Upper Pinellas Amateur Radio Club, Inc. Meeting Minutes 5 Dec 2020
Meeting opened by Alan W4UB at 10:02 AM
Pledge of Allegiance
Agenda covered
Introductions of Board of Directors and attendees
Secretary – Steve, N4FOY, posted Nov meeting minutes posted, approved by meeting body.
Treasurer – Jeff, K4JJD, 51 paid members, balance $2,525.27. Expense / Income Report YTD: $932.50 over budget. COVID had greatest impact.
Committee Reports
Repeater / Technical – Alan, W4UB, Repeater functioning well. Echolink is the next project. Fire station 65 still closed.
Club Nets – Glenn, N4ESU – Total Nov check-ins 49.
Winter Field Day – Alan W4UB – We will not have Fire Training facility due to COVID. WFD 2021 rules adjusted to allow logs to be submitted under a club name like ARRL field day. FT8 and FT4 modes are not valid for WFD.
501(c)(3) Incorporation – Ken WQ3V – Awaiting Letter of Determination from IRS.
Social Events – Jack, N4KIN – None
Election – Final Votes: Jack Kinney N4KIN, President, Alan Streitman W4UB, VP, Jeff deGrasse, K4JJD Treasurer, Dee Hooker, K4DCH Secretary, Jason Esterline, N4BOZ, Member-At-Large.
New Business – Jeff asks about announcing new method of dues paying, and a pro-rated amount for those already paid. Announcement to be made. Discussion ensued. Alan, W4UB, says the Board is working up numbers and methods to introduce this concept.
2020 year in review:
WFD 2020 – three stations – 28,084, 1277 QSO’s, 5th in USA
10 Tech Presentations
ARRL Joint Field Day – 4074 points, total of 7 entries
SPARC in the Park participation
UPARC in the Park rained out
Repeater Antenna repaired
Echolink completion awaiting Fire Station Opening
Club Participation in Aardvark contest group
Updated Bylaws approved
Incorporated in Florida
501c3 forms filed with IRS. Update IRS Letter of Determination received on Dec. 9, 2020
Acknowledgements – All club members support
-2020 Board for dedication in Bylaws and incorporation
-Committee chairs
-To Dee W4DCH, Jack, N4KIN, and Jason, N4BOZ for onsite repair of Antenna
-Ken Skaggs for 501c3
-Net controllers
-Nomination Committee
-UPARC Founder and benefactor Tom Schaefer
Presentation – Tom Schaefer, NY4I – Tracking Airplanes with Radio – ADS-B
Any announcements? – Mike – K4HN – CARS has restarted testing. Send email to K4HN@nullcarshamradio.org to register a candidate.
Tom NY4I – Tampa Bay Hamfest is a go in Plant City.
Tom NY4I – SLACK application has a UPARC channel set up by Tom. We might use it for Field Day…
Text Alert System – Jason, N4BOZ – used only for urgent matters. Text UPARC to 84483 to sign up.
Next Meeting – Alan, W4UB – January 2, 2021
Without Objection, Alan W4UB adjourned at 10:47.
Approved Alan Streitman, President, Upper Pinellas Amateur Radio Club, Inc