GCARA Meeting Minutes 22-SEPT 2020

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

Message from the President October 2020

CQ, CQ, CALLING ALL HAMS!!!

Hello GCARA! I hope that everyone is doing well this month!

If you want to DX, remember the club HF station is getting the spotlight. For those of you who have no radio or antenna but own a computer, it is perfect. I speak from experience. I use it every chance I get when not caring for my mother in law and it is very exciting to call and make contacts or even just to listen to others talking from all over. It had been my dream to DX for a long time and FINALLY, thanks to the generosity of the club, I get to do it. I have been studying for the Extra exam for many months on and off and I find that actually broadcasting on the air has stimulated my interest in the study and passing of the test and is leading to a better understanding of the propagation material I had been reading about. Thanks to Joe McGee NX4T, Rick Eaton KD4HGR, and Al Flapan AF4FA for helping maintain the radio station for those of us who are in need of such a help. I appreciate not only the radio usage but the education that has gone into performing the feat of communication.

I would like to encourage those who do DX, to continue to sharpen your skills through contesting as well as checking into nets available. One example of a net I like is SARNET on 14.265.000 on 20 Meters, Monday through Saturday 10:00 am to 11:00 am EST. You can get the weather report from all over the US by hams reporting in and it is quite interesting to listen to. It beats the Weather Channel, in my opinion. LOL.

Please remember that we are going to vote for the Executive Board in November on Zoom. Most of the club that attended meetings regularly on a monthly basis, have continued to support us on Zoom, plus some others who cannot travel comfortably to the hospital now. I would encourage every paid up member to attend the November 24, 2020 ZOOM meeting and vote, if the slate is not accepted as it is presented. Running for office this 2021 term is:

I am so pleased to announce that thanks to Jesse Shannon, KJ4FKK, that we will be acquiring a club contribution of a Titan Gap Antenna which will provide the remote HF station to also be available on 80 Meters. Jesse has been so generous in this and other ways and the club is proud to recognize his contribution. We are in the planning stages but, hopefully, I can persuade him to present to us in November to start out our new Series called Meet the Ham. Jesse, like so many of our members comes to the meetings, supports us financially, and provides himself as a valuable member of the audience, but does not get known because he is one of our more silent members. He often gives me feedback on the Board efficiency by email, when we encounter snags of service and it is very important to me, as President, to field all feedback. That is the very essential way we improve and meet all members’ expectations. Thank you Jesse for your support.

I absolutely LOVE our membership who have risen to the support of the club. One of our frequent flyers is Dirk Basting, N4AN, who is always donating his old equipment to the club for donation purposes. I appreciate his pleasant suggestions and his generosity to the club in so many ways. He continually goes above and beyond for the benefit of others and it is so appreciated.

I also appreciate the constant service provided to the club by Eric Rodriguez,KF4LZA, Ricky Eaton, KD4HGR, and others that help maintain the repeaters, antennas and see to the betterment of our communication. The innovations and donated equipment is such a blessing to all of us.

Of course, our club would be nothing special if we did not have those of you who support us with your dues and attendance every month. I realize that many of us are getting on in years but every ham is appreciated as well as those of you married to our hams and who support them in their hobby. I want to ask you to keep the ideas coming and let us know how we are doing. The Board is here to serve you as best we can and it is certainly both an honor and a pleasure to do so. Thanks to everyone in GCARA and to those of you who give kindly of your speaking services like Kai Siwiak and Robert Molledo of the Miami Weather Bureau. We have almost interesting and loving group.

I would like to give a plug to ARES-RACES as well. Please consider joining the group with Jeff Stahl, K4BH and the lovely Carol Sjursen, KJ4AWB, who together, keep the Emergency Communication Services going for Broward County. It takes a lot of their personal time, skills and planning ability to cover the county in an emergency and this pair are phenomenal at it. There is a lot to learn there and your contribution as a volunteer is so greatly appreciated.

I wish you many happy thoughts and good energy, as well as good health as we traverse the months to come of COVID-19. Please stay safe, by wearing your mask, frequently clean surfaces and wash hands and keeping socially distant from one another. It is estimated by the CDC if everyone follows these simple rules, we could wipe out this contagion. God bless.

