====================== IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT ====================== For the time being, we will be using Zoom for our meetings. The following meeting link is persistent and will be used until we can resume our in-person meetings. The zoom room opens at 7pm, with the club meeting starting at 7:30 pm. Zoom monthly meeting: (2nd Saturday of the month) Web URL, includes meeting ID and passcode: https://zoom.us/j/99863201285?pwd=cWUyQWxrRk81OEcwN1Q0dzF1UTBLUT09 or on your mobile or with the Zoom app directly: Meeting ID: 998 6320 1285 Passcode: 955710 or call in from any phone: (312) 626-6799 (Chicago) (929) 205-6099 (New York) (301) 715-8592 (Germantown) (346) 248-7799 (Houston) (669) 900-6833 (San Jose) (253) 215-8782 (Tacoma) -------------------------- Northeast Iowa Radio Amateur Association (NIRAA/W0MG) Meeting Minutes, Mar 2021 The March gathering of the Northeast Iowa Radio Amateur's Association (NIRAA) was called to order at 7:30 PM, March 13, 2021 on Zoom by Curt Wilson (NK0T). There were 19 in attendance this evening, listed below. MINUTES ------- Adjustments to last month's minutes: a "2020" was changed to "2021" "Jan" changed to "Jane" under Repeater Swap Committee Correction to ending balance for share-draft The motion to grant hams introductory free membership clarified to be fore new hams only, with membership to the end of the current year. Report accepted with 4 adjustment (HAROLD/JAN) TREASURER'S REPORT ------------------ Dave (KD0DK) reports we have 1,090.18 in savings/repeater fund and $1,871.86 (plus $80 in dues and -$22 for stamps) = $1,929.86 in share-draft. Report accepted (N0ZYC/W0ALO) Please contact Dave if you would like to get your dues paid for the year. Our club membership form is also available on our club website at http://www.w0mg.net/ REPEATERS --------- Curt (NK0T): mine's still off the air, haven't had time this month to work on it yet Bill's repeater is still up (DMR) Chuck (W0ALO): all going fine as far as I know. DMR is offline, there's a problem with the internet connection. (need to replace/update the hotspot) Chris's repeater is still working Al (KB0VGG): mine's up COMMITTEES ---------- Repeater Swap Committee (Jane/KE0RKO, John/WB0MAR, Curt/NK0T): (no report) Presentation Committee (Curt/NK0T, John/WB0MAR): Curt (NK0T): I'm continuing to upgrade my 3D router, could give a demo on using it to make printed circuit boards (routing away the copper) Nathan (N0ZYC): there was only one response to the survey, it was forwarded to Curt Dave (K0DV): I have a friend willing ot present on history of AM modulation (he also has videos up on his youtube channel, let me know if you want the link) OLD BUSINESS ------------ Al (KB0VGG): working with Cory (NC0N) to get a "user resources for field day" form together for members to fill out, hope to have something out by next month Financial audit has been completed and results forwarded to the board. (no problems found) Lois (KA0DBC) was continuing to look into non-profit, but isn't here this evening, will discuss next month LOIS WAS LOOING INTO NONPROFFIT BUT IS NOT HERE TONIGHT, WILL DISCUSS THAT NEXT MONTH Mark (N8TWO): we're still waiting for info from ARRL regarding upgrade fees. As of RIGHT NOW they're still holding at $15, but will probably go up an additional $35 when the FCC finally makes their new fees active Tom (AE0TB): were not really sure how the FCC intends to collect the additional fee, doesn't look like it will be going through the ARRL Curt (NK0T): they may simply require people to mail the FCC a check or something like that before they "activate" your callsign. Lots of group discussion about upgrading the field day logging laptops - we'll resume that next month NEW BUSINESS ------------ Al/Nate/Mark (KB0VGG/N0ZYC/N8TWO) will be reviewing field day locations Mark (N8TWO): we have a VE session coming up in 2 weeks, out at the airport in the