The meeting was called to order at 17:00
The club officers and board members in attendance were:
- NY4I – Tom (President)
- AB4YI – Carol (Vice President)
- W7WMS – Will (Treasurer)
- K2BHS (formerly KF4TYA) – Bruce (Secretary/Newsletter Editor)
- KA4IOX – Paul (Events Coordinator)
- W4CU – Tom (Board Member)
- KR4U – Dave (Club Station W4GAC Trustee)
- KI4UIP – John (Board Member)
- KO4CEE – Alex (Repeater Trustee)
- AAØO – Pat (VE Testing)
Club Treasurer, Will, W7WMS gave the Treasurer’s Report. He reported the club’s environmental report was sent. Further reported that SPARC Fest was a success, bringing in $1250+. Rent will continue to be $600/year, to be paid semi-annually. The CD at Truist Bank is coming due as of 11/27/24. The board decided that it is best to move those monies to the Money Market, thus keeping it liquid.
It will no longer be necessary to have membership approval of various reports (e.g.: Treasurer’s Report), only the meeting minutes will need to be approved by the membership. Further, a motion for meeting adjournment is no longer necessary [Ed: This is simply not required by Roberts Rules of Order — not a modification of any policy].
Club Station W4GAC Trustee – Dave, KR4U reported that one of the beam’s elements has a broken tip and fixing it will be no problem. All the equipment is working fine at this time. He further reported that there is a maximum output of 50 watts on 80-meters.
Repeater Trustee, Alex, KO4CEE reported that the 220 MHz repeater is still down at this time. While the repeater is repaired, it will be only a matter of time before the repeater is back online.
Club Station W4TA Trustee, Carol, AB4YI gave an update on the station’s status
SPARC Gap Newsletter Editor, Bruce, K2BHS (formerly KF4TYA) reported that everything is up to date, and will be working on a “Year in Review – 2024” special edition.
VE Testing, Pat, AAØO, reported one upgrade to General and one new Technician at SPARC Fest on 11/9/24. There is one candidate for Technician scheduled for the 11/19/24 VE Session.
Club Website – Carol, AB4YI, reported that the website is backed up. Zach, KO4WPO will remain as webmaster at this time.
Repeater Maintenance Manager, Dee, N4GD was not present.
Alex, KO4CEE was unanimously voted in as the new Repeater Trustee (WA4AKH), by the Board.
Repeater Trustees need to be updated on an annual basis.
Billy, KN4LUZ will remain Net Manager at this time.
The program for the December 2024 meeting is slated to be “Operating HF Split”, presented by Ryan, AF4O.
Holiday Party – Held on a weeknight in January. Other suggestions included:
• Kristina’s at 14:00 on a Sunday
• Miller’s Ale House as a possible backup venue
The bylaws require an annual auditing of the club’s finances. Committee members will be Dee (N4GD), Bruce (K2BHS) and Paul (KA4IOX).
A review of the body of the club’s bylaws is needed. Committee members are slated to be Carol (AB4YI), Bruce (K2BHS) and Mike (K4HN).
Other Business:
Bruce, K2BHS suggested shirts and trying to get the minimum number of members interested so that new shirts may be ordered.
Outdoor lighting needs to be evaluated for safety purposes. It was mentioned that with it getting darker sooner, the scarcity of outdoor lighting can pose hazards to members and guests.
Carol, AB4YI mentioned that the website is missing the Elmers List at this time.
Dave, KR4U suggested that the station be opened on weekends so that members may come and operate, encourage training where the station’s equipment can be explained and address technical questions (e.g.: radios and antennas). He further stated that volunteers will be needed to come by and staff the station.
Paul, KA4IOX reported that the ARRL Sweepstakes contest went well. He should have the results in a timely fashion. He also mentioned that some antenna work is needed.
Pat, AAØO suggested that the meeting’s duration is shortened.
New Business:
Dave, KR4U was unanimously reappointed as the Club Station Trustee for W4GAC
Carol, AB4YI was unanimously reappointed as the Club Station Trustee for W4TA
The Club Meeting’s format is to be changed back to the original format of the business portion first, then the presentation with the 50/50 being drawn during the break. However, the format can be changed on select occasions.
Tom, W4CU wants the club to make an active effort to get new members in. For instance, welcoming new people to the meetings and talking with them.
Club participation in Winter Field Day (w/ CARS, UPARC (January 25th)). The event is to be held at the Clearwater Training Center on Belcher Rd. in Clearwater. The motion to participate in the Winter Field Day was passed by a majority vote.
Upcoming Meeting Programs:
- February – Homebrew
- March – AAØO will be the presenter, topic to be determined
- April & May are open at this time
- June – Field Day
The board unanimously voted to have the July 2025 Club Meeting held on Friday, July 11, 2025 citing that the first Friday falls on the Independence Day weekend.
The future disposition of the CD’s funds will be discussed at the next club meeting.
The Treasurer will only need to give the total amount of funds that the club has in the Treasurer’s Report. It was further agreed that:
The CD is set to mature on 11/27/24 and to instruct the bank to move those funds to the Money Market account.
Balances will not be available for inspection on the club’s website. This is to prevent any scams and such.
Financial details (e.g.: beginning and ending balances, revenue and expenditures) will be available upon request from members
The club’s logo will be updated on the website. Additionally, the pictures in the website’s photo gallery will be rotated and updated as needed.
Lighting needs improvement. This topic is to be further discussed at the next club meeting. Suggestions that were made include:
• Floodlights
• Solar/battery powered lights
Tom, W4CU has agreed to train people how to raise the tower, when needed.
The board discussed the possibility of station equipment being upgraded such as new radios, microphones, etc.
Also mentioned:
• Least expensive options while having different radios at different positions.
• Look at the fourth position being open to try out/test radios.
The club is a training club as well.
A motion was made that all participants, whether they are seasoned operators or trainees, be recognized on any plaque or certificate that the club may receive. Also, the policy for what constitutes an operator is to be stricken. The motion was passed by a majority vote.
Future Board Meetings are to be held on a Saturday
The Executive Board Meeting was adjourned at 18:25
73’s
Respectfully Submitted,
Bruce H. Solov, K2BHS
Distributed to the attendees for corrections by Tom NY4I