MCARC March Minutes
MERCER COUNTY AMATEUR RADIO CLUB
Minutes of the Regular Meeting
March 24, 1998
The regular March meeting of the Mercer County Amateur
Radio Club was called to order on March 24, 1998 at
7:30 PM by President Tom Galloway, KA3MYM. There were
30 members present and 3 guests: Gary Zimmet, WA8TJL,
Speaker; Jim Thompson, EMA Director; Bonnie Viele, N8MCX.
Opal Drexler, WB3ITS, and Robert Drexler, WA3ZOE, have
returned to the Club's membership after a long absence.
Sicknesses: None were reported. All received the Mar.
Carrier Wave. Steve Shemancik, AA3EW, suggested to ammend
the minutes to reflect the increase to $40 for the reservation
fee for Buhl Park, Shelter #4. A motion by Carl Black,
N3KWE, and seconded by Steve Shemancik, AA3EW, to accept
the ammended February 1998 minutes passed.
Treasurer's Report: Blaine Smith, N3UGN, moved to accept the
Feb. Treasurer's report. Dennis Gregory, WM3H, seconded the
motion. The motion carried.
EMA: Dan Smith, K3DR, reported that there was a weather drill
on March 24, which worked out well. The SKYWARN class will take
place on April 22. There will be a RACES meeting within the
next couple of months. Jim Thompson, EMA Dir., thanked the hams
for their assistance in the weather excercise. He was pleased
and is looking to get new ideas. During the drill, a mic
failure was simulated and code was utilized, pointing out
the need to improve code skills. Following the drill, an
actual emergency occurred near the Caparo Steel entrance,
with a tanker of 6500 gallons of mineral oil overturning.
Tom Galloway, KA3MYM, thanked Jim for helping to get the grant
for the Club. Tom also metioned Jim's efforts in obtaining
the DNK satellite radar system, as well as integrating 911, EMA,
RACES, and SKYWARN. Last month the MCARC Board of Directors
recommended to give Mr. Thompson an Honorary membership. The
general membership approved the recommendation. A framed wall
certificate was presented to Jim. He was welcomed with a round
of applause.
Repeater Committee: Chuck Paddock, AB8BR, reported that there
is another glitch on the repeater and noted that Tim Jellison,
W3YQ, needs to be informed.
Constitution & Bylaws Committee: Nothing to report.
RFI/TVI Committee: Nothing to report.
VE Testing: The next VE session at the EMA building is on
Sat., April 18 with registration at 9:00 AM and testing at
10:00 AM. Contact Dennis Gregory, WM3H, for details. The
fee for 1998 is $6.35.
Net/Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner: There were 19 check-ins
into last week's Emergency Communications Net (Thurs. at
9 PM). All are encouraged to check-in. 8 or 9 met at last
Saturday's 8:30 AM breakfast at Mr. Hero's across from Farrell
High School. Major DaLessandro, K3IGO, said members have
been meeting for lunch on Wed. at 11:30 at the Hermitage Giant
Eagle. Seven (7) attended the 8:30 PM dinner at The Suburban on
Friday.
Elections: Scott Jones, N3RA, presented the slate of Officers
and Directors in three groups: Officers, Trustee, Directors.
The Officer nominees were:
President: Tom Galloway, KA3MYM
Vice-Pres: Tim Duffy, K3LR
Secretary: Mike Varga, NR3C
Treasurer: Joe Vaccaro, W3JTV (previously WA3YAO)
Nominations were opened up from the floor. Carl Black,
N3KWE, moved that nominations be closed. Don Blizzard,
W8UMH, seconded. A voice vote was taken to approve the
slate. The slate was approved, each who will serve a
one-year term.
The nominee for Trustee presented by the nominating committee was
Tim Jellison, W3YQ. Nominations were opened up from the floor.
Scott Jones, N3RA, moved that nominations be closed. Tim
Duffy, K3LR, seconded the motion. A voice vote was taken to
approve Tim Jellison, W3YQ, as trustee. W3YQ was elected to
serve a ten-year term.
The nominees for Director presented by the nominating committee
were: Dave Magargee, N3CM, Chuck Paddock, AB8BR, and Linda
Yankovich, N3XZA. Nominations were opened up from the floor.
Scott Jones, N3RA, moved that nominations be closed. Tim
Duffy, K3LR, seconded the motion. A vote by secret ballot
was taken, electing one Director. The ballots were counted
by Scott Jones, N3RA. Dave Magargee, N3CM, was elected Director
for the Club, serving a two-year term.
