Monthly Club ZOOM Meeting Tues, 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
1) Call to Order
- Erik Olmer (W4EJO) called to order on ZOOM the Gold Coast Amateur Radio Association’s regular meeting at 7:31 pm on June 27, 2023 A quorum was present with 9 members (see Appendix A).
- Greetings, Introductions of Board Members, Members and Guests.
2) Secretary’s Report – Ben Echavarria (N7BBE)
- Ben Echavarria (N7BBE) motioned to approve the minutes from May
- Attendance was taken for officers, members and guests
3) President Report
- PSA – Boca Raton Radio Club provides service to other hams and the community
- Boca Club has events where the public is invited and feed at no charge
- They help amateur radio operators with radio problems and repairs at no charge
- They are now in need of a new Air Conditioner at their Club House and are in
- Need of Donations. The replacement cost is about $6,000.00.
- For Social club events, Home Radio Shacks can be visited.
- Winter Field Day is in 6 months, we need someone to plan and oversee the event.
4) Vice President – Ricki Witte (KJ4FSJ)
- Committee Reports
- Testing – Jeff Stahl (K4BH) We had no candidates this time.
- Third Saturday every month at 10:00 am at 1st Christian Church of Wilton Manors
- Broward ARES/RACES – Carol Sjursen (KJ4AWB) chairman
- We still need Shelter Operators, please volunteer
- ARES EC – Jeff Stahl (K4BH)
- Field Day IC – Erik Olmer (W4EJO)
- High level summary, more detail in July
- Objective – Get Hope on the air (Successful)
- Everyone had fun
- Band conditions were dubious at best.
- Setting up stations – Could use more volunteers, we did set up class 3A station for
- CW – Digital – SSB (club station, experienced/active operators)
- Purpose – To develop skills to meet the challenges in Emergency Preparadness
- Acquaint the general public with the capability of Amateur Radio
- Explained to non-amateur people with active demo’s
- We had no satellite contact
- W1AW bulletin was copied
- Ran the SEFTN net and passed messages
5) Treasurer – Dirk Basting (N4AN)
- Current checking balance (as of 6/27/2023) $8,192.18
- Current stripe balance (as of 5/20/2023) $67.00
- Cash on hand $0
- Membership:
- Annual Current – 49
- Annual Family – 4
- Lifetime – 25
- Unpaid – 30
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.)
- Linking Repeaters for public service emergencies remotely and thru internet
- Put Allstar Link on the 440 Repeater
- We own five (5) repeaters, what can we do to make it better?
7) Member at Large – Melanie Fernandez (KJ4VCT)
- Sunshine Committee – Report on any “good and welfare” topics about
- Club membership
- Prayers for wives of Barry Gardner (K04FBU0) and Ricky Eaton (KD4HGR) Both post surgery
- Deanne Navares wife of Alberto Navares (N4ACN) passed away a week before Field day, Her request is that donations should be made to St. Judes Children’s Hospital in her name.
- July 18 – Library presentation at 10:30am at the Century Plaza Branch Library in Deerfield Beach it will be about the History of Radio compared to the Hobby of Amateur Radio today.
- Next speaker
- July 25 Bob Heil will be here
- Aug 22 – Club Hardware Vision
- Sep 26 – USS Hornet Museum Amateur Radio Club
- Next club dinner July 23 at Wings Plus
- 14 Renewals and 1 New Member (Robert White)
8) PIO Report – Tom Savoca (K94TJS)
- Posted pictures of our Field Day on Facebook
9) Old Business
- None
10) New Business:
- None
11) Announcements:
- The annual 13 Colonies Special Event July 1, 9:00 am to July 7 Midnight
- MFJ Analyzer is on its way back from repair
- Club may be in need of a new President for next year
12) Adjournment
- Adjournment at 8:45 pm for program speaker
Program – Speaker Erik Olmer (W4EJO) Shelter Communications
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:
Joe McGee NX4T
Robert White WB4TNV
Bill Mercer KE8TPU
Carol Sjursen KJ4AWB
Jeff Stahl K4BH
Paul Passman WBOBBC
Aurora Figueiredo WD4AGF
Mike Wolfe K2HXC
Robert Ligum KN4WII
Guests:
Sylvan Pierre KBIEFW
1) Call to Order
Erik Olmer (W4EJO) called the meeting to order at 14:39 hours on May 21, 2023. A quorum is present members with six (6) board members
Members present: President Erik Olmer (W4EJO), Vice President Ricki Witte (KJ4FSJ), Secretary Ben Echavarria (N7BBE), Treasurer Dirk Basting (N4AN), Member at Large Melanie Fernandez (KJ4VCT), PIO Tom Savoca (K9TJS), Trustee Rick Eaton (KD4HG
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
° Bob Heil presentation
° Margate Business Expo
- Future events
° Field Day
° July 18 10:30am – Library Presentation at Century Plaza Branch Library in Deerfield Beach
4) Vice President Ricki Witte (KJ4FSJ)
- Committee Reports:
° June 24 & 25 – Summer Field Day
° GOTA VISION – GOTA STATION
° Digital Station and GOTA Station, start at the Digital Station it is very visual, then move on to the Phone (GOTA) station.
