Schaumburg Amateur Radio Club Board of Directors Meeting June 7th, 2023

Board of Directors Meeting June 7, 2023

 

Robert Kocourek W9RKK Chairman called the meeting to order at 7:00PM

 

Attendees

 

Robert Kocourek W9RKK Jim Campbell KB9RGU Dennis C. Calvey KD9HIK
Danny Kafka KD9HIL Don Dewar KD9NJR John Schofield AC9JS
Cliff Sowka K9QD Ed Lishka AC9SD Bill Riess KW9WR

 

Secretary’s Report

 

Cliff Sowka K9QD:  May BOD Minutes were read into the record because they hadn’t been posted to our website for openly accessible review.  Ed Lishka AC9SD moved to approve the May BOD Minutes, Danny Kafka KD9HIL seconded. Motion Carried.

 

Treasurer’s Report:

 

Chris Brewer AC9GN unable to attend in person but provided the following report:

 

Month: May 2023

 

Checkbook Balance 04/31/23                                      $6,462.99

INCOME MEMO                                                                $   144.36

05/01/23 Collected dues                                              $     25.00

05/04/23 Amazon Smile                                                $       5.28

05/05/23 Collected dues                                               $     50.00

05/08/23 Zelle dues                                                        $     30.00

05/22/23 Amazon Smile                                                $     14.08

05/26/23 Zelle dues                                                        $     20.00

DISBURSEMENTS MEMO                                               $   199.13

ACH 05/09/23 AT&T DSL                                               $     62.82

Check 05/22/23 Zoom hardware                               $   136.31

05/31/23 Account Balance                                           $6,408.22

05/31/23 Bank Statement                                            $6,408.22

Checks Outstanding                                                        $       0.00

Adjusted balance                                                             $6,408.22

Checkbook balance 05/31/23                                      $6,408.22

Petty cash 05/31/23                                                        $   110.00

 

Funds Available                                                                $6,518.22

 

110 members on roster

 

Public Service 

 

Rob Glowacki N9MVO not present.

 

EMCOMM

 

John Zietlow K9WIC not present.

 

Repeaters

 

Rob Glowacki N9MVO, Terry Jarnholm AE9TJ not present.

 

Construction Project (CP)

 

Cliff Sowka K9QD reports CP remains on summer hiatus.  Dennis C. Calvey KD9HIK has been able to enlist SPD’s completion of our roof-top antenna farm.  There remains only one issue that we’re aware of at the moment:  there is one roof-top PL259 connector that doesn’t want to seat correctly.  It’s possible the shell is deformed or maybe there is a solder whisker holding the outside collar back.  The fix may be easy.

 

Since our reel of LMR400 was cut before the second pull up to the roof was completed, the remaining spoil isn’t long enough to route a continuous second conductor from the lightning suppressors to our work area.

 

Cliff K9QD moved to appropriate $150 budget headroom for possible ~50ft LMR400 purchase at Sunday’s Hamfest and also buy two bulkhead-mount barrels for the termination on the I-BEAM connector panel in the work area as Rob Glowacki N9MVO suggests.  Bill Reiss KW9WR seconded.  Motion adopted.

 

VE Testing

 

John Schofield AC9JS provided the following report: June 3, 2023

 

Name Call Class
Jonthan KD9WNL Extra
Manuel KB9PTE General
Richard KD9JHC General
Thomas KD9YKA Technician
Douglas KD9YAF Extra
Howard KD9WSV General
Charles KD9YKJ General
William KD9YKB Technician
John KD9YKF Technician
Richard KD9YJU Technician
Dianne N9DVH General
     

 

Class  
Technician 4
General 5
Extra 2
Total 11

 

Participating Volunteer Examiners (VEs):

 

Bill Davies K9WKD
Steve Karson AC9EM
Ed Lishka AC9SD
William Riess KW9WR
John Schofield AC9JS

 

For the people that were upgrading their license, the new information was in the FCC ULS system by Monday, June 5, evening.

