MINUTES FOR SEPTEMBER 9, 2010    

                                                By Bob, KT4KS

 

(NOTE: The Secretary’s hand written notes for the September Minutes were lost.  However, as there were no motions of a financial nature, the following summary of the meeting will satisfy the club’s records.)

 

At 7:32PM, President Maki called the meeting to order, and led the pledge of allegiance.  Membership introductions were then carried out.

 

REPEATER: Dick WA4USB was present, and gave an overview of features of the club’s repeater.  Dick mentioned that the repeater will have to be moved “just a few inches” to permit for site workers to move non-MVARC equipment.  The club’s repeater will then have to be moved back to the original location.  Dick was confident that it would require a minimum of effort.  Jeanie Rexroad was given credit for securing the club’s repeater site, which required a vote of the Alexandria City Counsel for permission.  The unit is presently operating at about 80 watts, but has a capacity of about 300 watts.  The unit also has emergency power (which may be battery in nature).  Steve K3IZ mentioned that years ago, the 91’ machine at Tyson’s Corners fell into a site issue.  Seems that the building in which the 91’ machine was housed was sold, and that the building’s new owners greedily demanded a fee for space and electricity.  Naturally, the 91’ machine was taken off of the air until a new site was obtained, which site is presently along Route 7, just inside of the beltway, and thus only near to Tyson’s Corners.  MVARC does not pay for electricity, cooling, phone or space at the present Masonic Temple site, and has been given a generous gift over the years.  

 

TREASURER’S REPORT: Mike KE4ER provided amounts for savings ($3394.46), checking ($530.62) and cash ($100).

 

MOTION TO PASS THE MINUTES: A motion to pass the August MINUTES was made, and was quickly approved.

 

TEST SESSION:  The upcoming test session was announced, and about 5 hands went up when asked how many of those in attendance were planning to help.

 

MARINE CORP MARATHON: Steve K3IZ announced that the Marine Corp Marathon is taking place on Halloween Day.  Seems that the cut off date for signing up was the end of August.  D-Star will take a dominant stance in communications, and routine communications appear to be taking a back seat.

 

WEB SITE: Paul AA8O mentioned that the club will have to decide on whether to pay for space for 1 or 3 years, as January is a cut off date (in some regard).  No decision was made on that point, so no doubt it will be brought up in either the October or November meeting.  Presently, the club’s site can be found using either com or org.  Vice President Greg AJ4QZ mentioned that he would like to add something to the club’s web site regarding past officers, and he took possession of the club’s copy of the MVARC handbook for informational purposes.

 

VENTURE CREW: Dick stated that it was his opinion that MVARC was not financially responsible for the Venture Crew, and that it is the church and boy scouts that generally carry that responsibility.  Of course, MVARC remains one of the minor sponsors for the crew.  Dick then went on to provide a summary of the nature of the Venture Crew, relating it to first aide and emergency communications.  The age of the members are generally from 14 to 20 years, and many have left the Crew to start productive lives.  It was mentioned that two of the former members of the Crew went on to West Point, and that (others) have benefited in the military by being ham radio operators.

 

OLD BUSINESS: It was reported that Jim Claxton WE4PDP remains anxious to get rid of all of the MVARC equipment in his home.  The two batteries at the site are thought to have some monetary value, and at least John K2VPR and Doug WA4WEP expressed an interest in obtaining ownership.  The old repeater at Jim’s house does not appear to be worth much, so thought was made of dropping it off at a site in Fredericksburg where someone can presumable make some use of it.  Dick expressed an interest in obtaining a meter at Jim’s site, which meter would prove beneficial for the club’s present repeater.  The club’s old antenna is on Jim’s roof, and likely will need to be taken down, as it has no practical or esthetic value.  Maki mentioned the possibility of storing items along with the club’s other repeater and duplexer at Bob’s sun room; but it’s not likely to come to that. 

 

NEW BUSINESS: Maki inquired as to if any of the membership was interested in an event for building new units, and second event for transmitting.  Maki was of the view that the first event should be more of a tuning nature, and that members should bring newly built kits just for that (tuning) purpose.  At least one member mentioned that the event could be used for kits that are auxiliary to transmitters, though no particular type of auxiliary kit was mentioned.  Discussion shifted to the late date, as cooler morning temperatures are not desirable for construction and transmitting CW.  The site for the building could potentially be the Alexandria docks (Robinson Terminal), and the site for transmitting could pretty much be anywhere, likely on a lone hill located along the Potomac River’s edge on a dewy morning.  Membership may watch for an email that provides a date for the events.

 

COOKIE MONSTER:  Bob KT4KS was the evening’s Cookie Monster, and he brought soda, ice, Banana Crunch Cake and Pumpkin Cake.  Debra KG4URO was generous enough to volunteer to be the October Cookie Monster.

 

SHOW AND TELL:  Steve K3IZ showed a certificate that he obtained from a ham radio Special Event.  The certificate was obtained by contacting the event’s sponsor, and receiving it through the email after the sponsor had checked his log.  (Steve’s certificate was color, and looked darn good on glossy paper.)  MVARC membership seemed interested in using this technique in any future sponsored MVARC Special Event.  In addition, John WQ4L stated that he had a strange recording of a mystery CW operator, and that anyone interested could listen to it after the meeting.  I listened to the recording, and it seemed to play “CQD………. CQD………. CQD……….”, or something close to that.  The meaning of the message could not be interpreted, and remains a mystery.

 

CLOSE: Maki then closed the meeting.



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