ARCARS

March 2008

Meeting Minutes

The meeting was called to order on March 2, 2008 with 10 members and guests present.

MOTION TO ACCEPT MINUTES: of the February meeting approved by Edgar (KC8VLV), seconded by Mark (N8EGJ), approved.

TREASURES REPORT: Our treasure was not available for this meeting.

DISASTER REPORT: There were a couple of local fires with multi fire department response. There were no events that required the call out of amateur radio assistance.

NET REPORT: Edgar (KC8VLV) reported that net participation has been increasingly improving since the net operations have been moved to the club office at the Chapter House. Ed has done a good job by introducing interesting topics for the nets. Please make note to join in Tuesday evenings at 8pm, on 146.800MHz.

SPECIAL EVENTS: The Toledo Swap is scheduled for Sunday March 9, 2008.

CLUB STATION: Everything is working well and still awaiting our planned improvements that are expected when the weather improves.

NEWSLETTER: Mark reported that he has made some additions to the sites and weather page. Our newsletter and web pages are available at www.qsl.net/arcars, www.bandopening.org/arcars.  Andrew has established a couple of new sites that contain additional information. Please visit www.arcars.org (still under construction) and www.sccradioclass.org. If you have any information you would like posted on the website, contact Mark (N8EGJ). Mobile newsletter is at www.qsl.net/arcars/mobile.wml. We have a wealth of archived information available on the website as well as on the RSS feed.

CLUB PROJECT: The radio room expansion project is awaiting warmer weather. Further discussion centered on Field Day operations and preparation.

OLD BUSINESS: none discussed.

NEW BUSINESS: Discussion centered around anew amateur radio pod cast that is available on line.

DX SPOTS/ SPECIAL EVENTS: Conditions on HF have been poor as we are at the bottom of the current solar cycle. Tom (W8TRC) reported that he had worked Duce Island (French Polynesia) He also reported hearing rare DX from China.

Tom has volunteered to join the newsletter staff with a new propagation report.

MOTION TO ADJOURN: by Edgar

ANNOUNCEMENTS and other info:

General License Class: There is still room available in the licensing class. The class runs in 8 weekly sessions beginning April 1^st at the American Red Cross building at 615 Pine St. Port Huron. If you or anyone you know is interested please register at www.sccradioclass.org

The ARCARS & International Traders Net is held every Tuesday evening at 8pm on the 146.800 NA8I 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

The AC8W DX Cluster on 144.970 MHz is available. Check it for HF activity.

Swap List provided by Frank, VE3FBH