FCARC Meeting Minutes for August 9, 2005
Members Present: 18 Guests Present: 6 Total Present: 24
Perry Carleton, AE5EE
Ken Chafin, N5RKC
David Doty, N5XF
James Elliot, KE5ERJ
Daniel Gladstone, KE5ERL
Jim Grinder, N5TSG, and his son, Jayden
Ken Halsted, K5KWH
Bob Hambuchen, N5OWM
Judy Hambuchen, N5QKH
Randy Harrington, N5RYG
Glenn King, N5GK -- Custodian
Craig Mangrum, N5CTM -- Secretary/Treasurer
Dan Merry, KC5WMN
Stewart Nelson, KD5LBE
Chuck Olsen, KE5CPJ
Frankie Parks, K5FRP -- Vice President, and his wife, Hannah
Chester Robinson, N5MEF -- President
Roger Williamson, N5QNA
Guests:
Don Patee, AA4EK and his wife Nancy, K4NCY
Warren Lindgren, KR5GT
Robert Crites, N0UVE
Call To Order
President, Chester Robinson, called the meeting to order at 18:07.
Treasury report was $1044.85
Old Business
Field Day 2005
The field day results are not in yet. Frankie Parks said the ARRL said
they should be posted around August 12th or 13th.
Hospital Update
Glenn King had nothing to report.
Club Banner
The idea of getting a banner for the club is being put on the back
burner for now. Glenn King said the fair parade committee was buying several
banners this year. He is going to check to with the place doing the fair
parade's banners to see if we can get maybe get a discount.
Toad Suck Daze Certificates
Perry Carleton reported that all the requested certificates had been
mailed out, including the ones requested from 2004. Perry said we could no
longer use the post office's postmark. Perry and Chester were going to see if
they could recreate the postmark on a computer or maybe use the club's logo
instead.
I.D. Badges
Jim Grinder and Daniel Gladstone are hard at work on trying to find the
best way to produce the club's I.D. badges.
City Communication Center
On July 15th, several members installed the antenna and radio system at
the city's communication center. Thanks to Perry Carleton for climbing the tower.
Glenn King is in the process of getting a standard operating procedures
agreement signed with the city. After that is done, the city will issue I.D.
badges to everyone on the emergency call list.
MEMS Update
On July 22nd, several members installed the antenna at the MEMS
facility. Again, thanks to Perry for climbing the tower.
Other Club Activities
The club was involved in taking down a tower for Bob Hogan and then
transporting it to James Elliot's residence to be put up at a later date.
The Faulkner County Fair Parade is coming up Tuesday, September 20th,
2005. The club will once again be providing communications again for this
event. This year's theme will highlight our soldiers for serving in the military.
Repeater News
On August 3rd, two of the club's repeater sites were broken into and
vandalized. Glenn King reported that the AETN building was the worse. The door
was torn off of this building and the chain link fence appeared to have been
pulled down. Between the two sites, three power supplies were stolen. The
145.210- repeater is up and running again. The two 70cm machines are still down.
On Saturday, August 6th, several members went up to the repeater
site to do some repairs. They also cut some limbs along the road down to the
repeater.
Daniel Gladstone made a motion the club purchase the needed power
supplies and anything else needed and Frankie Parks 2nd the motion. The motion
passed. Glenn mentioned that he felt a rack mount power supply would be best
since it would be bolted down along with the rest of the equipment.
Glenn also is working to modify the antenna taken down at MEMS. He
is going to try to convert it to a 2 meter and 70cm dual band antenna.
Anderson Power Poles
At last month's meeting, the club authorized Glenn to purchase a bulk
supply of Anderson Power Pole connectors. They are in. Anyone who wishes to
buy some should see Glenn. The club is going to keep a supply of these on hand.
Glenn stated last month that these are great universal connectors. He
said he would like to see all club members and all emergency stations that have
been setup convert to these connectors. He said this will save time during an
emergency incase equipment must be switched out for whatever reason.
Standard Operating Procedure
Glenn has finalized the core procedures of the standard operating
procedures. Several members have been working with Glenn to proof the
agreement. Glenn moved that we adopt the SOP as a living agreement, meaning
that the club can modify it as needed for each individual emergency service that
we sign the agreement with. Randy Harrington 2nd the motion. Motion passed.
Glenn said he would like the club's RACES members start doing some
training simulations. He also stated that they city and county may be involved
in this years Simulated Emergency Test (SET) scheduled for October.
New Business
(JOTA) Jamboree On The Air
The club has been asked again this year to help with the JOTA event
scheduled for October 15th. The club has been asked to provide one radio,
antenna, backup station, and maybe a member proficient with Morse code. There
is a push to this year for a radio merit badge. The club agreed that this is a
great chance to educate the youth about amateur radio and decided to commit to
this event again.
Presentation -- Radiograms and National Traffic System (NTS)
Glenn provided the club with a great presentation. He present to the
club the radiogram and NTS. These are universal procedures for passing along
messages during emergencies and regular radio nets.
Glenn stated he wanted the club to start passing traffic over the
regular Thursday night nets every week. He wants to see the net control
operators formulate messages each week with the details of the past week's net
statistics. These will be sent to the net manager, Frankie Parks, K5FRP. He
also asked that the net manager formulate and pass along a message with each
month's net statistics to him. Glenn will then pass that information along to
the section manager for the monthly net reports.
The ARRL radiogram message form can be found on the club's website,
www.w5auu.org, under the files/downloads. We will also
try to post the handout that Glenn gave out at the meeting. These handouts were
the Sample Radiogram And NTS Quick Reference and the ARRL Numbered Radiograms.
Fund Raiser
Perry donated a parts box for the club to auction off. The box of parts sold for
$15.50 to Roger Williamson.
David Doty made a motion to adjourn. Roger Williamson seconded it.
Meeting adjourned at 19:15.
Don't forget about lunches at Smitty's BBQ on Fridays at around 11:00 am till we
leave.
For more information about the Faulkner County Amateur Radio Club, including
news and upcoming events, go to http://www.w5auu.org/
Minutes typed by Craig Mangrum, N5CTM, Secretary/Treasurer