Choctaw Amateur Radio Club Minutes from November 17, 2008 Members Present: Bill Wilburn N5NUK CARC Secretary CORA Officer/President Don McDown N5ENQ CORA Director Ron Earnest W5RGT Walt Diehl KA3AMK Bill Crossland N9SQV CARC Vice President Dave Downing WD5G CARC President Larry Brewer K5VVD CARC Treasurer David Huntz NH6SM The meeting opened with the Pledge of Allegiance Treasurer’s Report: Larry K5VVD gave the Treasurer’s Report. Larry and Dave NH6SM had yet to coordinate on a date to transfer the Treasurer’s records and bank notification. Approval of October minutes: There was a small amount of discussion and clarification regarding the tentative date, time, and location of the club Christmas dinner. After this issue was resolved a motion to accept the minutes was made by Bill N9SQV and seconded by Don N5ENQ. The motion passed. The Christmas Dinner would be held at Harley’s on December 12 from 6 to 8 pm. Meals would be ordered off the menu. The point was stressed to get the word out for a good turnout. CARC 2009 Officers: Bill Crossland N9SQV President Don McDown N5ENQ Vice President Bill Wilburn N5NUK Secretary David Huntz NH6SM Treasurer OLD BUSINESS: Repeater Shack Report: Bill N9SQV reported the door did not have to be cut down, but needs to have the hinges placed properly as well as hardware. The door measures 28” by 6’8”. CORA Report: Bill N5NUK reported the search for a venue for Ham Holiday was still in progress. Tom WA9AFM and Dave NE5S had visited the Cleveland County Fairgrounds, which resulted in negative results due to a farmer’s market that occupies the venue every weekend from spring through summer. Picnic Outing: This idea had come to a dead end due to cold weather. There had been brief talk about the idea for a couple of months, but nothing ever came from it. Tech Meeting: There will not be a December Tech Meeting, but there would be a Tech Meeting January 8, 2009 at 7pm in the Red Bud Room. Constant current battery chargers may be the topic of the Tech Meeting. NEW BUSINESS: Change in the By-Laws regarding Membership Dues: Larry K5VVD raised the issue of members that join during the year and the amount of dues they pay upon joining. It was proposed that Dues be prorated during the year. Dave WD5G drafted wording to add to By-Law #4 as follows: Membership dues are due upon joining CARC. Dues will be prorated during the first three (3) quarters of the year. Members joining between 1 July and 30 September must remit a full year’s annual dues that will be good through 30 September of the following year. A motion to accept was made by Bill N5NUK and seconded by Walt KA3AMK. The motion passed. Saving Monthly Expenses: The concern of meeting monthly expenses due to a drop in membership was brought up. Currently, club expenses are the annual PO Box, annual tower insurance to CORA, and the monthly phone line for the controller of the repeater. The idea of utilizing a UHF receiver link into the controller thereby eliminating the need for the phone line, thus saving some operating money was suggested. Ron W5RGT stated he had a UHF receiver that could be used, but an antenna was needed. Ron said he would begin efforts towards the project. Dave WD5G offered assistance if needed. Controller Codes: Bill N9SQV and Larry K5VVD had a discussion regarding the controller codes for messages on the repeater. It was deemed a good idea to give the elected officers of CARC the codes in the event one or the other officers was not present to put messages on the repeater. The codes were given out to the upcoming officers (codes not disclosed here in minutes) along with instructions on how to post and delete messages. Miscellaneous: No other business was discussed. A question was put to the group about ideas to get non-club hams in the area to join the club. The idea of sending out postcards has been tried with virtually no results. A round-robin was conducted to see what everyone’s been doing on-air. There are various nets in the city area to participate in or gather information from: The EARS Monday Night Information Net on 147.135 (no tone) at 8pm. The MORI Tech Net every Thursday night on 146.67 (tone 192.8) linked to the 146.925 (no tone) at 8:30pm. The OCAPA Net every Thursday night on 146.82 (tone 151.4) at 7:30 pm. A motion to adjourn was made by Bill N9SQV, and seconded by Walt KA3AMK. The meeting was adjourned.