Author: Ralph

Subject: Meeting Minutes of October 4, 2016

The October meeting was called to order by Outgoing President Jim, N7US at 7:00 p.m. on October 4, 2016 in the Crystal Lake Bank meeting room.

The Pledge of Allegiance kicked off the meeting, led by Jim, N7US
Outgoing President Jim N7US introduced incoming President John Dewy KA9CAR and noted that the other three Officers (Mike WB8BZK Vice President, Roger KF9D Secretary and Joe N9OK Treasurer) were continuing for 2017. As the club’s new President, John took over the meeting.

President John extended a welcome and asked if there were visitors or guests present. Five guests were present: Mike Rockets KB9BIB, Dan Korba, Erin Stump, Jim Natonski and Benjamin Holmgren (K9RUF’s son).

Introductions around the room followed. Twenty-six people were in attendance for the meeting.

President John encouraged all to join the club Yahoo reflector, K9RN.
President John encouraged all members to send Jerry N9AVY any and all inputs for the monthly newsletter.

Minutes from the September meeting were published for review on the club website by Secretary Roger, KF9D. Dave K9RUF moved to accept the minutes as published, seconded by KC9Q. The motion passed by voice vote.

Jim N7US presented a short report from Treasurer Joe, N9OK who was not in attendance. Jim reported a balance of $4,272.56 in the treasury and a total paid membership of 92 full members and 1 associate member. Dave NT9E made a motion to accept the treasurer’s report, seconded by KC9Q. The motion passed by voice vote.

Under Announcements,
Club Librarian Jeff Schmidt KC9WSJ announced that we have many good books in the club library that are available for members to check out including a new ARRL addition titled “Amateur Radio on the Move”.

Vice President Mike WB8BZK announced that the Board of Directors motioned and approved elevating long term club member Marty W9MLP to Honorary Member for Life. Mike read the announcement that was published in the club’s October Newsletter.

Dave NT9E stated that the next Algonquin Ham Breakfast will be held at the Golden Corral on Randall Road on Saturday November 5th. Although this breakfast is not sponsored by the MCWA, all MCWA members are very welcome to attend.

President John led a discussion to gauge the interest in the club paying for a table at the Annual Mid-Winter Hamfest that will be held in St. Charles. K9EYE said that he would be happy to sit at the table and greet visitors. Jerry N9AVY indicated that he will be placing a note in the club Newsletter on this hamfest.

Several upcoming operating activities, including contests, were highlighted. The Illinois QSO Party will be held on October 16. It was noted that there are no local hamfests occurring until January 2017. See QST for contest details. Up-to-date DX information can be obtained from DailyDX.com.

President John stated that VE exams are given every three month during the school year (November, February, May and August). Information is provided on the club website MCWA.org.
Pierre K9EYE invited everyone to join his new 6M net. The net meets every Wednesday between 7 and 8pm on 50.130 MHz.

Under the topic of old business,
Nominations & election of a new club Director (through 2017) to fill the slot vacated by John KA9CAR, who became the club’s President, were held. Two nominations were presented by the Nominating Committee: Dave NT9E and Pierre K9EYE. No additional nominations came from the floor. K9EYE won the vote 12 to 9 over NT9E by a hand vote.

Under the topic of new business,
President John opened a discussion on our club participating in the 2017 Field Day operating event. 10 to 15 members raised their hand indicating that they were interested in participating.
Jack Hudson discussed interest in the club holding amateur radio classes or maybe licensing classes in 2017. The proposal was to hold 4 or 5 Saturday classes.

Dave K9RUF volunteered to make a presentation on System Fusion for the November or December meeting.
John invited everyone for pizza and eyeball QSOs immediately after the meeting at The Cottage in downtown Crystal Lake at the corner of Crystal Lake Avenue and Walkup.

K9EYE motioned to adjourn the meeting and Dave NT9E seconded the motion. The meeting was adjourned at 7:55 p.m.
After a short break, Jim N7US presented a program on “Ham Radio Logging Software – Focusing on DXlab Suite”.

