Inland Empire Club Meeting Minutes

Inland Empire Radio Amateurs Club

Regular Meeting Minutes

May 8, 2008

The May meeting began at 6:30 PM at Spokane Community College, President Mike Grounds, KE7PG presiding.

Printed copies of April 2008 club financial report were made available to all members present.

A list of all members who have or have not paid their dues for 2008 was projected overhead to determine who is eligible to vote tonight for club officers for the 2008/2009 year. Members whose dues are not yet paid are not eligible to vote.

All persons present were then invited to introduce themselves, giving their name and call sign.

Mike gave a brief ham fest report via an email from ham fest chairman Bryan K7WXO. Bryan reported in his email that Bryan is developing a web site ( www.spokanehamfest.com), which is not yet up and running. Bryan reported that several volunteers have stepped forward from several other clubs. Bryan continues to seek volunteers for ham fest duties. Two clubs have sent in ham fest seed money (NW Tri-State, and Palouse Hills Amateur Radio Club). Bryan reported in his email that the ham fest committee would be meeting soon. To volunteer to help Bryan with the ham fest, reach him at k7wxo@arrl.net. John, W7JRB has had to withdraw as ham fest co-chairman due to duties having greater priority, so a volunteer is needed to step forward to fill the ham fest co-chair position.

In order to keep the club’s website updated with club information in a timely manner, Jack Rohrback, K7AZN, stepped forward to assume those responsibilities. Karl, AK2O, club director and trustee offered to bring Jack up to speed in these matters. Any club member who has any information they wish to be posted on the club web site, email it to any club board member for board approval, and upon approval, it will be forwarded to the webmaster for publication.

Karl, club trustee/technician/director, reported that mountain top sites may not be fully accessible by possibly as late as late June due to record snowfall at those higher elevations. Karl reported that all repeater systems are functioning nominally at this time.

The floor was opened for any last minute nominations for tonight’s club officer elections. No additional nominations were accepted by any member. Nominations were closed, last minute dues payments were accepted, and ballots were prepared.

While ballots were being prepared, Field Day chairman, Mike, KD7GHZ gave a Field Day planning committee report. Mike announced that this year’s Amateur Radio Field Day operations will take place at Valleyford Park, Spokane County, June 28 and 29, and will be attended by four of the five Spokane area ham clubs. Mike reported that we’d be setting up Friday night, June 27 as a 4A station.

Ballots were distributed, voting commenced.

While ballots were being counted, Mike, KE7PG gave a basic demonstration of IRLP using a handheld 2 meter radio and W7KLL’s (Ken) IRLP node on 145.610 Mhz. Karl, AK2O gave a brief description of how the proposed club IRLP system would function.

Ballots were counted and the new officers are:

President: Mike Grounds, KE7PG

Vice President: John Barnett, W7JRB

Secretary: Don Vogel, WA7BAA

Treasurer: David Baird, K7DWB

Director #3: Harold Hepner, AD7QJ 3-year position

Director #2: Mike Carey, KD7GHZ 2-year position

A 50/50 drawing was held, and Jim, K7JJP was the lucky winner.

Kyle, KA7CSP, gave a Bloomsday Run report, stating that once again, the hams were very much appreciated. Kyle reported that the club’s ’34 downtown repeater functioned very well, as usual.

A VE FCC exam results report was given:

technician: 2

general: 1

extra: 1

Meeting adjourned at approximately 7:45 PM.

Minutes respectfully submitted by don, WA7BAA, secretary.