Gold Coast Amateur Radio Association

ARRL Field Day is the single most popular on-the-air event held annually in the US and Canada. On the fourth weekend of June of each year, thousands of radio amateurs gather with their clubs, groups or simply with friends to operate from remote locations.

ARRL Field Day is the single most popular on-the-air event held annually in the US and Canada. On the fourth weekend of June of each year, thousands of radio amateurs gather with their clubs, groups or simply with friends to
operate from remote locations.

Field Day is a picnic, a campout, practice for emergencies, an informal contest and, most of all, FUN!

Monthly Club ZOOM Meeting Tues, June 27, 7:30pm 

Zoom Room Opens Prior to Meeting for socializing.

Click this link to join our meeting – https://us02web.zoom.us

Meeting ID: 861 4515 0594
Passcode: 464119

Speaker: Erik Olmer (W4EJO)

Subject: Shelter Communications

We will be offering a ham radio licensing course beginning March 24th. The class itself will be virtual, however, the FCC testing session will be in-person. There is no charge to take the class, however, the testing fee is $15.00 payable when you take the test.

Classes will be held on Friday evenings from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm on the following dates: March 24 and 31; April 7, 21 and 28; May 5. In-Person Testing will be on Tuesday, May 9. Although we encourage you to attend each class to learn the material, classes are not mandatory.

We will be working out of the book by Gordon West – 2022-2026 Technician Class FCC Element 2 Amateur Radio License Preparation. You can order it online prior to the class. This book contains the entire question pool and has all of the possible questions you might see on your 35 question exam.

Classes will be held via Zoom and those who register for the class will be sent the Zoom information for each class.

To register CLICK HERE to send me an email with your full name, email address and cell phone number.

You can download the flyer here which has all of the pertinent information.

Hope you will be able to join us for this advanced training!

Carol

Gold Coast Amateur Radio Association General Meeting Minutes

1) Call to Order

Erik Olmer (W4EJO) called to order on ZOOM the Gold Coast Amateur Radio Association’s regular meeting at 7:30 pm on May 23, 2023 A quorum was present with 17 members (see Appendix A).

2) Secretary’s Report – Ben Echavarria (N7BBE)

Ben Echavarria (N7BBE) motioned to approve the minutes from April Attendance was taken for officers, members and guests

3) President Report

• Reminder about supporting amateur radio community
• GCARA stands on its own merits and never bad mouths other clubs
• We seek ways to work in tandem with other clubs so the amateur radio Community benefits from the synergy of each club’s unique specialties

4) Vice President – Ricki Witte (KJ4FSJ)

• Committee Reports
• Testing – Jeff Stahl (K4BH)
  • Third Saturday every month at 9:30am at designated location
• Broward ARES/RACES – Carol Sjursen (KJ4AWB) chairman
• ARES EC – Jeff Stahl (K4BH)
• Field Day IC – Erik Olmer (W4EJO)
  • Objectives will be discussed in announcements

5) Treasurer – Dirk Basting (N4AN)

• Current checking balance (as of 5/20/2023) $7,488.67
• Current stripe balance (as of 5/20/2023) $0
• Cash on hand $0
• Membership:
  • Annual Current – 38
  • Annual Family – 4
  • Lifetime – 18
  • Unpaid – 49

6) Repeater Report – Ricky Eaton (KD4HGR)

• Board will agree to entire vision of club hardware by August, auction/sell Surplus equipment and purchase equipment needed to complete vision of hardware
• Talk to Ricky Eaton (KD4HDR) if you have ideas for the clubs hardware (repeaters, HF remote station, Dstar?. Deployable repeater, winlink node, etc.)
• Deployable repeater / Helium Balloon for antenna
• Thanks to Jesse Shannon (KJ4FKK) for $800.00 donation towards this project

7) Member at Large – Melanie Fernandez (KJ4VCT)

