PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
I hope everyone has had a great leap day! Beyond that, we have the weather spotter training class coming up and I hope to see lots of people there. Bring your friends and family! It’s a free training and even if you dont want to become a spotter, it’s a good class to take. If you cant make our training class, there are several around the state and even online. Check the NWS webpage for a complete list. Also, check with your friends and family, make sure they have a weather radio!
- Ben KD9RYH
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MEETING MINUTES
Board of Directors – February 6, 2023
In attendance via Zoom: Adam Gerik (KD9NYE), Ben Knapp (KD9RYH), Jacob Walters (K9LE), Scott (KB9VRW), Rob (KD9DQB), Scott (K9XJT), Justin (N9WX), Tanya Knapp (KD9YPM), Rich Schmitz (K9RCS), Darren (KD9HZZ), Tom (W8NWG), Casey (KC9IH)
7:09 p.m.: meeting is called to order by Ben
Tom moves to approve last month’s meeting minutes, and Rob seconds. All are in favor and they are accepted.
Treasurer’s report from Tanya:
- $338.95 in checking
- $33.88 in savings
- $9,131.00 in money market
- $863.09 paypal
- $379.72 square
- Paid $226 to USPS last month for our post office box
- 27 members have paid since Superfest
Rob makes a motion to accept, and Rich seconds. The report is accepted.
Repeater committee update from Tom:
- Been trying to reach Matt (KD9ERS) for future repeater site discussion
- We want to get WIRES-X digital boxes working at three sites. We have two boxes, but still need a third one.
- We have a small laptop and another desktop to put into use for this effort.
- We’ll be able to reboot/manage from afar after getting everything hooked up. This especially applies to the Glasford site, since we have limited access to the site.
- Tom makes a motion for the board to authorize purchase of a WIRES-X box for about $126 or so, Rich seconds. All are in favor, so we will purchase.
- Tom proposes that we move the 85 repeater to the new proposed repeater site. This would also save us money on buying a set of cans. He still would like to put the 440 repeater equipment to use in the future somewhere.
Superfest update from Darren:
- Ordered two of the flags for the ticket gate.. those should arrive in late February.
- Will need two handicapped-only signs, three for vendor parking, two for club parking, three signs directing people to the back room that people seemed to miss last year.
- Darren will start to email all vendors he hasn’t heard from. ABR Industries cannot attend, but will send door prizes.
- Mailed some flyers to Thom Beebe (W9RY) and Dale Shaw in Urbana (owns a linked repeater system there, and is willing to help us with our own linking efforts)
- Next meeting will be on Zoom on February 20.
- Will have placards by next month and the March Superfest meeting will be at the Red Cross.
Old business:
- Darren did hear back from our attorney… our 501(c)7 designation has lapsed because the paperwork wasn’t sent. We’ll need to dissolve the (c)7 and draw up new articles for (c)3, then transfer all assets. There will be some banking details to also handle when moving between the designations. We’re still hoping that we’re within our $1500 retainer, as long as we handle some of the details. Forms and instructions are available from the State of Illinois.
New business:
- Ben brings up the idea of making the club a part of the Moss Avenue sale, with demonstrations, etc. Could do a raffle at it if club members can gather donated equipment?
- Ben would like to start doing our in-person meetings back at the Red Cross. We’ll need to figure out access for club members attending.. maybe a call-in frequency?
- Jake brings up our Facebook page, which isn’t the right type to allow public comments. Adam suggests starting a forum on w9uvi.org instead as a potential option. Darren also suggests looking at Ham Club Online and will send details to Adam to explore on behalf of the club. Rob also suggests looking at Slack for club communications. Rich brings up Discord. We have a lot of options!
- Jake says that Woodford’s club uses Ham Club Online… it features a way to send members reminders, like for the weekly net, etc. Rich agrees that it’s nice – he says it could pretty much replace our website. Scott says that he was part of a group who used it because it was more secure than other platforms out there for hams.
- Ben brings up the idea of a communications position once we’re a 501(c)3… the ARRL calls it a public information officer. Currently, the ARRL considers our president this communications position.
Tom makes a motion to wrap up our meeting, Darren seconds… we’re done at 7:57 p.m.
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Membership Meeting February 16, 2023
PAARC regular meeting at the Bartonville American Legion
7:03 p.m. Ben (KD9RYH) brings meeting to order
Our last board meeting minutes need to be corrected… Rich Holtman’s name and Rich Schmitz’s call were incorrect in the last issue of BandBits.
Justin (N9WX) moves to approve BandBits with these corrections, Tom (W8NWG) seconds. All are in favor.
Treasurer’s report from Tanya (KD9YPM):
– $338.95 in checking
– $33.88 in savings
– $9,131.00 in money market
– $863.09 in paypal
– $372.72 in square
– Recently paid $226 to USPS for our post office box
– 27 members have paid since our last board meeting
– Note that we may be changing banks as part of the 501(c)3 process, but that will come later.
Scott (K9XJT) makes a motion to accept, and Mark (W9WGN) seconds. The report is accepted.
Superfest update from Darren (KD9HZZ):
– Talked to Tazewell EMA and brought up bringing their truck to Superfest
– Dwight brought the rest of the tickets and placards
– This month’s Superfest meeting will be on Zoom, but March will be in person and we will start distributing tickets to sell
– Darren will start sending emails to vendors he hasn’t heard from as of yet
– Sign-up sheets for jobs will be posted to W9UVI.org by this weekend
Repeater committee update from Tom (W8NWG):
– Jake and Tom had a brief conversation about linking repeaters.
– At the board meeting, we approved purchasing another digital interface to enable WIRES-X on all three of our current repeaters. This will also give us better remote control management of our repeaters.