Minutes taken by Mike, WB8BZK for Secretary Roger, KF9D

Subject: Meeting Minutes of September 6, 2016

The September meeting was called to order by President Jim, N7US at 7:00 p.m. on September 6, 2016 in the Crystal Lake Bank meeting room.

The Pledge of Allegiance kicked off the meeting, led by Jim, N7US .

President Jim extended a welcome and asked if there were visitors or guests present. John Cankar N9GUU from Lake Villa, IL was a visitor.

Introductions around the room followed. 31 people were in attendance for the meeting.

President Jim encouraged all to join the club Yahoo reflector, K9RN.

Minutes from the August meeting were published for review on the club website by Secretary Roger, KF9D. Ken KB9I moved to accept the minutes as published, and the motion was seconded by Dave NT9E. The motion passed by voice vote.

Treasurer Joe, N9OK reported additional dues totaling $5.00 and the payment of the club’s ARRL liability insurance of $200.00 and bank interest of $0.40 for a balance of $4272.21 in the treasury. The new member brought the paid membership to 92 full members and 1 associate member. John KA9CAR made a motion to accept the treasurer’s report which was seconded by Jerry N9AVY. The motion passed by voice vote.

President Jim reminded the group of the club’s VE testing. He also displayed a few new books from our library collection that could be loaned out to any interested members.

President Jim reminded club members that the NIDXA & SMC sponsored W9DXCC event was coming up on September 16 & 17.

Jim, N7US advised club members that club callsign badges can be arranged through Ken, KB9I by sending him a check for $10.

Several upcoming operating activities, including contests, were highlighted. The ARRL September VHF Contest will be held this weekend starting on Saturday September 10th at 1 pm local time and continuing on through Sunday night at 10 pm. See QST for additional contest details. Up-to-date DX information can be obtained from DailyDX.com.
Program topic ideas and requests were briefly discussed. The October program is currently TBD.

Under the topic of old business,
Gary KD9FML presented very nice embroidered samples of MCWA clubwear and items that could now be purchased with the MCWA logo. Gary will provide ordering information to Jerry N9AVY for publication in the next Newsletter.

John KA9CAR presented a sample of a very nice heat transfer club logo T-shirt that can now be purchased through Think Ink, 890 Cog Circle, Crystal Lake, IL 60014 815-459-4565.

President Jim stated that the Board of Directors held an open meeting prior to the general membership meeting.

Under the topic of new business,
President Jim held a preliminary discussion to get a handle on membership interest in MCWA participation in the 2017 ARRL Field Day operating event.

Jack, W9MU, held a preliminary discussion to gather membership interest in a 2017 version of the “Introduction to Amateur Radio” class at MCC. It was noted that the club brought on several new very interested members as a result of the 2016 class earlier this year.

Club Officer Nominations/Elections for 2017 were held. President Jim kicked-off this session by reading the election guidelines from the MCWA constitution. Jim noted that the current Directors would continue in their posts for new full terms due to their late installation this year.

The Nomination Committee Chairman Dave KA9OZP presented a full slate of nominations: Treasurer – Joe N9OK, Secretary – Roger KF9D, Vice President – Mike WB8BZK, and President – John KA9CAR. There were no other nominations from the floor. Ken KB9I moved to close the nomination with Dave NT9E seconding the motion. All Officers for 2017 were then approved by voice acclamation.

Per the MCWA constitution, Jim N7US, the exiting President, will serve on the 2017 Board of Directors.

With the election of John KA9CAR to 2017 President, the club now will have an open Director position. Nominations for the open Director position will be taken at the October club meeting. Any interested members should contact Dave KA9OZP.

The meeting was adjourned at 7:45 p.m.

Following a short break, Joe N9OK presented an interesting program: “HF Power Amplifier Basics for Hams Who Are Not Engineers”. All members left the bank facility at approximately 9 pm.

Minutes recorded by Mike, WB8BZK in the absence of Club Secretary Roger, KF9D

Subject: Meeting Minutes of Aug 2, 2016

The monthly August meeting was called to order by President Jim, N7US at 7:00 p.m. on August 2, 2016 in the Crystal Lake Bank meeting room.