• Sunshine Committee – Report on any “good and welfare” topics about Club membership
• Anna Karden (N4KAJ) at home recuperating
• Ricky’s wife Kathleen in for surgery
• Pray for both
• Next speaker
  • June 27 – Erik Olmer (W4EJO) – Shelter Communications
• Next club dinner is 6/11/2023 to avoid conflicts with field day and father’s day
• New members and renewals since last general meeting
  • KQ4IOW – Aurora Figueiredo (Incredible Outstanding Woman)

8) PIO Report – Tom Savoca (K94TJS)

• Shirt sales on webpage
• Business expo in Margate 6/10/2023

9) Old Business

• None

10) New Business:

• None

11) Announcements:

Field day objectives established:

1. “Get Hope on the Air” again
2. Have Fun – K4BH rule
3. Notify IC of contact with HI immediately – The Aloha rule
4. Setup Class 3A station for:
   a. CW
   b. Digital
   c. SSB (club station, experienced/active operators)
   d. GOTA (inactive/inexperienced/non hams) 5 points per QSO
   Regardless of mode
5. Make as many contacts as possible on 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10 and all Bands 50 MHz and above using all modes
6. Develop skills to meet the challenges of emergency preparedness
   a. Educational Activity/club project to tune SSB and GOTA station Antennas Field Day morning
7. Acquaint the general public with the capabilities of amateur radio
   a. Promote event with club’s Facebook, instagram and webpage
   b. Provide food for members and guests
   c. Youth QSO points available, operators 18 or younger who make
   One contact qualify for this bonus point, 100 points maximum available
   d. Obtain all bonus points for site visitation by
   I. Served Agency
   II. Elected Official
8. VHF (solar power bonus with 5 QSO)
9. Satellite (1 QSO)
10. Copy W1AW bulletin
    
    

2023 Field Day Staff:

• IC – Erik Olmer (W4EJO)
• IC Technical Advisor – Jeff Stahl (K4BH)
• Hospitality Advisor – Ricki Witte (KJ4FSJ)
• GOTA Technical Advisor – Joe Mcgee (NX4T)
• Public Information Officer – Tom Savoca (K9TJS)
• Safety Officer – Ben Echavarria (N7BBE)
• Liaison Officer – Carol Sjursen (KJ4AWB)
• GOTA Station Manager – Al Lisler (NT4AL)
• CW Station Manager – Dan Vasilca (AI4WW)
• Digital Station Manager – Ricky Eaton (KD4HGR)
• VHF Station Manager – Kenny Hollenbeck (KE4NC)
• Satellite Station Manager – NEEDED!
• Food Transport Manager – Gerald Deitch (W4LST)

Also needed:

• GOTA Mentors
• SSB Operators
• -“Hands” for station setup and breakdown
• Truck to transport the Nine Cinderblocks

12) Adjournment

• Adjournment at 8:14 pm for program speaker

Program – Speaker Bob Heil (K9EID)

APPENDIX –A- Board Members
Erik Olmer – President, Ricki Witte- Vice President, Ben Echavarria- Secretary, Tom Savoca- PIO
Dirk Basting- Treasurer, Melanie Fernandez- Member at Large, Ricky Eaton – Repeater Trustee

Members:

• Alan Lisler NT4AL
• David Pomerantz KO4DKN
• Nigel Richards KB4F
• Brandy Coolidge N1HO
• Sam Greenfield N2URO
• Jesse Shannon KJ4FKK
• Carol Sjursen KJ4AWB
• Jeff Stahl K4BH
• Paul Passman WBOBBC
• Aurora Figueiredo KQ4IOW
• Mike Wolf K2HXC
• David Warner KB4ICU
• Robert Ligum KN4WII
  

Guests:

• Sylvan Pierre
• Craig Ruth K6JGV
• Bob Ramsey N9KMQ
• RC Saybrack
• Richard Wallace KG6YEM
• Rick Torey WZRMT
• Joe Leikhim III K4SAT
• Guy Ingram
• Mike Sam

Gold Coast Amateur Radio Association Board Meeting Minutes

1) Call to Order

Erik Olmer (W4EJO) called the meeting to order at 14:33 hours on May 21, 2023. A quorum is present members with five (5) board
And a reminder about supporting the amateur radio community.
° GCARA stands on its own merits and never bad mouths other clubs.
° We seek ways to work in tandem with other clubs so the amateur radio community benefits from the synergy of each club’s unique specialties.