Old business:
– None
New business:
– Ham Club Online is launched for the club to demo, with voluntary donation to them if we decide to stick with it. One big benefit to the club is that it’ll help dues management now that our club bylaws track membership by year’s term.
– Jim (KD9VAN) wants to know if we can run a special event station at Superfest this year… and that’s possible if we have enough people to man it. Rob brings up that we did a special event station at Expo Gardens about 7 years ago and only one person ran it (but made a lot of contacts.) We also tried a talk-in station last year, but only one person used it. Mark brings up that we’d want to get it in QST soon if we want to do the special event station.
– Rich needs a net control operator for the ARES net tomorrow night
Justin (N9WX) makes a motion to adjourn, Scott (K9XJT) seconds… all are in favor. Scott then begins a hands-on demonstration of portable HF gear with attending club members.
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MIDWEST SUPERFESTTM
The next Midwest Superfest meeting March 19th, 7 pm in person at the Red Cross (west building).
We will have club members tickets, and sign up sheets for gate sales, shuttle drivers and traffic directors.
Mailings for those that have reserved flea market spots will be going out starting March 15th.
We have two 7′ X 2′ flags for the ticket gate, will be getting other signs that was discussed in the last zoom meeting
Golf carts are reserved
We will have a dinner Saturday night September 22 at 7:00 pm at Grecian Gardens in Chillicothe for all that would like to attend
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PEORIA COUNTY ARES
Amateur radio operators use their training, skills, and equipment to provide communications during emergencies, When All Else Fails®.
March 6, ARES Net @ 7:00 PM CDT on the W9UVI (147.075) repeater
March 13, ARES Net @ 7:00 PM CDT on the W9UVI (147.075) repeater
March 16, IL State ARES Tune-Up Session
March 20, Monthly Meeting via Zoom, 7:00 PM
The PAARC-hosted Weather Spotter Training Class is coming to the March Club Meeting on the 12th at 6:30 PM. If that timing does not work for you there are multiple other training sessions available around the Central Illinois area – check https://www.weather.gov/ilx/spotter for these sessions.
ARES website: http://www.peoriacountyares.org/
Rich Holtman, KD9ANU, Emergency Coordinator for Peoria County ARES
email: kd9anu@arrl.net
Winlink: kd9anu@winlink.org
Cell: 309-256-4272
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FEBRUARY NET LOGS
2/4
KD9ANU KD9RYH K9XJT W8NWG W9WGN N9NDF KB9VRW KD9WRX KC9IH KD9YPM KD9WVP N9WFT KD9ERS W9JDP K9TNT KD9JXR KD9QQU KD9PXZ KD9ZKZ WF9E N9CS NP2WJ KD9WVP KD9STL W8NWG NA9LE K9RCS W9DAY KD9NYE K9LE Submitted by KD9DBQ 73
2/11
KD9RYH KD9ANU W8NWG K9XJT K9OTG W9WGN WD9EB NP2WJ KD9YPM KC9LCH N9NDF KD9QQU K9HJZ W9JDP K9TNT KD9JXR KD9STL W9DAY N9WFT KD9DBQ Submitted by KD9HZZ 73
2/18
KD9RYH W8NWG KD9ANU W8NWG K9XJT K9HJZ KC9IH KD9YPM KD9YWB KD9YER KD9HZZ KD9ZWR KD9JXR NM0O N0XOH W9JDP KD9PXZ K9LE KD9QQU KD9RJH KD9MPI KD9WVP KD0STL KD9WRX WF9E N9WFT KD9ERS KD9ZKZ K9RCS K9UQF N9CS WW9DLM KD9VHI/AG KB9ATO N9NDF KD9NYE Submitted by KD9DBQ 73
2/25
KD9RYH KC9ZWR K9XJT KD9ANU WD9EB W9WGN KD9ZFZ K9HJZ KB9VRW KC9IH NP2WJ KD9YPM KD9WRX KD9ERS W9JDP K9TNT NM0O KC9VEW KD9JXR KD9PXZ K9LE KD9ZKZ W8NWG KD9WVP KD9RJH KD9IBC N9NDF N9SL KB9ATO K9RCS KD9NYE N9WFT KD9STL WF9E WW9DLM N9CS K9UQF K9CEW KD9TEG W9DAY Submitted by KD9DBQ
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MARCH CLUB EVENTS
March 5 – 7:00 p.m. – Board Meeting: In person at the American Red Cross, West Building, 311 W John H Gwynn Jr Ave., Peoria
March 6 – 7:00 p.m. – ARES Net on the W9UVI (147.075) repeater
March 12 – 6:30 p.m. – Membership Meeting: National Weather Service Spotter Training – Bartonville American Legion, 4501 S Airport Rd, Bartonville. All are welcome.
March 13 – 7:00 p.m. – ARES Net on the W9UVI (147.075) repeater
March 19 -7:00 p.m. – Midwest Superfest Meeting IN PERSON at The American Red Cross (not the old building where we used to meet).
March 26 – 7:00 p.m. – ARES Meeting – details TBA
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CHECK IN ON MIDCARS NET DURING NEXT MONTH’S ECLIPSE
Although totality of the April 8 solar eclipse will be visible in southern Illinois, the propagation effects will be felt over a much wider area. The altered ionospheric conditions during an eclipse change conditions in an odd way to varying degrees depending on location.
We will have an opportunity to experience these changes during the eclipse when net control operator Mike Patton, AA9MK will extend hours of the MidCars net on 7.258 MHz to cover this time period, so we can experience the propagation changes first hand. The net will run on both sides of totality (1:58-2:06 pm CDT, April 8). The net is open to all.
Click here for more information.
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CLUB EMAIL LIST
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