ATTENTION! If you normally take 218 North to the airport, you will need to exit onto Broadway and go East, then turn left on Wagner Road and left again on Airline Highway to read the airport. Join us (next meeting is Saturday October 12 at 6pm) at the Waterloo Airport, or via Discord. Click this invitation link to add our server to your Discord app: https://discord.gg/hSPGhWxtZE Northeast Iowa Radio Amateur Association (NIRAA/W0MG) Meeting Minutes, September 2024 The September gathering of the Northeast Iowa Radio Amateur's Association (NIRAA) was called to order at 6:02 PM September 14, 2024 at the Waterloo Airport by Al (KB0VGG). There were 19 members (17 ARRL) and 1 guest in attendance (locally and remotely) this evening, listed below. This evening's presentation will follow the meeting, due to its potentially long duration. MINUTES ------- Adjustments to last month's minutes: Tom (AE0TB): you're still listing emergency management as "FEMA", it's just "EMA" Jan (KE0IWP): a few minor spelling mistakes Report accepted with 2 adjustments (N0ZYC / K0DV) TREASURER'S REPORT ------------------ activity and balances for period: 8/1/2024 - 8/31/2024: Savings (repeater fund) account: $2,705.26 starting balance ---------- -------------------------------------------------- NO ACTIVITY ---------- -------------------------------------------------- $2,705.26 ending balance checking (share-draft) account: $1,481.15 starting balance ---------- -------------------------------------------------- -$ 45.00 to ARRL for testing fees -$ 35.00 for George Wyth park rental -$ 35.00 for Pfeifer Springs Park in August ---------- -------------------------------------------------- $1,366.15 ending balance upcoming expenses: - about $200 to reimburse Bill (W0GEN) for web site - bill from stripe processing (Bill will pay half of that) - cabin rental at camp Ingawanis for January winter field day Report accepted ( N0ZYC / K0DV ) Dave (KD0DK): we may need to consider a dues increase, there's been a downward trend in the club's bank balance. Al (KB0VGG): we may increase dues back to $25 in the near future Please contact our treasurer Dave (KD0DK) if you would like to get your dues paid for the year. Club dues can be paid online on our club website at https://www.w0mg.net/ REPEATERS --------- Al (KB0VGG): all repeaters are running well, though someone is kerchunking mine late at night (though they may not be aware they are doing it via digital, so their callsign is in their kerchunk) 94 is doing well, as is 444.975 and 82. Not sure about Chuck's other repeaters. Still having issues with trees on mine. Curt (NK0T): 224.9 is doing okay COMMITTEES ---------- Presentation Committee (Curt/NK0T, John/WB0MAR): (no report) OLD BUSINESS ------------ Taryn (N0TKC) has researched venus for the christmas dinner / election. Cedar Falls Family Table: can do a menu or buffet $18.95/head is typical, though you can eat for under $10. They can accomodate gluten-free. Brass Tap: $500 for downstairs or $400 for upstairs. That's the cost, not a deposit. They can do cheaper if we don't have the area exclusively. Add to that about $30/couple, or get a pizza. Nana Rosa's is always an option. It's a long drive for many though, car-pooling is recommended. Pizza cost is around $10-15. Prices are low, service is good. Maple Lanes upstairs rents for $150/hour, and the party room is $35/hour, though that needs to all be on one check. Vote by show of hands, CF Family Restaurant gets almost unanimous support. Vote by show of hands, menu (not buffet) gets almost unanimous support. Taryn will make the reservations. Nana Rosa's will be our backup. Al (KB0VGG) discussed formally adopting Robert's Rules of Order. If interpreted verbosely, they can be pretty rigid for the informal nature of our meetings. (general discussion, no specific agrement reached) Tom (AE0TB): keep in mind the members need to have a copy of the updated bylaws 14 days prior to the meeting where it's voted to approve. We will need to email it, though we could also post it online. Mark (N8TWO) discussed the upcoming Scouts JOTA. We haven't gotten any updates from the scouts yet, beyond what we've already heard. The Civil Air Patrol Group is also interested in attending our event. We might want to put together a flyer. NEW BUSINESS ------------ Taryn (N0TKC) looking at the elections, which