Schaumburg Amateur Radio Board of Directors Feb 7, 2024

Board of Directors Meeting February 7, 2024

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

Attendees

Robert Kocourek W9RKK John Schofield AC9JS Bill Riess KW9WR
Danny Kafka KD9HIL John Douglas AC9JS Paul Burkett KD9FMN
Cliff Sowka K9QD Bob Benwitz W9JAX Dennis C. Calvey KD9HIK
Don Dewar KD9NJR    

 Secretary’s Report

Cliff Sowka K9QD:  January BOD Meeting Minutes as published in the RHG:  John Douglas KD9KSH moved to approve, Danny Kafka KD9HIL seconded.  Motion Adopted.

Treasurer’s Report:

Chris Brewer AC9GN not present but provided the following:

SCHAUMBURG AMATEUR RADIO CLUB MONTHLY REPORT 

Checking                              $7,576.38

Income                                 $551.00

Disbursements                 $1,021.75

*CHK # 1292 John Douglas $958.93 Holiday Party (~$100 profit donated to Field Day)

Petty Cash                          $173.00

Funds Available                $7,278.63

115 Members on Roster

Don Dewar KD9NJR Moved to approve, Paul Burkett KD9FMN seconded.  Motion Adopted.

 Public Service 

 Rob Glowacki N9MVO not present.

EMCOMM

 John Zietlow K9WIC not present but communicated the following report:

EmComm Report for February 2024

  1. On March 17, 2024 there will be a Statewide exercise to demonstrate our ability to setup stations in field locations and communicate with other amateurs in and out of Illinois.

1.1. Robert Littler, W9DSR, the Section Emergency Coordinator has established four basic objectives for the exercise:

1.1.1. Activate stations in the field

1.1.2. Communicate with other hams and field locations similar to POTA, IOTA, etc.

1.1.3. Get new hams on the air; similar to FD GOTA, get non-hams involved.

1.1.4. Demonstrate our capabilities to the general public and local officials.

1.2. The hours of operation will be from noon to 4:00 PM. If there is the threat of severe weather, the exercise could be postponed to March 24th. (Could be threat of blizzard or tornadoes, after all, it is March!)

1.3. Details are being worked out tonight and further refined for District 4 at the EmComm meeting at the HE PD on March 16th. Members of SARC invited to attend.

1.4. SARC is encouraged to participate as they see fit.

  1. May 5, 2024 will be the Chicagoland Marathon. An initial assessment of the Schaumburg Emergency Radio Team indicates that we have lost three of our members. SARC may be asked to help with the event. SARC’s role will be defined by the EC, Tracy Raimondo.
  1. This will be my last report as a member of SARC, Inc.

Repeaters

 Rob Glowacki N9MVO, Terry Jarnholm AE9TJ not present.  Our UPS reports the battery bank has become soft and requires replacement.  Dennis C. Calvey KD9HIK has researched a source and will be granted purchase authority in the new business discussion.

Construction Project (CP)

Cliff Sowka K9QD reports a Winlink presentation is planned for Saturday February 10th session.

  • Budgeting process for 2024 requires SARC Committees to present their funding requirements for the year. CP estimates ~$150 will be needed to purchase a table-mount vice and some cool-spray/de-ox chemicals.

VE Testing: John Schofield AC9JS 

Results for February 3, 2024

Name Call Class
Mariusz AD9DU Extra
William KA9DQB Extra
Doug KD9ZOG Extra

Mariusz did not pre-register for the exam.  He walked in with all of the required documentation and took the Technician, the General, and the Amateur Extra exams, passed all three, all within one hour.
Congratulation, Mariusz.  Well done.

Class  
Technician 0
General O
Extra 3
Total 3

 

Participating Volunteer Examiners (VEs):

Steve Karson AC9EM
Ed Lishka AC9SD
James Migalla KC9UFB
William Riess KW9WR
John Schofield AC9JS

Next examination date: March 2 2024

John Schofield

Session Manager

AC9JS

Nets  

Don Dewar KD9NJR Chairman reports attendance remains enthusiastic.  Need Net Control volunteer to host on Tuesdays.

Radio Hill Gazette RHG  

Mike K9KMV No Report.

Membership

Scott DeSantis KB9VRW Membership Committee Chairman not present.

Publicity

Dennis C. Calvey KD9HIK Publicity Chairman reports renewed SARC management effort to visit with our various governmental authorities for basic introductions.  Scheduled meetings may occur during the next few months.

Our Facebook site is experiencing increased activity.

Social   

Need Chairperson.

John Douglas KD9KSH, previous chair, hosted a widely-celebrated summer picnic at a Bartlett facility  last year and he intends to query possible availability for this summer. Will update.

Education

Leo N9NBH not present. We’ve indicated our desire to support the Hanover Park Fox School for their STEM event May 2nd.  SARC plans to support any budgeting needs and help Leo staff our display.  Thinking about trinkets and catchy technology display to capture attention within first ~30 seconds as students pass our table.

Programs  

Don Dewar KD9NJR: working on topic for the February Business Meeting.

Old Business

Don Dewar KD9NJR reported the Constitution Grammatical edits have been completed and now need to be published in the RHG.

New Business

Dennis C. Calvey KD9HIK has professional sourcing support to help us replace our UPS battery bank.

  • Cliff K9QD moved to provide $200 headroom. W9RKK seconded.  Motion Adopted.

Danny Kafka KD9HIL discussed required radio equipment for this year’s Field Day event.  We’ll need to itemize the needs for each tent and who/how/when radio equipment is available.

Adjourn 8:31PM

Submitted February 8, 2024

Cliff Sowka K9QD Secretary