******   S.O.A.P.R.A.   ******
             Southern Oregon Amateur Packet Radio Association

                    March Meeting Minutes for 03/10/01

            Scheduled Meeting at Providence Hospital, Medford.
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       Called to Order: 10:05 AM  Gene Burchfield, KO6DW, Presiding

Present:
Gene Burchfield KO6DW    Steve Grajeda   WB6YQP   Dick Suber   K7DDI
Ed McCracken    WA7OYC   Leonard Coleman KB7TSX   Frank Norman KE6MZN
Dale Trautman   N7IXS    Sean Smithers   N7ZWU

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Minutes of previous meeting were read by Sean, N7ZWU
Motion to accept by Steve, WB6YQP. 2nd by Dale, N7IXS. Accepted.

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Treasurer's Report by Steve, WB6YQP
Our beginning balance was $992.30 with deposits of $200.00 to bring
the bank total to $1192.30. No bills paid out and cash on hand of
$15.31 brings total funds to $1207.61.

Motion to accept by Leonard, KB7TSX. 2nd by Frank, KE6MZN. Accepted

Members paid for 2001 at this point are:

Gene Burchfield KO6DW    Mary Burchfield KD6DHU   Sean Smithers N7ZWU
Will Calvert    N7KS     Steve Grajeda   WB6YQP   Dotty Grajeda N6DFV
Fred Bechdoldt  ND7V     Richard Suber   K7DDI    Ozzie Diaz    W6ICM
Paul B Melo     KF6QBG   Ron Spears      W7IX     Ray Gibson    WB7OKK

Notice asking for SOAPRA support was sent out by packet and email by
Sean, N7ZWU.

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Tech Report:

A path through Redding, CA is being worked on.

Motion by Steve, WB6YQP to pay ORRC dues. 2nd by Dale, N7IXS. Accepted.

On the keyboard network the antenna on Hamaker pointed at JOCO is bad.
Two chips for K7DDI-3 need to be burned with the digipeat on. This is
for the Keno switch from CA 145.05 to OR 144.93 keyboarding network.

The ELK node is down, WALKER node is at Dick's. OAK node is down.

Info needs to be sent to N7QQU.

Discussion on path north. Red Cross is interested in getting the path
working. 420 MHz is recommended. We need something intermediate to
Prairie Peak. Need to check our stock and see what we have.

Questions are can we afford a 50-50 split on equipment with a party
up north? Who can we contact? Dick, K7DDI can contact Ken. We need
to get a site to do this. Need to talk to the Salem ARES group about
allowing node connections. Is Ken, K7IQI interested. Steve, WB6YQP
will send Dick, K7DDI Keith's phone number.

The rest of the SOAPRA system is ok.

145.03 NWS on Mt Ashland is down. WX7MFR->SKYWARN

Discussion, need to know what the weather service plans are at this
time so we knwo when and where they can link into the system. We
need to preserve our 430.250MHz link north since our plans have
changed on this for future linking north.

Steve, WB6YQP hasn't heard from Mike Bach about the antennas. Will
check with Steve Porter.

Fiberglass antennas need to be sprayed with a UV protectant before
installatin. Truck bed protector works. UV deterioration causes the
fiberglass sheath to become conductive as it weathers.

Steve, WB6YQP will help Keith get in contact with N7QQU

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Old Business:

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New Business:

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Meeting adjourned: 11:50 AM

Sean, N7ZWU
SOAPRA Secretary.

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/ex

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Sean Smithers    seans@cdsnet.net