Members present: Erik Olmer (W4EJO), Melanie Fernandez (KJ4VCT), Ricki Witte (KJ4FSJ), Ben Echavarria (N7BBE), Ricky Eaton (KD4HGR)
Members excused: Dirk Basting N4AN and Tom Savoca K9TJS

2) Secretary – Ben Echavarria (N7BBE)

• Approval of previous minutes.
• Attendance taken of officers.
  

3) Presidents Report – Erik Olmer (W4EJO)

• Summary of past months events and activities
  ° Ham and Eggs
  ° Egg hunt/Picnic
  ° MS Bike Ride
• Future events
  ° July 18 10:30am – Library Presentation at Century Plaza Branch Library in Deerfield Beach
  

4) Vice President Ricki Witte (KJ4FSJ)

• Treasurer transition finalized
• Committee Reports:
  ° June 24 & 25 – Summer Field Day
  ° W4EJO is Summer Field Day Coordinator
  ° Jeff Stahl is Technical Advisor
  ° Ben E (N7BBE) will be the Safety Officer

• Joe McGee (NX4T) and Al Lisler (NT4AL) will lead team tuning of the GOTA and SSB antennas
• This will function as a public demonstration and an educational event for hams
• Green means GO-TA (get on the air)
• Lunch Saturday – “free picnic” food, like the Spring Event
• Dinner Saturday – stew, chili, donations or GOTA time required (setup, operating, or mentoring)
• Flyer to introduce club, handout

° Testing – Jeff Stahl (K4BH)

• Will work with Tom Savoca (K9TJS) to have RSVP system and PR for our new Testing Sessions

° Broward ARES/RACES – Carol Sjursen RACES chairman/Jeff Stahl (K4BH) ARES EC

• June 1 is Hurricane season

5) Treasurer Report Dirk Basting (N4AN)

• Current checking balance (as of 5/20/23) $7,488.67
• Current stripe balance (as of 5/20/23) $0
• Cash on hand: $0
• Membership:
  ° Annual current – 38
  ° Annual Family – 4
  ° Lifetime – 18
  ° “Unpaid” – 49
• Goal is 50% collection by July 1, 2023
• Review membership report distributed and talk to anyone who has “paid through” date in the past
• Ask for year members joined club

6) Repeater Trustee – Ricky Eaton (KD4HGR)

• Need a vision for what our repeaters and other hardware
• Where are we going and what do we have?
• Unload surplus equipment and procure missing equipment to build the vision of hardware we want for the club
• Donated HF radio, to replace existing HF radio and auction old radio for club fundraiser

7) Member at Large – Melanie Fernandez (KJ4VCT)

• Sunshine Committee – Report on any “good and welfare” topics about club membership.
• Next Speakers
  ° May 23 – Bob Heil
  ° June 27 – Erik Olmer (W4EJO), Shelter Communications
• New members and renewals since last general meeting
  ° Aurora Figueiredo KQ4IOW

8) PIO – TOM SAVOCA (K9TJS)

• Shirt sales on webpage
• Business Expo June 10

9) Old Business

• Banners – Pending, discuss in conjunction with inflatable helium balloon for next years Winter Field Day
• Business cards/QSL Cards – designs discussed, need to be finalized and ordered
• Shirts / Patches / Stickers

10) New Business

• Discussion of Lifetime members

11) Announcements

12) Adjournment

Meeting adjourned by Erik Olmer (W4EJO) at 3:28 pm

The W4BUG operation was ranked #9 in its category, in this case representing other groups in the US and Canada with 3 simultaneous transmitters working at a completely temporary operation, outside.