Melanie KJ4VCT

FREE To A Good Home

FREE TO A GOOD HOME

As many of you are aware, Ralph N0LO and Sherry KB5VWW Tullo are starting a new chapter in their lives with family in North Carolina. We wish them well in their new endeavors.

They are leaving behind a great desk that was used as their “ham shack”.  There is plenty of room to mount radios, a place to put your computer and keyboard, lots of cabinets and draws to store items out of sight and a large area that can be used as a workspace or to repair your equipment.

Dimensions:

96” Deep
72” Wide (Cabinet Side)
65” Tall

Ralph and Sherry are willing to give this away for FREE to anyone who can give it a good home.

And, just in case you or someone you know is looking to buy a home, theirs is for sale!

Interested in either?  Call Carol Sjursen, KJ4AWB at 954-803-6338 and she can give you the details on both!

CLICK HERE FOR PRINTABLE FLYER

 

SILENT KEY ROY KJ4EGN USED EQUIPMENT FOR SALE

MIKES ELECTRONICS
1069 NW 53 STREET
FT LAUDERDALE, FL 33309
954-491-7110
mspivak@bellsouth.net
9am to noon MON-FRI

GCARA Board Meeting Minutes 13-September 2020

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

Message from the President September 2020

Happy Fall to all of the GCARA!! September 22, 2020 will be the first day of Fall and also our Monthly General Meeting on ZOOM. (CLICK for meeting details.)

WE are having a good time with the new HF Station capabilities and those who have used it are excited we have it. There is still come fine tuning and tweeking going on by the Administrators, Joe McGee, Al Flapan and Ricky Eaton and they ask that we all be patient as we traverse the Remote Hams world with it’s idiosynchrosies. Thanks for all of the positive feedback from users.

If you have not yet availed yourself to this wonderful Ham Radio opportunity, please check it out. Directions can be found on the W4BUG.org website as narrated by Joe McGee, NX4T, who did a demonstration at our August meeting. It will be well worth your efforts.

Being a good HAM means being a good citizen, a willing volunteer, and a loving host to newer hams. You will always follow the formal instructions of a net control operator in a NET and will always identify yourself, if asked, by your full call sign and phonetically in the case of the SEFTN at 6 PM daily. Remember, having fun does not have to sound “funny” or “ridiculous” to others. When on the air, stay polite and even tempered, identify yourself properly and respect the hobby by doing so. Be the best ham at all times. Thanks.

Thank you to all those people who are respecting social distancing in every day life and wearing their masks in public. The sooner everyone cooperates, the sooner this pandemic will abate. No one is more anxious than me to get back to “normal” but for now, I will follow CDC guidelines and stay pleasant while doing so. An unpleasant circumstance is always easier to tolerate with a positive attitude. Have an attitude of gratitude for every day, no matter what happens. You will be happier for it in the end.

Our club has taken several “hard hits” in the loss of persons like Donald Search W3AZD who was a consumate volunteer with his wife and life long friend Hope Smith WB3ANE, and our treasured Board Secretary, Roy Neiman, KJ4EGN, whose noteworthy contributions on a daily basis exemplified the best in HAM-manship whether he was on the SEFTN on Wednesday night or a host of other nets as well as being a valued volunteer in ARESRACES. These men were irreplacable at best and will be missed by myself and other club members. Chuck Gress, K3NXH, a digital guru and satelite buff, would give you the shirt off his back if he knew you needed it and was a very big support to the board and club in many ways. His cheerful attitude and generous nature will be sorely missed at meetings and the Field Days to come for sure. All three of these gentlemen will be honored with a Memorial Brick at the ARRL, supported by the donations from Palmetto Amateur Radio Club and Davie Cooper City Amateur Radio Club as well as our club. As good hams, we are working as a team, in these sad times to memorialize those we lost and to show gratitude for their selfless service. A man can gain no higher honor than to be remembered by the people he left behind.

