Location: Polytechnic University, Farmingdale, N.Y.

The LIDXA President, Marty, NN2C, called the meeting October 20 to order at 8:15 PM. Several members commented favorably on the appearance of the remodeled classroom in the school. Marty welcomed the guest, Dave, AB2EF, and the XYLs of members K2ENT, N2DXJ, KB2CB, and N2JE to the meeting tonight.

In terms of DX, specific activities mentioned:

• There are strong rumors that there may be a short operation from North Korea in the near future. Martti Laine, OH2BH is leaving for business to China and may get a stop over in North Korea. If a short DXpedition is not in the works at this time, it is rumored that a major operation may occur early next year.
• Lenny, KB2HK, who is the net control station for the daily "W7PHO Family Hour" net on 21.350 MHz, reported that approximately 20 DX check-ins appear daily on his net. Recently he has been plagued with deliberate QRM from unknown stations.
• A multi-national DXpedition to Kingman Reef will be occurring imminently. It is expected that this group will be on the reef until the end of October.
• Several members reported that with the start of the Fall season, conditions on the higher bands, especially 10 and 12 meters, have been improving.
• A major DX contest, the CQ WorldWide Contest is scheduled for the weekend of October 28-29. This month's contest will be in the SSB mode. The CW portion of the contest is scheduled for the weekend of November 25-26. With improving propagation this year's contest will bring out major DX activity on all bands.

The minutes of the September 16 meeting were prepared in advance by the LIDXA Secretary, Ed, K2MFY, and included in this month's mailing to the membership. In addition, 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 September 16 minutes were accepted after a minor correction was noted.

The LIDXA Treasurer, Russ, W2RL, reported that the balance on hand in the club's treasury was $1496. Russ stated, unfortunately, that this was the first time he could recall that the treasury had dropped below $1500. Russ also reminded the club that the annual membership dues of $25 for the year 2001 would be due in January 2001.

Marty reminded the membership that at the next meeting, November 18, we are scheduled to have a "Chinese Auction" or "Blind Auction." This auction would commence following a brief business meeting. Members of the club will donate various items related to ham radio or computers to be "auctioned" off, sight unseen. This year will introduce a slightly different format to our annual event. Wrap the gift securely so that the contents cannot be identified. Mark, or attach a tag or "Post-It" to the outside of the gift, which generally describes the type of gift contained (e.g. ham radio, general electronics, software, test equipment, etc.). Everyone participating in this auction would purchase raffle tickets, or vouchers first, at the price of $1.00 per ticket, six tickets for $5.00; or 12 tickets for $10.00. The gifts would then be selected by the random drawing of raffle tickets. The more tickets you buy, the greater the chances you have to win one or more gifts of your choosing.

It is expected that all monies received from this auction would be applied towards the purchase of a new repeater antenna atop the 240-foot tower when our equipment is moved to the new repeater site.

All members were urged to publicize next month's auction. It was hoped that publicity (via numerous channels of communication available to the membership e.g. packet radio, the Internet, local nets, etc.) will bring in interested parties from outside the club. Marty, NN2C, said he would try to coordinate efforts so that the sufficient advertising could be generated in advance.

The club thanked the Corresponding Secretary Marty, KA2NRR, for once again putting together a very interesting and informative October club newsletter. Appreciation was also given to Marty, NN2C, for furnishing much of the editorial contest of this newsletter. It was recommended that future issues include photos of LIDXA members' stations (which could be sent to KA2NRR on a digital format).

In terms of our noisy repeater, Pat, KE2LJ mentioned that recently, on very short notice, he found out that a private rigging company would be doing work on the tower over at the Melville Fire Department's Jane's Hill site. Pat presented himself to the foreman with the hope that they might be able to inspect our repeater hardline and antenna. Unfortunately the foreman would not accommodate Pat's request, and the uncertainty in our present repeater problems remain. In the meantime the LIDXA has use of the Grumman repeater, on 146.745 MHz.

Marty added a comment that there was no new information concerning the Millennium Tower Corporation's application for a tower construction permit with the Town of Babylon.

Marty reported to the membership on his recent trip to Beaumont Center in Windsor, England, as part of the annual IOTA Convention. He spoke of meeting old friends and international DXers, including Martti Laine, OH2BH.

Following this, Marty then discussed some of the highlights of the convention, including new DX IOTA activities, feasibility of electronic QSL cards, etc., and the very enjoyable banquet. He brought back a number of photographs of the convention site that were passed among the membership.

Russ brought up the subject of a monetary donation to Polytechnic University. Although we did not donate last year, the club has made repeated donations over the past years. However it was decided with the limited funds in our present treasury (plus the potential for additional costs for a new repeater antenna) the club would have to forgo at this time any additional contributions to the school.

Ed brought up the news item, read on a recent "ARRL Hudson Loop," that a new independent agency has been formed to provide amateur radio frequency coordination for the NYC/LI, Northern NJ, the downstate NY region, and Connecticut regions. This agency called "Metropolitan Coordination Association, Inc.," or "MetroCor," would replace the defunct "Tri-State Amateur Radio Club" (TSARC). MetroCor intends to address spectrum usage and frequency coordination in the affected areas. They have set up a new Web site: http://www.qsl.net/metrocor.

Due to an oversight on not having available the scheduled video on the Rowley Shoals DXpedition, this meeting concluded at 9:20PM after all the scheduled business had finished. Marty urged all members to look around for items that could be sold at the November's "Blind Auction," and in turn, raise needed revenues for the club.

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