May 2024

Fulton Amateur Radio Club
Meeting Minutes
Date: May 22, 2024
Location: Oswego County Office Building

Opening:

• Call to Order: 7:10 PM by Secretary Ben Townsend.
• New Members/Guests: None.

Reports:

1. Secretary:
   • Minutes from April were read by Ben Townsend.
   • Motion to approve: Redd.
   • Seconded: Garrette.
   • Motion carried.
2. Treasurer:
   • Financial report presented by Bob:
     • April 24th – May 22nd, 2024
       • Bank Balance (start): $1,033.23
       • Cash on Hand: $45.00
       • Income:
         • Dues: $20
         • 50/50 Drawing: $25
         • Patch Sales: $5
         • Total Deposit: $60
       • Expenses:
         • Park reservation for picnic: $88.13
       • Bank Balance (end): $1,005.10
       • Total Funds (including cash): $1,055.10
   • Motion to approve: Redd.
   • Seconded: Keith.
   • Motion carried.
3. Committees:
   • Scholarship: No updates.
   • RACES (Mike):
     • Membership packet updates underway, including updated forms and frequencies.
     • Inventory almost complete, with a few final items outstanding.
     • Coordinating the membership list with county officials.
   • Website/Social Media:
     • Survey results reviewed and discussed.
     • Minutes section added to the website.
     • Requests received from members unable to attend meetings to increase digital sharing and consider alternate meeting days/times.
     • Current Facebook followers: 660.
   • Training Courses:
     • Technician Class starts mid-June, led by Rick, Mike, and Ben.
       • Rick will contact Upstate Ham.
       • Ben will update the website.
       • Mike will contact interested attendees from Big Truck Day.
     • General Class: Redd will start a course in September, running Thursdays 7–9 PM for nine weeks, beginning September 5th, with testing on November 14th.
     • Press releases will be submitted for both classes.
   • Public Service:
     • Child Advocacy Center Event: June 22nd, morning in Fulton.
       • Redd will email two weeks before the event.
       • The course no longer crosses Route 176, improving safety.
     • No Tour de Loop this year.
     • Harborfest will be the next event.
   • Field Day:
     • Scheduled for June 22nd–23rd at Ken’s property (8061 State Route 104, Oswego, NY).
     • Entering as Class A with four transmitters:
       • 2-meter GOTA
       • 6-meter
       • Digital
       • HF
     • Using emergency power.
     • Media publicity will include press releases.
     • Open to visitors with an information table.
     • Portable toilet ("blue boy") needed, as the on-site facility is unreliable.
     • Mike will tow the radio trailer to the site.

Old Business:

• Dave Webb’s Tower:
  • Work party scheduled for Saturday, June 1st, at 10 AM.
  • Mike will send an email to coordinate the crew.
• Repeaters:
  • 147.390: Exploring the addition of EchoLink, with Mike discussing support costs with Pat.
  • 444.350: Permanently connected to Kansas City Wires-X.
• Picnic:
  • Scheduled for August 25th.
  • Activities include a small swap fest and portable station operation.

New Business:

• June meeting rescheduled to one week earlier.

Announcements:

• None.

Adjournment:

• Motion to adjourn: Garrette.
• Seconded: Rick.
• Motion carried.