Spring Meeting of the Marquette Repeater Association on 5-30-2024

                
The meeting was called to order by President Andy-KB8PPE at 7:09PM and was
held in-person at Mike, KE8IL's house and via Zoom.

Attendants: Andy-KB8PPE, Mike-KE8IL, Al-W8FYZ, Gary F.-NJ8H, Gary L.-KD8OXD,
Judy-N8ITK, Beth-KE8HEK and Lucille-KD8PTE via Zoom.

The Meeting minutes of the Fall 2023 Meeting were read by Secretary Al-W8FYZ.

Motion to approve by Mike-KE8IL, Second by Gary-NJ8H, Motion Passed.

Mike-KE8IL gave the Treasurer's report:

(Edited)
Approximately 35 paid members.
Reminder that 2024 Dues are now payable.
Motion to approve by Al-W8FYZ, Second by Lucille-KD8PTE, Motion Passed.

Old Business

Al-W8FYZ basically covered the items unfinished from last meeting to include:
~  Electrical still not run from old ATandT building to WHWL building so we can have
the option to tap into generator power there and in case of loss of commercial
AC at the building the MRA repeaters are in. Gary-KD8OXD, a licensed Electrician,
offered to help make this happen. Material is on hand. Al-W8FYZ to schedule with
Gary-KD8OXD.
~ No suitable replacement found yet for the 440 Repeater antenna. Comments
were made that as this repeater is seldom utilized, this should not be a priority.
~ Al-W8FYZ stated that he recently came into some used equipment that may
allow him to begin work on the project of linking the Trenary 7.03 Repeater to the
97. Al plans to use the 440 Repeater as a Hub.
~ Mike-KE8IL reminded Al-W8FYZ about finishing the Controller interface to the
97 so we can swap in the new version repeater.

New Business

~  Mike-KE8IL called for Election of Officers per our By-Laws. Andy-KB8PPE
opened up the floor for nominations to any of the positions: President, Secretary
and Treasurer. Hearing none, it was proposed to accept the current slate of
Officers for an additional term and this was approved by the membership present.
Officers are as follows:

President - Andy KB8PPE, Treasurer - Mike KE8IL, Secretary - Al W8FYZ.
The Repeater Trustee is an appointed position and remains Mike-KE8IL until
otherwise specified.

~ Al-W8FYZ brought up the opportunity to add a Six-meter Repeater to the WHWL
tower and was hoping the MRA would be the Sponsor. Al stated he got approval
from Andy-KB8PPE to use an existing feedline that terminates at the top of the
tower, with the contingency that if WHWL/Gospel Opportunities Network (GON)
had the opportunity to add a Tenant that required either the feedline or space we
were at, we would have to relocate the antenna and possibly add a feedline. Andy
also mentioned this was subject to formal approval by the GON Board.

Al-W8FYZ stated they had a Repeater and Duplexers and only needed an antenna.
The antenna desired for the project was a Dominator 6-meter repeater antenna
from FMAntenna.com and would cost $219.99 plus shipping and tax.

Gary-KD8OXD volunteered to fund the antenna purchase to further the project.

Al-W8FYZ then made a formal motion for the MRA to sponsor said repeater project.
There was much discussion and Andy-KB8PPE stated that in consideration for
the added antenna and use of facilities, GON should be given some additional
compensation, especially considering no formal Lease agreement was in place.

Al-W8FYZ amended his motion to include that the monthly lease payment to GON
be increased from $50.00 to $70.00 per month, that a stipulation be made of
understanding that the MRA may have to relinquish location on the tower and/or
possibly use of the existing feedline if needed by GON, that the MRA incurs no
more than $100.00 Capital liability for this project to complete and that the MRA
be the sponsor of this repeater. Gary-NJ8H Seconded the Motion and the motion
passed.

Al-W8FYZ further mentioned that John Imeson-N8JI had run a coverage map on
the proposed repeater and that the coverage was expected to be extensive in
the central UP.

~ Mike-KE8IL brought up recent changes by the ARRL that make it optional and
require an additional fee to receive QST magazine in hard form with ARRL
membership. Members would still receive access to the online version of QST
with general membership. There was general discussion of the lack of value to
ARRL membership in current times, citing such changes that Amateurs would
expect the ARRL to successfully Lobby against such as the new FCC rule
requiring renewal fees and loss of experimental band space. The quality of
publications was also cited.

Al-W8FYZ made a motion to Adjourn, Mike-KE8IL Seconded, Approved.
The meeting was adjourned at *8:07PM.

*The Marquette Repeater Association would like to express sadness and note
the passing on May 30th of long-time local supporter of Amateur Radio in
Marquette County, Robert Manning, N8SKI (SK). Robert provided financial
support to local Ham organizations and was an active participant in community
public servant events.