1) Call to Order
Melanie Fernandez (KJ4VCT)called to order the Gold Coast Amateur Radio Association’s regular meeting at 19:30 ET (00:30 UTC) over ZOOM on February 22, 2022. A quorum was present with 18 members.
2) Pledge of Allegiance
3) Secretary’s/ VP Report – Joe McGee (NX4T)
Minutes will be approved in the next meeting
4) Treasurer’s Report – Erik Olmer (W4EJO)
In February, we have taken in $290.00 ($650 YTD) in dues and $140.00 in donations.
We had our recurring payment of $20.00 for our website.
Total PayPal fees this month are $21.22
We also paid $200.00 for our liability insurance. And $205.38 for the annual MoneyMinder fee.
The annual filing report with the state was $61.25.
We purchased a plugin called WordFence, which was $99.00 for one year for additional security on our website.
For Winter Field Day, after refunding all the money and money already spent, we showed a loss of $30.00.
At the end of this reporting period, the total fund available was $8,292.46.
79 current members, 19 LifeTime; 54 Singe, 6 Family members.
5) Membership Chair Report – Joe McGee (NX4T)
Joe McGee (NX4T) introduced some of the new members; Stuart Gallant (K3RZB) and Michael Mermigas (W3DDS). Joanna Cummings (N2QFT) applied but had issues with payment.
6) VE Status Report – Jeff Stahl (K4BH)
Jeff Stahl (K4BH) reported that we could start in-person testing every 2nd Saturday of the month at 10:30 EST. Charlie Artner (KN4VDW) will send Jeff Stahl (K4BH) the address of his church where the testing will take place so Jeff Stahl (K4BH) can publically announce the testing dates.
Jeff Stahl (K4BH) also reminded everyone that hurricane season is just around the corner.
7) Repeater Report – Ricky Eaton (KD4HGR)
146.820 repeater is off the air. We are trying to get access to the hospital since the hospital has been locked down tight since Covid. We do not know why the repeater is offline. EchoLink is currently on the back burner until the repeater is back up and running.
Our contact at the hospital has retired, and we do not have any contact person at the hospital.
8) Web Admin Report – Charlie Artner (KN4VDW)
Charlie Artner (KN4VDW) reported about additional security measurements on the website. The club’s site was attacked the past few weeks. We are now protected by Wordfence, the software mentioned earlier in the Treasurer’s Report.
We also are now posting the ARRL Audio News on the website. As time permits, Charlie Artner (KN4VDW) will broadcast the ARRL Audio News on the .610 repeater on Fridays or Tuesdays.
Certain areas are now password-protected, and members who want to access the roster, forum, etc., need to create an account. The account will not go active automatically. Charlie Artner (KN4VDW) is approving new users manually after a quick verification process.
9) Special Elections
Barry Porter (KB1PA) presented the two open positions to the membership. No further nominations have been brought forth, and the slate was accepted by acclamation.
Slate: SECRETARY – Charlie Artner (KN4VDW)
Director/ARRL PIO – Tom Savoca (K9TJS)
10) Announcements
a) Skywarn Virtual Class
Carol Sjursen announced upcoming SKYWARN Virtual classes on Saturday, April 2, 2022, from 10:00 to 12:30 EST.
b) Sunshine Committee
Hope Smith (WB3ANE)—Sunshine Committee Chairman, and Melanie Fernandez (KJ4VCT) are sending cards to people who are ill or need otherwise encouraging words.
c) Board Notes from VP Joe McGee (NX4T)
Joe McGee (NX4T) is starting to organize ARRL Summer Field Day. One significant change will be to work with more simple antennas in the future. Setting up the antennas is taking a lot of time, and simple homebrew antennas might give us a similar, if not the same, result with less effort.
d) Next Months Speaker
Next month’s speakers will be Josh Landewee and Code Cameron (W3AMG) from BridgeCom Systems.
e) Club Focus for 2022
Our club focus for the year will be to get people up to speed with their equipment and get volunteers for the community’s various needs. We would like to see a strong volunteer group in our club, so we are using our licenses and privileges thereof for the purpose they are meant to be used for in the community. We will offer help to those wanting to upgrade their license and provide several opportunities for practice.
11) Adjournment
Melanie Fernandez (KJ4VCT) adjourned the meeting at 21:12 ET (02:12 UTC).
1) Call to Order
Melanie Fernandez (KJ4VCT) called to order the Gold Coast Amateur Radio Association’s regular meeting at 19:03 ET (00:03 UTC) over ZOOM on January 25, 2022.
2) Pledge of Allegiance
3) Secretary’s Report – Charlie Artner (KN4VDW)
Meeting minutes from November’s General Meeting have been accepted as displayed on the website.
4) Treasurer’s Report – Erik Olmer (W4EJO)
LAST FISCAL YEAR
Membership Dues
Last fiscal year, we budgeted $2,000.00 for dues income, and we passed our goal. We brought $2,153.67 in dues in the previous fiscal year.
