MCWA Meeting Minutes of November 4, 2025
DRAFT
VP Jim N7US called the Nov 4, 2025 hybrid meeting (in-person and by Zoom) order at 7:00 PM. The Pledge of Allegiance followed, led by Dave K9AT.
Board members present were:
VP Jim McDonald N7US, Treasurer Joe Robin N9OK, Secretary Lyle Giese W9LRG, Director Gary Kaatz W9TD, Bob Smetana KE9CFO, Past President Ralph Iden WB9ICF
Absent: President Dan Larson KD9M
There were 31 members in attendance with 2 guests and 8 members via Zoom
Guests
W Rickduel W9XB
Corey Kramer
Approval of Minutes
The meeting minutes from the October meeting were previously posted to the MCWA website for review. Motion to accept the minutes Dave K9AT. Dave NT9E seconded the motion. Hearing no objections, the minutes were approved.
Membership and Financial Reports
Joe Robin, N9OK presented the membership and financial reports for October 2025.
Opening Balance $9,448.82 as of September 30, 2025
Deposits $130.00 Dues
Expenditures $60.81
$6.62 Digital Ocean $6.62
$34.20 FastMail Basic
19.99 Google MCWAPayPal Annual Fee
Final Balance $9,518.01 October 31, 2025
Total membership is 147 members. That includes 131 (voting) Members, 14 Family (voting) members and 2 associate members.
Sam KC9GPY moved to accept the Treasurer’s report and Roger KF9D 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
2025 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/2025hamfests1
The 415 is planning their Winter Field, Jan 24 & 25th, 2026
McHenry County RACES(mcraces.org) is working on getting a Winter Field day operation going also.
Glen N9OK and Angelo KD9QVW are planning an ISS school contact in Springfield on Dec 5th 9:29am.
Recap BOD meeting
Membership is stable
Meeting attendance slightly lower over summer timeframe.
Being a general interest club with many diverse interests, we want to grow the knowledge of all aspects of the hobby.
Finances are strong and stable.
Membership has been strong with steady growth with slight downturn recently
Activities in 2024-2025
Pizza Party, Fox Hunt, POTA, Campout
Budget vs Actual 2024-2025
| Item | Budgeted | Actual | Notes |
| Field Day | 750.00 | 294.50 | Requires club ratification, food donated in 2025 |
| Insurance | 200.00 | 200.00 | |
| Pizza Social | 300.00 | 299.36 | Looking at Dec for the social. Board decide to pay $300 for pizza and charge members $5 -$10 per person |
| Spring Social | 300.00 | ||
| Outreach Actvities | 500.00 | Scouts, etc, POTA, books | |
| Zoom | 150.00 | 149.90 | |
| Website | 130 | 119.20 | DigitalOcean, google domains & POBox |
| Meeting enhancements | 500.00 | 599.99 | Laptop |
| Misc | 50.00 | 14.60 | Unbudgeted misc expenses |
| 2,880.00 | 1,677.55 |
Activities for 2025-26
Pizza Party with program after (Fall) @ Meeting
Fox Hunt
POTA
Campout
Field Day – Need Committee before end of year
Meeting in the park with Dinner
Auction – Idea % to club instead of full amount @ meetings
Push to find some programs for every other month for 2026
| Item | Planned | Actual | Notes |
| Insurance | 200.00 | 200.00 | |
| Website MCWA.ORG | 130.00 | DigitalOcean, Google Domains, POBox | |
| Zoom pro subscription | 160.00 | 159.90 | |
| Miscellaneous | 50.00 | Miscellaneous expenses | |
| Total neccesary | 540.00 | 359.90 | |
| Pizza Social | 300.00 | ||
| Spring Social | 300.00 | ||
| Outreach activities | 500.00 | Scouts, etc, POTA, Books | |
| Field Day | 750.00 | Requires club ratification | |
| Meeting Enhancements | 100.00 | ||
| Total Discretionary | 1,950.00 | ||
| Total Planned | 2,490.00 | 359.90 |
Old Business
New Business
The next regular meeting will be Tuesday, December 2, 2025, at the Algonquin Township meeting room. Open “eyeball” QSOs start at 6:30 PM, with the meeting starting at 7:00 PM.
Sam KC9GPY made a motion to adjourn, John W9JM seconded. The meeting was adjourned at 7:45 PM.
Program
FT8 DXing-Fact, Fiction & Hints John K9EL
Posted by Lyle Giese(W9LRG), Secretary, MCWA