President’s Report
Hello, and welcome to Tornado Season! Five years ago this month a tornado hit Chillicothe, IL. It is time to be Weather Aware. The National Weather Service has several online classes coming up for those interested in becoming weather spotters. If you’re interested in weather spotting, or have further questions, join the Peoria County ARES Team headed by Rich Holtman – KD9ANU.
With the weather becoming warmer soon, the hope is to get out into the field more. The plan is to move our meetings outside to be able to enjoy our surroundings. Does anyone have suggestions for locations? Bradley Park? Red Cross parking lot? I feel if we get out into the public eye more, we might just grow interest and our club.
I still need to contact a couple of surrounding clubs to see if there is any interest in joint projects. That being said, planning is in the works to have a Fox Hunt in the summer. If you know anyone who is interested in joining us, please inform them that more information will be coming.
Also, as a reminder, our Starved Rock POTA expedition is coming up! Mark your calendars for May 6-8th, 2022. I am really getting excited about this trip. I have already started getting stuff together. The hope is to have a grill set up for all to use. Please bring what you want to grill. Hope to see you there!
If anyone has any information about public/private events that are coming up and may need communications support, please contact Justin Flick N9WX at n9wx.ares@gmail.com
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Meeting Minutes: Board of Directors
7:07 pm call to order
Minutes from last board of directors meeting were approved unanimously.
Justin: Glad we had good turnout for Winter Field Day. Very glad Bradley radio club came by to help out. We’ve invited them to join us for events throughout the year. Connor made 35 CW QSOs in a short amount of time…. doubled our contacts! 92 total.
Lift rental really helped. Put another 20m antenna up on Sunday. Rob said W9UVI didn’t appear on spot clusters… but Field Day rules say we’re not supposed to spot.
Nothing new from repeater committee. Justin talked to Bill about Midwest repeater situation… he’s still up in the air about buying the antenna and feed line from us. Unless we can find someone to take it or buy it, we’ll need to take it down. Will check back in March.
Scott says that riggers at the Civic Center might be able to do it for less money. But need to make sure that they’re licensed and insured for such work. Antenna is up 120 feet. Bill did say he has a guy who does tower work for him.
Have not done anything with the .85 repeater at the fire station yet. Still need Matt and Tom to set up WIRES-X. Internet is set up, but uncertain about configuration.
Super Fest meeting update: Deb says we got an invitation from the ARRL to host the Central division convention at Super Fest this year. Deb suggests saying no, but instead tell them we’ll do it in 2023 at Three Sisters Park. Need to confirm with the park if we need to give them money now for our reservation. ARRL will do advertising for us for three states if we host.
This year, no big speaker – Scott will do satellite demo, Jerod/Nick/Tim? will hopefully do DMR demo. All in-house for Super Fest this year.
Treasurer report from John:
$235.25 in savings
$8,392.46 in money market
$2,773.89 checking (includes monthly withdrawal for Noiz Communications for internet at repeater site)
$330 for Morton rentals for Field Day lift
$212 for P.O. Box
two deposits from Amazon marketplace $156.70, $10.86 (returning of solar panel and connectors for trailer)
Deb will pay $113 for her share of the lift.
10 payments in January, 1 in February via PayPal for member dues
$443.30 in PayPal since December
Unfinished business:
Scott will make a couple of extra sets of keys for the trailer hitch.
Still haven’t replaced tires on the trailer. Rethinking the idea of the trailer… moving away from idea of a portable communication center. Will still be moving it around events, so still need tires (and possibly also exterior lights.)
New business:
For upcoming POTA camping trip, reserving a shelter is an extra $50, so will just plan to use someone’s camping site (so far have 033 and 032 reserved.)
Checkin is 3 p.m. Saturday, checkout 3 p.m. Sunday.
Up to four people and two vehicles for site.
Old boy scout cabins are close by with dog friendly cabins that are cheaper than Starved Rock. (Kishauwau)
It’s also Mother’s Day weekend!
Deb needs headshots of new club officers.
Will also put up more details on POTA event on website.
