Indiana County Amateur Radio Newsletter for the Month

October 2006 News Letter

October 2006 News Letter
Written - September 11, 2006
By: Darrell R. Norris - WA3AJQ

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In Memory:

I was recently informed that Morris Carlson, a former member of the Indiana County Amateur Radio Club passed away on August 13^th.

The mother of Larry Freeman, N3LT, passed away September 5^th. She ate breakfast with us on numerous Saturdays, we will miss her.

We extend our sympathy to both families.

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It's hard to imagine its fall already, football season, foggy, cool mornings and the thought of winter. Yes, its time to start thinking a little about 2007, filling offices, planning activities and all those other things it takes to keep an organization going.

Please start thinking about any interest you may have in filling one of the club positions for 2007.

I plan to send out an Email to the members with Email capability and ask for interested parties. Those without Email will be contacted by phone.

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Our four counties breakfast, scheduled for October 14^th will most likely have to be changed. We realized that's Homecoming at IUP and I'm sure Eat-N-Park will be very busy. The counties involved are, Indiana; Butler; Armstrong and Cambria. This a social event similar to the old CB coffee breaks. Hope you will plan to participate. We'll make sure your made aware of the final date.

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Our club picnic is scheduled for September 24 ^th at the Blue Spruce facility. We'll meet at 1:00 PM, eat around 2:00 PM. Bring a covered dish and your own drinks, hot dogs, hamburgers and everything else will be furnished.

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Thanks and 73's
Darrell R. Norris - WA3AJQ
President

Meeting Minutes - September 5^th 2006

Minutes from last meeting: (As posted on our web site)

Are there any additions or corrections?

Regarding ARES and Bill Menk in the August minutes, the motion was made by Fred KM3M and second by Robert KB3JOF.

If there are no additions or corrections, the minutes stand as written.

Financial Report:

As Reported

Are there any comments or concerns? None

If none the financial report stands as submitted.

Old Business:

ARES: Jerry Kiehl, WB3DUD

Reminder: At the end of the month, the net control operator can submit his / her updated call list to Robert KB3JOF, as an Email attachment however Jerry will be the one to have Robert place it on our web site after his (Jerry's) review.

Jerry Kiehl, WB3DUD, has the net for September and Terry Carnahan, KB3JOD, volunteered to take October.

Bill Menk, W3LAB, was to notify the ARRL that we no longer have an ARES Emergency Coordinator. Robert Zugates KB3JOF, would still like to get an ARES ID card. Bill was not at the meeting.

RACES: Rusty O'Donnell WB3EUQ (Not at the meeting)

Rusty - WB3EUQ informed us at a previous meeting that you can go on the web and type in www.nims.com and take the classes on line! Per Rusty, the county is going to issue identification cards to us. *Waiting on the Machine*

ECHOLINK - Rusty O'Donnel WB3EUQ

Darrell, WA3AJQ, again noted he can't connect Echolink with the internet since he went to Verizon DSL. Darrell belongs to Yahoo/Echolink group and has received numerous Emails from the group members noting the same problem. If anyone has any experience with this, please let him know. He ran Port Forwarding for UDP ports 5198 and 5199 according to the procedure, turned off the Windows firewall, talked to both Verizon and Westell about the problem. His running Verizon DSL, Windows XP / SP2 with a Westell model 6100 modem / router.

Repeater Operation - Elmer Soriso, KB3WG

At a previous meeting, Steve - KB3JNZ indicated there should be a Fire Ext. & First Aide Kit at the Repeater Site. A motion was made to have Rusty O'Donnell, WB3EUQ purchase a fire extinguisher and first aid kit for the repeater site. Kim Frech, secretary / treasurer will reimburse him for the cost. $50 was discussed as a limit. It was indicated we need to pay attention to the type extinguisher we purchase since we have the potential to damage our electronic equipment. Rusty WB3EUQ had informed us that the extinguisher he priced was $400. It was agreed by the members present to purchase one similar to one you would use in a kitchen.

Meeting Announcement:

Meetings and Saturday breakfast are now being advertised in the Indiana Gazette. Thanks to Kim our Secretary.

50 /50 was won by: Fred Maize, KM3M

New Business:

Activities for 2006:

Mall demonstration: - Tabled until next year.

Club picnic: Kim Frech

Kim Frech made arrangements to have our clubs covered dish picnic at Blue Spruce on Sunday September 24^th. It was agreed we would meet around 1:00PM and eat at approximately 2:00PM. A sign up sheet was passed around and a request for what each member plans to bring as a covered dish. Darrell, WA3AJQ will take the sheet to breakfast Saturday. We have pavilion 2. Ric Lods, AL7DH, made a motion, second by Dave Dzelsky, N3DZ, to have the club purchase the hot dogs, hamburgers, buns etc for the picnic. The motion passed.

Christmas party: December 10^th @ 6:OOPM (Hoss's "big" room in Indiana)

Roger & Kathy Lute reported they haven't had to many people sign up for the party so far, about ten.

Ham Fest : 2007 ?

This will be discussed in January 2007

Questions: 1. Do we want to have a ham fest?
Questons 2. Where will it be held? What will be served for food / refreshments? When would it be held? Who will be in charge of it? We need to find a better location.

Sheetz: Kim Frech

Kim reported she had 1 ½ books of Sheetz coupons left. Kim also requested we have the money in to her by the picnic or no later than the next meeting.

Mini Field Day: Dave Dzelsky, N3DZ

This was added to the agenda at the meeting as requested by Dave.

The event will take place on September 16^th at the repeater site. Dave suggested everyone participating chip in a few bucks to rent a portable John. There is a picnic planned for Saturday evening around 6:00PM. Dave also asked that anyone checking into other nets, invite other hams as well. Darrell will mention it on the Johnstown net Sunday night.

Four county social breakfast: Darrell, WA3AJQ

Darrell, WA3AJQ, has been in communications with Ed Wilbert, N3LFB, from Butler County. Ed indicated they discussed this at their recent club picnic and decided Saturday October 14^th would be a good date. They also feel coming to Indiana wouldn't be a problem. Darrell will extend the invitation to Cambria and Ed will notify Butler. Darrell had a brief discussion with the E-N-P General Manager and will give him the exact date. They don't reserve the back room for Saturdays, however!!

Notes or comments?

Dave Dzelsky, N3DZ informed us that Larry Freeman's mother passed away. We extend our sympathy to Larry and his family. Larry's mom ate breakfast with us numerous times on Saturday mornings at Eat-N-Park. She will be missed.

If you know of anyone that would be interested in becoming a ham or would like to join our club, please invite them to our meetings.

Start thinking about filling offices for 2007

We now have 49 members.

ADJURNED At: 8:08 PM. (Local time)

Motion By: Fred Maize KM3M; second by: Ric Lods AL7DH

Respectively Submitted by:
Kim Frech, Secretary / Treasurer

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