Minutes - YRARC Board of Directors Meeting 2015-12-15

Meeting held in the Magna Centre, multi purpose room 1.
Called to Order at 19:00 by Chris VE3NRT

Board members attending: Chris VE3NRT, Steve VE3UT, John VA3JI, Geoff VA3GS, Eric VE3EB, Barry VA3LLT, David VA3DCY, Rob VE3RQB, Doug VE3ATP and Alf VA3BLE.
Others attending: none

1. Agenda: Chris VE3NRT. Agenda adopted without changes.
   
2. Minutes: David VA3DCY. Moved by Steve VE3UT, seconded by Barry VA3LLT to accept the minutes of the 2015/10/20 BoD meeting. Noted by Alf VA3BLE that item 7b Membership, should be changed to read “60 voting members and 64 paid members” (not 64 paid members). Amendment moved by Rob VE3RQB, seconded by Eric VE3EB. Carried
   
3. Treasurer's Report: John VA3JI.
   
   • Opening balance 2015/12/01
     
   • Income: Refund Markham Fair $502.51 (Hamfest overpayment)
     
   • Expenditures: Hamfest facilities $4,901.35
     
   • Food for Dec. meeting $209.82
     
   • Trailer maintenance: $28.28
     
   • Balance 2015/10/20 [Available to club members on request to secretary]
     
   • Moved by John VA3JI seconded by Eric VE3EB to adopt the treasurer's report. Carried.
     
4. Web site: Chris VE3NRT reported that the club web site has been hacked due to a Joomla problem and has been temporarily shut down.
   
5. Repeaters: Steve VE3UT.
   
   • Note that VE3YRK has failed (today). Steve will investigate.
     
   • Steve proposed that we purchase two Low Loss PWRGates at $49.95 US each for the repeaters at Bloomington and Richmond Hill.
     
   • Motion 2015-12-15-5 moved by Steve VE3UT, seconded by Barry VA3LLT that we allocate $200 for the purchase of two Low Loss PWRGates to include shipping, exchange, duty and cables. Carried.
     
6. Go Kits: Barry VA3LLT is trying to locate all of the D-STAR go kits and confirm the accuracy of the equipment list. Plans are to recall all kits for the January general meeting. Members will be asked to bring kits in their possession or arrange to have the kits bought to the January meeting.
   
7. EmComm:
   
   • Rob VE3RQB expressed concern that Russell VA3WTR is not a paid member and may be involved with EmComm activities.
     
   • Chris VE3NRT noted that the club bylaws do not allow non-members to operate club equipment.
     
   • Steve VE3UT enquired could non-Canadian amateurs be club members [Ed: Yes - but according to the club by-laws to be a voting member the member must hold a Canadian amateur radio licence]
     
8. Membership: Alf VA3BLE reported on paid memberships to date. We now have 63 voting members and 67 paid members.
   
9. Hamfest: Geoff VA3GS proposed 2016-11-05 as the date for next year's hamfest at the Markham Fair grounds. This is the same date as the Markham Fair's banquet which will be in hall #1, avoiding the problems from this year with 2 events happening at the same time.
   
10. Winter Field Day: Steve VE3UT asked how much interest there was in holding Winter Field Day this coming January – there was little board interest. It was noted that last year's site was noisy (RF, not acoustic) and we had very few contacts. The membership will be asked to comment at the January meeting. It was suggested that we not repeat Winter Field Day until we find a better site. We might possibly try to participate in the Canada Winter Contest in December 2016, perhaps at the Bales Rd location.