Gold Coast Amateur Radio Association, Inc.

Gold Coast Amateur Radio Association General Meeting Minutes

1) 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 May 23, 2023 A quorum was present with 17 members (see Appendix A).

2) Secretary’s Report – Ben Echavarria (N7BBE)

Ben Echavarria (N7BBE) motioned to approve the minutes from April Attendance was taken for officers, members and guests

3) President Report

• Reminder about supporting amateur radio community
• GCARA stands on its own merits and never bad mouths other clubs
• We seek ways to work in tandem with other clubs so the amateur radio Community benefits from the synergy of each club’s unique specialties

4) Vice President – Ricki Witte (KJ4FSJ)

• Committee Reports
• Testing – Jeff Stahl (K4BH)
  • Third Saturday every month at 9:30am at designated location
• Broward ARES/RACES – Carol Sjursen (KJ4AWB) chairman
• ARES EC – Jeff Stahl (K4BH)
• Field Day IC – Erik Olmer (W4EJO)
  • Objectives will be discussed in announcements

5) Treasurer – Dirk Basting (N4AN)

• Current checking balance (as of 5/20/2023) $7,488.67
• Current stripe balance (as of 5/20/2023) $0
• Cash on hand $0
• Membership:
  • Annual Current – 38
  • Annual Family – 4
  • Lifetime – 18
  • Unpaid – 49

6) Repeater Report – Ricky Eaton (KD4HGR)

• Board will agree to entire vision of club hardware by August, auction/sell Surplus equipment and purchase equipment needed to complete vision of hardware
• Talk to Ricky Eaton (KD4HDR) if you have ideas for the clubs hardware (repeaters, HF remote station, Dstar?. Deployable repeater, winlink node, etc.)
• Deployable repeater / Helium Balloon for antenna
• Thanks to Jesse Shannon (KJ4FKK) for $800.00 donation towards this project

7) Member at Large – Melanie Fernandez (KJ4VCT)

• Sunshine Committee – Report on any “good and welfare” topics about Club membership
• Anna Karden (N4KAJ) at home recuperating
• Ricky’s wife Kathleen in for surgery
• Pray for both
• Next speaker
  • June 27 – Erik Olmer (W4EJO) – Shelter Communications
• Next club dinner is 6/11/2023 to avoid conflicts with field day and father’s day
• New members and renewals since last general meeting
  • KQ4IOW – Aurora Figueiredo (Incredible Outstanding Woman)

8) PIO Report – Tom Savoca (K94TJS)

• Shirt sales on webpage
• Business expo in Margate 6/10/2023

9) Old Business

• None

10) New Business:

• None

11) Announcements:

Field day objectives established:

1. “Get Hope on the Air” again
2. Have Fun – K4BH rule
3. Notify IC of contact with HI immediately – The Aloha rule
4. Setup Class 3A station for:
   a. CW
   b. Digital
   c. SSB (club station, experienced/active operators)
   d. GOTA (inactive/inexperienced/non hams) 5 points per QSO
   Regardless of mode
5. Make as many contacts as possible on 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10 and all Bands 50 MHz and above using all modes
6. Develop skills to meet the challenges of emergency preparedness
   a. Educational Activity/club project to tune SSB and GOTA station Antennas Field Day morning
7. Acquaint the general public with the capabilities of amateur radio
   a. Promote event with club’s Facebook, instagram and webpage
   b. Provide food for members and guests
   c. Youth QSO points available, operators 18 or younger who make
   One contact qualify for this bonus point, 100 points maximum available
   d. Obtain all bonus points for site visitation by
   I. Served Agency
   II. Elected Official
8. VHF (solar power bonus with 5 QSO)
9. Satellite (1 QSO)
10. Copy W1AW bulletin
    
    

2023 Field Day Staff:

• IC – Erik Olmer (W4EJO)
• IC Technical Advisor – Jeff Stahl (K4BH)
• Hospitality Advisor – Ricki Witte (KJ4FSJ)
• GOTA Technical Advisor – Joe Mcgee (NX4T)
• Public Information Officer – Tom Savoca (K9TJS)
• Safety Officer – Ben Echavarria (N7BBE)
• Liaison Officer – Carol Sjursen (KJ4AWB)
• GOTA Station Manager – Al Lisler (NT4AL)
• CW Station Manager – Dan Vasilca (AI4WW)
• Digital Station Manager – Ricky Eaton (KD4HGR)
• VHF Station Manager – Kenny Hollenbeck (KE4NC)
• Satellite Station Manager – NEEDED!
• Food Transport Manager – Gerald Deitch (W4LST)

Also needed:

• GOTA Mentors
• SSB Operators
• -“Hands” for station setup and breakdown
• Truck to transport the Nine Cinderblocks

12) Adjournment

• Adjournment at 8:14 pm for program speaker

Program – Speaker Bob Heil (K9EID)

APPENDIX –A- Board Members
Erik Olmer – President, Ricki Witte- Vice President, Ben Echavarria- Secretary, Tom Savoca- PIO
Dirk Basting- Treasurer, Melanie Fernandez- Member at Large, Ricky Eaton – Repeater Trustee

Members:

• Alan Lisler NT4AL
• David Pomerantz KO4DKN
• Nigel Richards KB4F
• Brandy Coolidge N1HO
• Sam Greenfield N2URO
• Jesse Shannon KJ4FKK
• Carol Sjursen KJ4AWB
• Jeff Stahl K4BH
• Paul Passman WBOBBC
• Aurora Figueiredo KQ4IOW
• Mike Wolf K2HXC
• David Warner KB4ICU
• Robert Ligum KN4WII
  

Guests:

• Sylvan Pierre
• Craig Ruth K6JGV
• Bob Ramsey N9KMQ
• RC Saybrack
• Richard Wallace KG6YEM
• Rick Torey WZRMT
• Joe Leikhim III K4SAT
• Guy Ingram
• Mike Sam