Athens Country Amateur Radio Association Minutes of the meeting of September 15, 2009 In Attendance: John Biddle W8PG Jim Crouse KC8OVB Bob Curtis KD8FRQ John McCutcheon N8XWO Drew McDaniel W8MHV Eric McFadden WD8RIF John Thomas KC8JWZ Following the 7:00pm social gathering, the meeting was called to order at approximately 7:35 pm by President Drew McDaniel, W8MHV. The minutes of the May, 2009 meeting were accepted as distributed. The Treasurer's Report was accepted as presented by Jim Crouse, KC8OVB. Jim reported that the Athens Marathon Committee presented the ACARA with a gift of $1,500. Old Business Pelatonia Jim Crouse, KC8OVB, reported on the club's participation in the first annual Pelatonia bicycle event August 29-30. The event reportedly raised over four million dollars for cancer research. John McCutcheon, N8XWO, commended Ted Jacobson, W8KVK, for his performance as net-control during the event. More about the event can be found here: http://www.pelotonia.org/ride/ ARRL Field Day Eric McFadden, WD8RIF, showed a series of photos of the ACARA's operation during the June 27-28, 2009 event. Drew McDaniel, W8MHV, reported that he compared this year's score to last year's score and anticipates that the club will be in the top 30% of class 1A this year. Ohio QSO Party John McCutcheon reported that two club members have told him that they've submitted logs and that three logs are required for a club entry. Drew McDaniel reported that he, too, has submitted his log. 2nd Annual Ohio State Parks on the Air (OSPOTA) John McCutcheon reported on the ACARA's participation in this Portage County ARS-sponsored event that took place on September 12. The ACARA activated Strouds Run State Park and made 36 contacts with stations in 27 state parks. All QSOs were made on 80m CW (at 5 watts) and 75m SSB (at 100 watts). Eric McFadden presented photos of the event. More about the event can be found here: http://parks.portcars.org/ospota/index.php Ohio University Amateur Radio Club Bob Curtis, KD8FRQ, reported that he has begun testing the HF transceiver donated to the club by Drew McDaniel. He also reported that he has developed for the club a project involving the PSK-31 data-mode. Work will begin soon installing antennas on the roof of Stocker. New Business Nominations for Officers Traditionally, nominations for next year's officers are made during the September meeting and vote-counting occurs during the October meeting. Due to low attendance this month, nominations have been put off until the October meeting with vote-counting to occur at the November meeting. John McCutcheon, the current vice-president, stated that he will not accept any position for next year. He has, he stated, "run out of ideas," and it is time for someone else to step up. Drew McDaniel, the current president, stated that he would like to step down from the position of president this year. Drew McDaniel said he appreciates John McCutcheon's frustrations and als appreciates the efforts John has made on behalf of the ACARA. Drew McDaniel commended Jim Crouse for the excellent and timely newsletter Jim produces. Copies of the membership roster were distributed and a discussion ensued as to which members might be willing to serve as officers. Drew McDaniel is going to write a letter to be mailed to the membership. This letter will describe the current situation and ask for nominations for the various positions. (The elected positions in the club are president, vice-president, treasurer, secretary, newsletter editor, repeater trustee, and packet-node trustee.) Athens Marathon Committee Grant Jim Crouse reported that the Athens Marathon Committee has awarded the ACARA a grant of $1,500 in appreciation of the support the club has given the marathon over the years. Jim asked the club membership to consider how this money might best be used. Eric McFadden read portions of an email he and Jeff Slattery, N8SUZ, received from Ted Jacobson, W8KVK, with suggestions for the use of this money. Excerpts from the email: With the possibility that the Pelotonia Tour may well become an annual event as well, I would like to suggest that some serious consideration be given to using some of the Marathon donation funds to augment ACARA equipment/supplies used in support of public service events. Communication vests might be one example. But I would also like some ideas... regarding beefing up APRS support equipment, including [acquisition of] some newer generation bicycle mobile gear, and perhaps purchasing a second complete package for 'tail light' tracking. And perhaps even some infrastructure equipment to permit better APRS coverage on the upper end of the Bikeway. Program Drew McDaniel showed the restored-and-working Heathkit HW-8 transceiver that he had purchased in non-working condition from Eric McFadden and he described some of the work involved in restoring the little rig to working order. Eric McFadden brought his collection of all three of the classic QRP CW rigs offered by Heathkit: the HW-7, HW-8, and HW-9. He opened the HW-7 and HW-8 so their circuitry could be compared to each other and to Drew's more-modified HW-8. The meeting was adjourned at approximately 9:30pm by President Derw McDaniel. Respectfully submitted, Eric McFadden, Secretary.