Upper Pinellas Amateur Radio Club Incorporated
Meeting Minutes
July 3, 2021
- Call to order
Jack Kinney (N4KIN) called the meeting at Fire Station #65 to order at 10:00.
Pledge of Allegiance
- Introductions
Board members:
Jack (N4KIN) (president), Alan (W4UB) (vice president), Dee (W4DCH) (secretary), Jeff (K4JJD) (treasurer), Jason (N4BOZ) (member at large)
New members:
2 new members have joined.
Tech presentation provided by Jack (N4KIN)
Attendees (see Zoom log),
Dee (W4DCH), WB9AZV (George), Ron (W4RFA), Cathy Boehme, Michael Boehme, Wally Boehme, Alan (W4UB), Ken (WQ3V), Gerry (WR6N), Reggie (KM4BFX), Mike (K4HN), Ray (W8RD), Mark (KN4YQC), Ken (KO4V), Heidi (KM4JSU), Ryan (KO4KGP), Bud (WO4K), Jason (N4BOZ), Jack (N4KIN), Glen (W4ESU), Jeff (K4JJD), Paul (WA2DSF), Mike (K4HN)
- Officer / Committee reports
Secretary’s report: Minutes for last meeting are approved as submitted.
Treasurer’s report for the Month of June provided by Jeff (K4JJD) (see slide) Amazon Smile donation recovery in-progress per Alan (W4UB). Details of expenses provided (see slide).
Vice President’s report (Alan W4UB): Repeater functioning normally. HAMWAN is still having issues so a troubleshooting session with Tom (NY4I) needs to occur. HAMWAN discussion describes goals of this connection. The Echo-link set-up can move forward once HAMWAN is working. HAMWAN will provide internet access for the club and as a back-up for the fire department’s EOC activities. Please use the repeater.
Club Traders and Trivia net results for June discussed (see slide). Net controllers are always needed. 58 total check-ins for the month.
President’s report (Jack N4KIN): Club breakfast has resumed on the 4th Saturday of the month. Next date is the 24th at “Another Broken Egg”. A reminder will be sent out for this event. Presentations are need for August and September so please let me know if you’re interested. Tom (NY4I) is presenting during the October meeting. In September we the have the CEO of DX Engineering (K3LR) as the presenter.
UPARC board meets on Tuesday night at 7p.
UPARC-in-the-park is resuming so please plan on attending. Alan (W4UB) mentions that some club equipment will be set-up, please bring your equipment. Jack (N4KIN) asks about the level of interest for an outing this month and based on the response we will move forward with reserving a shelter at Chestnut Park.
Testing for the HAM license has resumed prior to this meeting and is coordinated by Mike Branda (K4HN). 11 new hams were licensed during the most recent sessions. Contacting Mike (K4HN) prior to attending is required with no walk-ins allowed. A group of Boy Scouts were tested today in preparation for a trip to an isolated area near the Canadian border. Use of HT’s by this group is planned in support of the Communications merit badge. Civil Air Patrol mentioned by Cathy (guest) as a group receiving communications training. Mike (K4HN) recalled some relationship in the past with this group.
Mike (K4HN) announced that during Amazon Prime Day a DMR radio was available for 20 dollars. Also, during last night’s SPARC meeting that a silent key has donated 20,000 dollars to the club. Donations are encouraged.
Raffle begins with Ron (W4RFA) selling tickets. Ray wins again and donates ½ back to the club.
Donations to the club: 2 IBM laptops have been donated along with a WIFI router. These items were in-use during summer field-day. Alan (W4UB) describes a donation of a silent key’s station which includes a Hammarlund receiver and a Drake transceiver which will be made ready for sale. An oscilloscope which needs repair was also included in the collection. Jack (N4KIN) describes the MFJ 998RT tuner that the club can purchase for 300 dollars. Jason (N4BOZ) makes motion to approve this purchase with all approving and no objections.
Tech Presentation: Jack (N4KIN) presents Summer Field-Day 2021 results. Introduction of the general lay-out of equipment done by Jack (N4KIN). Thanks to the folks that did the work for set-up and tear-down of the stations. Highlights of issues and improvements made during this event is presented. Welcome to Cathy who visited field-day and plans to become licensed along with 2 of her sons. Various modes were represented to include CW and this year FT-8 was supported along with phone contacts. Satellite equipment was provided and operated by Tom (NY4I). Podcast is forth coming for this event and will be sent out to the membership when available.
New D-Star repeater update: Question asked by Ron (W4RFA). Jason (N4BOZ) doesn’t have a decision from Paul but felt that our offer wasn’t well received. Some history of the club’s D-start repeater was provided to the group by Jack (N4KIN). Paul is on vacation and the proposal will be revisited when he returns.
Adjournment:
Jack’s (N4KIN) closing comments: New hams tested here before our monthly meeting will receive a free club membership for the remainder of the calendar year. Jason (N4BOZ) reminds the group that text alerts are used for last minute or urgent communications so please sign-up. Gerry (WR6N) announced that ARES training is starting on Tuesday night and a conflict with our net at 8p can occur. Discussion of delaying our net held briefly and follow-up recommended for consideration by the net-controllers. Ron (W4RFA) suggests a discussion on the net since that’s group would be impacted any change.
Jack Kinney (N4KIN) adjourned the meeting at approx. 11:00
Minutes submitted by: Dee (W4DCH)
Next Meeting – August 4, 2021