NORTH AUGUSTA BELVEDERE RADIO CLUB

Meeting Minutes for Oct 13, 2008

The meeting was held at the Aiken Regional Medical Centers 302 University Pkwy, Aiken SC

Treasurer’s Report:

Treasurer Tom Arnold – W4KVF gave the report. 

Secretary’s Report:

 Acting Secretary: Steven Czaikowski (W8SC)

Committee Reports:

A. Repeater

Repeater has problems - will be repaired as soon as possible.

B. Net Manager

KG4IUQ - Mark Ledford reported.

State Line Net met on 146.730 Simplex due to repeater outage.  Need for Volunteers to act as NCS - See Mark. 

Mark said that although he had been having difficulty finding net control operators for the net, the net was doing well, pointing out that at least two new members of the club had joined the club because of the Carolina State Line Net. He said that we need to maintain high standards for the net, and that he would like to preserve it. Mark emphasized that when the 9 PM net time comes on Sunday evenings, the net should go on the air. N2ZZ offered his repeater as a backup during outages of our repeater.

             C.   SCSEC

AE4UX - Ham classes on going - Columbia ends on 10/20.  Searching for Grants for SCHEARTS personnel and training.  Next SCHEARTS repeater will be Ceaser’s Head - link to Paris Mountain site being developed.  Weekly SCHEART net could be heard via the internet.

Old Business:

The Radio Merit Badge class for local Boy Scouts on the 25th would also include basic information on how to prepare for a Technician class VE exam. The class would be sponsored by the North Augusta Belvedere Radio Club, with Carl Bosard and Mark Ledford serving as instructors. Mark asked for volunteers to bring HF mobile stations to the class so that the scouts could get on the air for 10 minute QSOs.

The Amateur Radio Club of Augusta had been generously advertising our upcoming Foxhunt regularly on the local 145.490 MHz nightly 2 Meter Net.

New Business:

Community Involvement

KG4IUQ Mark said he had noticed what seemed to be less involvement by the club with providing radio support for community events, and asked why it might be so. N2ZZ Jim mentioned that a lot of organizations use FRS & GMRS radios now. Jim also advised that the best way to get more involved in community events would be to offer support for events, while informing people on how we can help them.  

K4NJN Bob informed the club about an upcoming increase in activities that all persons in this club are invited to be involved in, and mentioned regularly occurring meetings in Aiken for the Aiken ARES group.

SC QSO Party

N2ZZ noted the Columbia ARC runs the South Carolina QSO Party as a club project. He also said that a fundamental purpose of the QSO party is to promote contacts between SC hams.

Nominating Committee for November Election of Club Officers

All club members were appointed to the Nominating Committee.

Tonight’s Program: Introduction to the NATIONAL TRAFFIC SYSTEM and MESSAGE HANDLING, by Steven Czaikowski (W8SC).

Attendance: KG4IUQ Mark, W8SC Steve, AE4UX Charlie, N2ZZ Jim, KI4SWN Nathan, WA2RUG Tom, N4BOB Robert, K4NJN Bob, AG4WH Gordon, N0KVF Tom, AJ4AU Carl