General Membership Meeting Minutes
August 11, 2014

The meeting was called to order at 7:00pm by Tom, K8TB.

Secretary's Report:

	Minutes of the July 2014 meeting were accepted as published on the website.

Treasurer's Report:

	General Fund:	 	$4188.91
	Membership:   		$386.76

	Total:        		$4575.67

	Treasurer's report was accepted as read.
	
Opening Remarks:

	Tom, K8TB: Thanks to the group for help with the Grand Haven Coast Guard Festival.
	 
	Tom, K8TB:  Roger Cox, W8IO is bringing back the Michigan VHF/UHF Society.  There will be an informal meeting at 4pm prior to the “Spark in the Park” event.

	Nick, KD8JBG: Tim Diekema, KD8VUM had a new daughter today.

	Tom, K8TB: The Hudsonville Fire Department and Ottawa County Sheriff’s Department will be hosting an Open House on Tuesday, 8/26.  More information is available at http://bit.ly/1z85K9K.


Upcoming events:

	Programs:

		August:
			
			E.A.T.: The CW Class continues each Monday at 7pm.

		September:
			
			9/8 Monthly Meeting: Bob Heil, K9EID will join us via Skype to give a presentation.  Bob is the founder of Heil Sound (http://www.heilsound.com/), and an innovator in the professional audio and amateur radio fields.  He is also the host of Ham Nation (http://twit.tv/hn), a ham radio-related netcast on the TWiT network. 
			
			E.A.T.: The CW Class continues each Monday at 7pm.	

	ARRL Centennial QSO Party:

		NOTE: Tom, K8TB has posted new info regarding the upcoming Michigan slot (10/15 to 10/22) at http://www.k8tb.org/w1aw.htm. Check there for slot availability.

		From the ARRL Website (http://www.arrl.org/centennial-qso-party):

			"The ARRL Centennial QSO Party is a year-long operating event that celebrates hams making contacts. In the end you will have accumulated points, worked new stations and made new friends all over the world.

			The Centennial QSO Party is made-up of two main activities: (1) W1AW operating portable in each state and most territories; and (2) The Centennial Points Challenge which is the accumulation of points from qualifying contacts made throughout 2014.  To have a score listed online in the Points Challenge competition, logs must be submitted through the  Logbook of the World (LoTW) system.

			W1AW will be on the air from every state and most territories, and it will be easy to work WAS working only W1AW portable operations. This is the first ARRL-sponsored operating event where every member is worth at least one point, so work as many points as you can during 2014! Earn awards based upon points, working all states or working W1AW portable in every state and territory. This is an on-the-air event like no other."
				
		The W1AW/8 contact for Michigan is now Dennis, KT8X.  Michigan's slots begin on 2/19/2014 and 10/15/2014.  The full schedule is available at http://www.arrl.org/files/file/On%20the%20Air/W1AW_2014_sked.pdf
		
	"Spark in the Park": Tom, K8TB

		This event will be held at Douglas Walker Park (https://www.accesskent.com/Parks/Directory/walker.htm) from 5-9pm on Saturday, August 30th.

		Please see http://www.k8tb.org/sitp.htm for more details and a list of exhibits.

	Tom, K8TB will teach a General License class, starting September 24th. The class runs for 8 weeks, with a testing session on the 9th week.  The class will be held at the Grand Rapids Red Cross; the cost is $20.

Old Business:
		
	"Ham in a Day":

		We held another “Ham in a Day” event this past Saturday, August 9th.

		We had 8 students, and one walk-in Extra class upgrade.  All passed.

		Note: a few days after the meeting, the 8 new Technicians received their callsigns:

			Ryan Yonker, KD8ZHT: age 15, from Hudsonville.
			Dan Yonker, KD8ZHU: Ryan's dad, from Hudsonville.
			Syamanta Saikia, KD8ZHW: from Grand Rapids.
			Brian Sterken, KD8ZHV: from Holland.
			Nathan Appel, KD8ZIA: age 11, from Jenison, grandson to Todd, WM8C.
			Robert Broene, KD8ZHZ: from Holland.
			Kaegen Christian, KD8ZHY: age 13, from Conklin, grandson to Dennis, N8CUF and Mary, N8EZL.
			Amanda Musselman, KD8ZHX: from Conklin, Kaegen's mom.

		The next “Ham in a Day” event will be held on December 13th.  Information is available at http://tinyurl.com/harchiad.

	Liability Insurance:

		Tom, K8TB found information about the ARRL Liability Plan.  This plan is also used by the Lowell club; it features $1 million in liability coverage, and covers club meetings and other main events (e.g. Field Day)  The cost of this plan is $200 per year.

		Plan Details are available at http://www.arrl.org/affiliated-club-benefits.

		Motion to purchase.  Motion passed.

	Club Repeater:

		Laryn, K8TVZ: The remote receiver at the Manley Ave. tower is online.

New Business:

	VE Testing (Tom, K8TB):

		We would like to conduct regular VE Testing sessions on the second Saturday of even months at 6pm.  Motion passed.

		Ham in a Day would be held 3 times per year, in April, August, and December at 1pm.

		We currently have 15 Volunteer Examiners; we will ask them to participate 3 times per year.

		Information on how to become a VE can be found at http://bit.ly/1CkyAYS. 

	Dave, WA8RSA: The club’s K8DAA callsign is up for renewal.
		
	Mike, W8DER suggested that we look into scheduling a youth net.

The business meeting was adjourned at 7:54pm, followed by a presentation on APRS by Bryan, KD8LDX. 

Submitted:
Todd Boss, W8YHF
Holland ARC Secretary
secretary@hollandarc.org 

Please contact the Secretary with comments or corrections.