MINUTES OF LIDXA INC. MEETING— February 18, 2005

 

Location: Briarcliffe College, Bethpage, N.Y.

 

The meeting of February 18 was called to order at 8:10 PM.  Members present (per sign-in on the blackboard) included K2MFY, NN2C, KE2LJ, W2FGD, N2KA, AB2NT, WA2RB, W2GW and XYL KC2MAU, N2DXJ and XYL.

OLD BUSINESS

 

In terms of DX, specific activities were highlighted:

• The DXpedition to Peter 1st Island (3Y) has been cancelled from its early January start to early 2006.  The reason was that the charter vessel would be delayed in arriving at Ushuaia, Argentina to pick up the DXpedition team.  Because of these delays the team has simply run out time.  This latest delay on top of numerous previous delays simply makes it impossible for the team to spend a sufficient amount of time on Peter I to justify the DXpedition.
• Several members have worked the current station operating from Rotuma Island in the Pacific Ocean.  Station 3D2RR has been quite active on 15 meters.  The Hungarian operators will be on the island through February 22.  QSL via HA8IB.
• Two stations are very active from Mauritania signing 5TØCW on CW and 5T5SN on SSB.
• A group of German operators have been operating from Peru using the special callsign 4T75Ø.  QSL via DL5WM.
• Members of the South West Ohio DX Association have had their application to operate from Desecheo Island (KP5) and Navassa Island (KP1) turned down by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.  The KP1/5 Project Team is urging amateurs to contact their government representatives to support bill H.R. 298.  This bill will allow the public access to the islands–which would open the door to Amateur Radio expeditions.

 

Starting the business portion of tonight’s meeting was the approval of the January 21 meeting minutes.  These minutes were accepted as presented.  In addition, the minutes were prepared in advance by the club’s secretary, Ed, K2MFY, and sent out to the membership with the February meeting notice.  Thanks to the efforts of KE2LJ, Pat, the minutes appear on the LIDXA web site at: http://www.qsl.net/lidxa.

 

Club Treasurer, John, W2GW gave the monthly Treasurer’s report.  Dues for the 2005 calendar year are now overdue.  John indicated that most members had already sent him their dues.  A few attendees to the meeting said they would contact some of the “delinquent” members and remind them to send John their dues.

 

The membership was requested to attend the LIDXA weekly nets on Sunday night at 9PM local time on the Grumman Hauppauge repeater at 145.333/144.730 MHz (with 136.5 Hz PL).

 

 

NEW BUSINESS

 

Ed mentioned that a good source for providing records of early licensing is W3HF.  He maintains copies of old callbooks, and will scan in the applicable information to document your first licensing.  Contact Steve at his callbook address/e-mail with your license callsign, year issued and any other pertinent information.  This documentation is acceptable for QCWA verification and for other organizations/awards.

 

It was reported that ex-LIDXA member Woody, K2UU, would be taking down the tower/ antenna at the home of SK member Art, K2ENT.  It was not certain what Roz (Art’s XYL) will have Woody do with these items.

 

The LIDXA reported that Lew, W2BIE, was feeling much better and is getting around with the help of his walker.  Lew checks in regularly to the LIDXA Sunday night net.

 

The business portion of the meeting was over around 8:50PM.  Marty then presented a video on the January 1997 multi-national DXpedition to the uninhabited Heard Island as VKØIR.  This excellent video detailed the history of this remote island up to the present time.  It also highlighted the diversified mammal life (sea lions) that resides on this island.  The team made over 80,000 contacts–which was a world record back in 1997.

 

This meeting concluded early at 9:45 PM after all the scheduled business and entertainment had finished.  The next meeting will be held on March 18, 2005.

 

 

                                                                        ______________________________________

Ed Whitman, K2MFY

LIDXA Secretary