 

For some people that were having a license issued for the first time, the information was in the FCC ULS system by Tuesday, June 6, morning.

The remainder of the people, getting a license for the first time, were in the FCC ULS system by Tuesday, June 7, morning.

 

The question pool for the General exam will be changing on July 1, 2023.

 

John noted that many candidates discovered our VE Session Offerings via our website as well as ARRL post.

 

Next examination date: July 1, 2023

 

John Schofield

Session Manager

AC9JS

 

Nets 

 

Don Dewar KD9NJR Chairman reports strong attendance continues and surely wishes more members would step forward to host our Nets:  please let Don know if you’re willing to take a session.

 

Radio Hill Gazette RHG 

 

Mike K9KMV No Report.

 

Membership

 

Scott DeSantis KB9VRW Membership Committee Chairman not present.

 

Publicity

 

Dennis C. Calvey KD9HIK Publicity Chairman reported our Field Day plans are posted on ARRL’s website and we may be able to gain publication exposure with the Daily Herald.

 

Social  

 

Need Chairperson.  Maybe we can save the $300 Cabin Rental (cost last year) by possible use of Medinah’s facility for our SARC Picnic this summer.

 

Education

 

Leo N9NBH not present.  There is newly-scheduled construction at the Hassel Road Library facility and therefore our planned Fall Sessions will not be held this year.

 

Programs 

 

Don Dewar KD9NJR is working on an historical SARC Club formation presentation at a future Business Meeting and we will plan the June Business Meeting agenda to concentrate on Field Day planning.

 

Old Business

 

None

 

New Business

Jim Campbell KB9RGU has become our Fox Hunt Chairman.  There will be a Fox Hunt demonstration during SARC-in-the-Park this coming Saturday.

Don Dewar KD9NJR discussed the possible use of QR Code on the back of our name badges:  could provide a discrete approach to an alternate Red Envelope medical alert.

Field Day Planning

 

Danny Kafka KD9HIL has submitted our FD Permit Application to the Park District.  It’s possible we have at least one Tower Climber available unless the person is called away on business travel.  Danny reports:

 

So far I have no commitments for:

 

TOWER CLIMBERS:  for our antenna setup. I know we do have some younger, fitter members in our group, especially some new members. Please volunteer for this essential job.

 

To quote one of last year’s climbers: “Honestly it’s a super easy climb as it’s on a ladder designed for humans… you just need someone with no fear of heights.”

 

Meals:

Food for FRIDAY set up if we’re going to have something other than snack items.

 

SATURDAY Dinner:

 

A small committee to plan a Saturday meal if we are going to have one.

 

We have not yet discussed message handling.

 

Progress to date:

Application for site has been APPROVED

 

Tent Captains: 

CW:                        Bob W9DXR

SSB:                       Daryl KB9RHR

VHF/UHF:            Scott KB9VRW

GOTA:                   Don KD9NJR

 

 Generators will be supplied by:

 

Rob N9MVO and Daryl KB9RHR

 

Safety officer: Dennis KD9HIK

 

Furniture transport by

 

Leo N9NBH and Pat KD9PWI

With a few others to help load

 

Sunday breakfast: 

 

Cliff K9QD reports Frank Giampa N9QPD Memorial Buttermilk Pancakes will be on the menu.  Service begins at the crack of dawn and over 7:00AM.  7:01AM is too late cuz he must leave FD ~7:30AM Sunday morning.

 

HEADCOUNT:  Danny will be sending a SARC-All survey to ascertain headcounts to help us plan the two organized food offerings.

 

TriFold for our welcome table needs updating.

 

Education event during Field Day:  Cliff can’t remember who, but someone had a great idea for this effort and volunteered to present as well.  Hopefully his memory will return soon.

 

Adjourn 8:05 PM.

 

Submitted June 8, 2023.    Cliff Sowka K9QD Secretary