Annual Meeting Þ Elections!

by Terry Williams, KD5KJU

The principal order of business for the Club’s Annual Meeting (occurring on Thursday after Thanksgiving Day, per our By-Laws), is the election of Officers and Directors for the coming year. The Nominating Committee is pleased to offer the following candidates who have agreed to serve, if elected:

·         President: John Chamberlain AC5CV

·         Vice-President: Rodney Baden K5YKC

·         Secretary: Jeremy Neal KE5PRG

·         Treasurer: Norris Martin KB5SLI

·         Director (expiring 2012): Clint Anderson AE5CA

The Past-President and remaining Directors positions will remain the same.

I want to thank Mike Ross N5MVL and Norris Martin KB5SLI for their assistance on this year’s Nominating Committee. Many thanks, guys!

Come to the meeting and show your support for these guys, or nominate another willing member.

 

President’s Corner

by Rodney Baden, K5YKC

A Great Big Thank You

Rodney, K5YKC

We now have what I would call a well-rounded repeater array. We have the 145.150 Mhz, 146.980 Mhz D-Star, and now the 442.875 Mhz. The 150 and 875 both have a PL tone of 123. The 150 D-Star repeater doesn’t need a tone. All three repeaters are open for general use.

Thanks go to a lot people that made the 442.875 become a reality. I want to list them below:

Ron Bowden, AA5RT           Larry Blair, KE5PIU                  Steve Vaughn, KE5RKR

Larry Bush, W5NCD             Chuck Shumate, KE5VMG        Glenn Black, KE5PIE

Steve Bosshard, NU5D          Frank Patterson. KE5MZB         Norris Martin. KC5SLI

All these people had a hand in the purchasing, programming, tuning, licensing, and installing this repeater. With a good team, great things are possible!

Secondly, let me thank all of our current Board of Directors for the past 2 years of service to HOTARC. Let me also thank the Committee Chairmen for all the time they spent working on special projects for HOTARC. Jim Jud, KE5KQL, our Special Eevents Committee Chair, has done an especially fantastic job at coordinating our many special events. And then let me thank you, all our members, for your service in making this a great 2 years for the Club, and for me, as your President. I hope that I have done everything I could have to make your expectations come true.

If I can do anything to help your ham radio experience be more enhanced, please don’t hesitate to call or email.

Rodney, K5YKC
HOTARC President

 

For the Record...

HOTARC Meeting of Members
October 22, 2009

The Treasurer Reports...

Heart O’ Texas Amateur Radio Club Treasurer’s Report, October 2009 Beginning Account Balance                          $ 5,452.33 Income        Dues                                    $ 37.50        Interest                                     0.23        TOTAL Income                   $ 37.73 Expenses        TOTAL Expenses                             $ 0.00 Ending Account Balance                                $ 5,490.06 Uncleared activity (as of 11-24-2009)  Debits:   Field Day gasoline $29.00,                 440 repeater power strip $117.55  Credits: Dues $30.00  Amount in account: $5,373.51  (includes Flower Fund: $102.99) Submitted by Norris Martin, KB5SLI HOTARC Treasurer

HOTARC’s October Meeting was called to order by Rodney Baden K5YKC Thursday, October 22, 2009 at 7:00 pm at the Kultgen Automotive Center of the TSTC Waco campus. Chaplain Dell Bredemeyer KE5MZS opened the meeting with a prayer.

Present were 19 full members, 1 associate member, and 1 family member.

A motion to approve the Minutes for the September meeting as published in the HOTLINE was recognized from Jerry Tollison KD5JML, with second by Wayne Branscum KD5SMC. The motion was approved by the members.

A motion to approve the September Treasurer’s Report as published in the HOTLINE was recognized from Ed Middlebrook KC5NT, with second by Terry Williams KD5KJU. The motion was approved by the members.

Committee Reports:

·         ARES: K5YKC reported that he and James Jud KA5QKL met with the interim executive director of HOTRAC. People at the hospitals will check in from home. People that check in at the hospitals will check in as themselves and not as the hospital.

·         Trailer: K5YKC reported that we need to schedule a trailer cleanup day soon.

·         Repeater: K5YKC reported that the west Waco water tower was painted and all of the antennas were taken off of there. He has talked to Frank Patterson and he has given us a spot with a 440 antenna on 12th street and tower road which is a homeland security tower. The 145.15 repeater at channel 25 had a loose coax cable that was resoldered.

·         D-Star: K5YKC reported that Waco DPS took a lightning strike which created some problems with the repeater.

·         Web page: No News

·         ATV: David Bush KC5UOZ reported that he thinks the repeater has a bad power supply.

·         Education: No News

·         Public Relations: No News

·         Special Events: Thanks to Dave Boehner K5HOT, John Chamberlain AC5CV, Clint Anderson, and Mike Ross N5MVL for helping with the Boy Scouts JOTA.

Home-brew Night

New Business

·         The 2009 nominating committee will consist of Terry Williams, Mike Ross and Norris Martin.

·         James Jud will be K5YKC’s new assistant district emergency coordinator for ARES. The new tactical call is Team Waco.

·         Scott Hamilton K5ZOH made a motion to have the Christmas luncheon at Raymond’s in Lorena on December 12^th at 12:00pm, with second by KC5NT. The motion was approved by the members.

·         A motion was made by Bill Feltenburger KD5UEW to spend $50 on door prizes with second by K5ZOH.

