November 2005

 

Amateur Radio Society of Dryden

 November 10th, 2005 Meeting Minutes

Dryden Fire Service Training Centre

 

President Bob, VA3GUN, brought the meeting to order.

In Attendance were:

  Bob, VA3GUN
     
  Leo, VE3ASS
     
  Neil, VE3VNM
     
  Dave, VE3LMU
     
  Dick, VA3DIK
     
  Arnie, VA3NOL
     
  Scott, VA3EXT
     
  Bryan, VA3BRY
     
  Jim, VE3JLN
     
  Trevor, VE3HTT
     
  Bob, VE3YDN
     
  Warren, VE3FYN
     
  Rick, VA3RGA
     
  Brendan, VA3BJM
     
  Joe, VE3EEX
     
  Jeff, VE3NAH
     
  Kim, SWL

 

Minutes of the September 14th, 2005 Meeting were read. 

M.S. Arnie, VA3NOL, Neil, VE3VNM that the minutes of the September 14th, 2005 General Meeting be adopted as read.  Carried.

 

New Business

 

     - Rick, VA3RGA, conveyed "Thank You" from the Dryden Police and himself to club members who assisted with Pumpkin Patrol.  On Gate Night , there were 14   hams and 3 students on patrol; on Halloween, there were 10 hams and 2 students on patrol.  Gary, VE3MOR had arranged with the Dryden Observer to cover        our participation, and there was front-page coverage featuring Arnie, VA3NOL.

 

    - The Atikokan Repeater, VE3RIB, (147.120 +) has been relocated to its permanent site by Warren, VE3FYN, Dick, VA3DIK, Vic and Scott, VE3EXT.               Warren will double-check the connections, as there has been some drop in performance.  Some time in the future, Scott will take the Spectrum Analyzer down and re-check the duplexer, etc.  Woody, VE3JJA, has been able to access it from his QTH in Sioux Narrows (125 miles) using a 9-element beam.  Scott, VE3EXT was able to access it from Turtle River in the mobile on HWY 622.  Scott can also access VE3RIB from his home QTH--the signal was noisy, but readable.  The repeater has APRS and Echo Link.  An Autopatch will be added later.  Environment Canada is planning to co-locate a Weather Radio with Voice and text messaging capabilities at a future date.

 

    - The Fort Frances, VE3RLC APRS digipeater is working well.

 

    - The Link to VE3IGN in Ignace will operate as a remote base with full duplex for now.  Locating all of the equipment in Dryden will make it easier to troubleshoot/repair.  This will save someone having to drive to Ignace to look after the equipment.

 

    - It would appear that Thunder Bay will not be upgrading linking between Upsala to Thunder Bay.

 

    - The link between Dryden & Sioux Narrows is working great. The radios came from Murray, VE4RE (Prairie Mobile) and Walter, VE4VB, (retired technician with Prairie Mobile) set them up.  Scott has sent a Card of Thanks to them.

 

    - Kenora's VE3YQK, APRS digipeater is working well.  Coverage is from Falcon Lake to Gordon Lake.  Murray (Prairie Mobile) supplied the location and Richard (technician with Kenora Mobile) helped set it up.  Scott was also there for the install.

 

    - At the September meeting, a motion was made to increase membership dues.   It was noted that the increase would mean 11 cents per day for individuals and 16.5 cents a day for family memberships.

 

    - M.S. Neil, VE3VNM; Dick, VA3DIK, that we increase dues by $10 for individual memberships and $15 for family memberships effective January 1, 2006 to be voted on at the November General Meeting.  Members present ratified the motion to increase dues.

 

    - Dave reported that we have reduced our equipment coverage for Dryden's site, removed all equipment coverage for outlying area repeaters, but kept the liability insurance for all sites.  This has reduced our premium to just over 400.00 per year.  An equipment list/inventory will need to be redone as there have been many changes in equipment in the last year.  We have a large inventory of spare equipment that could be used as replacements if required.  The club will self-insure its equipment by setting aside funds each year.

 

    - M.S. Rick, VA3RGA, Leo, VE3ASS the club ratify the action taken to reduce Insurance costs.  Carried.

 

    - The Club Christmas Banquet will be held on our regular meeting night, Wednesday, December 14.  Bob, VA3GUN will book the Barclay Hall.  Leo, VE3ASS and Bryan, VA3BRY will prepare the turkeys.  Supper will be pot-luck.

 

    - Arnie, VA3NOL, reported on a meeting with Walleye Masters' co-ordinators about staffing the bar next year.  Servers will need "Smart Serve" training.  Arnie will check with the LCBO about licensing requirements.  Profits from the event would help finance club projects.

 

    - Warren, VE3FYN, gave an overview of Lottery procedures and requirements, and suggested the club talk to the Dryden lottery official to determine the local requirements.

 

Club Executive and Directors:

    - President Bob, VA3GUN and Vice President Bryan, VA3BRY will switch responsibilities for the coming year.  Dave, VE3LMU will continue his role as Secretary-Treasurer.  Neil, VE3VNM will assist as needed when Dave is running the Basic Radio Class.

    - Serving as Directors:  Scott, VA3EXT              Leo, VE3ASS                        Bob, VE3YDN

                                        Rick, VA3RGA               Jim, VE3JLN                          Joe, VE3EEX

    - (Subject to confirmation, we will ask Gary, VE3MOR and Adrian, VA3ALC to serve as Directors.)

 

 

    - Rick, VA3RGA announced that he has resigned as RAC's Field Services Representative and ARES Area Emergency Co-ordinator.

 

    - Bob, VE3YDN, will co-ordinate with those who recently took their Assistant E. C. training to develop a training program for the City Emergency Communications Centre amateur station, and develop an Emergency Response Plan.

 

 

    - The Dryden Chamber of Commerce has asked the club to provide communications for the Santa Claus Parade on Friday evening, November 25th.  Arnie will co-ordinate.

 

 

    - The 50/50 Draw was won by VE3EEX.

 

    - Moved by Arnie, VA3NOL the meeting adjourn.  Carried.

 

 

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