General Meeting Minutes

1) Call to Order
Erik Olmer (W4EJO) called to order on ZOOM the Gold Coast Amateur Radio Association’s regular meeting at 7:30 pm on April 25, 2023 A quorum was present.

2) Secretary’s Report – Ben Echavarria (N7BBE)
Ben Echavarria (N7BBE) motioned to approve the minutes from March, was seconded by Rick Eaton (KD4HGR)°°

• See appendix “A” for membership and guests list.
  2) President’s Report – Erik Olmer (W4EJO)
• Speaker schedule:
  ° May 23 – Bob Heil, whatever he wants to talk about
  ° June 27 – Erik Olmer (W4EJO) Shelter Communications
• Events Past
• Egg Hunt/Picnic went very well
• MS Bike Ride – lessons learned
• Future Events
• June 10 Margate Sports Complex 3:00pm to 10:00pm Business and Home Improvement Expo, We have a table to Exhibit our club. Need
  Volunteers.
• July 18, 10:30am Library Presentation at the Century Plaza Library in Deerfield Beach.
• Shirts will be going on sale, probably $40 each, donation to GCARA included with Shirt; great way to show support for the club.

3) Vice President Ricki Witte (KJ4FSJ) – Excused

• Committee Reports:
  ° Testing – Jeff Stahl (K4BH) Will be testing the third Saturday of each month at the 1st Christian Church of Wilton Manors at 9:30 am

° Broward ARES\RACES – Carol Sjursen (KJ4AWB) RACES Chairman Jeff Stahl (K4BH) ARES EC
° Field Day IC – Erik Olmer (W4EJO)
° POTA – Mike Wolf (K2HXC)

4) Treasurer, Dirk Basting (N4AN), Interim Treasurer Erik Olmer (W4EJO)

• Current checking balance (as of 4/23/2023) $7,208.67
• Current stripe balance (as of 4/23/2023) $0
• Cash on hand $67.00
• Membership
  Annual Current – 38
  Annual Family – 4
  Lifetime – 18
  Unpaid – 49
  Goal is 50% collection by July 1, 2023

5) Repeater Trustee Ricky Eaton (KD4HGR)

• HF STATION – Schedule time for overview on Zoom
• Allstar integration for W4BUG repeaters
• Deployable Repeater/Helium Balloon for antenna
  ° Will have fundraiser to cover the cost

6) Member at Large, Melanie Fernandez (KJ4VCT)

• Sunshine Committee – Report on any “good and welfare” topics about Club membership
• Welcome Dirk Basting (N4AN) new Treasurer by Acclamation
• New members and renewals
• 3/26/2023 – Next dinner at Wings Plus

• New members AND Renewals since last general meeting
  ° KM4LVK – Luis Gesualdi, new member
  ° KJ4FSH – Rhonda, renewal
  ° W4LST – Gerald, renewal
  ° NT4AL – Alan, renewal

8) PIO, Tom Savoca (K9TJS)

• Summarize past month committee activity on social media and other forums
• Discuss any PIO committee activity planned on or before the next general meeting

9) Old Business:

• Club event for tuning Joe McGee dipole antenna
  

10) New Business:

11) Announcements:

• Board added three (3) new lifetime members, Kenny and Sally, Ricky Eaton and Ricki Witte
• Donation of a Hustler 6-BTV + 12M + 17M from Howard Robins W1HSR

12) Adjournment

Program: Robert Molleda, NWS, Hurricane Season Prep

A. Appendix A
1) Members Present
Melanie Fernandez (KJ4VCT), Jeff Stahl (K4BH), Mike Wolf (K2HXC), Erik Olmer (W4EJO) Tom Savoca (K9TJS) Ricki Witte (KJ4FSJ)
Ricky Eaton (KD4HGR), John Cole (N1QFH), Nigel Richards (KB4F), Dirk Basting (N4AN), Mickey Galper (AA4AC), Carol Sjursen (KJ4AWB), Allan Karden (N4ALK), Ben Echavarria (N7BBE), Joe McGee (NX4T), Jo Cummings N2QFT, Bill Mercer KE8TPU, Harvey Kramer (KC4CX), David Laine Mike Sam KF4ZW, Paul Passman WB0BBC, Jesse Shannon KJ4FKK
20

