FCARC Meeting Minutes for June 12, 2007
Members & Family Present: 18 Guests Present: 0 Total Present: 18
Kelly Boswell, KA5MGL
Perry Carleton, AE5EE
George Carroll, W5GHC
Ken Chafin, N5RKC
Bill Fill, KD5IC
Dora Anna Fill, NI5D
Jim Grinder, N5TSG with guest, Angela Gadberry
Gary Hawkins, KD5ZQF
Wayne Johnston, KD4TA -- Vice President
Brian Kessler, N1WNC
Marlene Kessler, KE5HQU
Glenn King, N5GK -- Custodian
Warren Lindgren, KE5TT
Craig Mangrum, N5CTM -- Secretary/Treasurer
Stewart Nelson, KD5LBE
Frankie Parks, K5FRP -- President
Fletcher Smith, N5JPN
David Turner, KD5JKX
John Webb, WE4BB
New Members
Guests:
Timothy Melton, KD0AEY - MEMS EMT
Curtis Duncan, KD5PPH
Call to Order
President, Frankie Parks, K5FRP, called the meeting to order at 18:30.
Treasury report is $2,107.08
Old Business
Recognition Of New Hams / Upgraded Hams
Wayne Johnston, KD4TA, recently passed his Extra examination. Nathan Duncan, KD5PPH, passed his General examination.
New Business
Faulkner County Fair Parade
The Faulkner County Fair Parade will be September 18th, 2007 at 5 P.M. The club will be helping again this year with communications. The club will also be assisting in making sure the public is safe and help with any potential problems.
Craig Mangrum will be sending out an email asking for volunteers. Each year there have about 10-15 members that help out. This year we will need about the same amount of volunteers. So please make your calendar for this event and be making plans to help if you can.
The website for the Faulkner County Fair Parade is http://www.faulknerfairparade.net/w9/default.asp. Craig will provide the maps and any other additional information that may be needed.
Repeater Committee Meeting & Workday
Glenn King gave a report on the progress of the repeaters. A couple work days have been done this summer. Glenn said there are still more things that need to be done. A Ringo Ranger and DB-224 antenna still needs to be installed.
Glenn said he had talked to Lynn McCaig and that Lynn would be willing to climb the towers when in town. Also David Doty's son, Ryan, has said he would do the work for a fee. Glenn moved that we talk to Ryan about putting the two antennas up for $100. George Carroll seconded the motion. All present were in favor.
Upcoming Events - Craig
Hamfests: Queen Wilhelmina Hamfest Association
September 7-8, 2007
Mena, AR
Queen Wilhelmina State Park
3877 Hwy 88 West
Contact: Randy Baggett, KG5NE
PO Box 188 / 317 Grove
Mansfield, AR 72944
Phone: 479-928-5845
Email: kg5ne@arrl.net
URL: http://www.qwha.org
Missouri State Convention
Joplin Amateur Radio Club
John Q. Hammons Convention Center
3535 Hammons Blvd.
Talk-In: 147.210 +600 W0IN (no tone)
Contact: Jim Johannes, N0ZSQ
PO Box 2983
Joplin, MO 64803-2983
Phone: 417-781-2211
Fax: 417-781-2234
Email: jimjohannes@sbcglobal.net
http://www.joplin-arc.org
Service Events:
The CAREN Club in Little Rock has asked for our help with a few events. We have helped them in the past. Anyone that wishes to help should contact Jerry Dixon on the Tuesday Night CAREN Club Net at 7pm on 146.940- or by email n5wvi@aristotle.net. You can also find out more information at http://www.carenclub.com. Please notice that there are two events listed on each date.
September 29: CAREN Club 1st event Arkansas Marathon in Benton/Saline County. The 2nd event is the Big Dam Bridge race. This is the event that they need our help with the most. Part of this comes through Faulkner County. Any members that can help, please notify Craig Mangrum, ctmangrum@conwaycorp.net, or Jerry Dixon at the address above.
Reimbursement
Glenn presented the club with a receipt for parts bought at Lowes for the repeaters. He asked the club to reimburse him for the expense. The cost was $39.65. Kelly Boswell moved that the club do so. Ken Chafin seconded the motion. All present were in favor.
General Comments
Ken Chafin said he had recently been in the Mt. Magazine area. He stated that while coming down the mountain he picked up the club’s W5AUU (145.210-) repeater loud and clear.
911 Center
Glenn King, Wayne Johnston, John Webb, and George Carroll recently met with the communications people at the 911 Center. The reason for the meeting was to discuss the 911 Center's needs and expectations for the amateur equipment needed.
Wayne stated that back in January of this year he had spoken with Joe Giddens, Calhoon County EC, who had access to some recycled computers. Wayne spoke to him on the ARES net on Monday night and asked him about the computer that was requested. He stated the reason for requesting the computer was for the club to setup a Winlink system and learn it. This will give the club a chance to learn the system in the event we are ever needed at the 911 Center. Wayne said Joe had our club at the top of his list and that a computer will be coming to us.
Also, Glenn had asked Wayne to fill in for him at an earthquake seminar at the Agora Center here in Conway. Wayne said a very large number of emergency personal and other disaster planners were present at the event. He stated that during the presentation, amateur radio was being pushed as a major resource of emergency communications when all other means of communication fails. A major point that was presented was for all agencies to get to know their local hams and ham clubs. Wayne said all of this was relayed very well and presented in a great way.
Portable Power Presentation
A very informative presentation was given at the meeting on Portable Power. Thanks to Wayne Johnston for organizing the presentation. Also thanks to all those that helped with it. Time did not permit for all the sub-topics of this to be presented, but they will be at a later meeting.
Glenn King was first and spoke about the Care and Feeding of 12 Volt Batteries. Due to the large amount of information Glenn had, and since he had all the information in a digital format, the information he gave has been put on the club's website. You can get a copy of this information at: http://www.w5auu.org/tips/Battery_Tutorial.pdf.
Next, Wayne handed out some information. He handed out a Generator Comparison Chart, a handout on battery information, and also catalogs from Texas Towers. The Generator Comparison Chart can be found at: http://www.w5auu.org/tips/GeneratorComparison.pdf. The catalog from Texas Towers can be found at: http://www.texastowers.com. The online catalog is in the left hand column of links.
After the handouts were given, the club adjourned at 19:41 for the remainder of the presentation which took place outside. Outside, Brian Kessler, Perry Carleton, Gary Hawkins, and Wayne had their own generators for everyone to look at and ask questions about.
2-Meter Net Reminder
The FCARC net meets each Thursday night at 7:30pm on 145.210MHz PL 114.8Hz. Net Control for August is Glenn King, N5GK. A volunteer is needed for the month of September. If you are willing to volunteer, please email Frankie at k5frp@arrl.net
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 taken and typed by Craig Mangrum, N5CTM, Secretary/Treasurer