Athens Country Amateur Radio Association Minutes of the meeting of October 20, 2009 In Attendance: John Biddle W8PG Jim Crouse KC8OVB Bob Curtis KD8FRQ Carl Denbow N8VZ John McCutcheon N8XWO Drew McDaniel W8MHV Eric McFadden WD8RIF Rich Post KB8TAD John Thomas KC8JWZ Following the 7:00pm social gathering, the meeting was called to order at approximately 7:34 pm by President Drew McDaniel, W8MHV. The minutes of the September, 2009 meeting were accepted as distributed. The Treasurer's Report was accepted as presented by Jim Crouse, KC8OVB. Old Business Repeater Eric McFadden, WD8RIF, reported that last month the repeater telephone line was discovered to be without dial-tone. He and Ted Jacobson, W8KVK, visited the site and verified that the problem was outside the repeater building and was a telephone company's problem. Eric phoned a work-order in to the phone company and the problem was fixed the next day. Office Nominations (Because Carl Denbow was not yet in attendance, the discussion of Officer Nominations actually occurred following New Business.) Background: because of low attendance at the September meeting, the nomination of officers was delayed until the October meeting. At the September meeting, current President Drew McDaniel, W8MHV, announced that he is ready to step down from the office. At the same meeting, current Vice-President John McCutcheon, N8XWO, also announced that he is ready to step down from his office. Following the September meeting, Drew composed a letter explaining the situation and asking for nominations and he sent this letter to all club members. (This letter is available here: http://home.frognet.net/~mcfadden/wd8rif/text/acara/2009-09-Officer-Nominations.pdf) Drew reported that he had received no nominations. Jim Crouse, KC8OVB, reported that Jeff Slattery, N8SUZ, is unable to serve as either President or Vice-President but is willing to serve again as Packet-Node Trustee and Webmaster. Drew McDaniel nominated Jim Crouse for the positions of Treasurer and Newsletter Editor. Jim accepted the nominations. Carl Denbow, N8VZ, announced he is willing to serve as Vice-president if Drew McDaniel continues as President. Drew McDaniel nominated Eric McFadden for President. Eric stated he wasn't sure he would do a good job as President but did not decline the nomination. John McCutcheon, N8XWO, nominated Eric McFadden for the position of Vice-President if Drew McDaniel continues as President, stating that Eric would then get a year of "on the job training" and be ready to pick the mantle of President next year. Stating his concern for future leadership of the club, Drew McDaniel accepted the nominations as President with either Carl Denbow or Eric McFadden serving as Vice-President. Eric McFadden stated that regardless of the outcome of the Vice-Presidential election, he is willing to serve again as Secretary and Repeater Trustee. Drew stated that he will help take minutes during the meetings if Eric is elected as Vice-President. As there were no nominations for Vice-President without Drew McDaniel remaining as President, the nomination of Eric McFadden for President was withdrawn. Because both Carl Denbow's and Eric McFadden's nominations for the position of Vice-President are contingent upon Drew McDaniel again serving as President, it was decided unanimously that instead of listing separate President and Vice-President candidates, the ballot will instead list two "slates" of President/Vice-President. The ballot will reflect the following candidates for ACARA leadership for 2010: President/Vice-President: Drew McDaniel, W8MHV / Carl Denbow, N8VZ Drew McDaniel, W8MHV / Eric McFadden, WD8RIF Treasurer: Jim Crouse, KC8OVB Secretary: Eric McFadden, WD8RIF Newsletter Editor: Jim Crouse, KC8OVB Repeater Trustee: Eric McFadden, WD8RIF Packet-Node Trustee/Webmaster: Jeff Slattery, N8SUZ Jim Crouse will mail ballots. Ballots will be collected and counted at the November meeting. New Business Amateur Radio License Class When asked by Drew McDadniel, John McCutcheion stated that he thinks there will be a license class beginning in January but hasn't yet discussed details with Jeff Slattery. Holiday Dinner Jim Crouse mentioned that it's time to plan the annual Holiday Dinner. The usual meeting night of the third Tuesday falls on December 15 and it was agreed that this is a good date for the Holiday Dinner. Drew McDaniel asked if Lui Lui is still acceptable as a location. The assembled members readily agreed that Lui Lui is an acceptable venue. Drew stated that he will contact Lui Lui to make a reservation for the evening of December 15. As in the past, the club will pay for hors d'ouvres and non-alcoholic punch. ACARA members should plan to arrive at 5:30pm and sit down for dinner at 6pm. Program Carl Denbow, N8VZ, presented on "Voice oOver IP (VoIP) and Amateur Radio" and discussed ILRP and EchoLink protocols. Carl distributed reprints of two QST articles "VoIP and Amateur Radio" and "EchoLink for Beginners" as well as a print-out showing the ILRP/EchoLink node he has purchased and a sheet listing the frequency and commands to communicate through his node. Carl demonstrated this technology using a 2m-link to his home-based node to hold a QSO with another ham in California who was running mobile through a 2m repeater. Carl encourages all interested hams to give VoIP a try using his node. A revised version of the frequency-and-codes sheet is available here: http://home.frognet.net/~mcfadden/wd8rif/text/acara/N8VZ-node-codes.pdf The QST article "VoIP and Amateur Radio" is available here: http://www.arrl.org/qst/2003/02/VoIP.pdf The QST article "EchoLink for Beginners" is available to ARRL Members here: http://p1k.arrl.org/cgi-bin/topdf.cgi?id=613&pub=qst The meeting was adjourned at approximately 8:48pm by President Derw McDaniel. Respectfully submitted, Eric McFadden, Secretary.