Kalamazoo Amateur Radio Club Minutes For March 2007

The March meeting was called order at 7:06 PM by the President Charlie Chapman (KB8SFR) at the Red Cross Chapter House on Venture Dr on March 15^th, 2007

Club Officers Present: Charlie Chapman (KB8SFR) President

Dave Nawatny (KC8WLD) Vice President

John Mathieson (KC8ZTJ) Secretary

Jim Gardner (KI8HF) Treasurer

Absent Art Snapper NK8X Technical Committee

Al Lewis W8JYC License Trustee

Members signing in totaled 12 with two guests. The Guest were introduced welcomed Mike Greis and Beverly Byle to the meeting. Both are currently studying for the FCC tech license.

The Treasurer reports that we have a balance of $1602.30 as of the meeting and divided into internal accounts to reflect maintenance, education and general funds. He notes the maintenance fund is depleted with the purchase of the Air conditioner units for the NOAA station. A motion was made by JeRB (K8WPI) to accept the report. It was supported and passed unanimously.

The Secretary's report for the February meeting was circulated and read. A motion by Dave Nawatny was made to accept the minutes supported and past by unanimous vote.

Ron Schubot (N8CML) reports that He has a closed cabinet that might work as a place to put some of the loose radio equipment such as the packet station and echo link server. JeRB notes that the Icom 735 should be modifiable to 60 meters with a simple modification. He went to note that the Large Kenwood may not be modifiable for 60 meters and will take some research.

It was reported that Art Snapper's father passed away with a viewing coming up this week on Friday.

JeRB noted that the Apache DX40 appears to be missing from the club station. It has not been seen for some time and nobody at the meeting has a recollection of it disposition. A question was raised as to the ownership of the NOAA station. It was noted that it in fact belongs to the KARC. This was followed by a discussion on the value of the equipment at the station.

Further discussion related to our tax status notes that the Club has not obtained any new equipment in the past five years and would be presumed to have fully depreciated.

Marty Draznin (N5TRF) notes that the ADA walk has been moved to Grand Rapids and will not take place this year in Kalamazoo.

The CROP Walk is scheduled for May 6^th. An event organizer is needed for this event and volunteers were solicited from those in attendance with nobody taking up the challenge. This assignment remains open. Beverly Byle also mentioned that there is a run coming up called “Girls On the Run” and will start at Waldo Stadium. They may be interested in having radio support. This will need further follow up.

The 75^th anniversary Station was discussed as well. The date for event is August 18^th, 2007. We hope to have at least 5 stations on the air and possibly located at the East Hall location on the WMU campus in Lot 1. The Event will be posted with ARRL and a website is under way. Volunteers are requested to help with Web design and Qsl management.

The rest of the program was JNOS packet radio. Ron Schubot present information on using JNOS packet including setting up a station and some basic features of including bulletin boards and conference bridging.

At the conclusion, a motion was made by Dave Nawatny to adjourn. The motion was supported and passed. The meeting was closed at 8:32PM.

Respectfully submitted.

John Mathieson, Secretary