° Aurora will be the Captain of the GOTA Station
° Vests/Teams – Each team will have a different colored vest with the title on the back, this will make it easier for people to know whom they should seek out.
° Open ended items - Finalize menu
- Cinder block transport
- Get the word out
° Testing – K4BH
- Will work with Tom to have RSVP system and PR for our new testing sessions
° Broward ARES/RACES – KJ4AWB Races Chairman / K4BH ARES EC
- Need shelter communicators
5) Treasurer Report Dirk Basting (N4AN)
- Full report will be given EOM at club meeting
- Unpaid dues will be discussed in July
6) Repeater Trustee – Ricky Eaton (KD4HGR) - Need a vision for our repeaters and other hardware
- Aug speaker Ricky Eaton, club trustee on Equipment Inventory
- HF radio replacement not shipped yet due to shipping cost
- HF rig is up and running after removing the computer glitch
7) Member at Large – Melanie Fernandez (KJ4VCT)
- Sunshine Committee – Report on any “good and welfare” topics about club membership
- Alberto Nevares (N4ACN) Wife passed away. Any donations should be made to St. Jude Hosp. in her name.
- Alan Karden’s wife has been in and out of hosp, also Ricky Eaton’s wife please send prayers.
- Next Speakers –
° June 27 – Erik Olmer will speak on Shelter Communications
° July 25 – Bob Heil will speak on Amateur Radio
° Aug 22 – Ricky Eaton will speak on the club hardware vision
° Dirk Basting is invited to speak when it is convenient with his schedule - Eight (8) renewals since last meeting and one (1) new member Robert White (WB4TNV)
8) PIO – TOM SAVOCA (K9TJS)
- Shirts are being ordered this week
9) Old Business
- Club name badges will be ordered some time in the near future
10) New Business – None
11) Announcements – None
12) Adjournment
- Meeting adjourned by Erik Olmer (W4EJO) at 3:49 pm
Join us for Dinner June 11, 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
Club Dinner RSVP
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:
- “Get Hope on the Air” again
- Have Fun – K4BH rule
- Notify IC of contact with HI immediately – The Aloha rule
- 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 - Make as many contacts as possible on 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10 and all Bands 50 MHz and above using all modes
- Develop skills to meet the challenges of emergency preparedness
a. Educational Activity/club project to tune SSB and GOTA station Antennas Field Day morning - 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 - VHF (solar power bonus with 5 QSO)
- Satellite (1 QSO)
- 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
This annual amateur radio exercise, organized by the ARRL since 1933, takes place Saturday, June 25, at 2:00 p.m. until Sunday, June 26, at 2:00 p.m. at Quiet Waters Park — specifically at the Bald Eagle Shelter located at 401 South Powerline Rd. in Deerfield Beach.
PLEASE Register/RSVP with the form below so we know how many will be attending!
Quiet Waters Park
401 S Powerline Rd,
Deerfield Beach, FL 33442
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!
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.
WFD2023-results
The Gold Coast Amateur Radio Association will have a table or two at the Business Expo
If you are interested in showing off some of your equipment or being an ambassador for GCARA please contact Erik Olmer – President@w4bug.org
- FREE Admission
- Live Entertainment
- A Boxing Expedition
- Food Trucks
- Giveaways (TOOLS and TV’s)
DATE:
Sat June 10, 2023
LOCATION:
The Margate Sports Complex
1695 Banks Rd
Margate, FL 33063
