MCWA Meeting Minutes of February 7, 2023
President Dan Larson (KD9M) called the February 2023 hybrid meeting (in-person and by Zoom) to order at 7:01 PM. Dan noted that the program would not be recorded due to technical difficulties with the Zoom audio. The Pledge of Allegiance followed, led by Dave Holmgren (K9AT).
Board members present were Kent Dulaney (K9KMD), Dean Hettel (WC9C), Ralph Iden (WB9ICF), Gary Kaatz (W9TD), Dan Larson (KD9M) and David Whiteside (N9BSA).
A total of 43 members were in attendance and 1 guest: Ron Rogers (KC0ZN).
Approval of Minutes
The meeting minutes from the January 2023 meeting were previously posted to the MCWA website for review. Loren Burkett (K3RFC) moved to accept the minutes and Dave Holmgren (K9AT) seconded the motion. Hearing no objections, the minutes were approved.
Membership and Financial Reports
Treasurer Dean Hettel (WC9C) presented the membership and financial reports for December. MCWA has a membership of 139 full members including 10 family members and no Associate members.
| Opening Balance | $11,121.58 | |
| Deposits | $70.00 | (Dues) |
| Expenditures | $219.00- | (Field Day rental) |
| $6.53- | (Digital Ocean) | |
| Interest | $0.10 | |
| Final Balance | $10,966.15 |
Dean reminded the membership to pay their 2023 dues by PayPal, check or cash tonight at the meeting. Sam Haldiman (KC9GPY) moved to accept the treasurer’s report and Roger Scott (KF9D) seconded the motion. Hearing no objections, the treasurer’s report was approved.
Announcements
The monthly McHenry Ham Breakfast is held the first Saturday of every month at Buddyz in McHenry at 8:00 AM, in a private room. Contact Dave (NT9E) for more information.
Sam Haldiman (KC9GPY) showed pictures and the results of Winter Field Day by the 415 group. Gary Dembski (W9GD) thanked those that attended. Glenn Otto (K9OK) and Angelo Franzone (KD9QVW) spoke about their satellite contacts during Winter Field Day and received a pair of egg-beater antennas from Gary Dembski (W9GD) for next time.
The Bouvet Island DXpedition is on the air as 3Y0J. There is a lot of deliberate QRM and operators calling on his frequency instead of using split and the “police” telling them up, up also on the DX’s frequency.
Hamfest and Event Update
PAST
WCRA Mid-Winter Hamfest:
UPCOMING
Jefferson Hamfest 2023, March 19, Jefferson, WI
Sterling Rock Falls ARS Hamfest, March 19, Dixon, IL
Madison Area Repeater Assn Hamfest, April 15, Stoughton, WI
ORC 43rd Annual Spring Indoor Swapfest, May 6, Cedarburg, WI
DeKalb Hamfest, May 7, Sandwich, IL
Hamvention 2023, May 19-21, Greene County Fair & Expo Center, Xenia, OH
Starved Rock Radio Club Hamfest, June 4, Mendota Tri-County Fairgrounds
Midwest Superfest, September 16-17, Chillicothe, IL
Contest Reports
ARRL Kid’s Day: no reports
ARRL RTTY Roundup: W9TD participated and improved on last year’s score
North American QSO Party (CW): W9TD participated and improved on last year’s score
North American QSO Party (SSB): no reports
ARRL January VHF Contest: K9JK participated
CQ 160-Meter Contest (CW): KF9D participated
BARTG RTTY Sprint: no reports
Winter Field Day: See Announcements
UPCOMING
CQ WW RTTY WPX Contest, February 11-12
ARRL School Club Roundup, February 13-17
ARRL International DX Contest (CW), February 18-19
CQ 160-Meter Contest (SSB), February 24-26
North American QSO Party (RTTY), February 25-26
Upcoming MCWA Presentations
March 7 ARRL Update by Carl Luetzelschwab (K9LA)
Awards and license upgrades
Andrew White (KD9VUT) upgraded to General and chose K9AJW as his new call.
Old Business
Dan explained that charges for currently free groups.io accounts will be grandfathered unless doing an upgrade.
Dan reminded everyone that Field Day will be June 24-25 at Rush Creek and planning will start this month. Everyone with ideas should email them to Dan at KD9M@Yahoo.com
New Business
Ralph Iden (WB9ICF) spoke about participation in the upcoming Lake County Maker Faire on April 15th. He has registered to participate with the same number of tables as last year. He asked for ideas but said that he thought he would call it “Mystique of Shortwave Radio”, which would include Amateur, broadcasts, military, government and high-speed trading in the shortwave spectrum. He also thought that the project would be simple receiver that would have a small price to the interested parties.
David Whiteside (N9BSA) handed out appreciation certificates to those that helped out at the Jamboree on the Air event.
Wrap up
Following the adjournment of tonight’s meeting, David Whiteside (N9BSA) will be presenting “Youth Safety BSA”. Dan solicited more presentations from the membership.
The next regular meeting will be Tuesday, March 7, 2023 at the Algonquin Township meeting room. Open “eyeball” QSOs start at 6:30 PM, with the meeting starting at 7:00 PM. The program is “ARRL Update” by Carl Luetzelschwab (K9LA). A motion to adjourn was made by Sam Haldiman (KC9GPY) and seconded by Kent Dulaney (K9KMD). The motion was approved by voice vote and the meeting was adjourned at 7:43 PM.
Prepared by Gary Kaatz (W9TD), MCWA Secretary.