MCWA Meeting Minutes of Oct 6, 2026
DRAFT
VP Jim N7US called the Oct 6, 2026 hybrid meeting to order from the suspended Sept 1, 2026 meeting(in-person and by Zoom) order at 7:00PM. The Pledge of Allegiance followed, led by Dave K9AT.
Board members present were:
President Dan Larson KD9M(Z), VP Jim McDonald N7US, Treasurer Joe Robin N9OK, Secretary Lyle Giese W9LRG, Director Gary Kaatz W9TD, Past President Ralph Iden WB9ICF, Director Bob Smetana KE9CFO
There were 31 members in attendance with no guests and 13 members via Zoom
Guests
None
New Member
None
Approval of Minutes
The meeting minutes from the September meeting were previously posted to the MCWA website for review. Motion to accept the minutes John W9JM, Dave NT9E seconded the motion. Hearing no objections, the minutes were approved.
Membership and Financial Reports
Opening Balance $10,215.71 as of Aug 31, 2026
Deposit $10.00 (Tim KD9OJP new member)
Withdrawals
$6.00 Digital Ocean
$200.00 ARRL Club Liability Insurance
$169.90 Zoom Annual Subscription
Total $375.90
Final Balance $9,839.81 Sept 30, 2026
Notes:
Membership
Total membership is 145 members. That includes 129 (voting) Members, 14 Family (voting) members, and 2 associate members.
Eric KC9CUK moved to accept the Treasurer’s report and John W9JK seconded the motion. Hearing no objections, the treasurer’s report was approved.
Choice 1: Dues are payable via PayPal MCWAPaypal@gmail.com $10/year. Be sure to select ‘Friends & Family’ when paying via PayPal. Please include your call sign, it helps the treasurer to credit the correct membership.
Choice 2: Cash given to Joe N9OK in person at a regular club meeting.
Choice 3: Checks can be sent to:
Joe Robin N9OK
4410 Billingsgate Lane
Woodstock, IL 60098
Be sure to include your call sign!
Be aware we are now charged $0.50 bank fee per check now.
Recent Events
Future Events
2026 Hamfest Calendar by K9MSG is available at:
https://www.w9dup.org/hamfests.html
Amateur Radio Events also publishes a list at:
https://www.amateurradioevents.com/
Contest Activities
For the ARRL America 250th Aniversity, they are tracking contacts with Affliated Clubs. MCWA members can use our club’s K9RN call sign for this purpose. Contact John KA9CAR for more info and to schedule your use of K9RN and for sending in logs related to these contacts.
Member Activity
KC9CUK reports he has moved his meshstatic node to Meshcore. Meshcore is more stable and runs on the same hardware. You just need to reflash your controller with Meshcore firmware.
Ralph WB9ICF reports updating the website and lost some of the pic details in the photo albums and is requresting help identifing people and photos on the website.
Discussion of QSO parties with the upcoming Ill QSO party on Oct 18. Requesting assistance with logs submitted with MCWA as the club. Operating times are 12 CDT to 7:59 CDT. Info can be found at https://w9awe.org/ilqp/
Old Business
New Business
Elections
The Nominating Committee came forward with the following slate for club officers:
President Gary Kaatz W9TD
Vice President Jim McDonald N7US
Secertary Lyle Giese W9LRG
Treasurer Joe Robin N9OK
Director Scott Desantis KB9VRW
Director(not up for election this year) Bob Smetana KE9CFO
Motion by John K9JK to accept the nominations as posted, seconded by John W9JM. New board was accepted by acclaimation.
With the election closed, the September was closed. Motion by Gary W9TD, seconded by John K9JK, approved.
At 7:31pm, the October meeting was offically called to order by President Gary W9TD.
President Gary W9TD thanked Dan KD9M for being the President and generating the slide decks for the meetings.
Next meeting
The next regular meeting will be Tuesday, Nov 3, 2026 at the Algonquin Township meeting room. Open “eyeball” QSOs start at 6:30 PM, with the meeting starting at 7:00 PM.
Motion to adjourn October meeting by Dave N9TE, Seconded by Dave NT9E. Adjorned at 7:43pm.
Program
Batteries by Ralph WB9ICF
Posted by Lyle Giese(W9LRG), Secretary, MCWA