Northeast Iowa Radio Amateur Association (NIRAA/W0MG) Meeting Minutes, July 2018 The July gathering of the Northeast Iowa Radio Amateur's Association (NIRAA) was called to order at 7:32 PM July 14, 2018 by Harold Lucas (N4HRL). There were 12 members (10 ARRL) and no guests in attendance this evening, listed below. MINUTES ------- Adjustments to last month's minutes: setup for field day was on Friday Minutes accepted with adjustments (N0ZYYC/N8TWO) TREASURER'S REPORT ------------------ Dave reports we have $1,881.46 in the general fund plus 210.18 in the repeater savings fund. Dave is also able to download e-statements now from the bank. $22 was spent for the shelter at Lookout Park for the August picnic. motion to approve shelter payment (N0ZYC/N8TWO) REPEATERS --------- Curt (NK0T) reports 220 is "alive and well" Al's (KB0VGG) 220 is functioning Chuck' (W0ALO) 72 and DMR are fine Stan (W0SJ) reports Bill's DMR is back up following repairing a lightning hit COMMITTEES ---------- Field Day 2018 (W0GEN/AE0TB) (no report) NIRAA Swap Meet 2018 (N0ZYC/KZ0MBI/N8TWO) (no report) STEM (W0VJB) (no report) OLD BUSINESS ------------ Club Picnic: discussed times, we'll stick with 5pm to start the gathering. Al Jones (KB0VGG) will bring his grill and will need a burger count, will be grilling burgers and brats Some members may be coming a little early to set up a station for open use during the picnic. Nathan (N0ZYC) will be sending out requests for RSVP so Dave and Al can get an estimate on attendance. Mark (N8TWO) will be adding the event on the club's Facebook page. Motion to approve up to $100 on food and related supplies/expenses (N0ZYC/KB0VGG) Field Day review: We had good results with our stations Encountered a bird on the 146.94, probably related to the gas pumps All in all we got wonderful exposure to the public at this location. Several members talked with multiple members of the public, most of which had NO idea we were going to be there when they came for gas, and were interested in learning about what we were doing there. The parking lot got surprisingly full on Sunday, we were well-placed out at the perimiter. Although we did have some issues with one radio, we did bring a backup so everything went well This year we were logging under the hosting club's call, there was some discussion about if we pair up next year to be logging under W0MG instead. The iWarn group tends to change locations every year, so if we decide to stick with the truckstop next year we won't be pairing up anyway. We were using the iWarn group's license to the logging software, Curt (NK0T) points out we shoud buy our club a license for about $10. Motion approved (NK0T/N0ZYC), Mark (N8TWO) will handle the purchase Xmas Party: Tryn (N0TKC) will have a sign-up sheet for the Christmas party at the September meeting. NEW BUSINESS ------------ Harold (N4HRL) solicited for a volunteer to do a presentation on Digital Communications for the December meeting - there were no interested volunteers at the time. Mark (N8TWO) reminds us JOTA is meeting on the 3rd weekend of October (20-21), he is still looking for volunteers to operate. Dave (K0CQH) will introduce scouts to morse code. We're still looking for ideas for hands-on projects for the scouts, if anyone has any ideas, contact Mark. Al (KB0VGG) has taken custody of the club's cell phone, was wondering if we have a preference for the "leave a message" message. Do your best, we have faith in you! Harold (N4HRL) is interested in seeing more of the upcoming evens listed on the club web page, he's going to contact Tom. Stan (W0SJ) revisited the topic of removal (and where appropriate, disposal) of club equipment currently at the Red Cross. The board discussed the possibility of replacing the FT-897 with a more user-friendly radio that is better suited for use on field day - the iC-7300 we used at field day this year was well-received. The club has (60ft?) f rohn-25 tower that has not been used for years, Colby's offered to purchase it for $180, approved. This still leaves some gear at the Red Cross, we can disuss that later. Meeting adjourned PRESENTATION ------------ Tonight's presentation was by Lee on the new formats for traffic passing (he was resently presenting at Grundy Center) UPCOMING PRESENTATIONS ---------------------- August: There will be no presentation in August as we will be meeting at Lookout Park shelter #1 (at 5pm) for a Potluck picnic September: Tom (AE0TB) will be presenting on ARES, with emphasis on introducing new hams to ARES. October: Dick (N0HHF) will be presenting on CW November: christmas dinner, no presentation REGULAR EVENTS -------------- - ARES net check-in is at 9pm every Sunday night, on 146.94/34 - hams meet informally at 9am every Monday morning at HyVee on Ansborough Ave - hams meet informally at 12pm every Tuesday at Taco Johns on University Ave - Iowa Digital Net runs every Tuesday night at 7pm, 3.5885 MHz USB / 1500 Hz WF (Olivia 8-500) << NOTE! FREQENCY HAS CHANGED EFFECTIVE FEB 2018 >> - DMR checkin 7:30 pm Sunday night on talk group 3119 VE TESTING AND TRAINING ----------------------- - ongoing tech-to-general class usually meets at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints Tuesdays at 6:00 pm contact is Al (KB0VGG) UPCOMING HAMFESTS ----------------- - NIRAA August picnic/potluck, August 11 at 5pm Lookout Park shelter #1 - Peoria Superfest 2018: Sat/Sun Sept 15-16 Exposition Gardens 1601 W. Northmoor Rd. Peoria IL http://www.w9uvi.org/?page_id=2715 - 2018 Radio Expo in Belvidere IL: Sat Sept 22 Boone County Fairgrounds http://www.chicagofmclub.org OTHER EVENTS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS ------------------------------ (none) W0MG/NIRAA LINKS ---------------- - Club Website: http://w0mg.net/ - 2018 membership form: http://www.w0mg.net/contact/membershipform2018.pdf - Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pg/waterloo.hams/community/ - Cedar Valley area repeaters: http://w0mg.net/repeaters/ =============================================================================== This month's meeting attendance: Members: N0ZYC Nathan Fisher N4HRL Harold Lucas K0CQH Dave Knittel W0SJ Stan Johnson KA0DBC Lois Johnson N0TKC Taryn Colby W0ALO Chuck Angel N0CF Chris Conklin KB0VGG Al Jones N8TWO Mark Colby NK0T Curt Wilson KD0DK David Kelly Guests: (none) Members wishing to pay club dues (or have paid and are not indicated above) please contact Dave Knittel. Officers may be contacted over the air or via email: President, Harold Lucas, N4HRL, pres(a)w0mg.net Vice President, Curtis Wilson, NK0T, vp(a)w0mg.net Secretary, Nathan Fisher, N0ZYC, sec(a)w0mg.net Treasurer, Dave Knittel, K0CQH, treas(a)w0mg.net Director 2016, Taryn Colby, N0TKC, dir1(a)w0mg.net Director 2017, Stan Johnson, W0SJ, dir2(a)w0mg.net Director 2018, Dave Kelly, KD0DK, dir3(a)w0mg.net The NIRAA club has changed meeting and location time as of March 2018. Please join us at Windcove (Western Home Communities) apartments at 5300 South Main St in Cedar Falls. We are meeting on the 2nd Saturday of the month at 7:30 pm, please note the change im time. Anyone interested in ham radio is welcome to attend. Our primary club repeater is on 146.94 mhz, negative offset, 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 http://www.w0mg.net/ . Primary email contact is club secretary Nathan at sec(a)w0mg.net You're receiving these meeting minutes because you have given the NIRAA club your email address for minutes or 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