Other Revenues
In terms of other revenues, we brought in 3,300.00 dollars. In detail, we brought in $100.00 through auctions, $465.00 through general donations; $2,510.00 through the HF Project; and $225.00 through the name tags. The total spending in this category was $2,193.29
Total Income / Expenses
The total income for the last fiscal year was $7,572.63. About half of that income was straight donations. The expenses were $4,344.78. The full balance at the end of the fiscal year was $8.999.40.
Current Monthly Report
Dues collected for the current reporting period were $360.00, and along with the dues, we also collected $30.00 on additional donations. The recurring monthly service charges were $48.00. PayPal fees were $32.78.
The income for Winter Field Day was $390.00
The check for the memorial bricks for $898.70 has cleared
All the membership records have been updated following the updated bylaws and reflect the new due date of membership donations. For more information on how the due dates are now determined, please get in touch with a board member.
5) Membership Chair Report – Joe McGee (NX4T)
Joe McGee (NX4T) reported that we had about 84 members in November, and currently, we are down to 77 due to the membership being expired.
6) VE Status Report – Jeff Stahl (K4BH)
Charlie Artner (KN4VDW) is checking with his Church if we can do testing there. Jeff Stahl (K4BH) has received updates on the questions from ARRL, and as soon as we have a location, we will start testing again.
7) Repeater Report – Ricky Eaton (KD4HGR)
The question came up whether we have a 220 MHz repeater and the answer to that question is no, and we do not intend to get one. The updates to the repeaters with AllStar will be done on the 442.500MHz repeater. We are going to connect this repeater to the East Coast Reflector. The model we are using is the ICOM FR5000.
Joe McGee (NX4T) wanted to know if we have been given a 6m repeater as a donation. Ricky Eaton (KD4HGR) explained that the repeater is not here yet. It was donated by Eric Rodrigues (KA4FLZ). The repeater is in repair because the tuning cans show signs of corrosion. They are supposed to be airtight, but moisture has still made it inside and built-up corrosion.
8) Web Admin Report – Charlie Artner (KN4VDW)
The website has been attacked the last few weeks. We have purchased a WP plugin to tighten up the security and prevent malicious access and accounts created by bots. New accounts on the website have to be approved by an admin. Without approval, the new account holder will not receive a confirmation email, and without that, the user will not be able to set a password.
If a member has an issue logging in, please get in touch with Charlie Artner (KN4VDW) at kn4vdw@arrl.net.
A new feature was added to the Home page, the ARRL Audio News. The ARRL Audio News comes out every Friday and will be updated by Charlie Artner (KN4VDW) at his earliest convenience.
Charlie Artner (KN4VDW) reminded all members that we are on the Amazon Smile program, and it would help the club if members would designate our club as their non-profit when shopping on Amazon Smile.
9) Announcements
a) Marty Falk (KI4IQZ)
Marty Falk (KI4IQZ) has been selected for the SPECIAL SERVICE AWARD given by the Gold Coast Amateur Radio Association.
b) Sunshine Committee
Hope Smith (WB3ANE)—Sunshine Committee Chairman, and Melanie Fernandez (KJ4VCT) are sending cards to people who are ill or need otherwise encouraging words. If you know of somebody who needs encouragement, please inform the Sunshine Committee.
c) Winter Field Day – Joe McGee (NX4T)
Jesse Shannon has donated a generator for the off-grid power supply for WFD. Dan is operating separately and independently from the shelter/pavilion. Jerry Deitch (W4LST) is still in possession of the signs and will bring them to WFD. Melanie Fernandez (KJ4VCT) will be looking for the banner.
We will have two people at the grill/food station.
Ben Echavarria (N7BBE) will meet with Mike Wolf (K2HXC) and Jerry Deitch (W$LST) at 09:00 hrs to set up the signs.
Due to the cold weather forecast, we plan to move the rigs into Charlie Artner’s (KN4VDW) tent at night to protect the operators from the frigid temperatures.
d) Club Dinners
The board has decided to have Club Dinners more frequently in place of the General Club Meeting in person. The Club Dinners will be monthly now, Sunday before the General Club Meeting. Charlie Artner (KN4VDW) will provide a way to RSVP on the website for those who would like to come.
e) Next Month’s Speaker
Next month’s speaker will be Bryan Fields (W9CR), and he will be talking about FASMA.
f) Club Focus for 2022
Our club focus for the year will be to get people up to speed with their equipment and get volunteers for the community’s various needs. We would like to see a strong volunteer group in our club, so we are using our licenses and privileges thereof for the purpose they are meant to be used for in the community. We will help those wanting to upgrade their license and provide several practice opportunities.
10) Adjournment
Melanie Fernandez (KJ4VCT) adjourned the meeting at 20:02 EST (01:02 UTC).
