LOCATION: WEST BOCA LIBRARY
ATTENDEES:
JOHN COLE, JEFF STAHL. MELANIE FERNANDEZ, RICKI WITTE
EXCUSED FOR WORK: RICKY EATON, MIKE WOLF, JEFF
RONNER, ROY NEIMAND
• Meeting called to order 6 PM
• Meeting adjourned 7:30 PM
Summary of meeting:
John Cole introduced himself and advised that we could have a blog
type website after he constructs the shell of the page.
• Three administrators will be needed to add content and they will
be: Melanie Fernandez will submit Gen Meeting and Board
notes, President’s Message, etc.
• Jeff Stahl will cover testing reports and upcoming events
• Ricky Eaton will cover Repeater information and work being
done etc.
Ricki Witte will get financial set up for domain and webpage
transferred for GCARA (club account) immediately. Create paypal
accounts in GCARA name linked to Club Debit card.
Ricki Witte will look into getting the 501 non profit Tax benefit for the
club and report back to the board no later than the April 6 , 2019
Board Meeting.
John Cole to take care of creating a site from our old site, no texture
background, edited streamer, updated until members are up to speed
and trained as contributors (Melanie, Jeff, and Ricky) in Word Press.
Both the old and the new sites are to be backed up.
Will meet again with the whole board for training end of March 2019
at which point club shall take over Webpage and only refer special
problems to John for consultation.
Report respectfully submitted by Melanie Fernandez March 6, 2019
CALL TO ORDER:
7:35 President, Melanie Fernandez KJ4VCT & lead the Pledge of Allegiance
SPEAKER THIS MONTH: Ralph Boyd KK4GUB
Ralph gave an interesting presentation on the aspects of Radio Astronomy.
He first said that “HAMS like to avoid receiving noise” —in Radio Astronomy, they seek noise for evaluation. He was able to access his system & demo some of the graphs. He checked into the SE Florida Traffic Net the next evening & said that the signals that came up during the meeting were from the Christmas T Nebula.
ROLL CALL:
There were 31 in attendance
SECRETARY NOTES:
The 50/50 was won by Melanie KJ4VCT. She donated it back to the club. Thanks, Melanie
Joe Ruby was given an engraved mug & a thank you for his managing the web site & posting the minutes of the Board & General meetings.
Robert Walters will also receive his engraved mug at our Board Meeting on March 2 for his past support as treasurer.
FINANCIAL REPORT:
None given at this meeting.
MEMBERSHIP REPORT:
No report available at this meeting
VE Report:
Jeff Stahl tested 1 -Todd upgraded to General
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
The address for our Facebook page is:
Gold Coast Amateur Radio Association (print name of club in the look-up section) It is maintained by Mike Wolf, K2HXC
TECHNICAL REPORT:
The 146.61 Repeater and the DMR Repeaters are both working well. Ricky and Eric plan to install new coax in the near future.
MEETING ADJOURNED:
The meeting was adjourned at 8:55 PM EDT by President, Melanie Fernandez,
KJ4VCT.
Respectfully submitted by Roy Neiman KJ4EGN, Secretary.
CALL TO ORDER:
7:32 President, Melanie Fernandez J4VCT & lead the Pledge of Allegiance
SPEAKER THIS MONTH: Jeff Stahl
Jeff gave a presentation covering the various characteristics and technical information
required to select the proper battery for Ham operation. He recommended (extended
power batteries) for HT radios.
ROLL CALL:
There were 31 in attendance
SECRETARY NOTES:
The 50/50 was won by G.W. Lanahm WA3OYW. He donated it back to the club.
Joe Ruby desires to hand off the website task. We are thinking of turning the job over
to John Cole of the Boca Club, due to his experience with their web site.
FINANCIAL REPORT:
Ricki Witte, KJ4FSJ gave the monthly financial report.
MEMBERSHIP REPORT:
Joe McGee reminded everyone that the 2019 dues need to be paid.
VE Report:
Jeff Stahl tested 1 Tech, Juan from Ecuador.
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Joe McGee presented the plan for Winter Field Day on January 27th, 2019. Cost for
simple Food & drinks are $10.00 OR bring your own. Joe NX4T needs 3-4 men to help
raise his Beam antenna. Set up starts @ 9AM. He plans to run high wattage again &
run bands: 10-15-20 & 40. Ricky will handle the FT8 mode. “Digital Dan” will be there
with his 60 ft. Antenna & super radio system. “Fox Hunts” are planned @11AM & 1
PM. Bring those tape measure Yagi’s.
The Quarterly Dinner will be at Wings Plus on Saturday March 23, 2019
The Annual Picnic will be at Vista View on April 13th. Details later.
Mike Wolfe is working on the Facebook page for the club. The address is:
GCARAGoldCoast Amateur Radio Association
TECHNICAL REPORT:
The 146.61 Repeater and the DMR Repeaters are both working well.
CALL TO ORDER:
8:34 President, Melanie Fernandez J4VCT Opened the meeting
ROLL CALL:.
Melanie Fernandez, Mike Wolfe, Ricki Witte, Roy Neiman, Jeff Stahl (New Director at Large)
Jeff Ronner, (New PIO) Resource agent: Joe McGee (Club Attendance & Field Day Chair.)
