Location: Briarcliffe College, Bethpage, N.Y.
John, W2GW, the LIDXA President, called to order the meeting of April 18 at 8:10 PM. Members present (per sign-in on the blackboard) included W2GW and XYL K2MAU, KC2OPX and friend Bruce, K2MFY, W2FGD, N2FF, W2PNJ, W2VZQ and XYL Marilyn, N2DXJ and XYL Tanis, Mike, N2YBB, Steve, WB2ZHB, and XYL Margaret.
In terms of DX, specific activities were highlighted:
· It was mentioned that N5FF, Saad, will be arriving in Damascus, Syria and working as YK1BA. The purpose of the trip is not a DXpedition, so his operating will be spotty. However, he hopes to be able to operate at least 3-4 hours a day. It was reported that he will spend most of his radio time on 30, 40, and 80 Meters. Saad will be active on SSB, CW, and RTTY.
· Several members reported about the poor propagation conditions for the past month. Noise levels are up and usually 20 meters is the only reliable band, but closing during evening hours. Opening on 17 meters and above is very limited. The membership is anxiously awaiting new sunspots for Cycle 24.
· It was reported that DXers Uli, DK2OC, had become a silent key, and XE1CI was not in good health..
Starting the business portion of tonight’s meeting was the approval of the March 14th meeting minutes. These minutes were accepted as presented. In addition, the minutes were prepared in advance by Ed, K2MFY and sent out to the membership with the February meeting notice. Thanks to the efforts of KE2LJ, Pat, the minutes appear in the LIDXA web site at: http://www.qsl.net/lidxa.
W2GW gave the monthly Treasurer’s report. Dues for the 2008 year are currently overdue. Members who have still not paid up will be dropped from the roster and e-mail announcements. John also handed out a new club roster listing the calls of the 22 active LIDXA members.
The membership gave a moment of silence for the recent passing of long-time LIDXA member, one of the Directors of the club, and active DXer, Lou, W2BIE. A number of members were able to make his funeral services last month. As requested by his family, Lou’s callsign had just reassigned to his son, who is also a ham-radio operator.
Several LIDXA members have made plans to attend the Dayton HamVention this year. Since the HamVention occurs during the next scheduled May meeting (over the May 16–18 weekend), it was decided that the May 16th meeting would postponed until the next Friday (May 23–the fourth Friday of the month). This meeting would attendees would also summarize any notable Dayton events.
John mentioned that the LIDXA will be holding full elections for all officers and Board of Directors for the club (years 2008-2010) in May. Ed heads the Nominating Committee. For the past month, all members were requested to contact Ed if they were interested in running as a LIDXA Club Officer or on the Board of Directors. Ed reported that he had not received any volunteers as new candidates. After a lengthy discussion the following slate was decided on by the attendees:
· President: John, W2GW
· Vice President: Marv, W2FGD
· Secretary: Ed, K2MFY
· Treasurer: John, W2GW
· Directors: Steve, WB2ZHB; Andy, W2VZQ; Frank, N2FF.
This list would be presented to the membership to vote on at the May 23 meeting. Of course if new candidates appear before the election, their names would be added to the ballot. As done in the last few years, members who cannot make the May meeting may submit their vote to Ed by e-mail. Officers selected will begin their term at the June meeting.
Frank, N2FF, LIDXA member, and also our ARRL Hudson Division Director, mentioned that on April 29, 2008 the Hudson Division dinner will be held with the announcement of the 2008 club newsletter award.
Ed and his XYL recently returned from a two-week trip to Israel. This trip was strictly for pleasure and touring so no ham radio was considered. Ed spoke about the sights he saw in Israel and the energy and intensity of the Israeli people.
Marv, W2FGD, reminded the membership to check-in at the LIDXA weekly nets on Sunday night at 9 PM local time on the Grumman Hauppauge repeater at 145.330/144.730 MHz (with 136.5 Hz PL), to get the latest information on club matters and events.
With the business portion of the membership concluded, a DVD was then shown on the September 2007 DXpedition to St Brandon, about 240 miles northeast of Port Louis, Mauritius in the Indian Ocean. This highly successful DXpedition made 137,500 QSOs on all bands and modes.
This meeting concluded at around 9:45 PM after all the scheduled business and entertainment had finished. The next LIDXA meeting will be held on the fourth Friday of May, which is the 23 of the month.
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Ed Whitman, K2MFY
LIDXA Secretary