Happy New Year Gold Coast members and others!! May the Lord grant you excellent health and happiness in the coming
new year.
First of all, I would like to say GET WELL to all those who are presently infirm, whether we know about you or not. I am saying an open prayer for all of us to be healthy this year. Perhaps you can join me in that prayer for others.
I personally had the honor of working last December with Carol Sjursen KJ4AWB and Jeff Stahl K4BH on the Winterfest Boat Parade activities. It was the second time I served as a scribe and was privy to see the inner workings of the event. It was a joyful and exhilarating experience. Carol and Jeff do a fantastic job of mounting antennas for the event for use by police and Coast Guard in the Control Center where managing the parade, takes place. Carol is known for her cool-headed approach and ability to facilitate the messages coming into the control center from our hams on the bridges and parks as well as the Control Boats helping in the Parade. She gets logistics and problems and gets the appropriate department to solve the issues. She handled so much during the parade but never lost her positive attitude and willingness to communicate clearly with everyone involved. It was indeed a joy to watch her and Jeff handle the problems that arose in this, as in many big endeavors like this.
I want to thank everyone who volunteered for the bridges and parks, many of them are club members, who give of their time and talent every year for this effort. We love you and need you to volunteer for these slots to ensure a smooth operation. Perhaps for 2022, we will get a few more people interested in helping us.
Also, I would like to thank those hams who had offered to do community service by volunteering for the shelters during hurricane season. I want all of you to seriously think about supporting the community in 2022. Let’s show our abilities and practice our craft for the benefit of those who need our help. Your community is thankful for all you do behind the scenes to make life easier and safer for all concerned. Please volunteer and get your friends involved as well. We need each and every able-bodied person we can get. To learn how you can best help our community, see Carol Sjursen or Jeff Stahl.
Another area requiring help is the Southeast Florida Traffic Net which airs every evening at 6 pm on 146.610, PL tone 110.9, for the purpose of practicing sending traffic messages to people all over the US. It will be a helpful tool in emergencies to be well versed in passing and taking traffic and the practice will help you become a “smooth operator” on the air. Please give some serious thought to becoming a Net Control for the SEFTN. Please contact the Net Manager, Kenny Hollenbeck KE4NC, or go to SEFTN.net to get more information. Our club, again, is serving heavily in this capacity and we need more volunteers as Net Controls. It’s fun and you will be hearing ME more this year on the air, too. Bushels of thank yous go to Charlie KN4VDW, Mike K2HXC, Erik W4EJO, Dave KB4ICU, Jerry W4LST, and Kenny KE4NC and all those who support this effort in such a dedicated way. We love you all.
GCARA will have its first General Meeting on Jan. 25th, 2022. Please be aware that this meeting will be atypical as far as meetings go. First, we will meet at 6 pm so that our speaker in England can provide his talk in his own time zone before midnight his time. Second, we will start with HIS presentation BEFORE the business portion of the meeting. I am hoping to have a lot of people on board for the meeting and hope to see many of you there. Please try your best to accommodate this speaker. We will not be able to record this meeting as it is in direct conflict with the speaker’s own commercial interests but we will provide links to his Webpage. I am looking forward to a great year of speakers, thanks to Charlie Artner KN4VDW, who has agreed to help me in this effort. Charlie has been a true blessing to the club over his tenure as secretary. He has taken on so much responsibility with being webmaster, secretary and now arranging speakers, badges and helping me to keep track of projects that are ongoing. He is truly an energetic and giving soul who also volunteers in ARES/RACES, Winterfest Boat Parade, and the SEFTN 2 days a week. He has become the “wind beneath all of our wings” and we truly appreciate him so much. Thank you, Charlie.
It is sad to think there is no more Mike’s Electronics now. I am happy that Mike will be able to retire and spend more time with his wife Gilda in the years to come. Mike has been a sponsor of the GCARA for over 20 years and has always been responsible for making sure the South Florida Hams get what they need in the way of advice, information or radios, and gear. He has always been a pleasant partner with the club and has been an irreplaceable friend to all he has served. I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart, Mike, for ALL that you have done for us. You will be greatly missed.
Lastly, I want to thank all of our members who are so kind, sweet-natured, and generous in all they do for the club. I will not name names because I will probably leave some people out but you know who you are. You are the ham who volunteers for duty selflessly; the one who works behind the scenes to make sure this club runs well. It is that person who has seen a need for the club and filled it with a donation of money or equipment. It is that one person who cheerfully gives of his time and talent at Field Day or is cooperatively working to help others who need technical or physical help with equipment. I believe that this club has a heart for others and it shows big time. Thank you, all of you, who help show what community is and spread that cooperative possibility like a ripple in the water that continues to touch others. People often forget how far a little goodwill will go, both as an example to others and as a constructive tool for society as a whole. I am proud to be a member of the Gold Coast Amateur Radio Association and look forward to the best year ever in 2022!! God bless everyone!