SECRETARY NOTES:
Melanie suggested that we acquire the phone numbers, Emails & addresses of persons that are tested at the meetings. We need to stay in contact with them to keep them in the Club. Jeff Stahl can send Radiograms to invite them to the meetings & such. She also suggested that we do a survey at the meeting & online to discover the members interests & encourage input.
Winter Field Day is January 26th & is chaired by Joe McGee. Food will cost $10.00. Setup
starts at 8:00 AM Shutdown at about 4-5 PM. We will use FPL power this time. Jeff Stahl is
loaning his Router & other equipment. Jeff Ronner is to advertise & to invite Sheriff’s, Police, Mayors & other dignitaries to our Field Day.
The annual picnic The will be held at Vista View Park on April 13th more details in the future.
Mike: Speaker for 1/22/19 meeting will be Jeff Ronner, W4AEQ. He will present technical
information on DMR. *The February speaker is to be advised. March will be Kai Siwiak
KE4PT
Mike is still working on the Facebook Page. He needs some authorization from Joey Jet.
Jeff Stahl & Joe McGee: Will reserve the room at Wings Plus scheduled on March 23. Note:
There is no guarantee that we’ll have the room to ourselves. Jeff Stahl & Joe McGee will give a
report on the Winter Field Day. Also, they will schedule for July 13th or 20th.
Ricky: Was ill but sent a letter regarding the Repeaters. The 146.61 is fine, the 146.82 is OK,
however, Ricky & Eric will install an amplifier soon. The DMR system is working but
additional tweaking is necessary. A 6 meter Repeater is in the future.
Dirk’s systems are functioning but still work in progress.
Website: Joe Ruby wants to be replaced as Webmaster. Both Jeff’s recommended John Cole
from the Boca Club. Jeff Ronner will ask John if he will take it over.
- originally said Jeff Diperna but not firmed up.
General: Give Robin N4HHP Two $25.00 gift cards for TooJays. Also Joe McGee is to contact
Robin re installing an antenna on Imperial Point. Keep Jeff & Carol in the loop.
Jeff Stahl is attempting to stir up interest in starting a Ham Club at a College. He’s willing to
conduct a training class for Technicians
MEETING ADJOURNED:
The meeting was adjourned at 9:33 AM EST by President, Melanie Fernandez, KJ4VCT.
Respectfully submitted by Roy Neiman KJ4EGN, Secretary.
CALL TO ORDER:
The meeting was called to order at 7:45 PM by President Melanie Fernandez KJ4VCT, who also led us in the Pledge of Allegiance.
ROLL CALL
33 people were in attendance. Secretary Roy Neiman KJ4EGN was absent.
SECRETARY NOTES
The meeting minutes of Oct. 23,2018 were presented for approval and accepted.
FINANCIAL REPORT:
Ricki Witte, KJ4FSJ, gave the financial report . A call to approve the Budget Report was made and seconded by the membership.
MEMBERSHIP REPORT:
Joe McGee, NX4T, gave the Membership report prepared by our Treasurer. We have 71 paid members, 31 not paid. Many members updated their fees at the meeting.
VE REPORT:
Four people took the tests and we have 1 new technician, and 2 generals.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Winter Field Day preparations are in the works. $10.00 Food fee, one day event on Jan 26, 2019. Will not be competing so will run on general power. Bring equipment to experiment with. We need operators.
Winterfest Boat parade Dec. 15. Contact Robin Terrell, N4HHP as we still need operators.
The general election was held and since no challengers to any position, the Board remains the same with the following additions: Jeff Stahl K4BH is Director at Large while Jeff Ronner W4AEQ will be the PIO/Director at Large. These two new posts on the Board were voted in two meetings ago and the new published updates to the bylaws appear on the website for perusal.
President- Melanie Fernandez, KJ4VCT
Vice President – Mike Wolf, K2HXC
Secretary – Roy Neiman KJ4EGN
Treasurer- Ricki Witte KJ4FSI
Repeater Trustee – Ricky Eaton- KD4HGR
Joe McGee N4XT will graciously remain the Membership Chair, a non-Board position.
Webmaster – Joe Ruby KJ4OW
The Board has accepted Joe Ruby, KJ4OW ‘s request that we pay the cost of the website from now on. Prices are being researched and will be announced.
TECHNICAL REPORT:
All repeaters are currently working. Boca Repeater timestamp will be removed because of error and need to go on site to change it.
DMR issues might be the WiFi connection between the repeater and the internet. Still being researched.
SPEAKER THIS MONTH:
The speaker this month, Jeff Stahl, K4BH, reviewed method for sending traffic.
50/50 The winner for the 50/50 donated the funds of $31.00 back to the Treasury. Collected $17.00 from coffee fund.
MEETING ADJOURNED:
President Melanie Fernandez, KJ4VCT, adjourned the meeting at 9:56 PM.
Summer Field Day at Quiet Waters Park
Jeff Stahl, K4BH, operating at Summer Field Day
ART RUBEN K3GE, SK , operating CW at Summer Field Day
