Frank Giampa N9QPD Chairman opened the meeting at 7:00 PM.
Attendees
| Dennis C Calvey | KD9HIK | Cliff Sowka | K9QD | Robert Kocourek | W9RKK |
| Don Smith | K9UD | Frank Giampa | N9QPD | Ken Kryzywicki | KD9HIJ |
| Bob McIntyre | W9DXR | Chris Brewer | AC9GN | Larry Burke | K9ELT |
| John Douglas | KD9KSH | Jon Mucker | N8XVE | Bill McGovern | W9WEM |
| Ed Lishka | AC9SD | John Shofield | AC9JS | Dan Van Der Woude | KC9ZCC |
| Bob Benwitz | N9JAX | Terry Jarnholm | KD9LEV | Mike Clodfelter | AC9CG |
Rebecca Hopkins KA9EFE Brought Fabulous Coffee Cake for us tonight.
Treasurer’s report
Chris Brewer AC9GN reports: beginning balance $4, 449.80. Income was $577.21. Expense was $50.35. Ending balance $4,976.66. Paid membership is currently 50.
President’s Report
Matt AC9IG not present but provided the following:
Question of the night: If you could build and install one antenna for one band, what would it be and why? Cost is not
an issue.
There are only two weeks left to submit your application for a W9DXCC scholarship. The event
takes place in Schaumburg on September 14-15 (Friday and Saturday) and brings in top
contesters and DXers from the area to talk about different ham radio topics. I have attended the event for the last few years and am always thoroughly impressed with the content of the
presentations. Applications are due by August 1 and can be found on the web site. The winner
will be announced at the August meeting.
I would like to thank everyone who helped out or operated on Field Day. The return to the water tower site streamlined the process and some new tent captains helped us bring some new ideas to the event. I’d specifically like to thank:
- W9RKK Robert for coordinating the SSB tent and bringing a great radio
- W9GEW Bob for a great looking setup with digital modes at the GOTA tent and for etching Field Day commemorative name tags on site.
- W9DXR Bob for putting together a fully automated CW station.
- W9WEM Bill for coordinating generators and for handling all of the details for food.
- N9QPD Frank for preparing breakfast.
Our final score was 3,204 with 610 CW contacts and 382 SSB. The number of contacts was up
significantly from 2017 and slightly from 2016. Our score was down about 600 points from 2016
due mainly to less bonus points.
| 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Score | 3204 | 2890 | 3834 |
| Total QSOs | 1027 | 607 | 925 |
We received a letter of thanks from Ray WA9BLP’s wife Mille thanking us for all of the work we
put into his tower and shack, and that he is excited to be on the air again. The letter can be
seen on our web site. Dirk W0RI provided some additional comments.
Membership Chair
Bob Benwitz N9JAX previously provided this report:
The following new or perspective club members were contacted via phone and/or email during the month of June.
Bill Morton W9LJW 6/4 (follow up to previous inquiry)
Mike Griffiths KD9KMV 6/20 (Mike also came out to Field Day, helped in the SSB tent and got to meet a lot of our members.
SARC Repeaters
We are seeking leadership to fill the current Chief Engineer vacancy. Don’t forget, we are logging all transmissions through the repeater. If you hear interference please use the link at the bottom of our web site to note the date and time it occurred.
Secretary’s Report
Cliff Sowka K9QD: Approval of Meeting Minutes as published on the website
EMCOMM
Vacant Chair: club has begun the search for replacement. Bob Langsfeld WB9TZC previously held this role and reports last week’s event with the village:
On July 17, 0830-1200 HRS, an EOC Functional Exercise was held at the Schaumburg EOC. 4 SARC members (Bob WB9TZC, John K9WIC, Mark Scriven WQ9M, and Cliff Sowka K9QD) of the Schaumburg EmComm Team participated in the exercise as Operational Communications operators. This event was conducted to ascertain one of the core capabilities for handling complete communications failure being augmented with Amateur Radio.
Bob informed Bill Clark Schaumburg EMCOMM Coordinator requests for SARC’s staffing:
On July 17, 0830-1200 HRS, an EOC Functional Exercise will be held at the Schaumburg EOC. I request that 3-4 members of the Certified SARC EMCOMM Team participate in the exercise as Operational Communications is one of the core capabilities being evaluated.
Publicity
Dennis Calvey KD9HIK requesting flyer updates ideas from the membership before we go to print with another document for VE students.
Construction Project (CP)
No Activity scheduled until fall. Currently five members [Rob N9MVO, Russ KC9NUV, Leo N9NBH, Bill KD9JQM, Dave KD9JKG] already on the short list of potential supporters. There have been several SK donations placed into the cabinets that can be sorted for internal offer or for Hamfest/eBay sale in the fall.