73
Melanie Fernandez (KJ4VCT)
President
Gold Coast
Amateur Radio Association
P.O. Box 773, Pompano Beach, FL 33061-0773
1) Call to Order
Melanie Fernandez (KJ4VCT)called to order the Gold Coast Amateur Radio Association’s Board meeting at 14:32 EDT (19:32 UTC) on November 7, 2021, on ZOOM. A quorum was present with six board members. Charlie Artner (KN4VDW) was excused.
2) Old Business
a) Echo Link – Ricky Eaton (KD4HGR)
Echo Link will be the next item that will be worked on.
b) Status of CAT Controller
CAT controller is now working. We are adding the AllStar Node when Charlie Artner (KN4VDW) finishes programming and testing and will work parallel with the CAT controller.
c) PL Tone Status
The PL tone is back on.
d) AC donated by Jerry Deitch (W4LST)
We have not yet received permission to install additional mobile A/C. We will hold up on installing the A/C until 2022.
e) WinLink – Charlie Artner (KN4VDW)
PENDING
f) New members letter – Charlie Artner (KN4VDW)
PENDING
g) Motorola Repeater (payment)
Ricky Eaton (KD4HGR) will ensure that Eric Rodrigues (KF4LZA) will get reimbursed for the repeater.
h) Club Shirts – Mike Wolf (K2HXC)
All orders are in, and Mike Wolf (K2HXC) will check the status on Monday (12/13/2021).
i) Name Padges – Charlie Artner (KN4VDW)
Badges have not been delivered yet. Charlie Artner (KN4VDW) will check on them on Monday (12/13/2021)
3) New Business
a) Winter Field Day Team
- Food
Melanie Fernandez (KJ4VCT) and Jerry Deitch (W4LST) need one more person to lift goods on the day of the event. Erik Olmer (W4EJO) will help with the loading and unloading of the goods.
Admission will be $10.00 for one day and $20.00 for both days. - Setup and Organization – Joe McGee (NX4T)
Dan Vasilca (AI4WW) will take care of the CW operation, and he will be separated from the rest of the stations. He would like a van again and set up his CW station in this van. Joe McGee (NX4T) suggested the club should pay for Dan’s van.
Ricky Eaton (KD4HGR) will set up the digital rig with his antenna. The SB rig will be next to the digital rig. Jessy Shannon (KJ4FKK) will bring a rig for SB. Charlie Artner (KN4VDW) and Mike Sam (KF4ZW) will work with Ricky Eaton (KD4HGR).
The Satellite Station will be operated by Erik Olmer (W4EJO). He will check whether we are getting a good pass during Winter Field Day.
4) Adjournment
Melanie Fernandez (KJ4VCT) adjourned the meeting at 15:40 EDT (20:40 UTC).
1) Call to Order
Melanie Fernandez (KJ4VCT)called to order the Gold Coast Amateur Radio Association’s regular meeting at 19:33 ET (00:33 UTC) on November 23, 2021, over ZOOM. A quorum was present with 16 members.
2) Pledge of Allegiance
3) Secretary’s Report – Charlie Artner (KN4VDW)
The minutes from the October meeting will be approved in January with the November minutes.
4) Treasurer’s Report – Erik Olmer (W4EJO)
We have two new members; Alan Spicer (KA4UDX) and Robert Rockwell (KM4QYG).
The name tags generated $150.00. This month’s total balance is $8,693.67; total expenses for this month are $474.75; total income for this month is $210.00.
57 total annual members; 7 family members; 19 Lifetime members
5) Membership Report – Joe McGee (NX4T)
Joe McGee (NX4T) welcomed the two new members. Robert Rockwell (KM4QYG) was present and introduced himself.
Allan Karden (N4ALK) wanted to know whether the club will inform members when their membership will expire. Erik Olmer (W4EJO) ensured that he would let members know when they are close to their renewal date, and if there are any specific questions or if a member is not sure, they can always contact him at gcaratreasurer@gmail.com
6) VE Status Report – Jeff Stahl (K4BH)
We still have not found a place to do the testing. The room at Coral Springs Parks is too costly. The city wants about $34.00 an hour and a $258.00 deposit. Charlie Artner (KN4VDW) will follow up with his church to see if the club could schedule testing there.
7) Repeater Report – Ricky Eaton (KD4HGR)
There are new things in the work. We are going to set up AllStar nodes running on Raspberry-Pi. Eric will work on the repeaters sometime this week. We have new notch filters which will have to be installed. The filters are for the .610 repeater, which still has some noise on transmit. The amplifier is back in line again.
8) Web Admin Report – Charlie Artner (KN4VDW)
No significant changes have been made to the website.
