Minutes - YRARC Board of Directors, February 17, 2015

Meeting held in the Newmarket Community Centre. Called to order at 19:00. Chaired by Chris VE3NRT. Board members attending; Chris VE3NRT, Rob VE3RQB, Chris VA3DXZ, Eric VE3EB, Barry VA3LLT, Steve VE3UT, David VA3DCY, John VA3JI. Board members absent; Geoff VA3GS. Guests attending; Russell VA3WTR

1. Adoption of Jan 21, 2015 board meeting minutes
   
   • Motion 2015-02-17-01 by Barry VA3LLT to adopt Jan 21, 2015 board meeting minutes as published in the splatter blog at http://yrarc-splatter.blogspot.ca/, seconded by Rob VE3RQB. Motion carried.
     
2. Agenda
   
   • Motion 2015-02-17-02 by John VA3JI to adopt agenda, seconded by David VA3DCY. Motion carried
     
3. Governance
   
   • Treasurer’s report – John VA3JI
     
     • Bank balance at January month end is [available to club members on request to club secretary]
       
     • No transaction activity in February
       
4. Property – Rob VE3RQB
   
   • Hilomast– Rob VE3RQB and Barry VA3LLT to discuss a plan to deal with the frozen mast
     
5. Property Insurance – John VA3JI
   
   John VA3JI will report back to the board on the additional cost to cover club property
6. Repeaters
   
   • VE3YRK – Chris VE3NRT
     
     • Move of the registrations from VE3YRK to VE3LSR is under process. An issue has been found which Chris is talking to US Trust about.
       
     • DTMF linking is in place
       
     • Chris VE3NRT is looking into talk groups
       
   • 6m Repeater – Steve VE3UT
     
     • The club has received a donation of a 6m repeater which is targeted to be installed at the Mackenzie Health (Formerly York Central ) hospital with the antenna to be installed on the existing mast.
       
   • VE3YRC-UHF – Steve VE3UT
     
     • Still off the air on the bench at Steve VE3UT’s home. RC-85 controller is malfunctioning. The cost to repair the unit is expensive and it must be shipped to and from the USA for repair.
       
     • Steve VE3UT proposed that the club would be far better served by the purchase of an S-COM 7330 repeater controller (the same unit in operation at VE3YRC-VHF and VE3YRA)
       
     • The S-COM 7330 is a 3 port controller which will support the linking to the VE3YRC-VHF, VE3YRA and the new 6m repeater.
       
     • The cost of the S-COM 7330 is $499.00 USD plus taxes and shipping.
       
     • Motion 2015-02-17-03 by Steve VE3UT that subject to approval by the club, the board allocate $600.00 for the purchase of the S-COM 7330 to replace the faulty RC85, seconded by Eric VE3EB.
       
     • John VA3JI asked if there was a computer based solution available that could be used rather than dedicated hardware. Chris VE3NRT is aware of asterisk based systems but these require internet access
       
     • Eric VE3EB indicated that he felt it was a good idea to purchase the same controller used at other YRARC repeater sites
       
     • Motion carried
       
7. Events and Public Service – Steve VE3UT
   
   • Winter Field Day
     
     • The summer field day generator would not start. The unit should be started periodically
       
     • Event came in under budget. A surplus of $52.80 has been returned to the club treasurer
       
   • Summer Field Day
     
     • Planning is in the preliminary stages
       
     • There was a short discussion concerning whether or not the club should stick with a similar approach as last year. Steve VE3UT is open to other ideas.
       
8. Membership
   
   • Motion 2015-02-17-04 by John VA3JI to enter into contract with the Markham Fairgrounds for the 2015 Hamfest Oct 31st seconded by Barry VA3LLT. Motion carried.
     
   • Presentations for upcoming meetings
     
     • March: Antenna Patterns
       
     • April: Contest Club
       
     • May: Dr. Paul Delaney
       
   • Call for Harvey Bell Award nominations to take place at the next general meeting
     
9. Other Business
   
   • EMCOMM – Russell VA3WTR
     
     • Ambulance proposal is targeted to be ready for review by the board in April. Terry VE3ODM is running with this and is using operating data from Red Cross and to build a proposal that will be reviewed by EMCOMM and then sent to the board for review
       
     • YRP has amateur radio repeater in their command vehicle and would like assistance from the club in fitting their new trailer with an amateur repeater
       
     • The EMCOMM frequency list is being updated
       
     • The board requested a copy of the parking agreement that is sitting with York EMS. Russell VA3WTR will send a copy of the document to the board.
       
   • VE3YRC VHF and UHF repeater call signs – Steve VE3UT
     
     • Steve VE3UT has confirmed that the club does not need separate call signs for the VE3YRC-VHF and UHF repeaters
       
   • There was a short discussion on ideas for a future Trillium grant application
     
10. Motion 2015-02-17-05 by Chris VA3DXZ to adjourn meeting, seconded by John VA3JI. Motion carried. Meeting adjourned at 21:01