Social
Robert Kocourek W9RKK provided following update: Reservation for the SARC dinner at Lou Malnati’s. It will be Saturday September 8th at 5pm. We have a two hour time block from 5-7pm. [$50 reservation deposit submitted].
Because of our requirement to have separate checks, Lou Malnati’s wants to have our orders a week in advance. This is to keep us in that 2 hour time block in case of late arrivals. Normally for a large group such as ours (approx 25 people) they prefer we take a group package with a limited menu (pizza and soft drinks).
I’ll provide a reminder in August and take your orders then.
Lou Malnati’s Schaumburg
1 South Roselle Road (Roselle Rd & Schaumburg Rd)
Schaumburg, IL 60193
Education
Leo N9NBH reported plans for a winter General Class with the Library District are in place. September 8th through the end of October at the Hoffman Estates facility, same as last fall’s Technician class.
VE Testing
John Schofield AC9JS reports 9 students with all passing: 3 of which qualified Extra.
RHG
Matt AC9IG has been publishing Committee activities on his newly-designed SARC website for everyone’s use.
Public Service
Rob N9MVO provided this report:
Upcoming Schaumburg Triathlon is an important Park District Event we have strongly supported over the years.
When: Sun, July 29, 5:30am – 10:30am
Where: Wethersfield Road and Roselle Rd Schaumburg.
On Sunday July 29, 2018, The Schaumburg Park District will be running the Triathlon/Duathlon. The first participants start at 6:30 AM. For radio support, we will meet at Roselle Road and Weathersfield Way at 5:30 AM for a briefing and assignments. In previous years, the Triathlon has finished by about 11:00 AM.
The Triathlon consists of a swim in the pool at Meineke Recreation Center, followed by miles and miles of bike riding through Schaumburg, followed by a run on the streets east of Meineke. The Duathlon starts with a run on the streets east of Meineke, followed by miles and miles of bike riding on the same course, and then back to run on the same course as before, which is also the running course used by the Triathlon participants.
Our purpose is to support the participants to call for assistance in the event of an injury or equipment failure. We will have radio operators stationed along the routes, where we can watch for participants who are in need of help. We do not have to run or walk far, or even swim or bike. You can park your car near the intersection to which you are assigned, set up a folding chair and watch. Sunscreen, a green safety vest, and water are useful, as well. The Club has some vests you can use if you don’t have your own..
We operate on Simplex for the running course, as it is far east (of Roselle Road) and often it is hard to hit the repeater from there with an HT. On the bicycle course, west of Roselle Road, it is usually easy to access the repeater. For supporting the Triathlon, a handy talky running 5 W, to a rubber ducky antenna is usually sufficient. You rarely need to move, so a portable antenna with a support for higher altitude can help but usually is not necessary. The frequencies we will use are:
EmComm 1, (the repeater) 145.230 MHz, -600 KHz offset, 107.2 HZ CTCSS
EmComm 4, 147.420 MHz Simplex
EmComm 5, 146.490 MHz Simplex
This is the MOST IMPORTANT Public Service Event for us, as it supports the Schaumburg Park District, which provides us with our rooms for meetings, VE testing, and Construction Project meetings, and the parking lot access for SARC In The Park.
We need at least 15 operators to properly support the Triathlon/Duathlon. Please let me know that you can come out and help. If you haven’t come out to a Public Service Event, we can pair you with another ham if enough members sign up.
The task is easy: Sit and watch participants run or ride by in the event. Call in to Net Control when the first and last participant goes by your location. Call to net control if a participant near your location has a problem and needs help.
Bring a chair and water bottle. A brimmed hat may be good if it’s sunny.
We can use everyone who can support the event.
Thanks and 73 de N9MVO,
Rob Glowacki
Public Service Chair
Schaumburg Amateur Radio Club
Programs
Cliff Sowka K9QD: Rob N9MVO presented basic DC Supply design tonight. No program is scheduled for August’s meeting. Requesting SARC member with presentation idea else we’re going to view a legacy Twilight Zone episode. Please Come forward with a subject for our meeting; else I plan to download a YouTube video from Twilight Zone (suggested we view the classic “It’s a Cook Book”) as filler if invitation for presenter fails.
Nets
Steve AC9EM will now be hosting the Thursday Night Nets.
Ebay Sales
No report.
Old Business
None.
New Business
We need a Repeater Chair to replace the software/hardware engineering talent that has been lost.
Registered Agent: Annual governmental reporting duty his assigned to Secretary’s role: Cliff K9QD will take-up the tasks previously performed by legal expert Paula Uscian K9IR.
Adjourn 8:06 PM
Adjourn
8:06 PM
Submitted: July 20, 2018. Cliff Sowka K9QD Secretary.