Month: September 2022

President’s Report

I would like to start off by reminding everyone that elections for the Board of Directors are coming up quickly. I do plan to run for President again for 2023. That being said, I welcome anyone to run against me. There will soon be a list of available positions posted. Please consider running for a position. If you are currently on the BOD and do not wish to run for next year, please inform me ASAP so we can list your spot as open.

We have a great Club. Let’s keep it going with participation! I welcome any and all ideas for classes and events. Even if you don’t think your idea is a good one, please tell me about it! I love learning and doing new things. Even going back to the roots of becoming a ham for the first time. Someone may have the same question that you do, speak up!

Justin Flick N9WX

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Many thanks to the club members participating in the Spoon River Valley Scenic Drive special event in October.

We activated special event station N9S, and made a lot of contacts.

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Meeting Minutes:

Board of Directors

No meeting due to lack of a quorum

Membership

6:58 p.m. meeting begins

Introductions around the room for those who have joined us tonight…

Time to approve the last meeting’s minutes in Band Bits… Tom moves,
Deb seconds. All in favor and it passes.

Club elections are coming up… so if you want to join the board, put
your name in the hat. (President, VP, secretary, treasurer will be up)
Let Justin or any board member know if you want to run – same for
current board members who want to stay in their positions.

Treasurer’s report:
$135.37 savings
$7,100.23 checking
$8,398.63 money market
$100 PayPal

Justin moves $400 from checking to savings, $2500 from checking into
our money market account.

New balances:
$535.37 savings
$4,200.23 checking
$10,898.63 money market

Mark accepts the report, Jim seconds. All are in favor and it passes.

Repeater committee update:

• Now operating on our 160-ft tower position, which was originally our
  D-Star antenna. (1.5 SWR)
• 180-ft original position has high SWR (6 to 1 with 100 ohm impedance)
• Need to get original position looked at when other tower work is being done.
• Still sounds good and has decent coverage.
• Have had recent trouble on Sunday nets due to tropo ducting.
• Other work on repeaters to come…

Superfest:

• We still haven’t gotten the bill from Expo Gardens.
• We did a lot better than Deb expected at the 2022 Superfest. Around
  $3500 from Superfest once we get money back from the East Peoria site.
• The W9UVI website has been updated with the main Superfest page
  looking different than the rest of the site.
• There is a price change for 2023. Tickets will be $8 in advance for
  two raffle stubs, $10 at gate for one stub. If wanting two stubs at
  the gate, will be $15. (Two stub option at the gate was an experiment
  this year that actually worked!) Tables will be $25 like they have
  been, but only up until July 1, 2023 – then $35/table.
• We’re not going to charge for site electricity because we aren’t
  going to be charged as a club (we were at Expo for 2022)
• Flea market will be $10 for first space, $5 for each additional
  space until July 1, 2023. Then just $10 for any spot.
• Tower Electronics is a lock for 2023!
• Anybody who wants to join us in camping for 2023 fest, Deb is
  renting an RV, Tom and Justin are bringing theirs… There’s a
  campground in a wooded area that will be the club’s area.
• Tom, Rich and Deb have worked on a vendor letter for 2023 that
  mentions electrical hookups for people on-site, along with off-site
  accommodations.
• Next Superfest meeting is in two weeks.

Spoon River Drive report:

• The special event station was during the first and second weekends
  of October… Justin and Ben the first weekend. Tom, Mark, Deb, Rich
  on the second weekend.
• We had QSOs with 37 people the first weekend, with 10 the second weekend.
• The director of Spoon River Drive was real happy that we participated.
• We had a lot of people that stopped by our table, including some lapsed hams.

Event coming up…

• Saturday, October 22: PAWS Giving walk/run. Bring your HT to help
  run the race at Junction City. 4pm, done by 6:30 in the evening. Can
  email Rich (KD9ANU) if you have questions.

JOTA is on Saturday.

Rich and Jim move to adjourn, Deb seconds… the meeting ends at 7:23 p.m.

Scott gives a presentation on mesh nets.

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Peoria County ARES

Nov 2, ARES Net @ 7:00 PM CDT on the W9UVI (147.075) repeater
Nov 9, ARES Net @ 7:00 PM CDT on the W9UVI (147.075) repeater
Nov 16, ARES On-line Conference @ 7:00 PM CST (Watch your email for Zoom conference info)

Call or email Rich if you are not on the ARES Roster and desire to join the Zoom Conference.

On-Line Conference Agenda includes: Infrastructure Activities, PAWS Event on 10/22 – Review, Training Documentation, Economy Windows Computers for Hams – Update, Using GPS Position Reports in Winlink, and more.

