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MANCORAD W9DK General Membership Meeting December 12th 2007 PDF Version - Recorded Meeting Audio
Officers Present: Vice-President Marty KC9JGE (Meeting Chair) Treasurer Dan N9NCU
Attending (in Person): 20
Marty KC9JGE Dan N9NCU Steve K9ZW Travis KB9YRC John NZ9Z (left early feeling poorly) Chris KB9VLS Rich KC9LOA Dan N9FVZ Bob KC9HBA Mary KB9GOY Ken K9HAG Roger W9NPX Denise N4WGK Thomas W KC9LNZ Thomas B KC9MPH Oran N9VIA Vern KB9EME John N9GJV Wayne KC9MPK Jody KC9KVT
By Skype Two-Way Communication (3)
Carl KA9WYK, Club President – Location Maryland Tim N7TAL – Manitowoc Max KC9LOE – Manitowoc
By Streaming Audio (listening only) (3)
Dawn KC9JNK – Cleveland, Wisc. Jerry KC9JNL – Cleveland , Wisc. Stephen WB9MCJ – San Diego, Calif.
At 7:35 pm Marty KC9JGE called the meeting to order.
Introductions were made, with each attendee introducing themselves. Marty reminded everyone to have a look at the various sign-up sheets on the front table.
The Secretary's Report for the Nov 2007 meeting was referenced and KB9GOY moved that it be accepted as published. KC9HBA seconded the motion and a unanimous voice vote was received.
Dan N9NCU read the Mancorad Treasurer's Report, summarizing the club General Membership Accounts (which are available on request from Dan N9NCU). KC9HBA made a motion to accept the report, and a unanimous voice vote followed the motion being seconded by KC9LOA
The ARES/RACES WinLink2000 efforts have received praise from several quarters and Dan N9NCU wanted to pass this on to the membership at large.
Steve K9ZW gave a short Hamcram Report
Ten students attended the December 1st Hamcram, with 8 passing. Our new licensees are:
Terry KC9MPE Nick KC9MPF Mark KC9MPG Tom B KC9MPH Michael KC9MPI Kurt KC9MPJ Wayne KC9MPK Alison KC9MPL
The two youngsters who did not pass are presently studying & being tutored, and will test again soon.
A round of applause was raised for the new licensees.
As all eight new licensees had been recommended by the Board for membership, Rich KC9LOA made a motion to award each one a year membership in Mancorad. Vern KB9EME seconded the motion, and it was carried by unanimous voice vote.
Repeater Report – Dan N9NCU
KA9WYK is investigating what would be required to add Echolink to the 145.110 repeater. Last week an ARRL newsletter additionally clarified remote control of repeater issues that the repeater committee & ARES/RACES will be checking into. The 146.610 repeater was checked this week for on-frequency remote control and the land-line will be checked by the committee. The 145.110 repeater currently is manually controlled, rather than having a telecommand able controller.
ARES/RACES Report – Dan N9NCU
The annual nuclear drill took place December 4th with 12 Mancorad Members participating. This drill centered around Dominion Nuclear in Kewaunee and demonstrated HF/VHF/UHF Voice/WinLink2000/PSK abilities. Operational were the Manitowoc EOC, Kewaunee EOC, State of Wisconsin EOC, the Club Shack and 3 remote sites. Served agencies were the Manitowoc County Emergency Government, Manitowoc-Calumet Red Cross and Holy Family Memorial Medical.
The drill was a success with much positive & supportive feedback.
Club Sign-Ups – Dan N9NCU
Dan reminded the group that renewals are due and that a Christmas Party sign-up was on the front desk. Cut-off for confirming the reservations is December 21st. Send membership renewals and Party fees ($10.00/ person) to Mancorad, PO Box 204, Manitowoc, 54221-0204
New Business
New Membership Recommendations
In addition to the eight new members from Hamcram, the board has recommended John N9GJV for membership. Steve K9ZW moved to accept John as a new member, Bob KC9KBA second the motion, and a unanimous voice vote greeted John N9GJV as our newest Mancorad member!
The board also recommended two Associate Members, Phil Swartz and Tina Minkle, both who are studying for their technician exams. Ken K9HAG's motion was seconded by Travis KB9YRC, and another unanimous voice vote welcomed Phil and Tina as Mancorad Associate Members.
Dan N9NCU explained that associate members do not vote nor can be club officers.
Phil is blind and has been assisted by Handihams with a full audio study course. Steve K9ZW briefly outlined the Handihams program.
Field Day Report – Rich KC9LOA
Rich gave an in depth presentation on preparations for Field Day 2008. His committee's focus is “More Operating and Less Building.” Rich provided a handout covering Field Day which is attached as ATTACHMENT #1 Field Day Notes.
Technical Report – Rich KC9LOA
A summary sheet of Technical Issues, Goals & Projects was touched upon by Rich. In the interest of time Rich shortened this review to major highlights. Rich provided a handout covering Technical Issues, which is attached as ATTACHMENT #2 Technical Issues Notes.
