Location: Polytechnic University, Farmingdale, N.Y.

The LIDXA President, Marty, NN2C, called the meeting of February 18 to order at 8:10 PM. Marty welcomed guest José, KP4YM, and the XYL of member N2JE to tonight’s meeting.

On the subject of Good and Welfare, the membership welcomed LIDXA member Andy, W2VZQ, following open-heart surgery.

In terms of DX, specific activities mentioned:

• The station VKØMM from Macquarie Island has been heard on 30 meters, although he generally operates on 20 and 15 meters. The operator regularly posts his operating schedules (on his Web page at http://www.geocities.com/vkØld/1.html) for the times and areas of the world that he will listen for contacts. This operator previously used the callsign VKØLD. He expects to be on the island until the end of the year.
• A DXpedition to Clipperton Island is planned around early March.
• A DXpedition in mid-March is expected to Chesterfield Island in the New Caledonia group. This island may satisfy the requirements for a new DXCC entity. The group may use the callsign TXØDX.
• A station from Christmas Island (VK9X) has recently been heard.
• Member Bob, W2SF, reported that he will undertake a DXpedition to Miquelon Island (part of the St. Pierre and Miquelon group–"FP") in the summer. Bob also was getting out all of the QSL cards from last years DXpedition to Iceland (W2SF/TF).

The minutes of the January 21 meeting were prepared in advance by the LIDXA Secretary, Ed, K2MFY, and included in this month’s mailing to the membership. Ed gave thanks to Dan, WA2NDP, who recorded the meeting notes during his absence last month. In addition, thanks to the efforts of LIDXA Vice President, Pat, KE2LJ, these minutes also appear in the LIDXA Web site: http://www.qsl.net/lidxa. The January minutes were accepted as written.

The LIDXA Treasurer, Russ, W2RL, presented a Treasurer’s Report. Current balance is at $1958.44. At present 26 members had paid their 1999–2000 membership dues. Ten members still not had fulfilled their dues obligation. Russ also mentioned that with the club’s present expenses, a total of 44 dues-paying members were required for the club to break even.

Marty reported on the success of the first "Ham Radio Forum" which was held in the Babylon Town Hall Annex in North Babylon on January 23. Seminars included discussions on DXCC, RFI, Contesting, Packet Radio, RTTY, and many other amateur activities and interests for both the beginner and experienced amateur. The LIDXA was represented and handed out information on club activities. Marty indicated that approximately 250 people attended the forum. With the $2 admission fee charged, the forum broke out even.

In terms of our noisy repeater, there was no new status. In the meantime the LIDXA has use of the Grumman repeater, on 146.745 MHz. A discussion arose on the viability of the club’s repeater for present activities. Some members mentioned that with packet radio and high-speed internet access, many DX activities can now be accomplished more rapidly and efficiently. Other members mentioned that these activities could not take the place of real-time spotting and autocalls used with repeater operation. On the subject of the Autocall List, Lou, N2TU, mentioned that he would bring it back, providing that the membership had sufficient interest. Since most of the membership is at or near the top of the DXCC roll, autocalls are not needed. When the club gets new members, the Autocall List may be more beneficial. It was decided to hold off further discussion of these matters to a later date.

A discussion developed on the low check-in rate for the Sunday night net. Various items were brought up and evaluated. It was decided to abridge the time allotted to the reviews of the DX bulletins. Also brought up was the scheduled net time. Some members still felt that the net should be set to 0100Z year round. Although this motion was defeated several years ago, it was noted that it could be voted on again if there was enough interest. Concerned parties would have to submit the changes in writing as per the LIDXA Constitution.

A special note of recognition was made to Marty, who was awarded an honorary medal presented by Congressman Rick Lazio and the French Consul General Richard Duqué on November 20, 1999 in a hanger at MacArthur Airport. This award, a replica of the Jubilé de Liberté medal, was given only to 55 veterans throughout the metropolitan area. It was for their participation in the World War II D-Day invasion of Normandy on June 6, 1944. Several members of the LIDXA were on hand to share the event with Marty and his family. The club gave Marty applause for his courageous contribution. Ed took a number of pictures of this memorable event and passed the photos around to the membership. It is anticipated that a picture of Marty displaying his medal would appear in the club’s Web page shortly.

Frank, N2FF, spoke about the new DXCC program that was coming from the ARRL. A discussion arose on the new rules concerning DXCC field checkers. According to Frank, the present system will end on April 1. The new rules state that each area DX club can nominate a DXCC field checker volunteer (total of two for this area). These volunteers will be able to review and approve QSLs for just about all the present DXCC countries. The complete rules are contained in the February QST. Realizing that this would be excellent publicity for the club, and also an opportunity to promote more participants to the club monthly meetings, the membership sought for a volunteer. After much coaxing, the membership thanked Lenny, KB2HK, to be the DXCC-checker volunteer representative for this area. Lenny cautioned the club that he could only fulfill these new responsibilities when he has free time.

Frank also discussed some of the new political changes that were going on with the League. Since Steve Mendelsohn was no longer in any political office of the ARRL, the membership requested that Ed write a letter to Steve and thank him for his past 17 years as an active participant and officer in League activities.

Lastly Frank mentioned that the Hudson Division convention would be held September 15 and 16 in the White Plains convention hall.

Ed mentioned that this weekend was the ARRL DX contest–CW mode, and the weekend of March 4 was the SSB portion of the contest. With the present excellent conditions, it was expected that the contest activity would be at an all-time high.

The business portion of the meeting concluded at 9:30 PM. A video on the recent DXpedition to Malyj Vysotskij Island (MV Island) was brought to this meeting, but due to technical problems with the school’s VCR, the video could not be shown.

This meeting concluded at around 9:45 PM after all the scheduled business had finished.

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