Please submit your Training Documentation form.

ARES website: http://www.peoriacountyares.org/

Rich Holtman, KD9ANU, Emergency Coordinator for Peoria County ARES
email: kd9anu@arrl.net
Winlink: kd9anu@winlink.org
Cell: 309-256-4272

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October Net Logs

10/2
Thanks to the W9BFD group this week!
KD9ANU W8NWG KB9ATO KB9SF KD9AER KD9PXZ WW9DLM KD9IVV KD9ERS N9NDF NM0O K9XJT N9GUE N9WX KC9IH K9HJZ KD9JXR N9WFT KD9QQU KD9STL KD9SZZ KB9TNZ WD9EB W9WGN KD9RYH K9UQF KD9RJH KD9NYE K9TNT KD9VSG Submitted by KD9DBQ 73

10/9
WD9EB KD9ANU KD9QQU W8NWG KC9IH NM0O KB9SF KD9AER K9HJZ N9GUE KD9HZZ W9JDP W9WGN N9NDF KD9NYE K9TNT KB9ATO WW9DLM KD9JXR N9WFT K9RCS KD9PXZ K9UQF NP2WJ KD9IVV WF9E KD9ERS KD9RYH KD9STL KD9TEG K9CEW KD9RJH K9XJT Submitted by KD9DBQ 73

10/16
W9WTF KD9ANU KC9IH KD9QQU NM0O K9RCS K9HJZ W9JDP K9TNT N9SJZ N0XOH KD9IVV KD9AER W8NWG KD9PXZ KD9JXR KD9ERS WD9EGV W9YES N9NDF KD9NYE W9WGN N9WFT WF9E KD9RYH KD9STL KD9SZZ NP2WJ KB9OGS KD9MPI K9XJT Submitted by KD9DBQ 73

10/23
KD9ANU WD9EB KC9IH KE8UIB NM0O K9XJT KD9TEG KB9SF N9GUE K9HJZ KD9SZZ W9JDP N9SJZ KD9AER KD9IVV KDPXZ KD9NYE KD9JXR K9TNT K9UQF N9NDF K9RCS KD9RYH KD9QQU KD9MPI WB9RJY KB9ATO W8NWG KB9OGS N9WFT KD9STL W9WGN N0XOH Submitted by KD9DBQ 73

10/30
KD9ANU KC9IH K9XJT W9WGN N9GUE KD9TEG K9HJZ W9JDP N9SJZ KB9ATO KD9AER KD9IVV W8NWG NM0O KD9PXZ N9NDF KD9JXR KD9SZZ KD9RYH K9RCS KD9NYE WF9E N9WFT WW9DLM KB9OGS WB9RJY KD9ERS KD9STL KD9VYM K9CEW Submitted by KD9DBQ 73

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November Club Events

November 2 – 7:00 pm – ARES Net on the W9UVI (147.075) repeater

November 3 – 7:00 pm – Board of Directors Meeting – Zoom

November 9 – 7:00 pm ARES Net on the W9UVI (147.075) repeater

November 10 – 7:00 pm Club Membership Meeting – Traditional shortwave radio and the RTL-SDR (Software Defined Radio). Bartonville American Legion.

November 16 – 7:00 pm ARES Meeting – Zoom

November 17 – 7:00 pm Superfest Meeting via Zoom. This meeting has been moved up one week due to Thanksgiving.

November 24 – Happy Thanksgiving!

President’s Report

It’s been quite a year for our club, and despite the challenges, we’re doing very well.

Again this year we had to relocate Superfest due to weather, but it was s success. We generated enough revenue to meet our expenses for the year. I can’t thank our volunteers and Board members enough for their guidance and hard work.  Most of all, thanks to the vendors and the flea market tailgaters for making this a great event.

The best is yet to come! We are looking forward to next year’s event at Three Sisters Park in Chillicothe.

This fall things will be busy and exciting. We hope you will join us for our Special Event Station activation, N9S, where we will be promoting the history of Spoon River Valley Scenic Drive. We will be operating from the Fulton County Fair on the first and second Saturday and Sunday of October from 9 am to 5 pm. Stop by and say hello!

Later this month, we will be providing communications support for the annual PAWS run Saturday, October 22 at Junction City. We hope to see you there.

We’re hoping to have another POTA (Parks on the Air) event in the near future. It will be in the area, but at a different location than Jubilee College. I’m still hopeful that the weather will hold out a bit longer. It would be a one day weekend event. Send me suggestions for dates, times and locations: n9wx.ares@gmail.com.

