Minutes: YRARC General Meeting - 2016-04-05

Meeting held in the Sharon Temperance Hall. Called to Order at 19:30 by Chris VE3NRT. Total members and guests attending: 37 Guests attending: 3

1. Welcome & Introductions – Chris VE3NRT
   
2. Adoption of Minutes from 2016/02/02 and 2016/03/01 general meetings, moved by Anthony VE3HIS, seconded by Eric VE3EB. Carried
   
3. General Announcements – Chris VE3NRT
   
   • The 6m net continues to operate on Mondays at 20:00 on 50.135 MHz
     
   • Upcoming contests include the Nebraska QSO party on April 16, and the Ontario QSO party on April 17.
     
   • Bernie VE3OTR (a former club member) is now a Silent Key.
     
4. Field Day – Steve VE3UT
   
   • Rick VA3VO has offered to co-chair field day with Steve.
     
   • There will be a meeting (with EmComm) on April 14 at 19:30 at the Newmarket Community Centre, to discuss field day planning, including eliminating interference and station placement.
     
5. Treasurer’s Report – John VA3JI
   
   • Opening Balance 2016/03/01 [Balance available to members on request to Secretary]
     
   • Income:$0.00
     
   • Expenditures: Director and Officers Insurance $649.08
     
   • Flyer Printing: $8.36
     
   • BBQ purchase $281.37. Total Expenditures: -$938.81
     
   • Closing Balance 2016/04/01[Balance available to members on request to Secretary]
     
   • Motion that the treasurer's report be adopted, moved John VA3JI, seconded Rob VE3RQB Carried.
     
6. Public Service Report – Eric VE3EB
   
   • Eric handed out acknowledgement certificates for participation in events during the last year.
     
   • A list of upcoming events can be found at yrarc.org Under the main menu select Calendar
     
   • Current public service events include:
     
     • Saturday, May 14, 2016 (New Event) Cancer Recovery Foundation 5K Run/Walk, Sutton
       
     • Saturday, May 28, 2016 (Rain date Sunday May 29) MADD York-Simcoe Riders Poker Run, Newmarket Town Hall
       
     • Friday June 3, 2016 Mt. Albert Sports Parade
       
     • Saturday June 4, 2016 Mt. Albert 5K Run/Walk
       
     • Sunday, June 5, 2016 Aurora Street Festival, Yonge Street (Murray to Wellington)
       
     • July 29 to August 1, 2016
       
     • Newmarket Jazz Fest (New Location) Ray Twinney Recreation Complex, Eagle Street West
       
7. EmComm Report – Don VE3IXJ. Don will be making a presentation to a Regional Conference of Regional Managers on April 12.
   
8. Repeater Committee Report – Steve VE3UT
   
   • Steve has not been able to contact the operator of a nearby repeater, with regard to possible linking of his repeater with our repeaters.
     
   • There have been some reported APRS issues. The user is known, and the problem appears to be an issue with the radio being used.
     

Guest Speaker – Bob VE3WY: Bob's presentation was in two parts. The first part was a talk with pictures of many of his own antennae after the recent ice storm, which hit his area with more ice than the surrounding areas. The ice storm provided unintentional testing of his antennae, which survived with very little damage. Part two, was a talk of his visit to a VHF Super-station in Texas, owned by Marshall Williams K5OE. The site is located in a rural area, hidden from view by trees, and located on 30 Acres, filled with towers and antennae. There were six different 6m arrays, five 2m arrays, two 222 MHz arrays and four 432 MHz arrays. With this choice of arrays, Marshall does well in contests.