9) Amended Bylaws – Charlie Artner (KN4VDW)
The proposed amendments to Section 4.4 Annual dues have been read by Charlie Artner (KN4VDW), and discussion has been opened to members present at the meeting. After discussion, the Amendment was accepted with a unanimous vote.
10) Announcements
a) Club Dinner – December 5, 2021
The quarterly dinner will be on December 5, 2021, and Melanie Fernandez (KJ4VCT) is asking all participants to RSVP on our website
b) Sunshine Committee
Hope Smith (WB3ANE)—Sunshine Committee Chairman, and Melanie Fernandez (KJ4VCT) are sending cards to people who are ill or need otherwise encouraging words.
c) Welcome home – Marty Falk (KI4IQZ)
Marty Falk (KI4IQZ) is back home and recovering from his health issues. Marty Falk (KI4IQZ) was in the hospital where doctors had to revive him after an allergic reaction to a medication.
d) Mike’s Electronics Recognition
Representatives of the club joined Mike at his store to thank him for his decade-long service to the HAM community and celebrate his retirement. The club presented him with a personalized beer mug as a thank-you gift.
e) Election of Board for the fiscal year 2022
Barry Porter (KB1PA) nominated the following members for the board:
Melanie Fernandez (KJ4VCT) – President
Joe McGee (NX4T) – Vice President
Erik Olmer (W4EJO) – Treasurer
Charlie Artner (KN4VDW) – Secretary
Ricky Eaton (KD4HGR) – Repeater Trustee
Jeff Stahl (K4BH) – Director
Mike Wolf (K2HXC) – Director
Because the slate was unopposed, Barry Porter (KB1PA) moved to accept the slate as presented by Acclimation. The slate was accepted with no objection.
11) Winter Field Day: Joe McGee (NX4T)
Winter Field Day will be at the Quiet Waters Park at the Bald Eagle Shelter. Winter Field Day was not as organized as they are today. We are preplanning the number of stations and antennas going up to avoid any interference between the individual stations at the park. To participate seriously and enter our submission to the Winter Field Day Committee, we will have to be organized. We will set up three stations, and our class will be 3O. Charlie Artner (KN4VDW) and Jeff Stahl (K4BH) will help Ricky Eaton (KD4HGR) with the digital station. Joe McGee (NX4T) will set up the SSB station with the remote station. That means during Winter Field Day, the remote station will be offline. Erik Olmer (W4EJO) will see if the SO-50 satellite has a good pass for a contact. His satellite rig is not set up for any other satellite.
12) Adjournment
Melanie Fernandez (KJ4VCT) adjourned the meeting at 20:49 ET (01:49 UTC).
1) Call to Order
Melanie Fernandez (KJ4VCT)called to order the Gold Coast Amateur Radio Association’s Board meeting at 14:48 EDT (18:48 UTC) on October 10, 2021, on ZOOM. A quorum was present with six board members.
2) Old Business
a) Next Club Dinner
Melanie Fernandez (KJ4VCT) suggested the next Club Dinner for December 5, 2021, at 7:00 pm. Charlie Artner (KN4VDW) will provide a form on our website for people to RSVP. Joe McGee (NX4T) moved to accept December 5, 2021; Charlie Artner (KN4VDW) second. Motion moved unanimously.
b) Status of EchoLink – Ricky Eaton (KD4HGR)
Ricky Eaton (KD4HGR) reported that due to the issues with the .610 repeater, he could not make any progress with EchoLink.
c) Status of WinLink Charlie Artner (KN4VDW)
Charlie Artner (KN4VDW) reported that the HD on the laptop for WinLink is still not working, and he will have to replace the HD.
d) Winter Field Day Plans
Joe McGee (NX4T) is asking for the signs for Winter Field Day. Melanie Fernandez (KJ4VCT) informed the Board that they are with Jerry Deitch (W4LST)
Carol Sjursen (KJ4AWB) sent the Letter of Intent last Wednesday or Thursday to Broward County Emergency Management. Once we hear back from them, we will know if the Winter Field Day is a go or not.
Charlie Artner (KN4VDW) will put up a form on the website on or around November 10, 2021, for people to RSVP if they are participating. The Field Day will be held for two days again. We will not need a van for this time, because we will have the Pavilion this year.
e) Nominating Committee
Jerry Deitch (W4LST) declined. Melanie Fernandez (KJ4VCT) asked Barry Porter (), and he agreed to be the chair of the Nominating Committee
f) Post office issue
Charlie Artner (KN4VDW) will get information from a UPS Mail Box service in Margate.
3) Communication issues
We, as a board, have issues responding to emails in a timely fashion. To resolve the communication problem, the Board suggests adding “GCARA” at the beginning of the subject line of each email related to the club.
4) Board members field trip to repeater room
Melanie Fernandez (KJ4VCT) tried to call Kirsten (JKV) to see if they have a problem if we go up there as a group to see the repeater room. Ricky Eaton (KD4HGR) thinks this is a great idea to bring all board members on the same page regarding the repeater room.
