BCRO Meeting Minutes

Date: 06-10-2008                                           Location: Roger’s Activity Center

Meeting was called to order at 7:00 PM

 

Treasurers Report

The treasurer’s report was not available.  Jeff K3DEI received the treasurer’s information just before the meeting.  The club tower sections were sold.

 

Previous Meeting Minutes

The minutes from the previous meeting was read by Randy N5CZ and approved by club vote.

 

Field Day 2008

The following items were discussed or decided:

            Advanced Setup: No

            BCRO Club call will be used: KD5DMT

Number of Stations: 2 Alpha (one on 40m and one on 20m) with a GOTA station

Jim KI4WMF volunteered use of his station and call for the GOTA.  He will give a demo of a WinLink2000 setup.

 

Press Releases have been sent to KURM, 5News and Morning News.  The county DEM is to send a PR out to all their contacts soon.

Please bring any spare antennas, wire, coax, tape, chairs etc…

           

Food budget and time to eat was approved. 

We will be doing potluck.  Bring your favorite dish.

 

Other items brought up, but no decisions were made:

                        Logging software?

                        Alternate Power?

 

BCRO Shirts

Jim KI4WMF announced that Price Breaks are available if anyone would like to go in to get some club T-Shirts together.  Email Jim if you would like to do so, or if you want more information. 

 

Tour De Cure

If you would like to volunteer see Buster AD5AM.  If you have not filed out a volunteer form already please contact Buster.  TDC starts 10-11-2008 at 8:00 AM, be ready to be onsite at 7:00 AM.

 

Antenna Party

Mikey N5UWX is needing some help with repairing or replacing an antenna at his QTH this Saturday 06-14-2008 at 1:00 PM.  The address is 807 N. 12th Place in Rogers.  All volunteers are welcome.

 

Hamfest Location 2009

Please be aware we will be looking for a new location for the 2009 Hamfest.  If you have any suggestions please let one of the club officers know.  All ideas are welcome.

 

Meeting Location for 2009

If you have any suggestions for a new meeting location for 2009 please let one of the officers know.  We have Rogers Public Library until the end of the year and we have secured Village Insurance in Bella Vista, but if there is a more central location that we can use for everyone please let us know.

 

Next meeting will be 07-08-2008 at 7:00 PM at the Rogers Public Library.

 

Meeting adjourned at 8:00 PM

 

Date: 05-13-2008                                           Location: Roger’s Activity Center

Meeting was called to order at 7:00 PM

 

Treasurers Report

The treasurer’s report wasn’t available. 

 

Previous Meeting Minutes

Minutes from the previous meeting was read by Randy KE5JVH and approved by club vote.

 

New Treasurer

Jay announced that Glenn Kilpatrick WB5L will be taking a job in Tenn. and has resigned his position as treasurer with our club.  We took nominations for a new treasurer.  Jeff Cater K3DEI volunteered to take this position.  The club voted and approved.

 

Hamfest 2008 Update

Jay thanked everyone who worked and attended the hamfest.  We saw a good improvement this year over 2007.  Sold all but one table.  Approx. 130 people came through the door, our goal was 125.  We had some good media attention, 5News and KURM Radio.  We were under our $700 budget, and made a profit of approx. $700.  We are one of the only hamfest in the area that is growing.

 

Jay was nominated and approved for the 2009 hamfest chairman.  We need to have volunteers for the 2009 hamfest. 

 

Preparedness Fair

Good attendance, approx 4000 people.  Brad mentioned there were several contacts made.  He has received calls from this, and has been asked to speak at a local Bella Vista Public Television station.  It was mentioned that the Bella Vista guys might like to help with this.

 

Field Day Update

Phillis KD5WKE was nominated and approved as the menu chairman.

Buster requested approval to bring his camper.  Brad to follow up to make sure it’s okay.

 

Website Renewal

The fee of $53.35 for another year was paid.  Randy KE5JVH request reimbursement for this amount.  The club voted and approved.

 

Tour De Cure Event

Buster AD5AM announced that TDC this year will be Saturday October 11th.  Anyone wanting to help for this please contact him, a form will need to be filled out and turned in.  It will start in the Pinnacle Shopped area.

 

Weather Net Critique

We had a discussion on the recent weather nets for our area.

            Spotters versus chasers; do not endanger yourself

            Positioning; typically SE side of a storm provides best viewing

Terminology; don’t say something that may not be true or that you have found someone who has been killed.

