September 2004 Meeting Minutes
September 17, 04 by Iroquois County Amateur Radio ClubMeeting was called to order by Sec Tres. Sam W9QKF at 7:00 pm September 1
2004. The meeting was held in the Red Cross office in Watseka IL..
Old Business
As we had not had a face to face meeting since 1983 most business was based
on the idea of reorganization and goals.
The group decided on annual dues of $30 per person per year. The rational
for this sum was based on the dues of KARS. Sec-Tres is to collect the dues
at the next meeting in an envelope.
Jerry WB9Z and Sam W9QKF were proud to honor our oldest ham Ted WA9GGU.
Ted was one of the founders of our club back in 1961. Ted is one of a group
of “Elmers” that was responsible for many local hams getting started in ham
radio. Thank you Ted.
Carl K9CS was kind enough to pick up Ted in Milford and take him home again.
Thanks Carl.
Ted brought in a portion of his QSL cards (some from South Pole) and Sam
had newspaper articles and old papers from the early days of the radio club.
New Business
The group reached a consensus that the next meeting should be the first Wed
of the month at the Red Cross office–other meeting places will be also
considered on a month to month basis. This next meeting is planned for
7:00pm October 6, 2004.
Carl Gerdovich (Iroquois ESDA Director) dropped by to see if we hams could
be of any assistance to the area in the event of a emergency or a disaster.
He would like for hams to talk to county board members about an increase in
funding for ESDA. We have committed our group to try and be aware of
dangerous weather–to collect info on tornados, pea size hail, wall clouds,
clouds with rotation, very high winds and flooding. All of these reports
should be thing we see with our own eyes–Not off the weather channel or the
scanner. WGFA would also like to know of these things. Call Carl G. or
Justin Kiser at home if they are dangerous threat to life or limb.
The formation of a RACES or ARES group was discussed–maybe later–this is
a action that would take a very dedicated leader. This would require a lot
of planning and paper work to get started and lot of effort to be of value.
Sam made a presentation on the Winlink 2000 plan for digital emergency
communications on a local and national level. He hopes that someone will
take the lead and start with some planning on this topic.
Sam demonstrated the new Red Cross 47.42 simplex repeater radio that is now
in place. In the future we plan to place the fm repeater at 250′ on Jerry’s
tower.
Red Cross communications should be county wide. This is the frequency that
most all 1300 Red Cross emergency units should have in their trucks.
The group discussed the need for 500 feet of Andrews 7/8″ hardline to place
the new repeater antenna up to the top of Jerry’s tower. Estimates of
$1,500 were mentioned and Tim KC9FON is to check on price and see what the
cost will be. Discussion of how to pay for coax followed. Treasury has
$500 and member donations can be collected. Jerry has a great antenna and
will help with install. This is a very difficult project but many members
pledged to help get or donate funds.
We plan to invite people that think they might be interested in ham radio
to the next meeting. We will be talking after the net on a program to
interest these potential members and to become hams. Discussion on taking
in CBers. Discussion of proper manners on the repeaters–many more people
could be listening on scanners.
Under the leadership of Rolla Dolph KB9JJJ a formal net is planned for each
Monday night at 8:00 pm on the 2 meter repeater. This will be a scripted net
and be sure to listen to net control. After formal net the repeater will be
returned to normal use. Swap stories and old radio gear.
Members and guests
Members and guests that were present
Ted WA9GGU
Carl Gerdovich ESDA Director
Jerry WB9Z Pres
Justin Kaiser WGFA
Steve K9TA Vice Pres
Sam W9QKF Sec-Tres
Carl K9CS
Kyle KC9COR
Tim KC9FON
Rolla KB9JJJ
At around 9:45 Kyle served everyone in attendance a generous portion of
home made brownies, cold pop with store bought ice. Thank you Kyle!!! I
think his wife had something to do with the brownies.
