YRARC Board Minutes - June 16, 2015

Meeting held in the Magna Centre. Called to order at 19:06. Chaired by Chris VE3NRT. Board members attending; Chris VE3NRT, Rob VE3RQB, Chris VA3DXZ, Steve VE3UT, David VA3DCY, John VA3JI, Geoff VA3GS. Board members absent: Barry VA3LLT, Eric VE3EB. New board members attending (terms beginning July 1, 2015); Alf VA3BLE, Doug VE3ATP

1. Motion 2015-06-16-01 by John VA3JI to adopt agenda, seconded by Geoff VA3GS. Motion carried.
   
2. Motion 2015-06-16-02 by Geoff VA3GS to adopt May 19, 2015 board meeting minutes as published in the splatter blog at http://yrarc-splatter.blogspot.ca/, seconded by Steve VE3UT. Motion carried.
   
3. New board member orientation (Chris VE3NRT)
   
4. Governance
   
   • Treasurer’s report (John VA3JI)
     
     Balance at May 31 2015 [Available to members by request to Secretary]
     • Income $50.00
       
     • Expenditures $553.31
       
     • Balance as of Jun 16, 2015 [Available to members by request to Secretary]
       
     • Motion 2015-06-16-03 by John VA3JI to accept the treasurer’s report, seconded by Geoff VA3GS. Motion carried.
       
5. Property (Rob VE3RQB)
   
   • The communications trailer was deployed to the Aurora Street Sale. The generator was found to be low on fuel.
     
   • Rob VE3RQB requested that the communications trailer generator fuel tank be topped up prior to return to the Bales Road site for storage.
     
   • Rob will advise those persons authorized to tow the trailer, of this new requirement.
     
   • Motion 2015-06-16-04 by Rob VE3RQB that Carlos VA3CAZ be added to the list of authorized towers for the communications trailer, seconded by Geoff VA3GS. Motion carried.
     
   • Chris VE3NRT will create an email distribution list for the authorized towers, update the Trailer Policy and distribute it to the authorized towers list.
     
   • Motion 2015-06-16-05 by Rob VE3RQB that the club allocates $90.00 for the purchase of 3 parking pad’s which would be used to anchor the tower trailer guys when deployed on pavement or other hard surfaces, seconded by Geoff VA3GS. Motion carried.
     
6. Repeaters (Steve VE3UT)
   
   • 6m diplexer is now tuned to Tx 53.49 MHz with -1 MHz offset for Rx 52.49 MHz with 110dB isolation. There is no PL tone.
     
   • Level of the link radio in Aurora was adjusted
     
   • Reconfiguration of batteries at VE3YRC-VHF site
     
     • The DC power supply feeding the batteries was found to be introducing noise.
       
     • The batteries were isolated so that one battery now feeds the link radio and the remaining battery feeds the VE3YRC-VHF repeater. The power supply DC continues to feed the VE3YRC-VHF repeater battery and a trickle charger was installed and connected to the link radio battery.
       
     • As a result of these changes, the battery backup time for the VE3YRC-VHF repeater is reduced.
       
     • Steve reported that a total of $199.79 has been spent against the $200.00 repeater float.
       
     • Motion 2015-06-16-06 by Geoff VA3GS to increase the repeater float (Motion 2015-03-17-06) from $200.00 to $300.00 to accommodate the purchase of a trickle charger for the link radio battery, seconded by David VA3DCY. Motion carried.
       
7. Events – No report
   
8. Emcomm
   
   • Chris VE3NRT reported that the May 29th York Region 'Back 2 Basic' exercise went well and drew attention to Robert VE3BXG’s report emailed earlier to the board (see attached)
     
   • Steve VE3UT discovered the Thornhill Amateur Radio Club’s 2m antenna discarded on the roof of the MacKenzie Health Centre. Steve suggested we request direction from Emcomm on what to do with the antenna.
     
9. Membership
   
   • Field Day: Motion 2015-06-16-07 by Steve VE3UT that the club allocates $253.12 for the rental of toilets for field day, seconded by Geoff VA3GS. Motion carried.
     
   • Guest speakers;
     
     • Sept 2015 Rocketry / AM Radio
       
     • Oct 2015 - Dr. Delaney
       
     • Nov 2015 – Barry VE3ISX remote stations
       
     • Need suggestions for remaining meetings
       
10. Trillium Goals: Chris VE3NRT reported that at the last Emcomm meeting, they discussed the next phase of infrastructure that the club should consider for a future Trillium grant.
    
11. Other business
    
    • John VA3JI requested that the job of property valuation be handled by the property manager going forward
      
    • John VA3JI reported that the IRLP is unstable with the TX locking on after a power reset. He is looking into options to replace it or repair it.
      
    • Geoff VA3GS responded to a question from Steve VE3UT confirming that he had not yet received a response from WYNSORC.
      
    • Doug VE3ATP confirmed he will tow the tower trailer to the field day site next Tuesday
      
12. Meeting adjourned