ICARC Workday @ WGFA North Repeater

In late 2008 several members of the Iroquois County Amateur Radio Club  assembled to clean out the North Repeater Site and refurbish it.  You can view pictures here…

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jrkaiser/sets/72157604501827891/

Pictures Courtesy – Janet Focken

Minutes from January 8th, 2009 ICARC Meeting

President Mike opened the meeting at 7:10 pm at the Red Cross office in Watseka. The December minutes were read and approved. The treasure’s report was read and approved.

Committee Reports

Incorporation and Non-Profit Committee—Mike is in the process of registering with the Charitable Trust Division, Office of the Attorney General. He is also filling our 28 pages for the IRS. Sam and Mike worked for a few hours and almost done.

Technical Committee— Steve and Benny reported that both repeaters were working well. Carl donated another Kenwood 7950 but we had trouble with that one also. Steve took that radio home and fixed it. It is working at Sam’s house and will be taken to the east site when weather is warmer.

Program Committee—Phil reported that the Feb meeting would be a demo of logging programs. The meeting will be at Glenn Raymond School.

Publicity Committee—Chris has talked with Justin and both will be adding content to the web site.

ARES Liaison—Roy reported by e-mail that 3 new ARES members were added last month bring the total to 14 for our ARES units. All reports were filed with the SEC but not to ARRL at this time.

Red Cross Liaison— We still need to work on antennas. Tim and Carl have a plan and are working on it. We would like to have a loop HF antenna if possible. Tim has the bases on the roof and we will wait for better weather. Scott will ask for some help from fire department for a ladder.

ESDA Liaison—Drills both table top and full scale to be later this year.
VE Liaison—Carl reported that we might have VE testing the first part of March.

OLD Business

Dues for 2009 were collected from a total of 15 members and we hope that a few more will pay dues next month.

Member voted to buy 2 general study guides to have to loan out of our library.

Members discussed having info for the change to DTV but no action is planned.

ESDA is planning to have a weather spotting school soon and we are to encourage hams and other public safety groups to attend.

NEW Business

Troy reported that another school roundup is coming on Feb 9-13th and that W9GRS would be on the air for several hours.

Pres Mike thanked former Pres Carl and the committees for their hard work last year.

All members filled out our membership forms to aid in having a quick way to contact each other for bad weather conditions or other emergencies.

Snacks for this month were by Benny. Feb. snacks are to be brought by Paul.
Net control for 1/12 Jake, 1/19 Tim, 1/26 Scott, 2/2 Brian, 2/9 Carl

Members present for the Dec meeting were Carl, Chris S, Mike, Troy, Benny, Steve, Phil, Jake, Scott, Tim, Janet, Chris M, Paul, Gery, Justin and Sam.

Meeting was adjourned at 8:38.

We enjoyed the delicious brownies baked by Benny along with ice cold Coke and cookies.

The program was a DVD on 5 Dxpeditions to 5 rare locations.

Sam Ripple W9QKF Sec.

Sam Ripple W9QKF KAE7607

Minutes of the December 11, 2008 Meeting

President Carl opened the meeting at 7:10 pm at the Red Cross office in Watseka. The November minutes were read and corrected then approved. The treasure’s report was read and approved.

Committee Reports

Incorporation and Non-Profit Committee—Mike is in the process of registering with the Charitable Trust Division, Office of the Attorney General. He is also filling our 28 pages for the IRS.

Technical Committee— Steve and Benny reported that both repeaters were working well. Carl reported the APRS repeater radio was making a spur on another frequency and was taken off the air. Carl replaced with another Kenwood 7950 but had trouble with that one also. Steve took that radio home to work on it.

Program Committee—Roy and Phil reported that the Jan meeting would be a DVD on 4 famous DX trips. Feb is to be logging program.

Publicity Committee—Justin reported that National Weather Service had a ham appreciation day on Dec 6th.

ARES Liaison—No report

Red Cross Liaison—Carl reported that the Red Cross office was moved to the new location at 106 S 4th St. and the communications room has radios and some new furniture. We still need to work on antennas. Tim and Carl have a plan and are working on it. We would like to have a loop HF antenna if possible.

ESDA Liaison—Drills both table top and real live to be later next year.

VE Liaison—. VE testing in Kankakee was Nov 13. ICARC had VE test on the 11th of Dec. at the Red Cross office before our regular meeting. Nine tests were given. Troy passed Extra, Scott passed general, Paul Wilson is a new tech. Joeph from Dewey IL passed the tech.

OLD Business

Pres Carl read a list of ICARC projects for 2008.

NEW Business

The elections for the 2009 officers and board members was held by secret ballot with these members elected.  President Mike KC9HHT, Vice Pres Roy KA9MZJ Sec Treas Sam W9QKF.  Board members for 2009 are Steve K9TA, Benny KC9GWD and Tim W9TRF.

The Unit 9 tower and antenna may be used for a GRS repeater project.

Steve suggested that if we keep having APRS trouble we should get some new equipment.

Snacks for this month were by Carl and Chris. Jan. snacks are to be brought by Benny.

Mike provided a fine selection of headphone and mikes as 3 lucky members won one in our 3 drawings.

Net control for 12/15 Troy, 12/22Steve, 12/28 Benny 1/5 Brian

Members present for the Nov meeting were Carl, Chris, Mike, Troy, Benny, Steve, Phil, Roy Tim, Janet, and Sam.

We were very pleased to host guests Scott, Chris M, Jake, Gery, Paul Wilson and Joe

Meeting was adjourned at 8:38.

Janet brought back an outstanding bunch of Monical’s pizza and bread sticks with loads of extra cheese. A good time was had by all.

Sam Ripple W9QKF Sec.

New Hams in Iroquois County

Dear RadioActives

This just in… GRS has their first student to earn their callsign!  Jakob Anderson has been issued the call KC9OQN with his Tech. License!! He is a 6th Grader here.  Congrats to dad Scott (KC9OQO) as well!!!!!

Also we had guests at W9GRS to check out our newly christened PSK31 set-up. Chris KC9OQM and Scott KC9OQO got to “play” around and experience the basics of PSK31.

One Down! Many to Go!!

73!

-Troy
W9KVR

We Just learned today that we have 4 new hams in the Watseka area.

KC9OQO Scott

KC9OQN Jakob

KC9OQQ Gery

KC9OQM Chris

KC9OVF Paul – Paul is one of the Glenn Raymond School Science Club sponsors and believe it or not, studying for his General!

If you hear them on the repeaters, stop and say Hello

Sam Ripple W9QKF KAE7607

Upcoming Meeting Thursday 1/8/2009

Greetings fellow ham radio people

Next Meeting will be Thursday Jan 8 at 7:00 pm at new Red Cross office in Watseka.
(106 S 4th in Watseka) Supper will be at 6:00 at Family Table for those that would like to eat together.

The Jan meeting is a great time to pay for your 2009 dues. Some have already paid.

CD-1 is trying to set up a weather spotting class for fire, police, sheriff, public works, and hams. Trying to find a good week day night for it. Let me know by email if you might be able to go and what night is best for you.

Sam is trying to get our call up list for ARES, Red Cross up to date. Will have some forms to fill out for each member.

Hope to see you Thurs night.

Sam Ripple W9QKF KAE7607