April 2019 Meeting Minutes
Snoqualmie Valley Radio Club
Meeting Minutes for April 4, 2019
Business Meeting called to order 6:15 p.m. Duvall Fire Station 45 by Tom, WA7TBP.
23 members and guests present for business and meeting: Robin Amundson, Paul Butzi, Joe Carpenter, Nancy Carpenter, Bill Condon, Lindy Friedlander, Louis Giliberto, Ryan Klemmer, Ken Koch, Ken Kosters, Ralph Lease, Mark McClain, Irvina Mizell, Jim Myers, Irvina Mizell, Tom Needham, Robert Noonan, Chuck Powrie, Shawn Somers, Robin Thompson, Kirt White, Ron Wilander, Chuck Woolfolk.
Secretary Report—No corrections or additions to the March Minutes were requested. Nancy, KI7EMC, moved and Joe, KI7EMB, seconded the Minutes as presented. Approved.
Treasurer Report—Lindy, KG7IFA, reported the March ending balance is $3,731.31, not yet approved by CDCCC board. Lindy queried Shawn about in service dates for new club equipment. Shawn affirmed new repeater is in service as of April. The Microtec router was installed and running in March. One new member returned an application with club dues during the meeting. (New application forms with signature and dues check are due every January. Please take care of it. Downloadable off SnoVARC website.)
Committee and Task Force Reports
Repeater task force—Shawn, K7ATA, reported since the old router was replaced, problems have disappeared. Shawn brought the new repeater on a portable rack with his J-pole to show the club its new Kenwood TKR 850 repeater to be used as a backup and available for portable use, as requested and shown in the March Minutes. The announced time on the repeater on Cougar has been reset for DST. DTMF playback is currently not working. Jim, W7ABD, reported the chip needs replacing. The new commercial grade rack donated in March is still in storage pending an organization of a sufficient work party of strong backs to move it and install it. Tom took possession of the file cabinet keys Robin had picked up from the donor after the keys were found. The file cabinets are still in storage.
Jim, W7ABD, reported all is well at the Bell site.
Emergency planning and mobilization task force—Joe, KI7EMB, reported the committee meeting discussed distributing jump drives to participating club members. The drives will contain emergency procedures including HT programmable software. The idea is in a disaster or emergency radio responders will have all necessary documents in hand and there will be redundancy of availability distributed among trained radio personnel.
Education & community outreach task force—Irvina, W7IRM, reported the April technician class census is currently at 33 or 34. The class enrollment is closed. Irvina asked all instructors to look at previously emailed modules ASAP to make sure they are readable. Irvina asked for volunteers to cover Rowland’s two April 27 modules, as there is a chance he will be unable to present. Robin volunteered for one module. Another backup volunteer is needed.
Kirt, K7KDW, continues to run a growing new ham net at 7 p.m. on Thursdays except for meeting nights. (One of the new hams was present after the business meeting as a visitor). Kirt wants to start our Big Rock social gatherings again. Additionally, he suggested some social events drawing new hams.
Robin, WA7CPA, is hosting an YL event at her home to give YLs experience on air HF bands during the Area 7 QSO party on the first Saturday in May. YLs inside and outside the club are invited. Even non-licensed YLs can get on the air with a licensed control operator and have fun together.
Carnation space—Paul (W7PFB), is looking for antenna access on evacuation hill, either on city property or possibly on private property with owner’s permission. Rowland, K7RMB, will contact the City of Carnation. Paul will approach a private property owner. Jim, W7ABD, is discontinuing scheduled club shack Saturdays. They will be by request only.
Old Business—There was low participation in the March 16 drill but it was useful to the participants to get radio experience at the fire station ham station. Chief Bawden thanked those who signed up for the fire station radio training, asking for patience being contacted for a class.
New Business— There was a discussion to finalize our Field Day location. It was generally agreed it is time for the club to have a site with more public access. Tom, WA7TBP, suggested a party of interested members meet at the Big Rock Park site to discuss layout of antennas and stations. This will take place on Tuesday, April 9th at 6 p.m.. An email will be sent out.
Tom noted there will be a simulation of the Tolt Dam failure midweek sometime in May.
Irvina, W7IRM, indicated we need better communication between all the
groups within CDCCC (SnoVARC, CERT, MRC). To this end she suggested that
SnoVARC members go to other CDCCC meetings (MRC, CERT). Similarly, CERT and MRC members should occasionally attend our meetings.
Bill Condon, K7WJC, distributed the design of the SnoVARC logo that he created
when he was involved with the original SnoVARC club. He suggested we may want
to consider using it in the future.
Elmer Session: Tom, WA7TBP presented a session explaining how the King County address system is laid out. He brought several portable radio setups in racks. Joe, KI7EMB brought a portable rack setup borrowed from Lake Washington Ham Radio Club. Shawn, K7ATA, brought our newly purchased club repeater setup in a portable rack that Shawn set up for us.
Upcoming Events
4/13 First Aid/CPR/AED Training, 8-12 Duvall Fire Station, $40. Email reservation request to info@CDCCC.US
4/20, 4/27 SnoVARC technician licensing class and exams. Saturdays 8-5 at the Duvall Fire Station.
5/2/19 SnoVARC Meeting, Thursday, 7 p.m. Duvall Fire Station, Elmer session will be a new hams training follow-up to help newly licensed hams program radios. We will hear what they are interested in and needing help with and what they need from us. (6:15 Business meeting).
Weekly Reminder: New ham net Thursdays at 7 p.m., except for first Thursday meeting nights. This is followed by 8 p.m. equipment check-in nets except for first Thursday meeting nights.
Minutes respectfully submitted by Robin, WA7CPA