 

Net Control folks made a few comments; Don’t leave without checking out, all traffic must go through net control, listen and try not to double; when you can’t be heard through the repeater and are asked to up power or move for better position please do so.  Don’t keep trying to hit the repeater and causing wasted time.  Keep all communication short and sweet.

            Nets are run on 145.290

 

Keep Tulsa Weather updated either by radio 442.850, or phone 800-722-2778

New 2m/440 radio in the EOC

EOC is going to start having a storm watch parties in the EOC.  Trying to be more proactive.

Only report what is required: dime size hail or bigger, 60 mph wind or greater, flooding, etc..

 

Need to improve on safety checks

When leaving or moving to another area letting the net control know

Check out: http://SpotterNetwork.org

Radar images at EOC are at least 6 minutes old.  Net control operators need to take this into account and try to judge the storm movements.

 

The EOC needs at least two net controls.  One talking with local spotters, and another monitoring and talking to Tulsa Weather.

Feel free to start a weather net if you see the need under the ARES program, anyone can do this.   

Using a secondary frequency for close proximity chatter 146.520MHz.

Also double check before calling a report in, if not sure ask for help in spotting.

 

Meeting adjourned at 8:05 PM

 

Next meeting June 10th 7:00 PM at the Rogers Activity Center.

 

 

Date: 04-08-2008                                           Location: Roger’s Activity Center

Meeting was called to order at 7:00 PM

 

Treasurers Report

The treasurer’s report was read by Glenn WB5L and approved by club vote. 

 

Previous Meeting Minutes

Minutes from the previous meeting was read by Randy KE5JVH and approved by club vote.

 

Elmer Group

Jay explained further what he had in mind.  Extras and General to be available to help all the new techs we have.  Glenn has the contact information of all the new techs.  Several options were discussed:

 

            Having a Saturday meeting set up at the EOC for a hands on.

            After the Tech/Gen classes set up a time for some specialized training

 

Inviting everyone to Field Day and spend some time with them.  We should mail out invitations to our Field Day location.  We voted on this item and it passed a club vote.

 

Fox Hunting

Tabled until after Field Day

 

Field Day

Brad asked for more details on what we would want for Field Day.  Tabled until the next meeting.

 

            Number of Stations

            Radios and antennas to use

Modes to operate with

            Food

 

NWA Preparedness Fair

Volunteers are needed to man a table, and help give a demo.  Jim KI4WMF volunteered.

 

Blackjack Enduro

Buster was unable to be at the meeting, but he asked Brad to thank everyone that was able to help with the event.  The list of people who helped are: Buster AD5AM, Linda KD5ANL, Roger WA5EVW, Shirley KC5RDU, Van W5VAN, Louie N5SQV, Rick KD5OHQ,  and Randy KE5JVH

 

Buster is in the hospital.  Visitors are welcome.  He is at the NW Medical in Bentonville Room 1338.  Phone number to his room is 553-1338.  Betty is to have some flowers sent to him on behalf of the club.

 

The Digipeater and few radios on Mt. Whitey are down due to a lightening strike.  Mikey volunteered to donate his TNC.

 

Hamfest Update

Jay discussed the proposed budget for the hamfest per the hamfest committee’s recommendations.  We discussed the vendors, prizes, forums and the budget.     

 

Meeting adjourned at 8:15 PM

 

 

Date: 03-11-2008                                           Location: Centerton Fire Department

Meeting was called to order at 7:00 PM

 

Treasurers Report

The treasurer’s report was read by Glenn WB5L and approved by club vote. 

 

Previous Meeting Minutes

Minutes from the previous meeting was read by Randy KE5JVH and approved by club vote.

 

Tech Class Update

Glenn announced the results of the tech class.  Thanks Glenn for putting the class on.

 

Field Day 2008

Field Day is June 28th and 29th this year.  The club voted to use the Mobile Command Vehicle and park it in the Bentonville City Square.

 

Meeting Location

Jay KCØCNB announced the next three monthly meetings will be at the Roger’s Activity Center at 7:00 PM.  We will be back at the Roger’s Public Library in July.   The club voted and approved this action.

 

Elmer Group

Jay KCØCNB mentioned having an Elmer group for all the new people.

 

Events

Buster AD5AM mentioned his upcoming events:

            Blackjack Enduro March 30th

            Ozark Challenage April 5th and 6th

 

Presentation

We toured the Mobile Command Vehicle.

 

Meeting adjourned at 8:00 PM

 

 

Date: 02-12-2008                                                       Location: Roger's Public Library

Meeting was called to order at 7:05 PM

 

Treasurers Report

The treasurer’s report was read by Glenn WB5L and approved by club vote. 

