2007 November Meeting Minutes

The club has a new toy! Early this week, a new (to us) Icom 736 HF radio was installed in the radio room. Though it was upstaged at the mini-swap by Tom K8TB’s new Elecraft K3, the rig was tested out last Tuesday with excellent results. The desk mic and CW paddle are now connected to this new radio, as is the 6 meter beam antenna. For those who like to work CW, this radio has a much better speed control than the 735. It is likely that the 736 will become our main voice and CW radio, with the 735 being used mostly for digital work.

The following work needs to be done to put the finishing touches on everything:
* The rotor control box needs to be moved over to the other side of the room
* The coax for the 6 meter antenna needs to be re-routed (we will have to cut the PL-259 off and put a new one on)
* An interface for the linear amplifier needs to be wired up
* We need a 1/4″ STEREO plug for our straight key to use it with either of the HF rigs

If anyone wants a nice, older HF radio to play with, our Ten-Tec Triton IV Digital is still available, asking price $200. It is all solid-state, and although it has a mechanical VFO, there is a digital frequency readout. Last I checked, it is sitting under the table in the library. Talk to WD8BWK or KC8KE if you’re interested.

Net control schedule:

* Nov 05: KF8EV
* Nov 12: N8FQ
* Nov 19: KB8QAP
* Nov 26: N8KAL
* Dec 02: K8PVH

Minutes of the October 9, 2007 meeting:

* The meeting was called to order at 7:18 PM. 22 people filled in the sign-in sheet.
* Ernie, W8EL mentioned the upcoming Alzheimers walk and asked for volunteers to cover the event, stating that this activity would be done in the name of the Holland ARC, rather than OCEC. He said that 5 volunteers would be needed.
* The minutes of the September 11, 2007 meeting were approved.
* Jim, KC8KE and Sue, KC8RQS, gave the treasury report: the main account had a balance of $2460.53, and the swap account had a balance of $2437.96.
* Ed, KF8EV reported that 8 people were participating in the Extra license class, with one more possible.
* John, WD8BWK said that there were 48 tables left for the swap, and asked for volunteers to help out during the event.
* Chuck, W8GCW mentioned several possible venues for the upcoming banquet. The club settled on the MNM Mongolian Buffet. The price was set at $11 per seat, which would include tax, tip and entertainment.
* It was reported that the club was given an Icom IC-736 HF rig in need of repair. A motion was passed to have the radio repaired. The club’s Ten-Tec HF rig will be offered for sale to offset the expense of doing so.
* A break began at 7:50 PM, during which 50/50 tickets were sold.
* The 50/50 drawing began at 8:10 PM. The $8 jackpot was won by Sue, KC8RQS. Sealed lead acid batteries were won by John, WD8BWK, Kim, N8KAL and Jim, KC8KE.
* Rich Brand brought up the need for more trained weather spotters in Ottawa county, and stated that he would offer a seminar next spring, in addition to the usual Skywarn training.
* Chuck, W8GCW played a video of a presentation by Joel Harrison, W5ZN, president of the ARRL.
* Jim, KC8KE stated that nominations are being accepted for the Ham of the Year award. Nominations should be sent to kc8ke@arrl.net
* The meeting was adjourned at 8:54 PM, and the building was secured at approximately 9:30 PM.

Note that I will not be at the banquet, so someone else is going to need to take down the minutes of whatever transpires there.

Agenda for November 13, 2007 meeting (that is, the banquet):
* Introductions
* General announcements
* Treasurer’s report
* Call for approval of, or corrections to, the minutes of the October 9 meeting
* Final swap report
* Education committee report
* IRLP/EchoLink status
* Any other old business
* New business
* Adjournment of business and commencement of eating and entertainment

-Joe, N8FQ

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