Location: Polytechnic University, Farmingdale, N.Y.

The LIDXA President, Marty, NN2C, called the meeting of September 17th to order at 8:13 PM. Marty welcomed the XYLs of members N2DXJ, KB2CB, W2SF, and K2ENT to our first meeting after the summer hiatus.

In terms of DX, members reported a number of good openings on the higher bands. With the fall season approaching, there were a number of reports of contacts on 12 and 10 meters. Specific DX activities mentioned:

• The DXpedition from Annoban Island as 3CØR, is currently very active, although some members reported poor pileup techniques by the DXpedition operators.
• A station from Pitcairn Island, VP6BX, has been heard on 10 meters. The operator Brian Young, likes the frequency of 28.464 MHz. He also has been heard on 18.145 MHz.
• The recent vote for independence by the people of East Timor from their government in Indonesia may result in the return of this country to separate DXCC status. However until the turmoil ends there, it is not expected that the ARRL will consider this a new DXCC entity.
• Member Bob, W2SF has just returned from a DXpedition in late August to Iceland. Bob, operating under a reciprocal callsign W2SF/TF, reported making almost 2500 QSOs while operating from Keflavik, Iceland. Bob would also be presenting a video on his trip after the conclusion of tonight's business portion of the meeting.
• Lenny, KB2HK, reported that a number of DX stations were coming up on the Africana Net at 21.355 MHz. Marv, W2FGD, wanted to thank Lenny for all his work in running this net over the past years.

The minutes of the June 18th meeting were prepared in advance by the LIDXA Secretary, Ed, K2MFY, and included in this month's mailing to the membership. 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 minutes were accepted as written.

The LIDXA Treasurer, Russ, W2RL, reported that the club presently has $2034.63 in its treasury, and the current roster shows 34 paid-up members. Dues in the amount of $25 would be due by the end of the year. Marty mentioned that he is still working with LIPA to get back the $50 surcharge that was imposed upon the club, when LIPA asserted they could not get into the repeater site to check the electric meter.

In terms of our repeater, although it is operational now, it is very noisy. Pat, KE2LJ, our Repeater Chairman said that the problem has been isolated to a poor feedline or antenna. Until we get someone to climb up the tower and do further testing at the antenna end, the problem will exist. It does not appear that the solution can be solved at the ground level. A discussion then ensued on the cost of hiring someone to climb the tower, and the additional charges for new hardline and/or antenna.

Lou, N2TU, brought up the fact that even when the repeater was operational, it was not really used by the membership, except for the Sunday night net. A discussion then developed on the use, or non-use, of the repeater, and whether the club could afford this expense. It was decided to continue this discussion at a later date. In the meantime Marty added, the LIDXA has use of the Grumman repeater, on 146.745 MHz.

Marv, W2FGD, wanted to thank the NJDXA for hosting their annual summer picnic. This party was open to many of the DX clubs in the NY-NJ area.

Pat announced that the votes from the Board of Directors were finally tabulated for the eighth 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: 1991-Bob, K2MT; 1992-Bob, W2SF; 1993-Bob, K2EYJ; 1994-Marv, W2FGD; 1995-Rich, AC2P; 1996-Larry, K2LS, and in 1997-Pat, KE2LJ.

At this time the belated 1998 winner of the plaque is Marty, NN2C. The plaque was primarily given to Marty for all his help in supporting and representing the club in various hamfests, and for actively recruiting new members into the organization. The membership warmly applauded Marty for his diligent efforts. Marty in turn thanked the club for their confidence in his efforts.

The membership was reminded that submittals for the current DXCC Honor Roll must be sent up to the ARRL by the end of September. A fee of $10 is now required along with the application.

Marty mentioned that a tentative date of January 23, 2000 has been set for the first "Ham Radio Forum" to be held in Babylon. It is expected that seminars will include discussions on DXCC, RFI, Contesting, Packet Radio, RTTY, and many other amateur activities and interests for both the beginner and experienced amateur. Members would be informed as further details are finalized.

A brief discussion was given on the new FCC decision to go to the Universal Licensing System (ULS). Several members indicated that they were able to renew their license by going to the new FCC Web site.

Marty indicated that he was leaving for England on October 6 to attend their annual IOTA Conference (October 7-9). This will be the eighth year in a row that he will be attending this conference.

The business portion of the meeting concluded at 9 PM. After a short break, Bob, W2SF, presented a video he had just made from a DXpedition to Keflavik, Iceland in late August. Bob operated under the callsign W2SF/TF. Besides his ham radio activities, Bob spent many enjoyable hours visiting his son, who is in the armed forces at the NATO base in Keflavik, and sightseeing around the area. The video showed several of the Icelandic amateurs, and the very interesting glacial features of this remote part of the world.

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

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