Also on October 15 we will hold a license exam session at the Morton Knights of Columbus hall. Here is your chance to earn a new or upgraded license. All newly licensed hams will be given a complimentary one year membership in the club!

As we approach the end of the year, it’s time to think about election of club officers. Here is your opportunity to get involved in the direction of the Club. Let me know if you have any questions and if you are interested. After all, this is YOUR club!

A lot has been happening lately. That’s what our club is all about. The key to making good things happen is PARTICIPATION. Participation in events and activities, on the Sunday net, and of course renewing your membership.

Thanks for being an active member!

Justin, N9WX

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Meeting Minutes:

Board of Directors , September 8:

6:18 p.m. call to order

Bandbits approval? Tom motions, John seconds…. all are in favor.

TREASURER’S REPORT:
Savings = $235.34
Checking = $2,582.20 (Three Sisters has not yet cashed their check;
also waiting on refund from East Peoria)
Money market = $8,396.78
$100 left in PayPal ($222.07 just transferred from it)

Grand total = $11,214.32

Pending expenses:
Darren getting signs at $22 a sign (x8), so $176 + $300 for banner
$150-200 ($15 each or so) for volunteer T-shirts

Deb makes motion, Darren seconds. All are in favor.

REPEATER COMMITTEE: Nothing new to share.
– Tom and Justin have been hearing a Windows tone going out over
repeater… need to investigate.
– Still need to maybe have the transmission line inspected and our UHF
D-Star antenna removed (before snow flies.) Scott has volunteered to
host UHF at his place on a 40ft tower.

OTHER BUSINESS:
– Need to find out more about annual JOTA with Scouts… October 22
and 23. Is it a club event? If so, we need to be more involved.

SUPERFEST:
– Dwight was able to overprint tickets that haven’t been mailed yet…
will have new raffle stickers for tickets that have already been
issued.
– New map and revised info are live on w9uvi.org
– Will we need cones for parking, asks John? Deb says we’ll use them
for the flea market area and will probably need people to help direct
parking.
– John will bring 50 cones on Thursday… if we need more, he can
bring additional ones on Friday.
– Will we do golf carts, asks Justin? Deb is looking into getting two
of them from the fine residents of Hopedale.
– Justin won’t be able to be there Thursday, but will be there Friday-Sunday.
– Justin is bringing a camper with AC, Darren is bringing a trailer to
transport golf carts.
– For security, Justin will be there Friday and Saturday night… but
will need more volunteers so Justin isn’t alone.
– There is no football game at Richwoods Superfest weekend, so we’ll
have the place alone.

OLD BUSINESS: None.

Motion to adjourn… Tom makes motion, Deb seconds. 6:49 p.m. and we are done!

Membership, September 8:

7:05pm call to order

Motion to approve Bandbits? Mark makes motion, Scott seconds… all
are in favor.

Adam will set up a feature on our website so people can be alerted by
email when there’s a new post like Bandbits.

TREASURER’S REPORT:
Checking = $2,582.20
Savings = $235.34
Checking = $2,582.20 (Three Sisters has not yet cashed their check;
also waiting on refund from East Peoria)
About $700 in expenses still out for Superfest ($176 for signs, $300
for banner, $200 for volunteer T-shirts)
Dumpster is $300-350 additional

$11,214.33 total

Scott makes a motion, Darren seconds. All are in favor.

_____

SUPERFEST:
– We need volunteers!!!
– Deb will turn on signup sheets on site tonight. (gates, flea market,
Thursday setup, Friday afternoon, security, someone in EP in case
people go to the wrong place, etc.)
– John volunteers to make a sign for the original East Peoria
location. Darren will work on it as well.
– For on-site simplex, 146.43 MHz. W9UVI will be talk-in repeater.
– Rich has a projector and screen for classes; Scott will bring a
wireless mic and powered speakers
– Will have to go with Expo food instead of originally-planned food trucks.
– Peoria Fire Department is having training the week of SuperFest at
Expo Gardens, so supposed to get in to site at noon Friday.
– Banquet tables will be $4.50.. cheaper than other places we’ve
gotten in the past at least.
– We have 10×10 portable awning, 10×20 as well. Scott also has
another. Bring extra awnings if you have one!
– For security, Justin would like one other person with him as well.
John says he can help with one of the nights.
– Only Deb is allowed to sell flea market spots… 7 a.m. gate opens.
No selling from general parking spots!
– Justin will be running testing this year… Bob won’t be there. If
you have VE credentials, bring them so we make sure we’re official.
– If someone shows up at the gate and is only there to test, they can
be escorted for free. Scott may bring wristbands to designate. If they
pass their exam, we write on band so they will get full free
admission. They also get a membership to the club (will make sure we
have membership forms on site.)

