FCARC Meeting Minutes for February 14th, 2006
Members Present: 21 Guests Present: 0 Total Present: 21
Kelly Boswell, KA5MGL
Ken Chafin, N5RKC
Robert Crites, N0UVE (New Member)
David Doty, N5XF
Jim Durham, N5UXX
James Elliott, W5JNE
Bill Fill, KD5IC
Dora Anna Fill, NI5D
Jim Grinder, N5TSG
Ken Halsted, K5KWH
Randy Harrington, N5RYG
Gary Hawkins, KD5ZQF
Wayne Johnston, KD4TA
Glenn King, N5GK - Custodian
Craig Mangrum, N5CTM - Secretary/Treasurer
Jim Norwin, W5CS
Frankie Parks, K5FRP - Vice President
Roger Williamson, N5QNA
Kathy Williamson, KB5RMY
Mark Williamson, N5SYR
Joetta Williamson
Guests:
Call to Order
Vice-President, Frankie Parks, called the meeting to order at 18:27.
Treasury report is $1177.22
Old Business
Power Poles & Repeater News
Glenn King still has power poles available.
Sunday Log Cabin's New "Blueprint" Page
Craig Mangrum submitted the club's ad over the internet. After checking to see if it had been posted, Craig discovered that an ad had already been placed there. After several attempts to get the ad replaced with the approved ad, it still hasn't been done. Craig is going to go down to the newspaper and talk with them in person.
DB-224 Antenna
Glenn King said the DB-224 antenna is tuned and ready for the 2-meter side. He still needs to put the loops on it for the 70cm side.
LEPC Meeting
The Local Emergency Planning Committee had their meeting January 17th at. Glenn King, Wayne Johnston, and Craig Mangrum attended this meeting. The county is putting is putting in a 450 MHz trunking system. The main presentation was about a computerized system that will link all radio systems, no matter what radio system or frequency the agency uses.
MEMS / Hospital Exercise
Perry Carleton said there is a HIPPA concern right now. The questioned problem is what can we know and broadcast over the air waves. MEMS is checking into this and will let us know what they find. (This information hasn't changed from January's meeting)
FCARC Not an Active ARRL Affiliated Club?
Frankie Parks addressed the problem we thought we had with the ARRL about being an affiliated club. The ARRL said a club needs to have 51% of its members to be ARRL members to be affiliated. Glenn King spoke with the ARRL and found out that once a club is affiliated, it is always affiliated, but it may be considered inactive. The club does however meet the requirements and the present percentage of ARRL members in our club stands at 66% as of this e-mailing.
CSSEP Exercise
Wayne Johnston and Craig Mangrum attended the CSSEP Exercise on February 8. They helped out in the ARES trailer along with other ARES members and Emergency Coordinators.
This year's drill was a nerve agent chemical leak set off by several landmines. There was a plume that traveled SW from the Pine Bluff Arsenal.
The ARES trailer was pretty slow as far as communications go. But Wayne and I were able to learn several things including the information system they were using over the internet to keep track of the incidents and Wayne got some training and the packet station.
Most of the communications came in over the internet. About every hour there was a briefing in the main conference room in the underground bunker. Wayne and I attended at least one of these briefings. The setup they have is very nice and organized. On the wall were three large computer screens with information on them. One was a map of the situation and affected areas. Another was a list of situation updates and incidents that had happened. And the last screen incidents that needed responding too.
The exercise seemed to go very smoothly and was managed well. Everything seemed to get taken care of very timely.
Skywarn Weather Spotter Class in Little Rock
There will be a skywarn weather spotter class in Little Rock, Saturday, March 4th. The location is Baptist School of Nursing, Colonel Glenn and Bowman Roads. The class will start at 9am. Reservations are required. Contact Georgia Seward (Gaseward@baptist-health.org) or Roger Fidler (kc5npu@aristotle.net)
It was originally thought this was going to be at the Russellville Hamfest. After looking closer, the agenda on the website for the Russellville Hamfest had not been updated. So it will NOT be at Russellville.
New Business
ARES DEC Meeting
Glenn King attended the ARES District Emergency CoordinatorsÂ’ meeting. David Norris, N5UZ, was the guest speaker. David is the Arkansas ARRL Section Manager.
Glenn said the ARES direction is now aiming more at training. There is now a youth net going. These are Monday nights at 6:30pm on the 146.940- W5DI repeater. This net is also linked up with several other repeaters and has an Echolink node as well. Everyone is encouraged to check into this net. Also the ARES nets are on Sunday mornings at 7am and Monday nights at 7pm after the Razorback net.
Toad Suck Daze 2006
The club will once again be doing a special event station for Toad Suck Daze this year. (Dates are not available at this time. Usually the first weekend in May) Perry Carleton said in an email that he may be able to get the MEMS mobile command station. Craig Mangrum made a motion to do the special event station again this year. Motion was seconded. Motion carried. The special event station will once again be on that Saturday for 8 hrs. There will be a sign up sheet at the next meeting for those who want to volunteer.
Club Reimbursements
Craig Mangrum brought to the attention of the club some members that needed reimbursing for various items bought to maintain the club's activities.
Craig Mangrum had $28.12 for a new club stamp and bottle of ink purchased from Office Depot.
Frankie Parks had $29.25 for the renewal of the club's website domain name for the next three years.
David Doty had $222.50 for equipment bought for the club a 70cm and 6 meter repeaters.
Glenn King had 3 items. He had $28.45 for the receiver crystal for the 145.210 repeater. Then he had $9.60 for some supplies to repair the chain link fence at the 145.210 repeater site that was damaged earlier by vandals. And finally, he had $40 for the yearly rental fees for the club's P.O. Box at the post office downtown.
Jim Durham made a motion to approve the reimbursements and James Elliot 2nd it. Motion carried.
Field Day Committee
Jim Grinder brought up the need for a field day committee. Glenn King will be the chairman of the committee. Those that volunteered to help Glenn are, Wayne Johnston, Jim Grinder, Frankie Parks, and Craig Mangrum.
Net Control for March
Craig Mangrum volunteered to be net control operator for the month of March.
Club Social Activities
Jim Grinder also brought up a thought of doing some social activities for the club. This would just simply be some activities to get together and have some fun, have some good food, and get to know each other better. These activities would take place a couple of times during the year.
Tower for Sale
Frankie had a gentleman contact him about a tower for sale. It's Rohn 25, 120-130 feet with top section. Contact Frankie for more information.
New / Old Custodian
Glenn King has been the club's custodian of the club for 20 years. After bringing up the fact that the W5AUU callsign will expire this year, Glenn was re-elected to do it again for another 10 years.
Glenn said the club has several items that he has been housing for many years and needs to get rid of. Glenn mentioned he may take some pictures and bring them to the next club meeting.
Tower Needs
Glenn also mentioned that the tower for the 145.210 site needs some new parts to guide the tower better before we put the newer antennas on it.
Jim Durham made a motion to adjourn. James Elliott seconded it. Meeting adjourned at 19:06
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