GCARA MINUTES OF MEMBERSHIP MEETING
September 22, 2020
Call to Order – The regular meeting of the Gold Coast Amateur Radio Association, Inc., was called to order on Zoom on Tuesday, September 22, 2020, at 7:02 p.m. by President Melanie Fernandez, KJ4VCT, followed by the pledge of allegiance.
Attendance – There were approximately 27 members and guests participating in the Zoom meeting, which was sufficient for a quorum.
Minutes – The Minutes of the August 25, 2020, meeting were approved as submitted and available on the Association’s web page.
Reports
Treasurer – Erik Olmer, W4EJO, Treasurer, reported income of $235, $30 for dues and $205 in donations toward memorial bricks, with expenses for the month of $24. Assets on hand as of September 22nd are
Check Account Balance $1,122.96
Don Search Memorial Fund 250.00
Roy Neiman Memorial Fund 705.00
Chuck Gress Memorial Fund 50.00
Reserve Fund 3,500.00
Total GCARA Assets $5,627.96
Membership – Joe McGee, NX4T, reported 82 members of whom 17 are Life Members, and 56 are members of ARRL.
Covid-19 and Testing – Jeff Stahl, K4BH, said caution remains essential to reduce the spread of the virus. Testing has not been resumed.
Repeater Report – Ricky Eaton, KD4HGR, said he has been receiving donations toward a new antenna, and a vertical antenna has been donated and will be erected soon.
Web Site – John Cole, N1QFH, said board members have been learning WordPress in order to post content on the website. Dave Warner, KB4ICU, offered to assist with the website. There was a discussion of facilitating the payment of dues by enabling payment through PayPal and also of moving forward with becoming a 501(c)(3) organization.
Old Business – Imperial Point Hospital remains unavailable as a meeting site, and picnics and quarterly dinners remain on hold.
Announcements and Informal Discussion
Melanie Fernandez announced that Peter Rimmel, N8PR, has become a silent key.
Jeff Stahl announced the annual SET (Simulated Emergency Test) to be held on October 3rd and 4th. Members with shelter assignments are encouraged to go as close as possible to the site to check in. Four frequencies will be used, changing every 15 minutes, between 9:00 and 10:00. Participants should check in on each frequency.
GCARA will host a Halloween happy hour on Zoom on October 10th at 7:00 following the SEFTN, including a costume contest.
Ralph, N0LO, and Sherry, KB5VWW, Tullo said goodbye, since they are moving to North Carolina.
Speaker – Dave Warner introduced the speaker: Wolfgang, KJ4ATV, who gave a presentation, along with Roland, KC6JPG, on amateur television. Amateur TV has a number of repeaters in California, Arizona, and Nevada, and a weekly “net” on Tuesdays at 10:30 Eastern Time, on whereby.com/atn1, to which GCARA were invited.
Adjournment – The meeting was adjourned at 8:32 p.m.
Ricki Witte, KJ4FSJ
Secretary Pro Tem
Call to Order – A board meeting of the Gold Coast Amateur Radio Association, Inc., held on Zoom, was called to order on Sunday, September 13, 2020, at 12:30 p.m. by President Melanie Fernandez, KJ4VCT.
Attendance – Board members present were Melanie Fernandez, KJ4VCT; Joe McGee, NX4T; Ricky Eaton, KD4HGR; Erik Olmer, W4EJO; Jeff Stahl, K4BH; and Mike Wolf, K2HXC; which was sufficient for a quorum. Guests present were Barry Porter, KB1PA, who provided the use of his Zoom account for the meeting; Carol Sjursen, KJ4AWB; and Ricki Witte, KJ4FSJ.
Memorial Bricks – There are sufficient funds for ARRL Memorial Bricks for Don Search, W3AZD, and Hope Smith, WB3ANE. Funds are still being accepted for bricks for Roy Nieman, KJ4EGN, and Chuck Gress, K3NXH.
While the families of brick honorees will receive letters from the ARRL, Melanie proposed sending a letter from the Association to the three widows and read a draft of such a letter. The board agreed.
Website – John Cole, N1QFH, will give individual instruction to board members in order that board members can post their own articles. Arrangements for a mutually convenient time should be made with John before the end of September.
Ricky Eaton reported the repeaters are working. The voter is still a problem, which appears to be either wiring or software. Ricky will help Hope Smith with programming her DMR radio.
HF Station – Joe McGee said the HF station was created to enable hams whose homeowner associations prohibit antennas to get on the air. Putting it on the repeater site did not work, so it was set up at Joe’s residence using his internet connection and 35-foot antenna. The station did not work with either of the two available routers so was hooked up without a router. It works, but interferes with Joe’s internet connection. So far, the station works on 40 and 20 meters. Some training for users is necessary, and Joe’s presentation at the last membership meeting was recorded and is on the website. Erik Olmer suggested small group training on Zoom, with the idea that individuals who learn to use the HF station will maintain contact with each other, promoting use of the station and club espirit de corps.