We are about to embark on the holidays, so let me first wish Rosh Hashanah greetings to our Jewish friends and neighbors, a very Happy New Year to all, followed by the high holy day of Yom Kippur. Please celebrate and reflect in peace and joy, without conflict or grief. We will soon all celebrate Thanksgiving and we have much to celebrate in this life, despite the pandemic and challenges it has given us. That we rise above all strife, in good humor and with virtue intact, is a blessing. God bless us all in the coming days. Amen.

Melanie Fernandez, KJ4VCT
GCARA President

GCARA SEPTEMBER 22, 2020 MEETING

PLEASE JOIN US TO LEARN SOME NEW ITEMS!!

CHECK IN @ 6:30 PM, MEETING @ 7 PM

SPEAKER:      WOLFGANG, KJ4ATV

                        AMATEUR TELEVISION PRESIDENT OF FLORIDA

Wolfgang will speak about amateur television and how to get on it. He will also be  speaking on some interesting touch points for amateurs.

 I am looking forward to seeing all of our friends and we promise this program will stimulate conversation!

Topic: Gold Coast ARA Monthly Meeting
Time: Sep 22, 2020 06:30 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting: CLICK HERE

Meeting ID: 870 0119 2563
Passcode: 191992

One tap mobile
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+13126266799,,87001192563#,,,,,,0#,,191992# US (Chicago)

Dial by your location
        +1 301 715 8592 US (Germantown)
        +1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)
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        +1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma)
        +1 346 248 7799 US (Houston)
        +1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose)

Meeting ID: 870 0119 2563
Passcode: 191992

Find your local number: CLICK HERE

Join by Skype for Business: CLICK HERE

Mike’s Electronics Open for CURBSIDE SERVICE

Mike Spivak is still open for business! Please call for what you need (954-491-7110). Mike will give you a time to pick it up. He offers curbside service 9 am to 12 pm, Monday through Friday. Let’s all support our fellow ham and friend and wear a mask to pick up. Thanks.

2020 Aug Meeting Minutes

Call to order – 7:00 p.m. on ZOOM meeting. The host will mute everyone
while reports are given. Please use the raise hand button to ask a question
or make a comment. Thank you.

GOD BLESS THE USA!!
Minutes of previous meeting on July 28, 2020___
Draft minutes on website. Motion to approve? Second?
All in favor say “aye.” Opposed, “no.”

Treasurer’s report. Erik Olmer W4EJO

Membership report. Joe McGee

Testing report. Jeff Stahl K4BH – Any news on when testing can start?

Corona Virus report – Jeff Stahl
Repeater report. Ricky Eaton KD4HGR

Webmaster report, if any. John invites us to submit articles for the blog.

Call for old business.

We still have not heard when the hospital will be allowing our club to meet
yet so we will continue with Zoom meetings. As far as our quarterly dinners
and biannual picnics, they are on hold until the dust settles from the latest
rise in COVID-19 cases. It does not appear to be safe to meet in public with
groups larger than 10, masked or not.

Announcements.
The Board would like to pursue getting a brick from the ARRL for ROY
KJ4EGN, SK. We will start taking donations this month and September.
We will join with the Palmetto ARC for that purpose.
I am taking names for the secretary position at this time due to the
unfortunate demise of Roy. You must have computer skills, time to
dedicate, the ability to be discreet with personal business matters and an
organizational ability. Anyone who is interested, please call Melanie
privately at 954-560-3706. You must have been a member in good
standing with the Club with up to date dues for at least one year. All
candidates will have the opportunity to make a case for their inclusion in
our list of choices. Thank you.

Hope Search is looking for issues of CQ Magazine for the months of March
through present for reading material. Please contact Melanie to pick up and
deliver to Hope. 954-560-3706

Kenny Hollenbeck has an announcement- SEFTN needs volunteer control
operators even if just for one day, etc.

Carol Sjursen has a ARESRACES Announcement. Need volunteers for
shelters.

Introduction of speaker Joe McGee, NX4T, will speak to us about the
HF radio the club purchased and has set up. Several of our best hams
have had a hand in the setting up of the system. Thank you to
everyone who lent a hand in the process.

QUESTIONS ABOUT TALK. HOST UNMUTE Members.

Thank the speaker.
“The chair will entertain a motion to adjourn.”

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