Meeting Minutes: Membership
7:06pm: meeting commences.
SuperFest meeting on Feb. 24th at 7 p.m. For those with ideas or can’t make it, email Deb.
Minutes published in Band Bits from last club meeting approved by membership.
Treasury report from Justin, N9WX:$235.36 savings$2,773.89 in checking$8,392.46 in money marketPayPal has almost $600 in itScott moves to present it, Jim Polson seconds. Membership approves.
Scott Tranchitella, K9XJT did a presentation on EchoLink.
Unsure why EchoLink not active on our repeater… but Scott giving presentation on how to use it with N9NWI-R as stand-in. Matt says that he needs to install an adapter at the repeater site, then W9UVI will be up.
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Peoria County ARES
Note time change for the ARES Net, no longer at 8:00 PM, going forward to be at 7:00 PM.
Mar 2, ARES Net @ 7:00 PM CST on the 075 repeater
Mar 9, ARES Net @ 7:00 PM CST on the 075 repeater
Mar 16, ARES On-line Conference @ 7:00 PM CST (Watch your email for Zoom conference info)
Call or email Rich if you are not on the ARES Roster and desire to join the Zoom Conference.
On-Line Conference Agenda includes: ARES Local Parks On The Air, Training, Winlink News, Antenna of the Month, Upcoming RATPAC Sessions, Help Wanted, Volunteer Opportunities, & more!
ARES website: http://www.peoriacountyares.org/
Rich Holtman, KD9ANU, Assistant Emergency Coordinator for Peoria County ARES
email: kd9anu@arrl.net
Winlink: kd9anu@winlink.org
Cell: 309-256-4272
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EchoLink
In late February EchoLink was installed on the W9UVI/o75 repeater. EchoLink allows users to get on the air from any location with internet using a smart phone, tablet or computer.
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SuperFest
The March Superfest meeting will be held on Thursday 24th at 7:00pm, please use the link on the Club meeting page to join.
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February Net Logs
2/6
W9JDP KD9HZZ N9SJZ NM0O W8NWG K9TNT KD9JXR KD9IVV KD9PXZ K9RCS K9FIT KD9RYH N9GUE K9XJT KD9STL WF9E KD9ANU KB9TNZ N9NDF KD8SZZ KB9ATO K9UQF W9WTF WW9DLM KD9NYI KD9IBC W9SEB W9WGN Submitted by KD9DBQ 73
2/13
KD9IVV N9NDF W9JDP K9XJT N9GUE W8NWG KD9PXZ KB9ATO K9FIT KD9JXR KD9QQU KD9ERS WF9E WW9DLM KD9STL K9TNT KD9LSV Submitted by KD9DBQ 73
2/20
W9JDP K9TNT KD9PXZ W9WGN KB9ATO N9NDF W8NWG KD9JXR NM0O N9WFT K9FIT KD9IVV KD9AER KD9QQU WW9DLM N9GUE KD9ANU WD9EGV K9RCS W9SEB NP2WJ KD9LSV N9WX KD9NYE K9UQF KD9SZZ KD9IBC WF9E KD9RYH KT9TB KD9SPJ KD9STL K9XJT WD9EB KD9ERS Submitted by KD9DBQ 73
2/27
W9WGN N9GUE KD9ERS KD9ANU KD9SZZ KD9IBC K9HJZ K9TNT W9JDP KD9QQU KD9JXR NM0O KD9PXZ KD9IVV W8NWG KD9AER K9XJT KD9NYE KD9UIM KD9RYH W9SEB N9NDF KB9ATO K9UQF NA9LE K9CEW WD9EGV KD9NYI WW9DLM K9FIT N9WFT Submitted by KD9DBQ 73
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March Club Events
March 3 – 7:00 pm: Board of Directors Meeting via Zoom.
March 10 – 7:00 p.m.: Club Meeting via Zoom – openSPOT3 demonstration. openSPOT3 is a battery powered, portable, stand alone digital radio internet gateway (hotspot) designed mainly for amateur radio. Zoom login information available here.
March 31 – Superfest Meeting via ZOOM