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 January 24, 2023 A quorum was present.
1) Secretary’s Report – Ben Echavarria (N7BBE)
Ben Echavarria (N7BBE) motioned to approve the minutes from January was seconded by Rick Eaton (KD4HGR)°°
• See appendix “A” for membership and guests list.
2) President’s Report – Erik Olmer (W4EJO)
Speaker schedule:
- April 25 – Robert Molleda, NWS Hurricane Season Preparation
- May 23 – Bob Heil, whatever he wants to talk about
Other future events:
- April 8 – Picnic at Vista View Park in Davie Needs:
- Foxhunt equipment and operators
- Empty plastic eggs
- Candy
- Propose making it a free event, minimal “picnic” food, emphasizing showing off
- Amateur radio equipment and skills
- “Donate to GCARA” QR code hung at pavilion
- Network for advertising to public (kids, parents, families, etc)
- Need to register teams for egg hunt
- Egg hunt teams will include kids, adult guardian(s) and at least one ham to help with the fox hunt and to answer questions about amateur radio located inside the eggs (bonus points).
- April 15 & 16 – MS Bike Ride
- Need volunteers, webpage already has functionality
- July 18, 10:30am Library Presentation at the Century Plaza Library in Deerfield Beach.
- Shirts will be going on sale, probably $40 each, donation to GCARA included with Shirt; great way to show support for the club.
- Club QSL cards for W4BUG, will honor old cards in design
- Ricki Witte (KJ4FSJ) working on application for “Special Service Club” status
3) Vice President Ricki Witte (KJ4FSJ) – Excused
Committee Reports:
- MS Bike Ride – Ben E (N7BBE) Ride Chairman
- 4/15 & 4/16
- Need Communicators
Winter Field Day – Eric Olmer (W4EJO)
Testing – Jeff Stahl (K4BH)
Broward ARES\RACES – Carol Sjursen (KJ4AWB) RACES Chairman Jeff Stahl (K4BH) ARES EC
4) Interim Treasurer, Erik Olmer (W4EJO)
- Current checking balance (as of 2/26/2023) $8,126.29
- Current stripe balance (as of 2/26/2023) $0
- Cash on hand $67.00
- WFD cash donations: $40.00
- WFD online donations: $540.00
- WFD Expenses: $573.00
- WFD Revenue/Loss: +$6.36
6) Repeater Trustee Ricky Eaton (KD4HGR)
- HF STATION – Discuss Zoom session in Feb, and planned for March
- Discuss NT4AL proposal of receiving station to add to JKV
- Club purchasing new antenna adapter kit for the antenna analyzer for events like Field Day
7) Member at Large, Melanie Fernandez (KJ4VCT)
- Sunshine Committee – Report on any “good and welfare” topics about Club membership
- Events scheduled on or before next month’s general meeting:
- 3/18/2023 – Skywarn class
- 3/26/2023 – Next dinner at Wings Plus
- 3/28/2023 – March General Meeting – W1AW tour
- 3/31/2023 – Deadline to order shirts to have by field day
- New members AND Renewals since last general meeting
- N4QZB, N4BUG, K4RU, KC2DEX, K4ADD, N2HYD, KG4SLH
8) PIO, Tom Savoca (K9TJS)
- Reported on any web page updates
- Discuss any PIO committee activity planned on or before the next general meeting
9) Old Business:
- Joe Ruby Brick
- Banners – PIO Committee will submit proposal by March board meeting
- Vests – Ordered
10) New Business
- Will monitor for interest in Treasurer position, will name nominating committee if no one expresses interest, hold special election March 2023
Adjournment – 8:22 pm
Special quest: Samuel Greenfield talking about the Flipper
A. Appendix A
Members Present (20)
Melanie Fernandez (KJ4VCT), Jeff Stahl (K4BH), Mike Wolf (K2HXC), Erik Olmer (W4EJO) Tom Savoca (K9TJS) Ricki Witte (KJ4FSJ), Ricky Eaton (KD4HGR), John Cole (N1QFH), Nigel Richards (KB4F), Dirk Basting (N4AN), Mickey Galper (AA4AC), Carol Sjursen (KJ4AWB), Allan Karden (N4ALK) Ben Echavarria (N7BBE) Joe McGee (NX4T), Jerry Deitch (W4LST), Barry Porter (KP1PA), Harvey Kramer (KC4CX), Abe Betesh (W4FTL), Elliot Spiro (N2HYD)
Guests Present (1)
Samuel Greenfield