MINUTES OF LIDXA INC. MEETING— April 19, 2002

 

Location: Polytechnic University, Farmingdale, N.Y.

 

The LIDXA President, Marty, NN2C, called the meeting of April 19 to order at 8:20 PM.  Members present (per sign-in on the blackboard) included K2MFY, KE2LJ, N2DXJ (and XYL), NN2C, KB2CB (and XYL), W2UQ, N2TU, W2VZQ, KD1F, N2KA, and W2FGD.

 

 

OLD BUSINESS

 

In terms of DX, specific activities were highlighted:

·         The big DX news was the ARRL approval of SSB contacts for P5/4L4FN in North Korea (officially known as the Democratic Peoples’ Republic of Korea–or DPRK).  Some lucky club members have already received QSLs from his manager, KK5DO.  The station is located in Pyongyang and the operator, Ed, works for the UN World Food Program.  Presently the only time the P5 has been heard on the east coast of the USA is from 9AM–10AM and 6PM–7PM, usually on 21.225 MHz, listening between 21.230 and 21.250 MHz.  Ed has recently added an amplifier to his station so hopefully this should improve his marginal signal.  He also has been heard operating RTTY, although this mode is not yet creditable.  Ed plans to be in North Korea until June 2003.

·         A DXpedition from Mellish Reef has been heard.  They expect to be operational until April 24.  The callsign used is VK9ML.

·         A new DXpedition to Pratas Island (BQ9) is planned sometime in the month of June.

·         A multi-national DXpedition is expected to be operational at the end of the month from Baker Island in the North Pacific Ocean, as K1B.  They expect to be there for about two weeks.

·         Members reported that conditions on the higher bands have started to deteriorate—especially on 10 and 12 meters.  Hopefully this is only due to the downturn as we approach the summer.

 

At the outset of tonight’s meeting, Marv, W2FGD, reported that, Russ, W2RL, informed him he could no longer perform in his function as the LIDXA Treasurer, due to family and personal obligations.  Russ still wished to remain in the LIDXA, but must limit his service to the club.  Marty indicated that he would temporarily serve as club treasurer until a replacement could be found.  He reminded the membership that a new slate of club officers would be elected in June.  As soon as matters are straightened out, an updated 2002 membership listed would be made available to all paid up LIDXA members.

 

Starting the business portion of tonight’s meeting was the approval of the March 15th meeting minutes.  These minutes were prepared in advance by the club’s secretary, Ed, K2MFY.  In addition, thanks to the efforts of KE2LJ, Pat, these minutes appear on the LIDXA web site: http://www.qsl.net/lidxa.  Ed was also requested to send out these minutes in advance to all members who have e-mail addresses on file.  Ed said he would validate this list with Lou, N2TU, who is presently e-mailing the monthly LIDXA meeting reminder notices.

 

Pat gave the club some details on the scheduled spring closure of the Polytechnic campus at Farmingdale.  The school will be shutting down this 25-acre campus around May of this year, but will be leasing space in the Melville Corporate Center at 105 Maxess Road in Melville (just south of the Long Island Expressway and Route 110).  The LIDXA was assured that we would still be able to hold our monthly meetings at this new facility; however, Pat was told that the school might only have a room available for us during Monday through Thursday evenings.  As an alternative, Pat added that the club is also looking into some other sites that would be convenient to all members, both from geographical and schedule considerations.  At the present time it appears that the May meeting (which will be held on May 24—the fourth Friday of the month—due to the Dayton HamVention) would still be at the Polytechnic campus. Unfortunately this will be the last meeting to be held here.

 

                The new organization “MetroCor, Inc.” which has been formed to replace the defunct TSARC (TriState Amateur Radio Council), is to provide amateur frequency coordination for the NYC/LI, Northern NJ, and part of the downstate NY regions.  Marty requested that Ed draft a general letter to MetroCor, stating that LIDXA welcomes this new group and also is submitting a check to them for the yearly organizational dues in the amount of $20.

 

Marty commented that he had not heard anything new on the status of Millennium Tower Corporation’s application for a tower construction permit with the Town of Babylon.  Both Millennium and the Town had presented their arguments in a recent hearing.  At the conclusion, Millennium stated that they would be filing a “white paper” concerning several of these unresolved issues.  A new hearing will be held at a later date, perhaps in June.  In the meantime, the LIDXA has use of the Grumman repeater, on 146.745 MHz.  During our Sunday night nets, the LIDXA also then switches over to our own LIDXA frequency at 147.300 MHz.

 

 

NEW BUSINESS

 

Ed mentioned that the popular Web site for electronic or “e-QSLs,” www.eqsl.cc/qslcard/, has recently changed their format.  In order to access incoming QSL card data, you must first input your log data (QSO date, band, mode, and time within ± a few minutes).  Once this data is compared favorably to the incoming card, only then can this card be viewed.  This procedure is to further authenticate the process of electronic QSLing and provide a new level of security.

 

Pat announced that the votes from the Board of Directors were finally tabulated for the eleventh annual “N2DTW Award.”  It was recalled that past member Lenny Albergo, N2DTW, met an untimely death in an accident in 1990.  Out of memory for this active DXer, a plaque was purchased by Lenny’s friends and has provisions for about two dozen small engraved entries.  It was decided that the plaque would be awarded yearly on a revolving basis to one member of the club who best promotes the purposes of the LIDXA as mentioned in the club’s constitution.  The club’s Board of Directors would make selection in closed ballot, generally in December or January.  Past recipients of this plaque were: 1990—Lenny, N2DTW; 1991—Bob, K2MT; 1992—Bob, W2SF; 1993—Bob, K2EYJ; 1994—Marv, W2FGD; 1995—Rich, AC2P; 1996—no award was made; 1997—Larry, K2LS; 1998—Pat, KE2LJ; 1999—Marty, NN2C; and in 2000—Marty, NN2C.

 

At this time the 2001 winner of the plaque is Ed, K2MFY.  The plaque was primarily given to Ed for all his help in providing support to the club as Secretary since being elected in 1986, and being active in major DX competitions for over 35 years.  The membership warmly applauded Ed for his diligent efforts.  Ed in turn thanked the club for their confidence in his efforts.

 

A discussion ensued regarding the forthcoming Dayton HamVention and the DX dinner.  A number of members indicated they that would be attending the HamVention this year.  In this regards, the club’s Constitution states that elections for all officers of the club (even years—years 2002–2004) must occur at the May meeting, and that nominations for all positions must take place during the April meeting (or before).  It was also pointed out that the May meeting, which is scheduled for May 17, falls during the Dayton HamVention, which is attended by many club members.  As in previous years, it was decided to also postpone this meeting one week to the fourth Friday of the month, to May 24, at which time LIDXA election nominations would occur.  The new officers of the club would be elected at the June 21 meeting, and their terms would then become effective at this meeting.  All members were asked to think about eligible candidates for LIDXA President, Vice President, Treasurer, and Secretary.  In addition, at least three Directors must also be nominated during the May meeting.

 

This meeting concluded at 9:15 PM after all the scheduled business had finished.  The next regularly scheduled meeting for the LIDXA will on Friday, May 24, 2002.

 

 

                                                                                                ______________________________________

Ed Whitman, K2MFY

LIDXA Secretary