Join us (next meeting is Saturday June 8 at 6pm) in person at the Waterloo Airport, or via Discord. Click this invitation link to add our server to your Discord app: https://discord.gg/hSPGhWxtZE Tonight's presentation was by Al (KB0VGG) on Digital Radio Northeast Iowa Radio Amateur Association (NIRAA/W0MG) Meeting Minutes, May 2024 The May gathering of the Northeast Iowa Radio Amateur's Association (NIRAA) was called to order at 6:54 pm May 11, 2024 at the Waterloo Airport by Al (KB0VGG). There were 19 members (16 ARRL) and no guests in attendance (locally and remotely) this evening, listed below. MINUTES ------- Adjustments to last month's minutes: Fixed date range for treasurer's report, and a spelling mistak Report accepted with 2 adjustments ( K0DV / KE0IWQ ) TREASURER'S REPORT ------------------ balances for period: 4/1/2024 - 4/30/2024: $2,705.26 starting balance ---------- -------------------------------------------------- NO CHANGES ---------- -------------------------------------------------- $2,705.26 ending balance checking (share-draft) account: $1,640.19 starting balance ---------- -------------------------------------------------- +$ 80.48 dues +$ 105.00 transfer to checking -$ 105.00 check to ARRL for testing fees ---------- -------------------------------------------------- $1,720.67 ending balance A check for $250 will appear on next month's statement to Grinnele Mutual for club insurance Club information was updated on ARRL's web site. updated arrl club info Report accepted ( N0ZYC / KE0IWP ) Please contact our treasurer Dave (KD0DK) if you would like to get your dues paid for the year. Our club membership form is also available on our club website at https://www.w0mg.net/ REPEATERS --------- Al (KB0VGG): 94 is working well, 444.975 and DMR at Ingawanis are also working well His repeater is working better than expected, considering the trees Chuck's 82 is up and running as well. Curt (NK0T): 224.9 is up, chuck's DMR has been moved South COMMITTEES ---------- Presentation Committee (Curt/NK0T, John/WB0MAR): (no report) OLD BUSINESS ------------ Mark (N8TWO): we participated in the scouts' Spring Camporee last weekend. The scouts enjoyed the morse code and especially getting their hands on a key. Al (KB0VGG): the kids also enjoyed their time with Dave (K0CQH) and Dave (KD0DK), they did a great job showing the kids how code works. Vicki (W0VJB) has cut a check to Paul's Potties for Field Day at the Nelsons, will need reimbursed. Al (KB0VGG): next month's meeting will be focused on our upcoming Field Day at the Nelsons. We still don't have a volunteer to help coordinate the event though. (there were no takers tonight either) Al will be grilling at Field Day. (discussion of food options) Saturday's lunch he will grill up whatever is brought, we have a variety of options to consider for dinner. - bacon wrapped steaks and potato salad? - bacon-wrapped pork medallion? - chicken breast? - pizza ranch? We will need to get a head-count regardless of what's chosen at the next meeting Tom (AE0TB): we might be doing a test session at 2pm Field Day is at the Nelsons, located at 6908 Wagner Road, North of Cedar Falls. Operations is from 1pm Saturday to 1pm Sunday. Arrive early if you can to assist with setup. (we'll start setting up around 10am) Also we will need a crew to assist with tear-down, which typically starts around 11am and runs through to about 2:30pm. Mark (N8TWO): we need to talk with Dick (W0HHF) to see where we're going to be setting up antennas and operating AL (KB0VGG): we also need to circulate a sign-up sheet to reserve time-slots for operators - this needs to be worked out in advance of the event to make good use of the radios. NEW BUSINESS ------------ (none) Motion to adjourn at 7:21 PM ( NK0T / W0SJ ) 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, new director at FEMA, EOC? Contact Al (KB0VGG) if you'd be interested in giving a presentation. Tentative presentation schedule: June 8 : FIELD DAY PREP July 13 : AL (KB0BGG) PRESENTS ON DIGITAL AUG 10 : SEPT 14 : OCT 12 : NOV 9 : ELECTION DINNER DEC 14 : 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 ----------------------- June 22: testing at Field Day Sept 14: testing at the Waterloo airport 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 ---------------------------- June 22: Field Day at Nelsons (6908 Wagner Road, North of Cedar Falls) ANNOUNCEMENTS ------------- (let me know if you have an announcement to make) 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 N0TKC Taryn Colby KF0KDE Dan Zilk NK0T Curtis Wilson N4HRL Harold Lucas WB0MAR John Humpal W3STS Scott West KF0JPR Randy Albright K0DV Doug Vernier W0SJ Stan Johnson N8TWO Mark Colby KF0PDE Frank Bahit KE0IWQ Jim Fitkin KE0IWP Jan Fitkin AE0TB Tom Bicket W0VJB Vicki Bicket KD0DK David Kelly KD0DM David Morrow KB0VGG Al Jones Guests: (none)) 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) dir3(a)w0mg.net Director 2024 John Humpal (WB0MAR) dir1(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