the Google Doc’s system at docs.arcars.org and mail.arcars.org