Motion to adjourn was recognized from KD5KJU at approximately 7:48pm.

Tonight’s program was Homebrew Night.

Submitted by:
Jeremy Neal KE5PRG
HOTARC Secretary

 

 

 

ARES – Bits & Pieces

by Ed Hynan, KC5KNI McLennan County Emergency Coordinator

1.      SKYWARN: Mark your calendars – SKYWARN 2010 will be held on Saturday Feb 6, 2010 in the Bosque Theater of the Waco Convention Center. As with previous years, both the Basic and Advanced courses will be presented. The Basic course runs from 0900-1200 and the Advanced course will be from 1315-1530. National Weather Service personnel will also be available to answer questions and concerns. We have had excellent turn-out for this presentation in the past, so please plan to attend.

2.      ARES NET CONTROL SCHEDULE FOR 2010: I only have replies from 4 of the 8 current Net Controls that indicate that they will continue with helping run the net for the next year. W5ZAK, KA5QKL, K5YKC, and KC5KNI are all in for 2010. I need to hear from KC5NT, N5MVL, KD5KJU, and AC5DE to determine if you would continue to serve. Also, there is space for any additional members who have never been a weekly Net Control or who have done so in the past and would like to get involved again. For the 4 I have not heard from and from any others that may be interested, let me know by e-mail KC5KNI@arrl.net if you would like to participate, and if there are any specific Mondays of the month that you have other standing commitments. I will then publish the 2010 schedule. I need to know no later than 15 Dec 2009.

3.      2010 ARES UPDATE: After the 1st of the year I will begin the update of all ARES members individual data – this is done every 2 years to insure that information on file is current for all McLennan County ARES members. This has kind of slipped lately as I have been extremely busy with some personal issues. Expect to get a letter via e-mail or by regular mail with what I currently have on file for you. Please make any corrections and/or additions and return the updated information to me. New ARES ID Cards will then be issued based on the response.

 

Ham Gear from KA5DDM Estate

by Bill Cox, W5JRM

We have been asked to assist in the disposal of a number of items from the estate of Bob Gentry KA5DDM, a former HOTARC member. The few larger items will be auctioned at the December 3 HOTARC meeting, with proceeds going to Bob’s wife. The items appear to be working, but are offered “as is,” without warranty.

1. Yaesu FT-707. This is a solid state HF SSB transceiver with Instruction Manual, mike and power cord. I made one 75 meter QSO, received good audio and signal reports. Starting Bid: $ 50.00
2. Dentron Jr. Monitor. This is an antenna tuner (rated 300 watts) with power meter indicator. A downloaded Operating Manual included. Starting Bid: $ 25.00
3. Calrad Mod. 5-286 SWR monitor. Starting Bid: $ 5.00
4. Heathkit HD 1250 grid dip meter with case and all coils. Starting Bid: $ 5.00

Free Items (new and used): coax fittings and adaptors, plugs, jacks, small power supplies, home brew items, CW practice items, CW key, small Radio Shack AM/FM/SW receiver, miscellaneous cables, wires, and other ham residue.

An antenna pole (looks like a “push-up” type) attached to the Gentry home is free for removing and hauling away. Contact Bill Cox W5JRM, if interested (863-5149).

 

HOTARC Christmas Luncheon

by John Chamberlain, AC5CV

Mark your calendars and make plans to attend the annual HOTARC Christmas Luncheon from noon to 1:30 pm on Saturday December 12 at Raymond’s Southern Kitchen in Lorena. (Take Exit 322 off I-35, to service road on east side.)

This is a simple Dutch treat (everybody pays for their own meal) gathering for some pleasant fellowship, and a few door prizes to make it fun. Make plans now to attend—you and all your “significant others!”

 

 

 

HOTARC 2009 Board of Directors

President: Rodney Baden K5YKC, 857-9760, K5YKC@arrl.net

Vice Pres: Terry Williams KD5KJU, 662-2438, pumpman_rpss@yahoo.com

Secretary: Jeremy Neal KE5PRG, 881-2123, JeremyLeeNeal@gmail.com

Treasurer: Norris Martin KB5SLI, 829-2138, KB5SLI@flash.net

Past-Pres.: Wayne Branscum KD5SMC, 857-3964, wbscum@grandecom.net

Director (2009): Mike Ross N5MVL, 836-1083, N5MVL@juno.com

Director (2010): Ed Hynan KC5KNI, 666-4873, KC5KNI@arrl.net

Director (2011): Ed Middlebrook KC5NT, 826-4053, KC5NT@arrl.net

Club Repeaters

145.15 MHz (input at –600 kHz, tone 123 Hz)

146.98 MHz (input at –600 kHz, D-Star)

442.875 MHz (input at +5.0 MHz, tone 123 Hz)

ATV: 421.25MHz (Cable 57), input 439.25 MHz (Cable 60)

VE Testing

Next session is scheduled for Saturday December 12, 2009 at 10:00 AM. Location: Baylor’s Rogers Engineering and Computer Science Bldg (#70 on the map), Room 109. Bring: 1) testing fee of $15 (cash only); 2) a photo ID (two for first-time licensees); and for already licensed amateurs: 3) current license and photocopy of it; and 4) photocopy of any relevant CSCE. Contact: Linda Hynan, AC5QQ at 666-4873 or Linda.Hynan@UTSouthwestern.edu.

 

Dec 3: Annual Meeting (Elections)
Dec 12: HOTARC Luncheon