Schaumburg Amateur Radio Club Board of Directors Meeting August 3rd, 2022

Board of Directors Meeting August 3, 2022

 

Ed Lishka AC9SD Chairman called the meeting to order at 7:00 PM.

 

Attendees

 

Ed Lishka  AC9SD John Douglas  KD9KSH John Zietlow K9WIC
Kent Ochs W9KAO Barry Friedman K9FMB Danny Kafka KD9HIL
Cliff Sowka K9QD Charlene Treve K9CMZ John Schofield AC9JS

 

Secretary’s Report

 

Cliff Sowka K9QD:  Ed Lishka AC9SD moved to approve the July BOD Minutes with the following revision:

 

  • The July Business Meeting was not canceled by the Board of Directors

 

Danny Kafka KD9HIL seconded. So Moved.

 

Treasurer’s Report:

 

Barry Friedman K9FMB provides the following:

 

Month:                 August 2022

 

Checkbook Balance 30-Jun                                           $6,906.31

INCOME MEMO                                                                $     90.00

Deposit 7-Jul Dues Kocourek                                       $     20.00

Deposit 7-Jul Dues Friedman                                       $     25.00

Deposit 7-Jul Dues Berube                                           $     20.00

Deposit 7-Jul Dues Kazlo                                                $     25.00

DISBURSEMENTS MEMO                                               $   846.20

ACH 6-Jul AT&T DSL                                                         $     62.82

Chk 1266 6-Jul   Glowacki Field Day                           $     10.42

Chk 1267 6-Jul   Brewer Field Day                              $     73.77

Chk 1268 6-Jul   Sowka Field Day                                $   258.64

Chk 1269 6-Jul   Friedman Field Day                          $   258.55

Chk 1270 7-Jul   USPS PO Box                                      $   182.00

 

Deposit not included

 

Account Balance 31-Jul Bank Statement                $6,150.11

Checks Outstanding

Adjusted balance                                                             $6,150.11

31-Jul Checkbook balance                                            $6,150.11

Petty Cash 31-Jul                                                              $   201.00

PayPal 31-Jul held hostage by PayPal                       $1,425.98

+petty cash – special Accts Funds Avail                   $6,351.11

 

83 paid members

 

Barry K9FMB explained we’re currently blocked from using PayPal until such time as our identity is verified.  Our original PayPal account was established in 2005 as a private, individual user and apparently a recent software audit requires SARC provide updated identity before our account can be returned to normalcy.   There are Dues renewals stuck in the system at the moment.  Barry will explore what actions are needed to establish the account as a corporate (non-profit?) entity to regain access to the system.

 

Motion

 

Cliff K9QD moved to authorize our Treasurer’s attempts to modify the account to a business entity, supply required ownership documents, and determine if SARC could avoid a monthly fee (maybe 501c3 exemption?).  John Shofield AC9JS seconded.  So Moved.

 

Public Service 

 

Rob Glowacki N9MVO not present.

 

EMCOMM

 

John Zietlow K9WIC anticipates there will be activity this fall.

 

Repeaters

 

Wires-X installation at the Barrington Road facility will be audited to implement better control.

 

Construction Project (CP)

 

Cliff Sowka K9QD reports he will be on the lookout for approved consumables purchases during the two remaining hamfests this summer.  Items such as real Pb-Solder, bench-mounted vice, hand tools, freeze spray, contact cleaner, decent test leads, PL259 & SO239 connectors, are in need of replenishment for the fall CP sessions.

VE Testing

 

John Schofield AC9JS reports there are no candidates currently scheduled.

 

Nets 

 

Barry Friedman K9FMB reports Nets continue to be well attended.  We are in need of a host for the second Tuesday of the month TechNet.

 

Radio Hill Gazette RHG 

 

Mike K9KMV No Report.

 

Membership

 

Scott DeSantis KB9VRW Membership Chair.  No Report.

 

Publicity

 

Dennis C. Calvey KD9HIK Publicity Chairman not present.

 

Social  

 

John Douglas KD9KSH reported our July Picnic went well; about 30 attendees.  Many club members assisted with the picnic in one way or another and his appreciation goes out to all the members of SARC.

 

Education

 

Leo N9NBH not present.

 

Programs 

 

John Zietlow K9WIC working on possible program for the August Business Meeting.

 

Old Business

 

None.

 

New Business

 

Matt Walsh AC9IG requested BOD confirm the date our new dues will go into effect.  Matt recommended April 1, 2023 to match up with what the bylaws say about the grace period for renewals.  John Zietlow K9WIC will send Matt EM to agree with the suggestion.