1) Guests Present

1
Minutes Submitted by Ben Echavarria (N7BBE)

Join us for Dinner May 21, 2023 7pm at Wings Plus

PLEASE RSVP using the form below so we can let the restaurant know roughly how many people are coming.

You do not have to be a member or a HAM operator to join our monthly club dinner!

Location:
Wings Plus
9880 W Sample Rd
Coral Springs, FL 33065

Sat – April 29, Noon-10pm

Sun – April 30, 8am – 6pm

Location:
The Shack
Delray Beach Regional Park
10875 W Atlantic Ave
Delray Beach, FL 33446

Please register here

https://brara.org/BLOG/florida-qso-party-and-event-information/

OBJECT: For radio amateurs outside of the state of Florida to make contact with as many Florida stations in as many of the 67 Florida counties as possible. Florida operators work anyone outside and within Florida.

*** CQ FLORIDA HAMS ***

The 2023 Florida QSO Party will be held April 29 & 30. We sure hope you’ll join us by activating your FL HF stations – home, club, school, mobile and expedition all welcomed.

Let’s make all 67 counties RADIO-ACTIVE!

CALL TO ACTION!!!

Florida Stations of all types – please go to the FQP website and register your fixed, mobile and expedition operations; just click on the “Counties” link and then the Activation Forms to get started – thanks!

Please check out the rules and further details at our Web Site: http://www.floridaqsoparty.org/

Monthly Club ZOOM Meeting Tues, May 23, 7:30pm 

Zoom Room Opens Prior to Meeting for socializing.

Click this link to join our meeting – https://us02web.zoom.us

Meeting ID: 861 4515 0594
Passcode: 464119

Speaker: Bob Heil, K9EID

Subject: tbd

Bob Heil, K9EID, is an American sound and radio engineer. He is best known for creating the template for modern rock sound systems, founding the company Heil Sound in 1966, and inventing the Heil Talk Box in 1973.

Heil was born in Illinois in 1940. He became a proficient theater sound engineer in high school, and after graduating from college, he worked as a sound engineer for a variety of bands and artists. In 1966, he founded Heil Sound, a company that manufactures microphones, satellite dishes, and other audio equipment.

Heil is a pioneer in the field of sound engineering. He was one of the first engineers to use high-powered loudspeakers and feedback cancellation systems in live sound applications. He also developed the Heil Talk Box, a device that allows vocalists to create electronic sounds by speaking into a microphone that is connected to a guitar amplifier. The Heil Talk Box has been used by many famous musicians, including Peter Frampton, Joe Walsh, and Richie Sambora.

Heil is a member of the National Association of Broadcasters, the Audio Engineering Society, and the American Radio Relay League. He has received numerous awards for his work in sound engineering, including the Marconi Society’s Achievement Award in 2007.

Heil is a passionate advocate for amateur radio. He is a licensed amateur radio operator with the call sign K9EID. He is also the host of the Ham Nation podcast, which is one of the most popular amateur radio podcasts in the world.

The U.S. Navy Blue Angels will headline the 2023 Fort Lauderdale Air Show this weekend on April 29-30 featuring the U.S. Air Force F-22 Raptor Demo Team and an all-star lineup of military and civilian flight demonstrations.

Set on and over Fort Lauderdale beach, the weekend-long annual event is full of unbelievable aerial aerobatics guaranteed to make for a memorable time on our sandy shores.

Read Visit Lauderdale’s Everything You Need to Know About the Fort Lauderdale Air Show to learn more.