5) Trustee Report – Ricky Eaton (KD4HGR)
a) Noise on .610
The noise is still an issue on the .610 repeater. Ricky Eaton (KD4HGR) reported that the PL Tone is back on and active. Charlie Artner (KN4VDW) did a quick test and confirmed that the PL Tone is not turned on. We think the noise is generated within the system.
b) A/C for repeater room
Jerry Deitch (W4LST) donated an A/C for the repeater room, but Ricky Eaton (KD4HGR) has not heard back from JKN maintenance if we can install the A/C.
c) UPS
We do not know if the defect UPS has been replaced yet.
6) Tribute for Mike’s Electronics
Melanie Fernandez (KJ4VCT) would like to get a beer mug for Mike Spivak for his years of service to the HAM community. Charlie Artner (KN4VDW) suggested printing a more personal message on the mug, and Jeff Stahl (K4BH) will come up with some words.
7) BARC
According to Marty Falk (KI4IQZ), Al Soto is trying to revitalize the BARC. GCARA will close further discussions for now.
8) Speaker request for October meeting
We do not have a speaker for October. Melanie Fernandez (KJ4VCT) asked all Board members to help find a speaker for October.
9) Adjournment
Melanie Fernandez (KJ4VCT) adjourned the meeting at 15:57 EDT (19:57 UTC).
1) Call to Order
Melanie Fernandez (KJ4VCT)called to order the Gold Coast Amateur Radio Association’s regular meeting at 19:33 EDT (23:33 UTC) on August 24, 2021, over ZOOM. A quorum was present with 15 members.
2) Pledge of Allegiance
3) Secretary’s Report – Charlie Artner (KN4VDW)
Charlie Artner (KN4VDW) made a motion to approve Minutes from September 28, 2021. Joh Cole (N1QFH) second. Minutes accepted without objection.
4) Treasurer’s Report – Erik Olmer (W4EJO)
We have one new member David Pomerantz (KO4DKN), and three renewals; Jeff Stahl (K4BH), Mitchell Rudin (), and Bruce Ratoff ().
Dues this month $ 120.00 +
Service Charges from the bank $ 4.00 –
Web hosting totaled $ 20.00 –
PayPal Fees $ 5.44 –
Balances
PayPal $ 229.80 +
Checking $8,728.62 +
John Cole (N1QHF) requested a copy of the current Treasurer’s Report
5) VE Status Report – Jeff Stahl (K4BH)
Jeff Stahl (K4BH) has not contacted Coral Springs Parks for availability for their facilities yet. He will attempt to give this some attention tomorrow (10/27/2021).
Jeff Stahl (K4BH) picked up the donated HAM gear for the school, which will allow us to assist the school in setting up an Amateur Radio Club
6) Repeater Report – Ricky Eaton (KD4HGR)
Ricky Eaton (KD4HGR) reported that the noise is still present from time to time. He made some improvements regarding the equipment ground. If the reaper has to be shipped out for repairs, Ricky Eaton (KD4HGR) will use the spare YAESU when the repeater is with ICOM.
Multiple people have approached Ricky Eaton (KD4HGR) to turn back on the PL Tone. He explained that this would not prevent the noise from transmitting when somebody keys up. That means if a station with a low-powered HT would key up, that station would still not be heard because of the noise.
We still have to track down which component in the repeater system is causing the issue. It is either the amplifier or the radio. If it is the radio, Ricky Eaton (KD4HGR) will have to replace the repeater with the Fusion Repeater while the ICOM repeater is in repair. The CAT controller will not be connected during this time.
All other repeaters are running well. Jerry Deitch (W4LST) donated an AC for the repeater room. Ricky Eaton (KD4HGR) is still waiting for the OK from JKV maintenance to install the AC
7) Web Admin Report – Charlie Artner (KN4VDW)
Charlie Artner (KN4VDW) added the club to the Amazon Smile Program and provided a link for public access to shop on Amazon Smile and make the GCARA the selected non-profit organization.
To shop using the smile program, Amazon customers will have to use the link https://smile.amazon.com.
The events page has also been improved to make it easier to navigate and more transparent as far as the title and description of the events.
The RSVP form has been added to the Club Dinner event on our Events Page.
All meetings will have the ZOOM information within the Event for future Club meetings.
8) Announcements
a) Nominaing Committee
Barry Porter (KB1PA) will present the slate for the November election. As of now, all seated persons on the executive committee wish to retain their seats.