Audit – Ralph Tullo completed the audit of the treasurer’s records and found everything satisfactory. He suggested using an appropriate computer program because the treasurer changes periodically. After reviewing several, Ralph recommended MoneyMinder. Melanie asked everyone to look at the program, which costs about $159 a year, and be prepared to discuss and vote at the next board meeting.
Election of Officers – Al Flapan, AF4FA, will be asked one again to head the nominating committee and present a slate at the October general meeting. The election is at the November meeting. Present board members have indicated a willingness to continue. A secretary will be to be found to replace silent key, Roy Nieman.
Volunteers Needed – Barry Porter and Carol Sjursen spoke of the need for emergency volunteers, and there was a discussion of ideas to attract volunteers, including a video shot in one of the schools used as a shelter in the event permission could be obtained. The plan to use hotels as shelters will create additional challenges, since the hotels will not have antennas already on site.
Testing – Jeff Stah is still in the process of determining how to manage testing during the pandemic restrictions, either online (possible but complicated) or using a parking lot or public park and having test takers remain in their cars while taking the test, each one observed by a volunteer monitor.
The meeting was adjourned at 1:40 p.m.
Ricki Witte, KJ4FSJ
Secretary pro tem
GCARA MINUTES OF MEMBERSHIP MEETING
August 25, 2020
Call to Order – The regular meeting of the Gold Coast Amateur Radio Association, Inc., was called to order on Zoom on Tuesday, August 25, 2020, at 7:03 p.m. by Vice President Joe McGee, NX4T, who presided at the request of President Melanie Fernandez, KJ4VCT.
Attendance – There were 27 members and guests participating in the Zoom meeting, which was sufficient for a quorum.
Minutes – The Minutes of the June 23, 2020, meeting were approved as submitted and available on the Association’s web page.
Reports
Treasurer – Erik Olmer, W4EJO, Treasurer, reported income and expenses for the period from July 23rd to August 25, 2020.
Membership – Joe McGee, NX4T, reported 84 members of whom 17 are Life Members, and 58 are members of ARRL. There has been a decline in membership, apparently heightened by the pandemic.
Joe McGee invited members to share their thoughts and memories of three members who have recently become silent keys: Don Search, W3AZD, Roy Neiman, KJ4EGN, and Chuck Gress, K3NXH.
Testing – Jeff Stahl, K4BH, said testing is not being held due to the pandemic. Remote testing, which is allowed, is being considered, but the logistics are challenging.
COVID-19 Report – Jeff Stahl, K4BH, reported a downward trend in new cases and deaths, but said it appears likely that the threat will continue well into next year.
Repeater Report – Ricky Eaton, KD4HGR, said all repeaters are now working. The voter is not working yet but is being worked on.
Web Site – John Cole, N1QFH, is working on the WordPress framework, and will do additional training to enable board members to post content.
Old Business – John Cole, N1QFH, said there is still no decision by Imperial Point Hospital regarding when we can resume meeting there. Joe McGee added that there are no picnics or quarterly dinners scheduled.
New Business – The Board decided to join with the Palmetto Amateur Radio Club to buy an ARRL memorial brick for Roy Neiman, KJ4EGN, along with the one previously decided upon for Don Search, W3AZD.
Since Roy Neiman has become a silent key, there is a vacancy in the position of secretary. Anyone interested in serving in this capacity must be a paid-up member for at least a year with computer skills and should contact President Melanie Fernandez, KJ4VCT.
Announcements and Informal Discussion
Hope Smith, WB3ANE, is looking for recent issues of CQ magazine. Carol Sjursen, KJ4AWB, reported on the transportation assistance for Hope provided in recent months by Melanie Fernandez, KJ4VCT, as well as Roy Neiman, KJ4EGN, and his wife, Vicki.
The Southeast Florida Traffic Net needs volunteers to serve as net control, even if only occasionally. Volunteers should contact Kenny Hollenbeck, KE4NC. Carol Sjursen, KJ4AWB, thanked those who were prepared to serve in shelters if needed during hurricanes Isaias and Laura, but said many more volunteers are needed. Carol and Jeff Stahl, K4BH, will be asking members to participate in the annual test of emergency equipment and ham community preparedness on October 3rd and 4th.
Speaker – Joe McGee, N4XT, presented a program on how to use the newly created remote HF station. This program provides a way for hams who cannot put up an antenna due to condo restrictions to operate on 40, 20, and 15 meters using the internet. Software must be downloaded from the Remote Hams web site. Users must be GCARA members with a general or higher license. The physical equipment is at Joe McGee’s home, including a fan dipole mounted on a 35-foot tower. Joe McGee, N4XT, or Ricky Eaton, KD4HGR, should be contacted to obtain the necessary permission. As usage increases, scheduling will need to be resolved, but the program is currently available for any qualified member.
Adjournment – The meeting was adjourned at 9:21 p.m.
Ricki Witte, KJ4FSJ
Secretary Pro Tem