MINUTES OF LIDXA INC. MEETING — September 21, 2010


Location: Town of Oyster Ice Skating Center, Community Room 1, Bethpage, N.Y.

 

John, W2GW, the LIDXA President, called to order the meeting of September 21 at 8:30 PM, after a brief socializing. John welcomed back members and guests after our summer hiatus. Members present included John, W2GW; Louise, K2MAU; Tom, KA2D; Andy, Bob, N2DXJ and XYL Tanis; W2VZQ and XYL Marilyn; Mark, WB2QJ; and YL Jane, KC2NOT; Karen, W2ABK; Ed, K2MFY; Steve, N2AJ; Art, N2KA; and Marv, W2FGD. Also present was ex-LIDXA member: Bob, W2SF.


OLD BUSINESS


Several members reported on the band conditions. Although we are in the beginning of sunspot cycle 24, conditions have not improved to a point where the higher bands are open. Good conditions were indicated on 20 and 17 meters, but 15 meters is spotty and few signals have yet to be heard on 12 and 10 meters. Flux numbers have not exceeded 90.

The big DX news discussed was the dissolution of the Netherlands Antilles on October 10, 2010 and the establishment of a number of new counties from this Caribbean island group. As of this present time the ARRL has not firmly announced a final disposition of the resulting DXCC list. It is expected that two present DXCC countries will be deleted and five will be added.


Starting the business portion of tonight’s meeting was the approval of the June 15th meeting minutes. These minutes were accepted as presented. In addition, the minutes were prepared in advance by LIDXA Secretary, Ed, K2MFY, and sent out to the membership with the June meeting notice. Thanks to the efforts of KE2LJ, Pat, the minutes appear in the LIDXA web site at: http://www.qsl.net/lidxa.


John, W2GW, LIDXA Treasurer, indicated that most members have submitted their 2010 dues. The club has a total of eighteen full members on its 2010 roster. Members not paying their 2010 dues will be dropped from the club roster/e-mail list.

Reviewing the 2010 budget expenses John indicated that with the present membership dues receipts for 2010, the club has just enough revenues to support the ARRL annual liability insurance. Rather than go into a negative cash flow, the membership discussed some expenses that might be deleted or reduced. In particular the club might eliminate sponsorship of the plaque for the ARRL 21 MHz SSB DX contest ($75); also we would have to carefully examine donations to DXpeditions. Members were requested to recruit interested DXers for our club, or actively look for new members at hamfests or forums,



NEW BUSINESS


Tom, KA2D, HRU Chairman, reminded the membership that the 12th annual “Ham Radio University” will once again be held. The date is on Sunday, January 9, 2011 at Briarcliffe College. As in past years the club will be sponsoring the DX Forum. Several members indicated their willingness to participate in the program. Also it was felt that this might be an excellent opportunity to recruit some new members. Further updates in HRU 2011 can be found on www.HamRadioUniversity.org.


On the subject of future events the club decided to hold the Annual Holiday Party on Tuesday December 14. This party will be in lieu of a December meeting. The membership asked Ed to check the availability of the Star Diner in Hicksville and make arrangements.


Ed remarked that he had cleared with the Town of Oyster Ice Skating Center the use of this community room for club meetings through December 2011. The only exception, due to a scheduling conflict with the Boy Scouts, would for the February 2011 meeting, where the date would have to be rescheduled for Wednesday February 16.


Several members reported on the recent court ruling "that finds that the use of an Amateur Radio device does not fit the definition of a mobile telephone as defined under the Vehicle and Traffic Law." It was suggested that amateurs using mobile equipment in their cars keep a copy of this ruling in case they should be stopped by a police officer. Details are provided in September issue of the ARRL Hudson Division Beacon at http://www.hudson.arrl.org/beacon/2010/201009hudsonbeacon.htm


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 shown on the January-February 2000 DXpedition to Myanmar as XZ0A. This multi-national operation took place on Thahtay Khun Island, in the Mergui Archipelago, and made almost 75, 000 contacts.


Steve, N2AJ indicated that for the October meeting he might be able to present a DVD presentation on his summer trip over to Kuwait.


This meeting concluded at around 10PM after all the scheduled business and entertainment had finished. The next LIDXA meeting will be held on Tuesday, October 19.