upstairs conference room. Tom (AE0TB) wa able to get that arranged, we'll also have access to additional space if needed. VE's can part in the employee lot at the airport. Testers should park in short term parking. (there is a fee, $5/day?) Also, General classes are starting on March 24 Curt (NK0T): Gordy Pint (K0TVY) is downsizing, has some radios for sale, including several older solid state 5 band. 1407 Oak Crest Drive in Waterloo. Dave (KD0DK): I'm expecting a bill for the club insurance policy annual renewal. Prior cost was $250-275, the ARRL might be a cheaper alternative. ($200-ish?) Will look into it and get back to us. Taryn (N0TKC): we need to get the current club membership list sent in to the ARRL. Tried recently but it wasn't accepting it. (may not have been using the correct full club name) Will coordinate with Dave (KD0DK) Dave (KD0DK): we're 3 months out from field day, do we want to start planning that now? (group discussion): should we set up a field day committee? do we want to travel somewhere or operate locally? last year's Birdsall Park worked well for many reasons, only downsides were a little soggy in between parking lot and setup area, and all the goose poop. Big Woods Lake on the other hand has cabins. Antique Acres might be nice but they'll probably be asking a steep price. ($200 or so?) Birdsall Park was reserved last year by visiting the CF Rec Center. Will table further discussion for next month. Motion to adjourn AT 8:29 PM (N0ZYC/KB0VGG) No presentation this evening UPCOMING PRESENTATIONS ---------------------- (TBD) REGULAR EVENTS -------------- - ARES net check-in is at 9pm every Sunday night, on 146.94/34 - Iowa Digital Net runs every Sunday night at 4pm, 3.5885 MHz USB / 1500 Hz WF (Olivia 8-500) (note new day and time as of Feb 2020) - DMR checkin 7:30 pm Sunday night on talk group 3119 temporarily suspended: - 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 - W0MG Virtual Breakfast, now meeting every Monday morning 8:45am – 12:45pm https://zoom.us/j/94876565904?pwd=RnlhMzBkMWhCaEkzRUc0YW4yaDMxUT09 or open the Zoom app and join with meeting ID 948 7656 5904 passcode 592204 or dial in by phone, 312-626-6799 (Chicago) VE TESTING AND TRAINING ----------------------- contact Mark (N8TWO) for current information at classes@W0MG.NET UPCOMING HAMFESTS ----------------- (none) OTHER EVENTS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS ------------------------------ (none) W0MG/NIRAA LINKS ---------------- - Club Website: https://www.w0mg.net/ - Membership form: http://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/ MEETING ATTENDANCE ------------------ N0ZYC Nathan Fisher N8TWO Mark Colby KD0WVN Nick Miller N4HRL Harold Lucas KB0VGG Al Jones N0TKC Taryn Colby KE0IWP Janice Fitkin NK0T Curt Wilson K0CQH Dave Knittel K0DV Doug Vernier KE0IWQ James Fitkin KD0DK David Kelly WB0MAR John Humpal AE0TB Tom Bicket W0VJB Vicki Bicket W0ALO Chuck Angel W0SJ Stan Johnson KA0DBC Lois Johnson KF0EGO Don Utley 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 Officers may be contacted over the air or via email: President: Curt Wilson (NK0T) - pres(a)w0mg.net Vice President: Al Jones (KB0VGG) - vp(a)w0mg.net Secretary: Nathan Fisher (N0ZYC) - sec(a)w0mg.net Treasurer: Dave Kelly (KD0DK) - treas(a)w0mg.net Director 2019: Stan Johnson (W0SJ) - dir2(a)w0mg.net Director 2020: Jan Fitkin (KE0IWP) - dir3(a)w0mg.net Director 2021: John Humpal (WB0MAR) - dir1(a)w0mg.net NIRAA meets most months at Windcove (Western Home Communities) apartments at 300 South Main St in Cedar Falls. We are meeting on the 2nd Saturday of the month at 7:30 pm, anyone interested in ham radio is welcome to attend. 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 Our meeting has been temporarily moved to Zoom due to covid-19, see announcement at the top of these minutes for meeting information. 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