MEETING TO ORDER:

President Jeff Darby, KSØJD, called to order the April, 2021, Zoom business meeting of the SFTARC at 8:10 AM. A total of 15 members introduced themselves with their call signs. (Quorum is 13.) There were no guests.

SECRETARY-TREASURER REPORT: 

Marty Peters, KEØPEZ, reported the balances and transactions of the club accounts. Deposits into the club checking account since the March business meeting totaled $20, one dues payment. There were no disbursements, and there was no PayPal activity.

A total of 58 members are paid up for 2021. An additional 26 were paid up in 2020 but have not paid yet for 2021. If you haven't paid your membership dues yet, now is the time to get your payment to the club secretary.

Ensor Park & Museum [Jeff Darby – KSØJD]

Since Ensor will not be open for tours this spring and likely will not be open for the autumn season, SFTARC will lose one of its main sources of income. There was a discussion of how to compensate for this loss of revenue. Fund-raising ideas included operating a highway rest-stop coffee stand and holding a hamfest or tailgate swap & shop. The special event on June 5 would be a good time to hold a tailgate in the Ensor parking lot.

Club repeaters [Jim - KØNK]

OMC is very interested in having repeaters located at its site. They are especially interested in the fact that an auxiliary transceiver can be linked to the repeater, providing a link to affiliated medical units. The preliminary plan is to erect a 29' Rohn tower to support the antennas for the three repeaters. This tower would be located on the other side of the building from the present antenna tower. OMC officials, the repeater trustees, and representatives of Heartland Electric will meet on Friday, April 16, to discuss planning and costs of this proposed project. Jim presented a document to OMC summarizing the benefits to be gained by having these repeaters located at OMC and available for their use during times of emergency.

Jim noted that interference would be minimized if the repeater equipment could be located on the opposite side of the room from the existing OMC radio equipment. However, the placement of equipment will depend on several factors, including where emergency power is available. These and other matters are in the process of discussion and negotiation.

There was a discussion of how much the club is able to contribute to this repeater project. Jeff strongly recommended not going into debt for this project. Larry noted that, although it was likely that SFTARC would need to contribute several thousands of dollars toward the funding of this project, the cooperative arrangement with OMC under consideration would not require the club to make regular monthly payments, such as for rent or utilities.

It was moved and seconded to commit the SFTARC to provide up to $3500 to cover equipment costs in the OMC repeater project. After a discussion, the motion was put to a vote and passed 15-0.

There was more discussion of related issues. We need to identify fund-raising opportunities. We need to create an MOU that establishes how SFTARC members provide manpower during emergency operations at OMC and how these members are trained to carry out that support. We need to finish preparing and modifying the antennas to be used for the repeaters at OMC. Jeff will  organize a crew to evaluate materials to be used for tower, masts, and supporting structures.

2021 ARRL Field Day [Jeff - KSØJD]

The FD planning team includes Jim KØNK, George WBØCNK, Tom WA2IVD. They will meet the 2nd week of May.

Paley Award Special Event, Saturday, June 5, 2021 [Jeff - KSØJD]

This special event commemorates the awarding of the 1940 William S Paley Award to Marshall Ensor on June 2, 1941. Jeff submitted this special event to ARRL, and he contacted Herb NØZF to find out about producing e-certficates for participants of this event. Three event stations will operate on the grounds of the Ensor Park & Museum from 10 AM to 4 PM under callsign W9BSP. This event will serve as a "dress rehearsal" for the ARRL Field Day coming up on 26-27 June.

OTHER BUSINESS:

A Port-a-Potty will be needed at Ensor for both the June 5 special event and for Field Day. Based on an estimate of the rental fee, the club authorized Marty to pay up to $80 to have the City of Olathe provide the unit. [Subsequent to this meeting, Marty contacted the City to make the arrangements and found out that the rental fee is $110 per calendar month. SFTARC ByLaw #14 allows the club officers to authorize the expenditure of an amount up to $250; having the agreement of Jeff and Larry, Marty proceeded to arrange for the unit to be on the Ensor premises during the month of June.]

Peg offered several valuable comments about strategies to raise funds to support the club repeaters and other club projects.

ADJOURN:

President Jeff adjourned the meeting at 9:30 AM.