Club members have access to our private message board SARC-All. From time to time interesting discussions get highlighted here on our web site for the benefit of the Ham community.
Pierre K9EYE suggested the following based on a YouTube video.
Here is a Club challenge and a possible event to other clubs.
Subject: Making Ham Radio Antennas out of Things that Aren’t Antennas
Burt AB9CV had a few ideas
- Long power extension cords work ok [and are] easily extended with another cord or more.
- Trees were used by our troops during the Vietnam era.
- Salt water works also as it is conductive.
- There is always rain gutters.
Have fun!
Donald K9CLF then added a few more ideas
Back in the days of real copper phone lines coming into the home on overhead drops and lines on telephone poles, one side of the phone line (either Tip or Ring) made a pretty good receiving antenna for crystal radios and other receivers. Neither side of the line was grounded to maintain a balanced audio circuit back to the telephone central office. -48VDC existed across the Tip and Ring conductors, but one only used one conductor for the antenna.
If the phone was hardwired to the wall and properly grounded (before modular connectors) with the yellow wire, the metal telephone dial finger stop was grounded to an earth ground and made a good crystal radio ground point.
Board of Directors Meeting November 2, 2022
Ed Lishka AC9SD Chairman called the meeting to order at 6:56 PM. Ed noted he will be absent for the December Board meeting.
Attendees
| Ed Lishka AC9SD |
John Douglas KD9KSH |
John Zietlow K9WIC |
| Kent Ochs W9KAO |
Barry Friedman K9FMB |
Danny Kafka KD9HIL |
| Cliff Sowka K9QD |
Dennis C. Calvey KD9HIK |
John Schofield AC9JS |
|
Secretary’s Report
Cliff Sowka K9QD: Danny Kafka KD9HIL moved to approve the October BOD Minutes as published in the Radio Hill Gazette. John Schofield AC9JS seconded. Motion Adopted
Treasurer’s Report:
Barry Friedman K9FMB provides the following:
SCHAUMBURG AMATEUR RADIO CLUB MONTHLY REPORT
Month: November 2022
Checkbook Balance 30-Sep $6,011.95
INCOME MEMO $ 40.00
Deposit 28-Oct Kevin Willard dues $ 20.00
28-Oct William Donovan dues $ 20.00
DISBURSEMENTS MEMO $ 637.21
ACH 6-Oct AT&T DSL $ 62.82
Chk 1273 10-Jan Dennis Calvey Tennis Ant $ 478.93
Chk 1274 20-Oct Cliff Sowka CP materials $ 95.46
Checks Outstanding
Deposit not included
Account Balance $5,414.74
31-Oct Bank Statement $5,414.74
Checks Outstanding
Adjusted balance $5,414.74
31-Oct Checkbook balance $5,414.74
Petty Cash 31-Oct $ 91.00
Pay Pal 31-Oct* $1,425.98
*Previously held balance transferred on 11/1/2022
+ petty cash – special accounts Funds Available $6,931.72
89 paid members.
PayPal eventually released our funds and Barry was able to deposit into our account.
Cliff Sowka K9QD moved to approve, Danny Kafka KD9HIL seconded. Motion Adopted
Public Service
Rob Glowacki N9MVO not present.
EMCOMM
John Zietlow K9WIC reports there is no activity presently.
Repeaters
No action taken on the Barrington Road 2M antenna evaluation.
Construction Project (CP)
Cliff Sowka K9QD
Dennis C. Calvey KD9HIK has provided materials purchase update on the Tennis Plus rooftop antenna farm project. Park District installation may be possible before the roof is covered in snow.
VE Testing
John Schofield AC9JS reports there were no candidates for last month’s FCC exam session. The Dec 3rd session may host some of Leo’s N9NBH student graduates. John will also investigate improving our VE Session visibility via ARRL awareness.
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. We will also need a new Chair for 2023.
Radio Hill Gazette RHG
Mike K9KMV No Report.
Membership
Searching for a Membership Chairperson.
Publicity
Dennis C. Calvey KD9HIK Publicity Chairman is managing the Tennis Plus Rooftop Antenna Farm Project.
Most of the materials have been acquired. Additional expenditures will include mounting hardware for the roof top 2m/70cm / HF antenna, and enclosure for the lightning suppressor/mounting plate. With additional expenditures, we’ll still be below the original budget.
