MCWA Meeting Minutes of April 5, 2022
President Ralph Iden (WB9ICF) called the April 2022 hybrid meeting (in-person and by Zoom) to order at 7:05 PM. The Pledge of Allegiance followed, led by Sam Haldiman (KC9GPY).
Board members present were Gary Dembski (W9GD), Dean Hettel (WC9C), Ralph Iden (WB9ICF), Gary Kaatz (W9TD), Dan Larson (KD9M) and Mike Metroka (WB8BZK).
A total of 32 members were in attendance and 3 guests; Dawn Hull (KA9ERS), James Hull (W9JGH) and Will Jenkins (KD9PRK).
Approval of Minutes
The meeting minutes from the March 2022 meeting were previously posted to the MCWA website for review. 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 111 full members including 6 family members.
| Opening Balance | $11,235.83 | |
| Deposits | $20.00 | (dues) |
| Expenditures | $0.00- | |
| Interest | $0.10 | |
| Final Balance | $11,255.93 |
Dean reminded the membership to pay their 2022 dues by PayPal, check or cash tonight at the meeting. Those that haven’t yet paid have been dropped from the roster. Hearing no objections, the treasurer’s report was approved.
Announcements
Effective April 19, 2022, the FCC will be a imposing a $35 application fee for new or modified license applications. This includes upgrades and call sign changes including vanity call signs. There will be no charge for administrative updates such as change of name, address or email address. Fees are to be paid directly to the FCC via the CORES FRN Registration system.
Hamfest and Event Update
PAST
QSO Today Virtual Ham Expo, March 12-13, on-line: NT9E and W9TD attended
Jefferson Hamfest, March 30, Jefferson County Fairgrounds Activity Center, Jefferson, WI: K9JK and K9OK attended
UPCOMING
DeKalb Hamfest, May 1, Sandwich Fairgrounds, Sandwich, IL
Dayton Hamvention 2022, May 20-22, 2022, Greene County Fairgrounds & Expo Center, Xenia, OH
Starved Rock Radio Club Hamfest, June 5, Mendota Tri-County Fairgrounds, Mendota, IL
Contest Reports
ARRL International DX Contest (SSB): WB8BZK and KC9GPY participated
Stew Perry Topband Challenge: no reports
Wisconsin QSO Party: WB8BZK participated
BARTG HF RTTY Contest: WB8BZK participated
CQ WW WPX Contest (SSB): WB8BZK participated
Upcoming:
ARRL Rookie Roundup (SSB) – April 10
Ftx DX Contest – April 10
144 MHz Spring Sprint – April 11
220 MHz Spring Sprint – April 19
10-10 International Spring Contest (Digital) – April 24
432 MHz Spring Sprint – April 27
Microwave Spring Sprint – May 7
Indiana QSO Party – May 7-8
Upcoming MCWA Presentations
May 3 Inexpensive QRP Radios
David Cripe (NM0S)
June 7 Working the Pileup
Ron Delpiere-Smith (KD9IPO)
July 5 QRP Showcase & Show-and-Tell
August 2 Propagation and Amateur Radio
Carl Luetzelschwab (K9LA)
September 6 Small Antennas for HF
Jack Hudson (W9MU)
October 4 Youth in Amateur Radio
Anthony Luscre (K8ZT)
November 1 TBD
December 6 TBD
Awards and license upgrades
None reported
Old Business
The Lake County Maker Faire is this Saturday, April 9, from 10AM to 2PM at the College of Lake County PE Center. Our application, “Morse Code: The ‘New’ Old Technology” was approved. We will be demoing the Morse Code Tutor project and making on-the-air FT8 contacts. There will also be a limited number of code practice oscillators given away to interested parties. 30 will be pre-built and 20 will be available as kits. Sam Haldiman (KC9GPY) assembled the 50 3D printed keys.
Dan Larson (KD9M) reported on the 2022 Field Day planning meeting held on March 15. This year Field Day is on June 24-26. We have the Rush Creek campground reserved for Saturday night and all are invited. The plan is to operate CW, SSB and digital with free VHF, GOTA and satellite stations. Dan noted that the rules limit all stations to 100 W PEP. There is a need for both GOTA and food captains as well as operators for SSB/Digital. If you can’t participate in the in-person event, then get on the air individually and report under the McHenry County Wireless Association. The next meeting will be on April 12 at 8 PM using Zoom.
Ralph noted that there have been no volunteers to help organize the picnic. If no one steps forward, we will table the idea until there is more member interest. A suggestion was made to hold the picnic on the Friday of Field Day at Rush Creek. The suggestion was acknowledged, but since Harvard is somewhat further away, a caterer would need to be found that services that area.
New Business
Gary Kaatz (W9TD) motioned to reimburse Ralph for the code practice oscillators. President Ralph Iden (WB9ICF) tabled the motion due to the current technical difficulties.
Wrap up
Tom Pusateri (W9NBG) will be presenting “Lightning and its Aftermath” following the adjournment of tonight’s meeting.
The next regular meeting will be Tuesday, May 3, 2022 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 “QRP Radios” by David Cripe (NM0S).
A motion to adjourn was made by John Kalenowsky (K9JK) and seconded by Ronald Delpiere Smith (KD9IPO). The motion was approved by voice vote and the meeting was adjourned at 8:03 PM.
Prepared by Gary Kaatz (W9TD), MCWA Secretary.