MINUTES OF LIDXA INC. MEETING— November 15, 2002

 

Location: Briarcliffe College, Bethpage, N.Y.

 

The LIDXA President, Marty, NN2C, called the meeting of November 15 to order at 8:10 PM.  Marty welcomed all members and guests.  Members present included N2TU, K2MFY, KE2LJ, W2GW (and XYL), NN2C, N2KA, KD1F, W2FGD, and new member Tom, AG2A.  Guests present were Pat, AB2OL, Tonya, KC2JOC, and Larry, AB2NT.

 

 

OLD BUSINESS

 

Starting the business portion of tonight’s meeting was the approval of the October 18 meeting minutes.  Except for a few minor changes, which were clarified by Lou, N2TU, these minutes were accepted as presented.  In addition, these minutes were prepared in advance by the club’s secretary, Ed, K2MFY, and sent out to the membership with the club’s November meeting notice.  Also thanks to the efforts of KE2LJ, Pat, these minutes appear in the LIDXA web site: http://www.qsl.net/lidxa.

 

In terms of DX, specific activities were highlighted:

·         Word has arrived to the DX/amateur community that Ron Wright, ZL1AMO, DX operator extraordinaire and Honorary member of the LIDXA, has been suddenly air lifted from the Fuji Islands back to New Zealand.  Ron is on life support care and his condition is critical.

·         The DXpedition to Sable island as CYØMM is in full swing.  Members have reported hearing multiple stations up on all the ham bands.  QSL to VE3NE.

·         The operation from P5/4L4FN, (Democratic People’s Republic of Korea) has now switched over to 15 meters.  Some members reported that the operator, Ed, has started to come up on 15 meter SSB (21.225 MHz) around 2200–2300Z.

·         Famous, and controversial DXpeditioner, Don Miller (ex-W9WNV), has been released from prison and has received a new amateur callsign, AE6YI.

·         With the approach of Fall conditions, propagation on the 10 and 12 meter bands have started to improve.  Although we are in a sunspot cycle decline, conditions on the higher HF bands should be good until the early Spring..

 

Club treasurer, John, W2GW gave a Treasurer’s report. A few expenses were discussed in terms of reducing the club’s monthly outlay of monies.

John mentioned that he had received membership applications and dues from two new members of the LIDXA, Tom, AG2A, and Dan, NY2L.  The club welcomed these two new members into our organization.

 

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.  Presently all parties concerned are in litigation.  In the meantime, the LIDXA has use of the Grumman repeater, on 146.745 MHz.

 

 

NEW BUSINESS

 

It was mentioned that the next 2003 Ham Radio University (HRU) planning meeting is set for December 9, in the Emergency Operations Center, Babylon Town Hall, North Lindenhurst, NY.  HRU 2003 is scheduled for Sunday, January 19, 2003, at East Woods School, Oyster Bay, Long Island, New York.  Marty is looking for volunteers to man the LIDXA table and also to assist in the DX seminar session.  Several members offered their services.

 

Marty stated that although we would not have a business meeting next month, we would hold our Holiday Party meeting on December 12, at the Sweet Hollow Diner in Farmingdale (on west side of Route 110, near Dunkin’ Doughnuts, just south of the Northern State Parkway and north of Pinelawn Avenue).  Separate checks would be issued.  A tentative time of 7 PM was decided upon for the dinner.  Additional details will be provided during the Sunday night net.   Marty said he would have some ham-radio “goodies” to hand out at the dinner.

A good holiday was wished for those unable to attend.  The next regularly scheduled meeting for the LIDXA is on Friday, January 17, 2003.

 

The business portion of the meeting then concluded at 9:00 PM.

 

At this time, video was shown on the January 2002 DXpedition to South Georgia Island (VP8GEO).  This excellent video traced the operator’s successful trip from the South Sandwich Islands (VP8THU) to South Georgia.  Since this leg of their trip was a little bit more restful, quite a bit of the video dealt with the geography and history of this remote spot down under.

 

This meeting concluded at around 9:50 PM after all the scheduled business and entertainment had finished.

 

 

 

                                                                                          ______________________________________

Ed Whitman, K2MFY

LIDXA Secretary