2022 February Minutes

Marinette & Menominee Amateur Radio Club

Regular Monthly Meeting Minutes

Thursday February 10, 2022

 

Meeting was called to order at 7:01 pm at the Labor Hall in Menominee by club president Steve Mellenthin, K9STT.

Motion to approve the December meeting minutes was made by Mike Lemke, KD8FUE and seconded by Tim Mellenthin, WN6KHG. The motion was accepted and carried.

Treasures Report: Club treasurer KD8FUE reported a balance of $4,970.90 and a trailer fund balance of $721.06

Correspondence: AARL club grants start in April. K9STT will check into them.

Committee Reports

Repeater Report: No report.

Education and Training: Doug Dooley, KD8OVR had nothing new to report. Test sessions can be scheduled at any time if needed.

Property Report: Nothing new to report.

ARES Report: Nothing new to report.

Trailer Report: Waiting for warmer weather to resume work on the trailer.

Fundraiser Report: K9STT reported he is planning on having two brat fry’s and the Stephenson Island fundraiser this summer. Anyone wishing to volunteer should contact K9STT.

DAR report: KD8FUE reported the room has been steady but slow lately. Anyone wishing to help out in the DAR radio room can contact K9STT or KD8FUE

Webmaster Report: K9STT reported the website is doing fine.

ARRL Report: K9STT reported we are current with ARRL.

HATT: No report.

New Business

Finance and property review will be scheduled soon by KD8OVR.

KD8FUE brough up the cost of sending reminder letters to club members who haven’t paid their dues by the end of December each year. He is currently spending $50-$60 a year sending out reminders to members to pay their membership dues. KD8FUE proposed the idea of raising the cost of the dues if they are paid after December to cover the cost of mailing reminder letters. KD8OVR suggested we try emailing the reminders instead of using the US mail to reduce the cost. No action taken.

K9STT requested the club to appropriate funds to the repeater expansion project like has been done for the communications trailer. If we would find a good deal on equipment needed for this project, we would be able to purchase it right away instead of waiting for the next club meeting to approve the purchase. A motion to appropriate $2500 for the repeater expansion project was made by KD8FUE and seconded by WN6KHG. The motion was accepted and carried.

A proposed by-laws change by K9STT to allow club officers to approve small purchases without a club vote has been tabled until next meeting.

A motion to nominate Char Conover for HAM of the Year was made by WN6KHG and seconded by KD8OVR. The motion was accepted and carried.

Old Business

Repeater expansion was discussed and it was determined that the greatest need for expanded coverage is to the north. Tom Philipps suggested that Pinecrest Medical Care Facility in Powers, MI could be a possible location for a northern repeater.

ARES - Antennas at the EOC in Menominee need to be updated to get out on HF. Also, the SignaLink needs to be set up with HF radio to get Winlink up and running. Tom Philipps is working on securing a dedicated room for the EOC at the ISD building in Menominee.

Announcements

A HAM breakfast will be held 9 am Saturday, February 12th at Jo Jo’s Diner in Stiles Jct.

N9CON will not be involved in Breakfast on the Farm this year.

Motion to adjourn the meeting was made by N9CON and seconded by KD8OVR. The motion was accepted and carried. Meeting ended at 7:52 pm.

7 members present: N9GLT, KD8FUE, WN6KHG, K9STT, N9CON, KD8OVR and WA9BUD.

 

Minutes respectfully submitted by John Goldschmidt – Secretary