OLD BUSINESS: Foxhunt: Tim Duffy, K3LR, reported the
Foxhunt took place on Saturday, March 21, starting at 10 AM
and ending at approximately 11:38 AM. The winning team was
Tom Galloway, KA3MYM, and Jerry Parkany, KB8YBE. The fox was
behind the building at Menztger's Flea Market, just south of
the I-80 and Rt. 18 exchange. There were about 4 or 5 different
groups of hunters. 146.59 was reported to be a good freq. to use.
The CW-IDer works good. In the future it would be nice to get an
IC-2AT and power pack for independent operation. Also, the use
of more power would make the fox harder to find. Winners Tom,
KA3MYM, and Jerry, KB8YBE, said the next hunt may take place in
early June or July.
Membership: It was reported that there was one new membership
application on file: Ernest Trodden, N3ZZR, Technician. He has
paid in full however was not present. Tim Duffy, K3LR, moved to
accept him into membership. Dennis Gregory, WM3H, seconded the
motion. Motion carried.
Picnic: The Club Picnic will be Tues., July 28. Reservations
have been made at Buhl Park Shelter #4 ($40).
Field Day: Reservations have been made with Buhl Park. Tim Duffy,
K3LR, reported that Tom Galloway, KA3MYM, will be Food Chairman.
The FD sub-Chairs are Dan Smith, K3DR, and Scott Jones, N3RA.
The use of a generator has been secured. There will need to
be committment on equipment, towers, computers, etc. The
satellite equipment will be provided by Larry Teaberry, N8PHX.
The press, local TV, and radio stations will need to be invited
for publicity. There will be a demonstration of the logging
programs at the May meeting. Schedules of operators and other
details, including additional chairmen of committees, will be
forthcoming.
NEW BUSINESS: Repeater Ins. Claim: It was reported that the
check for the repeater's insurance claim has arrived. It is in
the amount of $1,446.86. The repeater was repaired internally
by Tim Jellison, W3YQ, Tim Duffy, K3LR, and Joe Vaccaro, W3JTV.
Tim Jellison, W3YQ, said the claim check reflects the cost
of parts as well as hourly repair. The rate worked out to
be a bargain compared to other repair shops. The Club had
been advised by an insurance person to submit the claim. That
is why the hourly reimbursement was considered. Of this amount,
W3YQ needs to be reimbursed for the parts bill only: $152.90.
Tim, W3YQ, said he is not going to submit a bill to the Club for
labor. Instead, he thinks the Club should buy something with the
money. He suggested to buy a generator for Field Day and emergencies
and recommended to place the money into the Capital Fund and earmark
it for use in buying a generator. Dave Magargee, N3CM, moved
to reimburse Tim Jellison, W3YQ, for the parts in the amount of
$152.90. Tim Duffy, K3LR, seconded the motion. The motion carried.
Tim Duffy, K3LR, moved to place the remainder of the repeater
claim check into the Capital Fund and earmark it for use
in the purchase of a generator for the Club. This difference
is the amount of $1,446.87 minus $152.90 (to reimburse W3YQ
for equipment), which is $1,293.97. The motion was seconded
by Al Christman, K3LC. A discussion continued with Tim Duffy,
K3LR, pointing out that the Club should purchase a 10 to 12 kW
generator. It could look at purchasing good surplus generators
or possibly buy one from one of various warehouses at less than
list price. A 5 kW generator is NOT adequate. It should also
be portable. The Club should have the new generator by Field
Day and will have the K8TME generator as a back up. The motion
was voted on and approved.
March-of-Dimes: Carl Black, N3KWE, requests communications
assistance for the March-of-Dimes Walk-A-Thon on Sunday,
April 26. Interested persons are to join in an orginizational
meeting at 8 AM that morning at the Casino in Buhl Park.
SKYWARN: The National Weather Service at Pittsburgh will
be conducting a SKYWARN training class at 7 PM on Wednesday,
April 22 in the EMA Office in Mercer.
Contests: Mar. 28/29 - CQ WW SSB WPX. CQ WW CW WPX will
be in May.
Hospitality Committee: Gratitude was expressed to Linda
Yankovich, N3XZA, Hosp. Comm. Chair. for providing
apple rolls, coffee, and Hawaiin Punch for the meeting.
Membership: Additional membership applications have been
received by Robert Drexler, WA3ZOE, and Opal Drexler,
WB3ITS, who are both paid in-full. A vote was not needed
since they had previously been members of the Club.
Program: Gary Zimmett, WA8TJL, K3LR, UHF/VHF SSB & CW.
Raffle: Issue of World Radio, 1 year subscription of World Radio,
5 1/4" Floppies from AB8BR. Also Heathkit Electronics Theory book
donated by Don Blizzard, W8UMH.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:25 PM.
Respectfully submitted by Michael S. Varga, NR3C, Secretary
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