Following members are nominated:
President Melanie Fernandez (KJ4VCT)
Vice-President Joe McGee (NX4T)
Treasurer Erik Olmer (W4EJO)
Secretary/PIO Charlie Artner (KN4VDW)
Director/Parliamentarian Jeff Stahl (K4BH)
Director/PIO Mike Wolf (K2HXC)
Trustee Ricky Eaton (KD4HGR)
If anybody wants to run for any of these offices, please contact Barry Porter (KB1PA) at barryp13@mac.com.
b) HF Station – Joe McGee (NX4T)
Joe McGee (NX4T) installed a cable provided by Al Flapan (AF4FA), which now allows users of the remote station to tune the radio with a “Tune” button instead of switching to AM to tune manually. There is no need for changing to AM anymore to tune the radio.
c) Badges
Charlie Artner (KN4VDW) will post a form on the website to allow members to order badges with their name and call sign. The order will be sent to Charlie Artner (KN4VDW), who will distribute the tags.
The name tags are from edco.com. EDCO is partnering with us to print our magnetic name tags.
d) Shirts
Melanie Fernandez (KJ4VCT) will contact Mike Wolf (K2HXC) to work out the procedure for ordering shirts.
e) Sunshine Committee
Hope Smith (WB3ANE) is now on the Sunshine Committee. If you need cards to wish somebody well or for other occasions, please get in touch with Hope Smith (WB3ANE) or Melanie Fernandez (KJ4VCT).
9) Speaker: John Quarquesso (KE4JQ)
John Quarquesso (KE4JQ) talked to the club about experiences and upcoming projects with the boy scouts.
10) Adjournment
Melanie Fernandez (KJ4VCT)adjourned the meeting at 20:49 EDT (00:49 UTC).
1) Call to Order
Melanie Fernandez (KJ4VCT)called to order the Gold Coast Amateur Radio Association’s Board meeting at 14:48 EDT (18:48 UTC) on October 10, 2021, on ZOOM. A quorum was present with six board members.
2) Old Business
a) Next Club Dinner
Melanie Fernandez (KJ4VCT) suggested the next Club Dinner for December 5, 2021, at 7:00 pm. Charlie Artner (KN4VDW) will provide a form on our website for people to RSVP. Joe McGee (NX4T) moved to accept December 5, 2021; Charlie Artner (KN4VDW) second. Motion moved unanimously.
b) Status of EchoLink – Ricky Eaton (KD4HGR)
Ricky Eaton (KD4HGR) reported that due to the issues with the .610 repeater, he could not make any progress with EchoLink.
c) Status of WinLink Charlie Artner (KN4VDW)
Charlie Artner (KN4VDW) reported that the HD on the laptop for WinLink is still not working, and he will have to replace the HD.
d) Winter Field Day Plans
Joe McGee (NX4T) is asking for the signs for Winter Field Day. Melanie Fernandez (KJ4VCT) informed the Board that they are with Jerry Deitch (W4LST)
Carol Sjursen (KJ4AWB) sent the Letter of Intent last Wednesday or Thursday to Broward County Emergency Management. Once we hear back from them, we will know if the Winter Field Day is a go or not.
Charlie Artner (KN4VDW) will put up a form on the website on or around November 10, 2021, for people to RSVP if they are participating. The Field Day will be held for two days again. We will not need a van for this time, because we will have the Pavilion this year.
e) Nominating Committee
Jerry Deitch (W4LST) declined. Melanie Fernandez (KJ4VCT) asked Barry Porter (), and he agreed to be the chair of the Nominating Committee
f) Post office issue
Charlie Artner (KN4VDW) will get information from a UPS Mail Box service in Margate.
3) Communication issues
We, as a board, have issues responding to emails in a timely fashion. To resolve the communication problem, the Board suggests adding “GCARA” at the beginning of the subject line of each email related to the club.
4) Board members field trip to repeater room
Melanie Fernandez (KJ4VCT) tried to call Kirsten (JKV) to see if they have a problem if we go up there as a group to see the repeater room. Ricky Eaton (KD4HGR) thinks this is a great idea to bring all board members on the same page regarding the repeater room.
5) Trustee Report – Ricky Eaton (KD4HGR)
a) Noise on .610
The noise is still an issue on the .610 repeater. Ricky Eaton (KD4HGR) reported that the PL Tone is back on and active. Charlie Artner (KN4VDW) did a quick test and confirmed that the PL Tone is not turned on. We think the noise is generated within the system.
b) A/C for repeater room
Jerry Deitch (W4LST) donated an A/C for the repeater room, but Ricky Eaton (KD4HGR) has not heard back from JKN maintenance if we can install the A/C.
c) UPS
We do not know if the defect UPS has been replaced yet.
6) Tribute for Mike’s Electronics
Melanie Fernandez (KJ4VCT) would like to get a beer mug for Mike Spivak for his years of service to the HAM community. Charlie Artner (KN4VDW) suggested printing a more personal message on the mug, and Jeff Stahl (K4BH) will come up with some words.
7) BARC
According to Marty Falk (KI4IQZ), Al Soto is trying to revitalize the BARC. GCARA will close further discussions for now.