Discussion about the State of Illinois Sales Tax Exemption Certificate. Sales tax on the materials acquired for the antenna project only add up to $28.20, so far, but ordinary expenses over the course of a year could be a lot more. Copy of the State of Illinois Application form attached as “State of Illinois Sales Tax Exemption Application stax-1.pdf”
Moderate amount of activity on SARC Facebook page. No problems to report.
Class for “General Class” has been scheduled with the Schaumburg Township District Library (STDL), starting in January. As soon as STDL has it posted with a URL, I’ll submit it to the ARRL website and the Daily Herald.
Social
John Douglas KD9KSH will begin a search for January’s Holiday Party. There is a thought of requiring a $5 reservation with either refund at the party or funds received to be applied to the costs of the event. The hope is this could reduce the no-show count because reservationists will have demonstrated a deliberate desire to attend the event. We will need a new Chair for 2023.
Education
Leo N9NBH not present.
Programs
John Zietlow K9WIC will have a POTA presentation ready for the November meeting to fill the gap during vote counting. The plan for December is to present a video on SLOT Antennas.
Old Business
None.
New Business
Dennis C. Calvey KD9HIK presented the state retail taxation exemption paperwork to obtain some purchase advantage for our club’s procurements. Requirements are many and the return on effort is probably not worth it because the state requires a physical address.
The PayPal experience was terrible but Barry K9FMB was able to eventually retrieve our funds. Board discussed the possibility of severing our relationship with PayPal and much dialog ensued. Dennis C. Calvey KD9HIK and Barry Friedman K9FMB reviewed the many pros/cons to having this tool available to our membership.
Ed Liska AC9SD moved to server the PayPal relationship and investigate alternatives. Cliff Sowka K9QD seconded. Motion Adopted.
Adjourn 8:36 PM.
Submitted Nov 3, 2022 Cliff Sowka K9QD Secretary
Business Meeting November 17, 2022
John Zietlow K9WIC President called the meeting to order at 7:00 PM.
Attendees:
| Don Froula K9CLF |
John Zietlow K9WIC |
John Shofield AC9JS |
| Dennis C. Calvey KD9HIK |
Charlene Treve K9KMZ |
Rob Glowacki N9MVO |
| Terry Jarnholm AE9TJ |
John Douglas KD9KSH |
Leo Ribordy N9NBH |
| Danny Kafka KD9HIL |
Ed Lishka AC9SD |
Cliff Sowka K9QD |
| Chris Brewer AC9GN |
Barry Friedman K9FMB |
Steve Karson AC9EM |
| Don Dewar KD9NJR |
Scott DeSantis KB9VRW |
Bob Benwitz N9JAX |
| Bill McGovern W9WEM |
Bill Donovan KD9RGX |
Kent Ochs W9KAO |
| David Binkowski N9IBM |
Rick Dickens KY0Q |
Bob LaCarisa K9SKY |
| Dirk Anderson N5PEF |
Bob Langsfeld WB9TZC |
|
|
Virtual Attendees:
| Pierre Berube K9EYE |
Lou Childers N9LTW |
Bates Noble N9UVI |
| Joe Barela KB9RCR |
Mike Sorensen K9KQX |
Steve Dove KD9UDL |
| Jim Campbell KB9RGU |
Bill Reiss KW9WR |
|
Secretary’s Report:
Cliff Sowka K9QD: Leo Ribordy N9NBH moved to approve the October Business Meeting Minutes as published in the Radio Hill Gazette. Ed Lishka AC9SD seconded. Motion Adopted.
Treasurer’s Report:
Barry Friedman K9FMB provided this report:
Month: November 2022
Checkbook Balance 30-Sep $6,011.95
INCOME MEMO $ 40.00
Deposit 28-Oct Kevin Willard dues $ 20.00
28-Oct William Donovan dues $ 20.00
DISBURSEMENTS MEMO $ 637.21
ACH 6-Oct AT&T DSL $ 62.82
Chk 1273 10-Jan Dennis Calvey Tennis Ant $ 478.93
Chk 1274 20-Oct Cliff Sowka CP materials $ 95.46
Checks Outstanding
Deposit not included
Account Balance $5,414.74
31-Oct Bank Statement $5,414.74
Checks Outstanding
Adjusted balance $5,414.74
31-Oct Checkbook balance $5,414.74
Petty Cash 31-Oct $ 91.00
Pay Pal 31-Oct* $1,425.98
*Previously held balance transferred on 11/1/2022
+ petty cash – special accounts Funds Available $6,931.72
89 paid members.
Dennis C. Calvey KD9HIK moved to approve the Treasurer’s Report. Danny Kafka KD9HIL seconded. Motion Adopted.
