Gold Coast Amateur Radio Association
Board Meeting
Minutes

1)  Call to Order

Melanie Fernandez (KJ4VCT)called to order the Gold Coast Amateur Radio Association’s Board meeting at 14:35 EDT (18:35 UTC) on September 19, 2021, on ZOOM.  A quorum was present with six board members.

2)  Old Business

a)    Repeater status and connections – Ricky Eaton (KD4HGR)

Everything is working OK. Mike’s Electronics has received the check for the antenna. Ricky Eaton (KD4HGR) will arrange to transport the antenna to his warehouse. Ricky Eaton (KD4HGR) will also schedule the pickup of a VHF Motorola repeater donated by Mike Wolf (K2HXC).

Nothing has happened with the remote site yet. Ricky Eaton (KD4HGR) was sick, and Eric was too busy to do anything.

The overheating of the .610 machine is fixed. The UPS was damaged from a lightning hit. Joe McGee (NX4T) went up there and plugged the fans into a wall outlet.

Jeff Stahl (K4BH) advised that Jerry Deitch (W4LST) offered a small A/C unit to provide additional cooling for the repeater room. Ricky Eaton (KD4HGR) is still waiting for JKV maintenance to get back with him and let him know if it is OK to have an additional A/C unit.

b)   Next Club Dinner

Melanie Fernandez (KJ4VCT) wanted to know if we should have another dinner or picnic before the end of the year. The Board decided that the Dinners are more successful, so we will plan the next dinner for October 3, 2021, at 19:30 EDT (23:30 UTC).

Charlie Artner (KN4VDW) will create a signup sheet on the website.

Ricky Eaton (KD4HGR) will investigate if we can get the new antenna up on JKV before we need it to store it for future use, whatever that use may be.

Mike’s Electronics will also donate cables and an interface. Ricky Eaton (KD4HGR) will get the items and store them for the club.

c)    Membership—begin and duration – Charlie Artner (KN4VDW)

We have sent out a poll to ask the members how they feel about this change, and out of the members who participated in the poll, 73% agree with this change.

d)   Status of EchoLink – Ricky Eaton (KD4HGR)

Ricky Eaton (KD4HGR) has nothing new on EchoLink. He was not able to do anything due to his health condition.

e)    Status of WinLink Charlie Artner (KN4VDW)

Charlie Artner (KN4VDW) reported that the HD on the laptop for WinLink is not working, and he will have to replace the HD.

f)     Winter Field Day Plans

Melanie Fernandez (KJ4VCT) will proceed with the paperwork for the Winter Field Day, and at the same time, we will ask the members via an ePoll who would participate in a Winter Field Day.

Poll results as of October 7, 2021. Last vote was casted on October 4, 2021.

g)   Post Office Box issue

Charlie Artner (KN4VDW) will get information on a mailbox service on Atlantic Blvd and provide info to the Board in the next meeting.

3)  Vote on Writing Check for Insurance

The amount for the insurance is $180.42. It was approved without objections.

4)  Nominating Committee for Officers

Al already said that he is not available for the nominating committee this year. Jeff Stahl (K4BH) nominated Jerry Deitch (W4LST) and was accepted without objection.

5)  Broward County Amateur Radio Club

Ricky Eaton (KD4HGR) will talk to the person who is left in charge of the club’s business to discuss possible options for a merger.

6)  Get Sunshine Committee established again

Ricky Eaton (KD4HGR) suggested Jesse Shannon for this position, and Melanie Fernandez (KJ4VCT) will talk to him.

7)  New Activities Needed

a)    HF Station Drill – Erik Olmer (W4EJO)

Erik Olmer (W4EJO) and Charlie Artner (KN4VDW) will start a pilot program inviting people on ZOOM to watch and listen to what is going on at 07:00 EDT (11:0 UTC) at the FPTN.

b)   Workshop

Ricky Eaton (KD4HGR) and Jeff Stahl (K4BH) will go to Mike’s Electronics to see what inventory is left to be used for workshops. The Board gave them permission to spend up to $500.00.

8)  Weekend Park Meetings

We will be looking into opportunities for an event at a park more central to the members.

9)  Change meeting time for BM

The Board has unanimously decided to change the meeting time to 14:30 hrs.

10)      Adjournment

Melanie Fernandez (KJ4VCT) adjourned the meeting at 16:32 EDT (20:32 UTC).