Antenna Build Report – Steve K9ZW
Currently members interested in an antenna build are Rich KC9LOA, Steve K9ZW, Fred W6BSF, Chris KB9VLS and Tim N7TAL. Two projects are in the works, the 2m Lindeblad and the K8BP HF Field Dipole. Steve K9ZW will be contacting interested members by email to coordinate material purchases and building sessions.
Christmas Party
Reminder that the Christmas Party will be January 4th, social hour starting at 6 pm at Gill's in Whitelaw. At the end of the meeting enough members had signed up & paid to make the event “a go!” At last count over 30 members, spouses, family members & guests were expected.
Chairman's Comments – Marty KC9JGE
Marty KC9JGE announced that at the January meeting Carl KA9WYK & Marty would be doing a “Web Site Forward” presentation. This is a not to miss presentation!
Skype/Streaming Audio participants are asked to email Marty KC9JGE with comments, suggestions and ideas based on their experience joining the meeting by Skype or Streaming Audio.
Following Motion & Second and a voice vote the meeting was adjourned.
The 50/50 was won by John N9GJV splitting the $16.00 pot with the club treasury.
Refreshments were followed by a presentation on QSLing by Steve K9ZW. Example QSL cards were handed around, DX cards shown and QSL routes discussed. Steve handed out a copy of the ARRL crossword puzzler on Q-codes. Fred W6BSF had prepared a handout based on his experience as a QSL manager for Mancorad, which was handed out. A copy of Fred's “Advice on DX QSLing” handout is attached as ATTACHMENT #3 – Advice on DX QSLing
NOTES ON BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING – December 8th
Attending were Carl KA9WYK, Dan N9NCU, Chris KB9VLS and Marty KC9JGE
Respectfully submitted by Steve K9ZW, substitute secretary
ATTACHMENT #1 – Field Day Notes
Purchase rope for crane wiring (5/16 .19/ft) (3/8 .29/ft)
Call Belden for max length for rotor cable Belden 8WRECBL 2-18 6-22 (150 ft)
Resistance figures for the Belden cable (17.5 ohms/1000ft/ 22ga. cable) (6.95 ohms/1000ft 18ga cable)
Measure and build sound barrier for generator (line with sound absorbing foam?)
Assemble a satellite station (build Lindebland antenna)
Measure and build mount bushings for 40m and beam antennas
Send letter to parks dept (reserve field day site)
Build better anchor rods for 80 m loop
Decide on transmitters and modes to operate
Acquire shelters for all stations
Invite Media to event/ have a PR tent?
Assemble, inspect and test all operating stations in April/May
Security of overnight operations (Police patrols?)
Any CW operators?
Tripods for computer network antennas (ARES antenna tripods?)
Packet / digital modes (Winlink,PSK,etc)
Have a teaching/practice session for new operators on contesting
ATTACHMENT #2 – Technical Issues Notes
APRS system fielded for the ARES/RACES group
Ask for permission to install a APRS tracker in fire dept command vehicle
Assemble a portable sound barrier for the field day generator
Build or buy tripod stand for computer network wireless antennas
Build the Lindebland antenna for the club shack satellite system
Cleanout and organize the 4 drawer file cabinet
Cleanout and organize the 4 drawer file cabinet (ARES will do the top drawer)
Cleanout and organize west wall storage shelves
Echolink on repeater or club computer
Engineer and propose a portable APRS tracker&2m radio
IRLP access on the 610 or 110 repeater
Install headphone jack in ARES portable radio boxes
Install shelving in the closet (it's been cleaned out)
Make some better anchor posts for the portable tower and the stands
Mount new wall storage cabinet
Mount new wall storage cabinet on the North wall of the club shack
New club website on a public domain
Rebuild and install "vintage" radio station
Repair and make mount bushings for the beam and 40m vertical to match support pipes
Repair and test the beam rotor system for field day
Research and possibly purchase a DTMF controller board for the 110 repeater
Setup and build a VHF/UHF satellite station for voice/digital/
ATTACHMENT #3 W6BSF's Advice on DX QSLing
Advice on DX QSLing
Check the time in UTC/Date/Call on your card to make sure they are correct.
Enclose a self addressed envelope with your address in full, including your country.
Enclose IRC’s/$$ (SASE for domestic) to cover return postage costs.
Use only the route given by the operator. If the operator tells you to QSL direct only or via his manager, do just that. There is no point in flooding the QSL bureau with cards if he is not a member.
Use security tinted envelopes for your outgoing and return envelopes. Ensure that your return envelope is big enough.
If your QSL card is double sided, is your call printed on both sides???? If the call is on one side and the information is on the other, it makes for errors when large numbers of cards are being processed
Imagine you do not speak the native language. Is your address clear on your card? Many cards are designed with the operator name in one place, the address in another, and the city and state in still another.
Is your county on your card???? Many recipients of your card are county hunters. How about grid squares and the IOTA?
Enclose and extra $ or IRC with your card. There is no profit in QSLing for the DX station or manager. They are providing you with a service, and they probably don’t need another USA card for their collection.
73 de Fred,W6BSF
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