Public Service:
Rob Glowacki N9MVO report truncated to save time for the Annual Meeting.
EMCOMM:
John Zietlow K9WIC report truncated to save time for the Annual Meeting.
Repeaters:
Rob Glowacki N9MVO report truncated to save time for the Annual Meeting.
Construction Project (CP):
Cliff Sowka K9QD said our antenna farm may be placed into service soon as Dennis C. Calvey KD9HIK completed the materials procurement process. He has staged the shipment in the basement and has the items ready for the Park District’s installation. Dennis C. Calvey KD9HIK has been working with the Park District to continue SARC’s effort of installing usable HF, VHF, and UHF antennas with access in the basement; we’re hoping to have the roof-top work completed before it’s covered with snow.
VE Testing:
John Schofield AC9JS report was truncated to save time for the Annual Meeting. It’s anticipated some of Leo’s N9NBH Tech Class will make a reservation now that class has concluded.
Nets:
Barry Friedman K9FMB report truncated to save time for the Annual Meeting.
Radio Hill Gazette RHG:
Mike K9KMV No Report.
Membership:
No Report.
Publicity:
Dennis C. Calvey KD9HIK report truncated to save time for the Annual Meeting.
Social:
John Douglas KD9KSH reports our next event will be January 21st Holiday Party. This event replaces the traditional January Business Meeting and will include announcement of two honorary award winners who are being voted tonight: 1. Member of the Year and Bill Smead K9IIM 2. Construction Project Award.
Special Events Committee:
No report.
Education:
Leo Ribordy N9NBH reported that eight (8) students completed the Technician Class. Leo’s General Class offering during this winter will require a few more volunteer instructors for the 12-week session starting January 12th.
Programs:
John Zietlow K9WIC hosted a video about POTA (Parks on the air) during the vote-count process @ the Annual Meeting (see below).
Old Business:
Leo Ribordy N9NBH suggested it may be advantageous to bring our Business Meetings into a tighter agenda and accomplish the various committee reports within about 30 minutes to ease time for more audience participation.
Danny Kafka KD9HIL reminded we’re operating without an annual budget. Barry Friedman K9FMB reviewed the budget-setting process where committees submit their funding requests to the Board of Directors where they evaluate and finally approve expenditures for the fiscal year. While the process was undertaken at the beginning of our fiscal year, the Executive Team hasn’t completed the process; item remains open.
New Business:
None.
Adjourn: 7:20 PM.
Annual Meeting November 17, 2022
John Zietlow K9WIC President called the Annual Meeting to order at 7:21 PM.
Cliff Sowka K9QD Secretary reported we enjoyed 100% Absentee Vote returns as collected from our Post Office Box. These still-sealed SASE envelopes were presented and counted tonight.
Attendees
| Don Froula K9CLF |
John Zietlow K9WIC |
John Shofield AC9JS |
| Dennis C. Calvey KD9HIK |
Charlene Treve K9KMZ |
Rob Glowacki N9MVO |
| Terry Jarnholm AE9TJ |
John Douglas KD9KSH |
Leo Ribordy N9NBH |
| Danny Kafka KD9HIL |
Ed Lishka AC9SD |
Cliff Sowka K9QD |
| Chris Brewer AC9GN |
Barry Friedman K9FMB |
Steve Karson AC9EM |
| Don Dewar KD9NJR |
Scott DeSantis KB9VRW |
Bob Benwitz N9JAX |
| Bill McGovern W9WEM |
Bill Donovan KD9RGX |
Kent Ochs W9KAO |
| David Binkowski N9IBM |
Rick Dickens KY0Q |
Bob LaCarisa K9SKY |
| Dirk Anderson N5PEF |
Bob Langsfeld WB9TZC |
|
|
Virtual Attendees:
| Pierre Berube K9EYE |
Lou Childers N9LTW |
Bates Noble N9UVI |
| Joe Barela KB9RCR |
Mike Sorensen K9KQX |
Steve Dove KD9UDL |
| Jim Campbell KB9RGU |
Bill Reiss KW9WR |
|
Election Results
President Don Dewar KD9NJR
Vice President Danny Kafka KD9HIL
Treasurer Chris Brewer AC9GN
Secretary Cliff Sowka K9QD
Director Robert Kocourek W9RKK
Director Bill Reiss KW9WR
Advisory Question:
Should Club’s Finances be spent to have Food and Beverages available during functions? YES
Adjourn 8:10PM
Submitted November 18, 2022. Cliff Sowka K9QD Secretary