The Pledge of Allegiance kicked off the meeting, led by Jim.

President Jim extended a welcome to all and asked if there were visitors or guests present. New member Jim, NB9Y from Huntley was introduced to the group.

Introductions around the room followed. Twenty-seven people were in attendance for the meeting.

President Jim encouraged all to join the club Yahoo reflector, K9RN, visit the club website at mcwa.org, and join the MCWA Facebook page to keep up on club news and information. Jerry N9AVY is the newsletter editor, and if you are not receiving the newsletter via email, you should notify Jerry. Dave NT9E keeps the Facebook page up to date while Ken KB9I is the webmaster.

The minutes from the July meeting were published for review on the club website by Secretary Roger, KF9D. Dave, NT9E moved to accept the minutes as published, seconded by John, KA9CAR. The motion passed by voice vote with one abstaining.

Treasurer Joe, N9OK was absent but passed along a report of $4468.81 in the club treasury. Paid membership for 2016 is now up to 92 plus 1 associate member. Kent, K9KMD made a motion to accept the treasurer’s report, seconded by Joe, K9DMV. The motion passed by voice vote.

Under the topic of announcements, Club Librarian Jeff, KC9WSJ brought several older license manuals to the meeting to give away to anyone interested, along with several publications to lend out.

It was noted that Marty, W9MLP is in an assisted living home in Crystal Lake. Several members have made visits and have brought radio magazines to him.

Ken, KB9I announced that the 145.41 Mhz repeater now operates in Moto P25 digital mode as well as analog FM. Ken will also arrange to get members a club name badge for the cost of $10.

A VE testing session will be held August 16th at 7 pm at the Free Methodist Church in Woodstock. Steve, KB9OLD is the contact person.

Jim reminded the group that the W9DXCC Convention will be held on Sept. 17, 2016 at the Hyatt Woodfield in Schaumburg, preceded on the 16th by DX and Contest University sessions. See W9DXCC.com for further details.

Further on the topic of announcements, several contests and operating events of interest were discussed including the NAQP, 50 Mhz sprint, and UHF contest (AugustUHF.org). See the newsletter and QST for further details.

John, K9JK and Mike, WB8BZK recently returned from the Central States VHF 50th Conference in Rochester, Mn. They reported several interesting seminars, exhibits and demos, including portable moonbounce.

Dave, K9RUF advised the group that the Dayton Hamvention will relocate this year to the Greene County Fairgrounds in Xenia, Ohio. Dave also mentioned the closing of the Amateur Electronics Stores (AES), with the Milwaukee location planned to reopen as a Ham Radio Outlet store.

Dave, NT9E informed club members that a ham breakfast has been scheduled at Kim and Patties Restaurant in McHenry on August 6th at 8:30 am. All are invited to attend.

Under the topic of New Business, Gary, KD9FML had previously suggested on the reflector that it might be of interest for members to have hats, shirts, or jackets containing the club logo. Gary had checked into a shop in Huntley called “Just for You Embroidery” that could supply embroidered articles, and had a copy of their catalog available. Gary will set up a digital copy of the club logo with them for those members interested.

John, KA9CAR had checked on pricing with a local screen-printing shop for club logo attire and will show a sample of their product at the next meeting.

President Jim reminded the membership that the September meeting will be election of officers. Dave, KA9OZP chairs the nominating committee with BOD members John, KA9CAR and Jack, W9MU. Anyone interested in running for a club office, should contact KA9OZP. President Jim invited everyone to join the group that meets at the Cottage in Crystal Lake immediately after the club meeting for pizza and camaraderie.

A motion to adjourn the business meeting by John, K9JK and seconded by John, K5JRD was made and approved. The meeting was adjourned at 7:43 pm.

After a short break, Mike, WB8BZK gave a very interesting and informative program on the ARRL’s National Parks on the Air (NPOTA) program, which celebrates 100 years since inception of the National Park Service. Mike is actively chasing the Parks on the Air stations.

Respectfully Submitted, Roger Scott, KF9D, MCWA Secretary