MEETING TO ORDER:
After an initial period of about 10 minutes in which connections were established, President Jeff Darby, KS0JD, convened a Zoom videoconference of the SFTARC at 7:31 AM. The Zoom window displayed thumbnail images of the 21 members who participated.
SECRETARY-TREASURER REPORT:
Marty Peters KE0PEZ reported the club's bank account balance and the receipts ($110) and disbursements ($0) since the March business meeting. The receipts consisted of dues payments from four members. He outlined anticipated expenditures in May and June. The financial condition of the club continues to be good.
2020 Season of the Ensor Park & Museum
Howard N0AZ is working to determine the status of the coming season and will keep in touch with Larry Woodworth W0HXS and the City of Olathe. (After the meeting, Marty received a message from Marty Boehm, Superintendent of Parks for the City of Olathe, saying that, although official action was pending, Ensor was not likely to open in May. He said that Parks and Recreation officials would decide what to do after that depending on how the pandemic plays out.) Howard will implement a Sign-up Genius web page to assist with the process of coordinating volunteers.
Repeater Relocation [Jim Andera – K0NK]
There is no update on the repeater status. Jim will approach OMC when it is appropriate to do so.
Club Newsletter [Greg Wolfe – KI0KK]
Newsletter inputs are due by 7PM Wednesday, April 15.
Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve Operations [Jim Andera - K0NK]
The event scheduled to be held Saturday May 16th, 2020, has been cancelled. Jim K0NK notified QST and the ARRL to pull the announcements of the event. We may try to schedule an event in the fall if circumstances permit.
2020 Field Day Activities [Jim Andera - K0NK]
Club VP Larry KD0RIU contacted Larry Woodworth W0HXS, who gave permission to hold Field Day (FD) activities at Ensor. At the present time, FD 2020 is scheduled for June 27th and 28th. However, it will most likely be necessary to use good social distancing practices during the event, and this will require non-traditional methods of operating. Jim K0NK sent a request to the ARRL for permission to have multiple sites using the KS0KS callsign. Larry KD0RIU and George WB0CNK will create a survey to solicit feedback from members about the FD format and about their interest in alternate FD activities (such as operating at Ensor). Larry KD0RIU is working on a sign-up sheet that would be useful in allocating operating time slots, should that become necessary. Joe KR0UT suggested that it would be good, in the event we used locations other than Ensor, to choose locations that had good internet access, which would facilitate operating stations remotely. FD coordinators for the SFTARC are Larry Hall KD0RIU, George McCarville WB0CNK, Tom Apalenek WA2IVD and Jim Andera K0NK.
OTHER BUSINESS:
Jim AC0OW offered several free items to anyone who could use them, including a QRP dummy load and a GPS receiver.
The Zoom videoconferencing format worked well for us. All members got more experience with Zoom, and some issues with cameras and mics, etc., were addressed and resolved. We expect to use Zoom again for a virtual meeting of the SFTARC in May. Any member who needs audio/visual assistance, please contact one of the club officers.
ADJOURN:
The meeting was adjourned at 8:56 AM.
