MANCORAD

 August, 2005 Meeting Minutes

  President Fred (W6BSF) called the meeting to order at 1933 CDT, August 10, 2005. The July, 2005 meeting minutes as e-mail distributed by Fred were accepted by motion from Ken (K9HAG) and second by Theresa (KB9KXE). Dick (N9QFY) gave the Treasurer’s report, which was accepted by motion from Mary (KB9GOY) and second by Travis (KB9YRC).

  Please sign up for help on the following club events;

• Mancorad Family Picnic at Two Rivers Neshota Park on September 10, 2005 (see more below).
• Brat Fry at Two Rivers Pick’N-Save – October 1, 2005.  It was decided that the Brat Fry should include a Bake Sale to increase event proceeds to the club. Please contribute home baked items; more to be announced during September.

   Fred led a discussion of the Mancorad club member interest survey results; the survey was sent out to all club members either by e-mail, or by hard mail. Club response was 28 responses received out of a club membership of 69 (~40% response).  Requested scoring was;

1 – I don’t think MANCORAD should do or have this, and I won’t support it

3 – I’m okay with this, and I am willing to support it, time permitting

5 – I definitely think MANCORAD should do or have this, and I will support or                                               lead it

  Summary response results, arranged by decreasing interest (question no. - brief description - average response received) are as follows:

           M - Manitowoc Co. Skywarn net and weather spotting - 4.6

A - Monthly Meetings - 4.2

E - Clubshack w/ multi-band operating station for ARES/RACES & special events - 4.2

L - ARES/RACES support - 4.2

B - Monthly Meetings w/ period focus presentations - 4.1

D - Clubshack cleaning and maintenance - 4.1

H - Mancorad fundraisers - 4.0

I - Annual Mancorad family picnic - 4.0

N-  ARRL Field Day - 4.0

J - Annual Mancorad Christmas party - 3.9

R - Cobia events - 3.9 (how many? - 1.9)

G - Clubshack w/ multi-band operating station for general membership use - 3.7

O - Technician licensing class - 3.6

F - Clubshack use for contesting by general membership - 3.5

P - Manitowoc City Mayor's Amateur Radio Day proclamation - 3.4

S - Raleigh Point lighthouse event - 3.4

Q - Bike tour coverage - 3.3 (how many? - 1.7)

C - Periodic monthly meetings with adjacent counties - 3.0

T - Highway 42 pickup zone - 3.0

K - Periodic T-hunt contests - 2.9

 An interesting observation is that everything the club is now attempting to do was perceived as being appropriate since only one score was below the average interest level of 3.0; there might have been a problem in the question design which included “time permitting” in its description. Detailed discussion followed on two items;

1. Cobia submarine events – Fred has received a solicitation from the Maritime Museum for several events per year, perhaps 6, or more. The club membership discussion indicated that 3 – 4 times per year, or more, would be acceptable if; a) better accommodations for equipment (permanent antennas, stored equipment, etc.) could be done, and b) an expectation of no on-the-sub sleepover could be accommodated.
2. Technician class licensing course – this might be a fairly simple thing to do if enough volunteers agreed to participate, and website available course support such as www.w9pe.us/ could be used.

Bottom line survey results indicate that the club is not attempting to do anything that is in the disfavor of the club membership responding, and the things being attempted are appropriate; support for those things being attempted, however, needs to be improved.

  Mancorad Family Picnic – September 10, 2005, at Neshotah Park in Two Rivers. A list of those planning in attending was circulated; 20 persons attending was recorded.  If you were not at the meeting, and are planning on attending, please add your names to the list by contacting either N9FVZ, WB9DQD, N9QFY or N9NCU. An email requesting response from all members will be sent out. Food needs to be purchased (club will provide meat, buns and condiments), and the picnic budget dictated by the Board for this year is $150.00. IF there will be a T-Hunt, then somebody needs to step forward to make that happen; the picnic budget will have to accommodate T-Hunt prizes also.

  Dan (N9NCU) gave an update on Manitowoc County ARES/RACES activities. 

• The 3^rd quarter ARES/RACES meeting was conducted on 7/19/05; 12 members attended.
• Three nets were conducted during July with an average check-in count of 11.
• The Wisconsin District ARES Simulated Emergency Test (SET) will be conducted on Saturday, October 1, 2005.  Seven to ten participants will be needed.
• The nuclear exercise for 2005 will be with the Kewaunee Power Station and conducted on Tuesday, November 1, 2005. Seven to ten participants will be needed for this event also.

  Next year, Mancorad will observe its 60^th year of existence (organized December 10,1946).  Fred solicited suggestions for this anniversary observation. Len (N9QFO) made a motion that this be a special event day, and be appropriately announced.

  The October, 12, 2005, Mancorad meeting will include election of the 2006 club officers and board members; the 2006 fiscal year begins November 1, 2005.  Please consider volunteering to serve.

  Travis,KB9YRC gave the membership a briefing on a grant request submitted by ARES/RACES to the Chuck Scholten Foundation. The grant request, $15,000, is to upgrade existing VHF voice communications used for emergencies and to add digital capability. The grant request is expected to be acted on during August.

  Fred gave a big thank you to all that participated in the July annual Leukemia/Lymphoma bike-a-thon event.  Saturday’s leg was headed by Chris (KB9VLS), and Sunday’s leg was headed by John (NZ9Z).

  The monthly 50/50 raffle was conducted.  $12.50 was collected, and the winner of the drawing was Mary (KB9GOY). The treasury will increase by $6.25 due to tonight’s raffle.

The meeting was adjourned at 2053 CDT.

  Lunch was served; thanks to Theresa and Gene for again bringing in the treats.

Respectfully submitted,

  Dan (N9NCU), Secretary

Meeting Attendance (21):

Winston (KC9FVR)           Fred (W6BSF)                    Bob (KC9HBA)           Travis (KB9YRC)

Gene (KB9KXF)               Theresa (KB9KXE)           Dan (N9NCU)               John (NZ9Z)           

Ken (K9HAG)                  Mary (KB9GOY)               Dick (N9QFY)                Roger (W9NPX)

Denise (N4WGK)            Chris (KB9VLS)                 TJ (KC9HYD)                Mike (WA9VVS)

Steve (KB9GPN)            Fran (AA9LV)                  Bob (KB9INK)                Len (N9QFO)       

Victor (guest of KC9FVR)