 

Previous Meeting Minutes

Minutes from the previous meeting was read by Randy KE5JVH and approved by club vote.

 

Hamfest Committee

Update was given by Jay KCØCNB

Our planned Forum speakers are booked.  Still working on vendors.

 

Website Update

Update was given by Randy KE5JVH

January and start of February has been extremely active

 

Events

Buster AD5AM thanked everyone who helped work the White Rock Classic

Volunteers are still needed for the Blackjack Enduro Races

Ozark Challenge has changed to be a five day event.  We will only operate the event on Saturday April 5th and Sunday the 6th

 

Tech Class Update

Glenn WB5L updated everyone on the ongoing Tech Class.  Nine people have been attending the class. 

 

Arkansas ARRL Supersession Update

Shirley KC5RDU mentioned that the St Mary’s hospital has five new hams from the Arkansas ARRL Supersession classes.  Her and Roger spent a couple of hours at the hospital showing them how to use the radio they have.

 

 

NWA Preparedness Fair:

This year the NWA Preparedness Fair is on the same day as our hamfest.  Brad suggested we still make a presence at this event, but we might have to man the booth in shifts to allow everyone some time at the hamfest. 

 

Next Club Meeting - March 11th:

Next month we will meet at the Centerton Fire Dept to go through and learn how to operate the radios with the Mobile Command Vehicle

 

Membership Drive:

Do we want to try to have one?  If so; when is a good time, what do we want to do and how should we do it?  How do we get the members we have to attend more meetings, more often?  Displays, Info Tables, Door prizes, etc?  Tabled for later.

 

Field Day 2008:

Possibly use the Mobile Command Vehicle?  If so, where do we want to operate from?  Tabled for later.

 

Foxhunts:

When and where?  When it gets warmer.  Tabled for later.

 

New Repeater:

Jim KI4WMF volunteered the use of a 70 foot tower in the Maysville area that could be used as a repeater site for the northwest part of the county.  He would house the equipment in his basement which is weather controlled.  Tabled for later.

 

145.290 Repeater:

Our current repeater lost power again for a period of time last Monday on Feb 04, and the backup generator failed to start.  Do we want to move to a new location?  If so; where?  Tabled for later.

 

Meeting adjourned at 8:15 PM

 

 

Date: 01-08-2008                                                       Location: Roger's Public Library

Meeting was called to order at 7:00 PM

 

Introductions

 

2008 Dues were collected

 

Treasurers Report:

Betty read the treasurers report and it was approved.  We want to thank Betty for her ten years of service to the BCRO club.

 

Club Call needs to be renewed before March.

 

The club PO Box is in Pea Ridge.  The club approved to let the club officers decide whether to move the PO Box or not.

 

Minutes from Last Meeting:

Since last meeting was an Christmas eating meeting and all business postponed until January Meeting there were no minutes from the last meeting.

 

Nominations for 2008 club officers were taken

            President: Brad KJ5YD

            Vice Pres: Jay KCØCNB

            Secretary: Randy KE5JVH

            Treasurer:  Glenn WB5L

All nominees where voted on and approved by the club membership

 

Announcements - Buster AD5AM

            Volunteers needed for the White Rock Classic 25/50K Run on Feb 2nd

            Volunteers needed for the Blackjack Enduro on March 30th

            Ozark Challenge is coming up sometime in April

 

            Contact Buster or check the BCRO website for more information.

 

Announcement - Randy KE5JVH

            Skywarn Spotter Training is coming up:

                        Washington County Jan 14 at U of A Engineering Bldg.

                        Benton County Bentonville Feb 26 Location TBD

                        Benton County Siloam Springs Feb 28 Siloam Comm. Bldg.

 

                        Check the BCRO website for more information.

 

            Discussion of our EOC response to the storm of Jan 7th - Brad KJ5YD

                        More training is needed

                        More practice calling weather nets

                        Storm track reading needs to improve

                        Positioning of spotters is important

                        Wording of announcements is important

 

ARRL Supersession Classes - Jay KCØCNB

Jay wasn’t sure why the local hospitals didn’t want to hold classes here, but he has their names and is going to try to contact them for more information.

                       

 

Hamfest Update - Jay KCØCNB

A committee meeting will be scheduled soon

 

VE Testing - Jay KCØCNB

Next testing was announced for Jan. 26th at 3:00 PM at the Bentonville Public Library.

 

Tech Class - Glenn WB5L

Still on schedule.  It was mentioned to try to contact NTI, Scouting Groups, and NTI for more possible attendees.

                       

Meeting adjourned at 8:15 PM