8) Speaker request for October meeting
We do not have a speaker for October. Melanie Fernandez (KJ4VCT) asked all Board members to help find a speaker for October.
9) Adjournment
Melanie Fernandez (KJ4VCT) adjourned the meeting at 15:57 EDT (19:57 UTC).
Gold Coast Amateur Radio Association
General Membership Meeting
Meeting Minutes
1) Call to Order
Melanie Fernandez (KJ4VCT)called to order the Gold Coast Amateur Radio Association’s regular meeting at 19:30 EDT (23:30UTC) on September 28, 2021, over ZOOM. A quorum was present with 17 members.
2) Pledge of Allegiance
3) Secretary’s Report – Charlie Artner (KN4VDW)
Motion to approve Minutes from August 24, 2021. Jeff Stahl (K4BH) second the motion. Meeting minutes accepted without objection.
4) Treasurer’s Report – Erik Olmer (W4EJO)
We had two new members (Ramon Fernandez KO4BRS and Jared Sherman KC2MMI).
Two bank fees since our last meeting because of the way the bank cuts their month. Last month we had no bank fees—$ 20.00 for web hosting as every month. And we also spend $82.49 on business cards to hand out with the Club’s information on one side a list of our repeaters’ information on the other side.
We spent $475.00 for a backup antenna paid to Mike’s Electronics.
The checking account has $8,752.6. The PayPal account has $115.2. The total available to the Club is $8,867.86
Joe McGee (NX4T) was asking what precisely the definition of “Net Budget” is. Erik Olmer (W4EJO) explained that “Net Budget” is an estimated budget for the year.
5) Membership Chair’s Report – Joe McGee (NX4T)
For this month, we have 51 paid single members and three paid family members who carried four additional family members with them. In addition, we have 19 Lifetime members. The total number of members for this month is 77.
6) VE Status Report – Jeff Stahl (K4BH)
Jeff Stahl (K4BH) reported that he might have a location for testing in Coral Springs. He met with a lady from CS, and she has a community room available just off of the police station, and we could probably squeeze 20 people in there; if COVID numbers drop off, we could get up to 30 people in there. No details are worked out yet.
There is also a possibility of using some of the community rooms at the parks for our meetings. The lady suggested contacting the parks. Jeff Stahl (K4BH) did not have the chance to follow up on that yet. Each park has a big room we could book, but we don’t know if there will be any cost for the Club.
7) Repeater Report – Ricky Eaton (KD4HGR)
Ricky Eaton (KD4HGR) reported that the .610 repeater has a few issues. One of them being interfering, static noise. We have not figured out yet, the origin of the noise. We know it is coming from the outside. Ricky Eaton (KD4HGR) asked if anybody could hear the noise to check on the input and report to him the QTH and whether or not the station could hear the noise.
We now have a spare UHF antenna. We have two complete spare repeater systems. One is sitting at the house of Kenny Hollenbeck (KE4NC), donated by Mike Wolf (K2HXC). Terry and John donated the other system; it is a dual-band system.
Ricky Eaton (KD4HGR) has also contacted the BARA to see what will happen with the Club, and he found out that the Club will try to get members back into the Club. BARA also talked to the Palmetto Club and DCARA.
Joe McGee (NX4T) asked if it was possible to replace the current .610 machine with one of the spare repeaters to test if we could eliminate the noise. Ricky Eaton (KD4HGR) explained that it would not be that easy because of the cabels going to the CAT controller. The cables are made specifically for the repeater we are using right now. If we replaced that repeater without having the proper wires, we would have no courtesy tone or anything like that.
Jeff Stahl (K4BH) mentioned that the PL tone is not turned on, and turning on the PL tone could eliminate the noise if it is a random interference. If the noise still makes it through the repeater, we know the interference is intentional. Unfortunately, we cannot turn on the PL tone because of issues with the CAT controller. For reasons unknown at this time, the decoding does not work correctly, and once the PL tone is turned on, the repeater will not key up anymore, not even with the correct PL sent.
8) Web Admin Report – Charlie Artner (KN4VDW)
Charlie Artner (KN4VDW) reported no significant changes to the website. The only new feature added is a contact form to make it easier for visitors or members to contact the board members. The contact form can be reached by clicking on “Contact Us” at the main menu at the very top of the page.
9) Announcements
a) GCARA Quarterly Dinner
This Sunday evening, October 3, 2021, at 19:00 EDT (23:00 UTC), the Club hosts the quarterly dinner at Wings Plus on Sample Road.
b) Sunshine Committee
Hope Smith (WB3ANE) is our new member of the Sunshine Committee.
10) Speaker: Jeff Stahl (K4BH)
Jeff is going to host a game of Kahoot.
11) Adjournment
Melanie Fernandez (KJ4VCT) adjourned the meeting at 20:00 EDT (00:00 UTC).