Tabling rest of business for Scott’s Echolink presentation… 7:49 p.m.

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SuperFest

THANK YOU TO ALL WHO HELPED WITH SUPERFEST!!!

Midwest Superfest 2022 is over, still getting some of the bills so don’t have the final totals, but the club did make money.

Planning and work for Midwest Superfest 2023 has already begun, if you were not able to attend the September Superfest meeting but want to be included on the Superfest committee, please contact Deb, WD9EB

The next Midwest Superfest meeting will be at 7pm on Thursday Oct. 27th via Zoom. Please use the link on the club meetings page.

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Peoria County ARES

Oct 5, ARES Net @ 7:00 PM CDT on the W9UVI (147.075) repeater

Oct 12, ARES Net @ 7:00 PM CDT on the W9UVI (147.075) repeater

Oct 19, ARES On-line Conference @ 7:00 PM CST (Watch your email for Zoom conference info)

Call or email Rich if you are not on the ARES Roster and desire to join the Zoom Conference.

On-Line Conference Agenda includes: Infrastructure Activities, PAWS Event on 10/22, Training Documentation, Very Economical Windows Computers for Digital Modes, Using GPS Position Reports in Winlink, and more.

Please submit your Training Documentation form.

ARES website: http://www.peoriacountyares.org/

Rich Holtman, KD9ANU, Emergency Coordinator for Peoria County ARES

email: kd9anu@arrl.net

Winlink: kd9anu@winli

September Net Logs

9/4
W9WGN KD9ANU WD9EB K9XJT KC9IH KD9IBC N9GUE KB9ATO K9TNT W8NWG N9NDF KD9PXZ KD9JXR KD9IVV WF9E KD9SZZ NM0O KD9AER N9WFT WW9DLM KB9TNZ KD9STL K9QZ Submitted by KD9DBQ 73

9/11
WD9EB KD9ANU N9WX K9XJT KD9ERS WF9E KB9TNZ KC9IH KD9QQU W9JDP WD9EGV N9GUE KD9SZZ K9RCS KB9OGS N9SJZ W9WGN NM0O KD9PXZ KD9JXR NP2WJ KD9AER KD9NYE KD9VSJ KD9IVV W9WTF KB8ATO N9NDF W8NWG KD9STL KD9RYH KD9MPI WW9DLM KT9TB K9HJZ Submitted by KD9DBQ 73

9/18
W9WTF WD9EB KD9ANU KC9IH KD9IBC W9JDP N9GUE KD9LIE K9RCS KD9HZZ N9SJZ N9NDF KD9IVV NM0O KD9PXZ W9WGN KB9ATO KD9NYE KD9JXR WW9DLM N9WFT WF9E KD9QQU WD9EGV NP2WJ KB9SF KC9PZQ KD9ERS KD9STL K9CEW KB9OGS KD9AER W8NWG KD9VSJ K9HJZ KD9RYH KD9SZZ KD9TEG K9XJT Submitted by KD9DBQ 73

9/25
KD9ANU WF9E W9WTF KC9IH W8NWG K9HJZ N9GUE K9TNT N9NDF KD9JXR KD9AER KD9QQU KD9PXZ KD9VSJ VP2WJ WD9EGV KD9STL N9SJZ KD9IVV W9WGN NM0O KD9RJH W9JDP KB9ATO K9XJT KT9TB KD9ERS KD9MPI WW9DLM KB9TNZ KD9RYH WD9EB KD9ERT Submitted by KD9DBQ 73

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October Club Events

October 5 – 7:00 pm – ARES Net – 147.075 Repeater

October 6 – 7:00 pm – Board of Directors Meeting – Zoom

October 8 – 9 9:00 am to 5:00 pm – N9S Spoon River Valley Scenic Drive Special Event Station activation. Fulton County Fairgrounds, Lewistown, IL. All are welcome!

October 12 – 7:00 pm – ARES Net on the W9UVI (147.075) repeater

October 13 – 7:00 p.m. – Membership Meeting: Ham Radio Mesh Net, American Legion, Bartonville

October 15 – FCC License Testing: Morton Knights of Columbus, 616 W. David Street, Morton, IL. FRN Required. Bring two forms of identification and a copy of your license (if upgrading). Testing Fee: $15.

October 18 (TUESDAY) – 7:00 pm – ARES Zoom Meeting – Watch your email for Zoom login information.

October 27-7:00 pm – Superfest Meeting – Zoom