director is up? (you are!) Curt (NK0T) is interested in running for the director seat. Dave (KD0DK) will get together a nominating committee. Dave (KD0DK) discussed Stripe fees. Stripe gets 91 cents from $21 in dues online, not much more than a stamp. Taryn (N0TKC): online also offers the option to register for 2 years. Nathan (N0ZYC): maybe we should just remove the mail-in option? Pay online or in-person at a meeting? Tom (AE0TB): we should also consider sending out email reminders to members to renew. Motion to remove collection of dues by postal mail ( AE0TB / N0TKC ) Motion to adjourn at 6:46 PM ( NK0T / KD0DK ) This evening's presentation was by Curt (NK0T), Doug (K0DV), and Dave (KD0DK) on Morse Code UPCOMING PRESENTATIONS ---------------------- presentation ideas: electronics history, radio bug-out bag, alternate power, solar power, spotting electronics scams, mag-loop antennas, broadband blocking filters, Denver/cf robotics club, sodering, new director at FEMA, EOC? Contact Al (KB0VGG) if you'd be interested in giving a presentation. Tentative presentation schedule: OCT 12 : NOV 9 : ELECTION DINNER DEC 14 : JAN 11 : FEB 8 : REGULAR EVENTS -------------- - ARES net check-in is at 9pm every Sunday night, on 146.94/34 - Iowa Digital Net runs every Tuesday night at 7pm, 3.5885 MHz USB / 1500 Hz WF (Olivia 8-500) - Iowa 75 Meter Evening Net runs Mon-Sat at 6:00 pm on 3.970 MHz / LSB Also meets at 12:30 pm on same. - Iowa 160 Meter Net runs Sunday night at 9:30 pm on 1.9745 MHz / LSB - DMR checkin 7:30 pm Sunday night on talk group 3119 - Ham Radio Fellowship / Breakfast every Wednesday morning at 9AM at the Wendy's at Love's Travel Stop in Waterloo. (3301 Greyhound Drive) VE TESTING AND TRAINING ----------------------- contact Mark (N8TWO) for current information at classes@w0mg.net or Al (KB0VGG) on class/test day at 319-243-8819 UPCOMING HAMFESTS AND EVENTS ---------------------------- (let me know) ANNOUNCEMENTS ------------- Randy (KF0JPR) has a pair of HyGain yagi new in box for sale, asking $100 ea Doug (K0DV) has a 6m beam new in box also that's looking for a new home W0MG/NIRAA LINKS ---------------- - Club Website: https://www.w0mg.net/ - Membership form: https://www.w0mg.net/contact/membershipform.pdf - Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pg/waterloo.hams/community/ - Cedar Valley area repeaters list: https://www.w0mg.net/repeaters/ - additional club resources: https://vftp.net/N0ZYC/W0MG/index.html - Amateur Radio Practice Site (tests and code): https://www.aa9pw.com/ - Discord server (current invitation link at top of minutes) ATTENDANCE ---------- Members: N0ZYC Nathan Fisher W0VJB Vicki Bicket AE0TB Tom Bicket K0CQH David Knittel N0TKC Taryn Colby W3STS Scott West AE0QI William Wright N8TWO Mark Colby NK0T Curtis Wilson KF0JPR Randy Albright N4HRL Harold Lucas WB0MAR John Humpal KE0IWP Jan Fitkin KE0IWQ Jim Fitkin KD0DK David Kelly K0DV Doug Vernier KF0NDD Miguel Chavez KB0VGG Al Jones NC0N Cory Hill Guests: KF0PBS Noel Dietz Members wishing to pay club dues (or have paid and are not indicated above) please contact our Treasurer in person at our monthly meeting or by email at treas(a)w0mg.net Members of the board may be contacted over the air or via email: President Al Jones (KB0VGG) pres(a)w0mg.net Vice President David Morrow (KD0DM) vp(a)w0mg.net Secretary Nathan Fisher (N0ZYC) sec(a)w0mg.net Treasurer Dave Kelly (KD0DK) treas(a)w0mg.net Director 2022 Taryn Colby (N0TKC) dir2(a)w0mg.net Director 2023 Jan Fitkin (KE0IWP) dir1(a)w0mg.net Director 2024 John Humpal (WB0MAR) dir3(a)w0mg.net ABOUT ----- NIRAA meets most months on the 2nd Saturday of the month at 6:00 pm, at the Waterloo Airport, in the old restaurant. Parking is available at no cost in the short-term lot. (3 hr free limit) Our primary club repeater is on 146.94 mhz, negative offset, with a PL tone of 136.5 hz, with coverage centered in Black Hawk County. Many members are also monitoring channel 3119 on DMR. Our club website is at https://www.w0mg.net/ and the club's primary email contact is sec(a)w0mg.net You're receiving these meeting minutes because you have given the NIRAA club your email address for minutes and announcements. If you no longer wish to receive these emails, please reply requesting removal from one or both distribution lists. - Nathan Fisher (N0ZYC) Secretary, W0MG