Posted in: Admin, Board Minutes, Minutes

Board Meeting 27-FEB-2021

Date: Saturday-27-Feb-2021   Location: via Zoom   

Directors and Officers Present:  Bruce KO4XL,  Jay S. N2ELG, George WA2NVW, Bonnie KC2JVS, Mike G K8BQ,  Jeff S K4BH, Lou K4LA,  Jerry Z W4BFL, John C N1QFH. Members Present: Rob KC2BFN Art WA8VSJ

Bruce called the meeting to order at 10:09 am local.

The following items were discussed and actions assigned:

OVERVIEW

This was a virtual meeting using Zoom. General BOD business was discussed

Mike Siegel (SK)

     ACTION: Mike and Bruce to put together a certificate and letter conferring BRARA life membership on Elaine Siegel

Previous BOD Minutes

Motion to accept minutes was not seen

Financial Business

    REPORT: Bonnie presented treasurer’s report

    ACTION: Bonnie has a bill for $833.51, will contact agent.  Only one policy, Art remembers having two at one point. Is there an inventory list for insurance?

     ACTION: Bonnie needs to be set up with PNC Bank at Clint Moore

    ACTION: Bruce needs to update Sunbiz with new officers

    COMPLETED: Bruce has downloaded PNC statements and sent to Lou and Ralph.

ACTION: Lou has questions on a couple of expenses to forward to Bonnie

    COMPLETE: Bonnie has been set up as a user on PayPal

    ACTION: John, Bonnie, and Bruce need to get together to create a PayPal button on our website.

Email Tools

REPORT: The club has been grandfathered to allow two seats on MailChimp for our non-paying subscription.  A paid subscription would run $52 a month for 5 seats. We could also look at Constant Contact instead.

ACTION: John and Mike should compare the two and develop a recommendation.

RECOMMENDATION: Continue as is with MailChimp for now.

FACILITY OPENING PLANS AND LOGISTICS

The Shack remains closed. Board regularly reviews the COVID status.

          REPORT: Lou reported that the committee is close to a final draft of recommendations for reopening.

          ACTION: Bruce recommended that the committee look at how we would present this to the club at a general meeting in a way that would be positive.

          ACTION: John.C will examine filter.  He has checked the filter

ACTION: Bruce will pursue HEPA filter when shack opens

ACTION: John.C will rotate antennas, oil cable, spray the weeds. He has been following up with this

2021 WINTER FIELD DAY

Waiting on member submissions

ACTION: Bruce will review entries to determine winners

         ACTION:  Board will need to find someone besides John to take the lead on both FD and WFD going forward. It was suggested that Grant W4KEK or Myles N4EHG be approached about this

 MEMBERSHIP

Mike presented the status of payment and renewal activity.

ACTION: Mike to create a targeted renewal email for those who haven’t renewed yet.

 TRAINING AND TESTING

Grant said that that he could help organize remote testing. It was recommended that he contact Jerry, W4BFL who is the club’s testing lead.

           ACTION: Bruce to propose dates for online classes

ACTION: Jay, Jeff.R, Roger, and Al to define DMR curriculum – On hold

ACTION: Bruce will define logistics for future classes – apparently will be Zoom for now

BOARD ADMINISTRATION

Discussed transition plans for new board, handling keys, and banking. New board needs to discuss role backups.

ACTION: Jeff.S has updated the flyer. Needs some additional material to fill white spaces

ACTION: Mike and Bonnie will need Shack and Gate keys

ACTION: Need to check legacy key inventory. – Information on who should have keys is on the legacy site per John C.

         ACTION: Officer’s and Director’s insurance. Bonnie will contact agent to get pricing

ACTION: Board will continue member good and welfare checks

          ACTION: Mike to draft a letter with the slate of officers for PNC Bank if needed.

PRESENTERS

Looking for a presentation on a stealth antenna.