 

Cliff K9QD requested consumables purchase authorization of up to $150 for Construction Project’s (CP) resumption in September.  John Shofield AC9JS moved and Ed Lishka AC9SD seconded.  So Moved.

 

Adjourn 8:09 PM.

Submitted Aug 4, 2022    Cliff Sowka K9QD Secretary

Schaumburg Amateur Radio Club Business Meeting August 18, 2022

Business Meeting August 18, 2022

 

John Zietlow K9WIC President called the meeting to order at 7:04 PM.

 

Attendees:

 

Robert Kocourek W9RKK Barry  Friedman K9FMB Don Dewar KD9NJR
Dennis C. Calvey KD9HIK Charlene Treve K9KMZ Leo Ribordy N9NBH
Danny Kafka KD9HIL John Douglas KD9KSH Jeff Gembala N9QF
Edward Lishka AC9SD John Zietlow K9WIC Daryl Jenks KB9RHR
Roger Young WB9NBA Scott Petersen N9SLA Cliff Sowka K9QD
Roberto Beltramelli WA9E Joe Barela KB9RCR

 

Virtual Attendees:

 

Pierre Berube K9EYE

Steve KD9UDL

Lou N9LTW Steve Karson AC9EM

 

Secretary’s Report:

 

Cliff Sowka K9QD:  John Zietlow K9WICmoved to approve the July Minutes as published in the Radio Hill Gazette with the following revision:  Due to a miscommunication and timing of the SARC Picnic, the club President canceled the August Business Meeting. Dennis C. Calvey KD9HIK seconded.  So Moved.

 

Treasurer’s Report: 

Barry Friedman K9FMB provided this report:

 

Month:                 August 2022

 

Checkbook Balance 30-Jun                                           $6,906.31

INCOME MEMO                                                                $     90.00

Deposit 7-Jul Dues Kocourek                                       $     20.00

Deposit 7-Jul Dues Friedman                                       $     25.00

Deposit 7-Jul Dues Berube                                           $     20.00

Deposit 7-Jul Dues Kazlo                                                $     25.00

DISBURSEMENTS MEMO                                               $   846.20

ACH 6-Jul AT&T DSL                                                         $     62.82

Chk 1266 6-Jul   Glowacki Field Day                           $     10.42

Chk 1267 6-Jul   Brewer Field Day                              $     73.77

Chk 1268 6-Jul   Sowka Field Day                                $   258.64

Chk 1269 6-Jul   Friedman Field Day                          $   258.55

Chk 1270 7-Jul   USPS PO Box                                      $   182.00

 

Deposit not included

 

Account Balance 31-Jul Bank Statement                $6,150.11

Checks Outstanding

Adjusted balance                                                             $6,150.11

31-Jul Checkbook balance                                            $6,150.11

Petty Cash 31-Jul                                                              $   201.00

PayPal 31-Jul held hostage by PayPal                       $1,425.98

+petty cash – special Accts Funds Avail                   $6,351.11

 

83 paid members

 

Ed Lishka AC9SD moved to approve, Steve Karson AC9EM seconded.  So Moved.

 

Public Service:

 

Rob Glowacki N9MVO not present.

 

EMCOMM:

 

John Zietlow K9WIC reported a fall Simulated Emergency Test is planned to occur September 9th and 10th.  Details to follow.

 

John would like to organize a Coverage Survey for our repeater to determine limits of reliable access.  Will need member’s participation to help identify the fringe area boundaries.

 

For our annual ChicagoLand Marathon operations, there could be the possibility of our team using simplex to a centroid installation and then subsequent relay to Command.

 

Repeaters:

 

Rob Glowacki N9MVO not present.  Wet weather/windy day static on the 2M Machine remains a challenge.  Wires-X installation at the Barrington Road site requires a software tweak.  440 PC locks-up and we need to shield from Windows updates corrupting operations.

 

John Zietlow K9WIC indicated our Repeater Committee needs to craft a plan to correct the 2M antenna weakness; going to be difficult because the performance degradation is sporadic.

 

Additionally, the 440 machine’s linear and bottles need test/alignment.

