Lower Columbia Amateur Radio Association
Minutes of the 4/5/06 Membership Meeting

Call to Order:
Vice President, Mike, called the meeting to order at 7:30pm (pdt).
There were 15 members in attendance.

Pledge of Allegiance:
The Pledge of Allegiance was made by all.

Guests:
WA7SJN, Bill Nelson and KK7USA, Joe Furer.

Reading of the Minutes:
Minutes of March 15, 2006 were approved with corrections.

Officers’ Reports---Treasurer:
No report.

Correspondence:
(All from Bob, KB7ADO)

A printout is here for all to read of the investments as of closing today. Everything is up.

In another PUD bill, the March 27^th statement shows $96.25 for 1 month. It’s due on the 7^th. Consumption was up from last month.

The Clark County Amateur Radio Club, Inc. newsletter is here.

I received mail from Ed Bruette, the Western WA SEC, that 501 C-3 clubs are not allowed political endorsements. Just for information, we are a 501 C-7 Club.

Board of Directors’ Report:
No report.

Old Business:
Bob says that the Yaesu 736R is here for anyone who wants to know how to work it. I can show you after the meeting tonight. In a related matter, Norm KB6KQ would like to offer 2 sets of antennas to work with that rig. One is a pair of M-Squared and the other is a pair of loop Yagi’s. He will sell all 4 for $100. <Table this discussion until after the “rotor” part is discussed under “New Business”>

Mike asked if Steve was able to talk to Ray about the plaque and name from last meeting? <Discussion followed>

Stu said that the 444.125 repeater, which the owners donated to the Club, has a “Certificate of Coordination” that he brought to the meeting tonight. <Discussion followed on the controller and location of the repeater and Trustee>

Brian said the Amplifier is working now due to a power supply board that he and Gary, AB7LK, rebuilt. The tune-up procedures are laminated now for the Kenwood and are here. We have some antenna parts whenever we’re ready to climb the tower.

Mike says that we have PSK-31 for “receive” mode only. He donated some memory, and we were able to make 1 contact before the computer crashed. PSK-31 is a pretty easy mode to work and takes very little bandwidth. <Discussion followed>

New Business:
Brian acquired a 50-ft. Rohn-type tower, got to the 40-ft. level, and then came down. It would be useful as a 30-ft. tower. It is down and located at his house. It just needs a cable. Would the Club like to have this tower?

Bill Nelson said he has an actual Rohn tower, a 60-footer, that the Club can have. <Discussion followed on which one we should choose>

Randy said that St. John’s received 2 radios: VHF and UHF installed and programmed with frequencies from the Western side of Washington. We have use of these radios. We are Okayed for 6 people to work the radios at the hospital, and additional training will be needed for those who are interested. So far, we have Randy, Butch, Mike, and Wally.

Stu said the new Director, K9JF, Jim Fenstermaker, contacted him to see if he would be interested in being the Assistant Director who would report problems with clubs in this area. Stu is now the Assistant Director.

Connie, Wally, Randy, and Ray-NB7Y-went to the COMM Academy this year. A wide range of topics was presented, and they talked about Hurricane Katrina, 700MHz, and “interoperability”. <Discussion followed>

Good of the Order:
Mike said we now have enough VE’s to give tests for all exams. The VE’s are Mike, Randy, Judi, and Ray-NB7Y.

Field Day this year will be here at the Clubhouse. We will have a couple of “guest” stations, and we should have 5 or 6 radios this year. Bob indicated that the classifications have to be determined.

Randy suggested cleaning up the excess equipment that’s here at the Clubhouse, and it needs to be done before Field Day.

 
Meeting adjourned at 8:27pm (pdt)

Respectfully submitted:

Judi--KD7GZR,
Secretary