          April: TBD

EQUIPMENT STATUS (updated)

A committee was created for the next auction. Date will be April 17 at 2pm.  Bruce will be auctioneer, Mike recorder, John C and Jay S will be gatekeepers and go through the stuff in the shack.

ACTION: Auction committee to meet and start planning

ACTION: Jay will continue reviving laptops and desktops

THE SHACK (new items)

         ACTION: George suggested to reactivate camera and DVR to monitor the shack. Jerry Z can check it out.

         ACTION: Jerry to re-key storage room locks and distribute – On hold

ACTION: Board to coordinate re-keying and station training – On hold

ACTION: John.C to install dipole lightning protector. – He has the device but needs to install a copper bar tied to the existing one.

ACTION: Board will change shack door combination – On hold

         ACTION: John C said that he would look through the shed a box at a time to see what is worth keeping and what may be used in the next auction.

         ACTION:  John C says that we need to declutter the VHF room

         ACTION: Need to vacuum out the place – will delay major shack clean up until closer to reopening.

         ACTION: Start thinking about Radiator Grill to be held in Fall 2021

Next BOD Zoom meetings:

    • BOD meeting dates:
      • 10-March-2021 6 pm board business
      • 27-March-2021 10 am board business, meeting planning

New Business:

John C reported that there will be a simplex exercise involving the repeater on March 6.

John C reported the County lock to the shed is hard to open. He let Walt know that it needs to be replaced.

John C reported that the hotspot battery is running hot when connected. Jeff R said that the contract for it had expired. George asked if we’ve looked at any other hotspots such as T-mobile 5G.

John C reported an issue with the database where multiple entries had been posted. He is looking into the cause and cleaned it up in the meantime.

MEMBER SILENT KEY MEMORIAL 

No activity

ACTION: John.C and Bruce will finalize and purchase plaques.

ACTION: Bruce will continue with certificate, ARRL brick, ARRL on hold

ACTION: John.C will collect silent key details and pictures

GROUPS.IO PRESENTATION AND LOGISTICS 

Bruce updated board on status and activity.

ACTION: Bruce will continue to manage groups.io

DMR MICROWAVE PROJECT – No current activity

Board reviewed status and current plans.

ACTION: Art, Lew, and Jerry will relocate dish

ACTION: Jerry will address FAU and repeater IP to shack

ACTION: Bruce will check with Jerry on alternate plans

 REMOTE STATION – No current activity

Reviewed status – no change, is dependent on solid IP service to the shack.

 REPEATER STATUS – No current activity

BOD discussed possibility of packet/winlink node, plans, objectives.

ACTION: Bruce and Lew will  update DMR repeater details

ACTION: Art and Lew will continue site repairs as needed

ACTION: Bruce, Robert.E W1ENG, John to configure packet/winlink

 SATELLITE PROJECT – No current activity

ACTION: Relocate fan dipole antenna that may block the satellite system

1-YEAR MEMBERSHIP – No current activity

ACTION: Bruce will send letter when full services restored

AED UPDATE – No current activity

Discussed next steps and status.

ACTION: Bruce will continue linkage with Life Safety Solutions for AED.

 BADGES – No current activity

ACTION: Bruce will pursue alternate badge suppliers

(check with https://thesignman.com)

PROJECTS – Currently on Hold

  • Conduit outside building. Gap exposing wires, rusty outlets. Replace with outdoor conduit after some get their Covid shots
  • Satellite System
  • Repair Ameritron HF Amplifier
  • Acquire AED for The Shack
  • IP FAU-to-Shack
  • Relocate FAU dish at repeater site
  • Cross connect matrix switch

 OTHER ITEMS Currently on Hold

ACTION: John.C is setting up 6 sessions of WordPress training via Zoom. Bruce, Mike, and Bonnie to attend. Probably will slip to March or April

ACTION: Bruce will continue addressing refrigerator repair when able

Adjourn: Motion by George and seconded by Jeff S  adjourned at 11:00 am and Zoom ended.

Respectfully submitted

Mike Greenfeld K8BQ/ Secretary