Gold Coast Amateur Radio Association, Inc.

Gold Coast Amateur Radio Association Board Meeting Minutes

1) Call to Order

• Erik Olmer (W4EJO) called the meeting to order at 2:36 pm.. A quorum was present with five board members.

Members present: Melanie Fernandez (KJ4VCT), Ricki Witte (KJ4FSJ), Ben Echavarria (N7BBE), Ricky Eaton (KD4HGR), Tom Savoca (K9TJS), (K4BH)Dirk Basting (N4AN)

2) Secretary, Ben Echavarria N7BBE

• Approval of previous minutes
• Attendance taken for officers.

3) President’s Report, Erik Olmer W4EJO

• Summary of past events and activities
  ° Ham and Eggs
  ° Egg hunt/picnic
  ° MS Bike ride

4) Vice President, Ricki Witte KJ4FSJ

• POA for treasurer transition

5) Committee Reports:

• Field Day – W4EJO June 24 + 25 – Summer Field Day
  ° W4EJO is EC, Jeff Stahl (K4BH) is technical advisor, Ben Echavarria (N7BBE) is Safety Officer
  ° Recruitment for assistance in May will be priority
  ° Amateur Radio License Testing – Jeff Stahl K4BH
• ° Broward ARES/RACES – Carol Sjursen KJ4AWB Races Chairman/Jeff Stahl K4BH ARES EC

6) Interim Treasurer Report, Erik Olmer W4EJO/ Dirk Basting N4AN

• Current checking balance as of 4/26/2023 $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
• Review membership report distributed and talk to anyone who has “paid through” date in the past
• “Assume innocence”

7) Repeater Trustee, Ricky Eaton KD4HDR

• HF Station – Second dry run with Ricki in …April?
• Plan for N4ATL proposal of receiving station to add to JKV
• Antenna Adapter Kit/Analyzer – Eriik will bring to dinner
• Allstar integration for W4BUG repeaters
• New deployable repeater discussion
  ° Earmarked fundraiser – recognize people who donate (callsign printed on balloon)

8) Member at Large, Melanie Fernandez KJ4VCT

• Sunshine Committee – Report on any “good and welfare” topics about club membership
• Next Speakers:
  • April 25 – Robert Molleda, NWS Hurricane Season Prep
  • May 23 – Bob Heil, whatever he wants to talk about
  • June 27 – Erik Olmer, Shelter Communications

• New Members and renewals since last general meeting
  • KM4LVK – Luis Gesualdi, new member
    KJ4FSH – Rhonda, renewal
    W4LST – Gerald, renewal
    NT4AL – Alan, renewal

9) PIO, Tom Savoca K9TJS

• Shirt sales on webpage
• What worked well for picnic PR
• Discuss any PIO committee activity planned on or before the next general meeting

10) Old Business

• Banners – Pending, discuss in conjunction with inflatable helium baloon
• Business cards / QSL Cards – designs discussed, need to be finalized and ordered
• Shirts / Patches / Stickers
• Club event for tuning the Joe McGee dipole antenna

11) New Business

• Donation of Hustler 6-BTV + 12 M + 17M from Howard Robins W1HSR
  ° Need to arrange pickup / plan for antenna / storage
• Consideration of Kenny Hollenbeck KE4NC and Sally Hollenbeck as lifetime members to recognize the contributions Kenny has made to the GCARA and as Net Manager for the SEFTN

• Consideration of Ricky Eaton KD4HGR and Ricki Witte KJ4FSJ as lifetime members for past service to GCARA Board and amateur radio community as a whole

ADJOURNMENT AT 4:07 PM
Minutes Submitted by Ben Echavarria (N7BBE)