 

Construction Project (CP): 

Cliff Sowka K9QD announced CP meetings return in September.  Surplus equipment storage on the south wall has been cleared.  Some consumables purchases have been secured at several hamfests.  Connectors, Copper Grounding Plate, Mueller alligator clips for assembling real test leads, and even some RG8 for making jumpers are ready.  Still looking for real Pb-solder, hand tools, freeze spray, and would like to obtain a small vice that we can clamp to a table.  Belvidere Hamfest will be a good venue (this is the last Hamfest for the year) for continued search.

Remaining surplus radios on the north storage wall will be sold at Belvidere.  Leo Ribordy N9NBH moved to authorize Cliff’s effort to market them.  John Douglas KD9KSH seconded.  So Moved.

CP Antenna:  Dennis C. Calvey KD9HIK has been working with the Park District to continue our effort of installing a usable antenna with access in the basement.  In the past, SARC had a VHF/UHF antenna mounted on the fascia of the Tennis Plus Club (TPC).

The Schaumburg Park District (SPD) rooftop renovations are almost finished.  SARC would provide materials and Schaumburg Park District employees would affect the installation after rooftop HVAC upgrades are completed.

 

DRAFT Material list:

Quantity DESCRIPTION Unit Cost  Extension
1  VHF / UHF Antenna – DONATED  $              –  $             –
200 Feet Type 1318 Coax cable @ ~ $1.40 / ft  $          1.40  $    280.00
8 Eight RF Connectors @ ~ $8.00 each- obtained @ Peotone  $          8.00  $      20.00
2 Two lightning / surge protectors @ ~$91.00 ea.  $        91.00  $    182.00
1 One surge protector mounting plate- obtained @ Peotone  $        76.00  $      20.00
2 Two 10 ft 2″ Schedule 40 PVC pipe @ ~ $ 31.00 ea.  $        31.00  $      62.00
1 One 2″ weather head @ ~ $8.25  $          8.25  $        8.25
1 10 ft. 6 AWG copper cable – DONATED  $              –  $             –
1 Misc. Hardware & Fittings  $     100.00  $   100.00
1 HF Antenna (Not in Scope at this time)  $              –  $             –
SHIPPING & HANDLING (8%)  $      61.78
SALES TAX  (10 %)  $      77.23
TOTAL  $    911.26

 

VE Testing:

 

FCC Test Candidate demand has waned substantially.

 

Nets:

Barry Friedman K9FMB continues to search for a consistent host for the second Tuesday TechNet.

 

Radio Hill Gazette RHG: 

 

Mike K9KMV No Report.

 

Membership:

  No Report.

 

Publicity:

 

Dennis C. Calvey KD9HIK reported the following:

 

  • Information about Technician Class submitted to ARRL website.  Publication confirmed
  • Information about Technician Class submitted to Daily Herald as Article and Calendar Event.
  • Second email request to Schaumburg Park District requesting meeting about Tennis Plus antenna project sent.
  • Leo and Rob assisted Bert cleaning up excess materials stored in the basement of Tennis Plus
  • sarc-bd Google Group is out of date, includes persons no longer on SARC BoD and SKs.

Social:

 

John Douglas KD9KSH reported our July Picnic went well; about 30 attendees.  Many club members assisted with the picnic in one way or another and his appreciation goes out to all the members of SARC.

 

Special Events Committee:

 

No report.

 

Education:

 

Leo Ribordy N9NBH reports an apparent software glitch at the Library District concerning our class-registration progress has been fixed.

 

Programs: 

 

John Zietlow K9WIC presented Grounding:  both Power and Radio Frequency (RF).  What is Ground?  Why Ground? Equipment Ground and NEC discussion with calculations explaining how induced RF appears on our equipment.

 

Old Business:

 

Board of Directors previously approved and communicated a dues increase for next fiscal year.  The action created much discussion on our repeater recently.  The July meeting minutes were reviewed tonight and the group understood both the necessity and reasoning for the action.

 

New Business: 

 

Discussed Winter Field Day and potential venue to promote public awareness with favorable venue that allows demonstration, education, and participation.

 

Nominating Committee formation is required shortly because our Officer Candidate List needs to be published 30-days prior to the November Election / Annual Meeting.

 

Roberto Beltramelli WA9E has been able to enlist the help of a local antenna expert to help us evaluate the 2M Machine’s sporadic static.

 

Roberto indicated our Fusion capability has resulted in several new hams participating with our group.

 

PC controller for the 440 Machine experienced lock-up possibly due to automatic Windows updates; we’ll need configure-change to prevent automatic updates.

 

 

Adjourn: 8:38 PM.

 

Submitted August 19, 2022.  Cliff Sowka K9QD Secretary