PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
Enjoy these photos from Winter Field Day 2024 at the Hopedale EOC. We had 32 people sign in.
Don’t forget to pay your 2024 Dues. Your membership helps make events like WFD a reality.
Ben Knapp, KD9RYH
Todd Ricca, N9CS is interviewed by Jolie Rodriguez of WEEK25
MEETING MINUTES
Board of Directors – January 2, 2024
Attending via Zoom:
Rich Schmitz*(K9RCS), Jacob Walters (K9WFT), Ben Knapp (KD9RYH), Rob Herrin (KD9DBQ), Tom Hunt (W8NWG), Casey Kerchner (KC9IH), Thom Beebe (W9RY), Tanya Knapp (KD9YPM), Darren Weir (KD9HZZ) and Adam Gerik (KD9NYE – recording minutes as secretary) *corrected name from Holtman with permission – wd9eb.
7:02p.m.: Ben calls the meeting to order
Tom moves to approve meeting minutes that are posted in Band Bits, Rob seconds… all are in favor and it passes.
SPECIAL GUEST TONIGHT: Thom (W9RY), section manager from ARRL
- Having looked at the new venue and new board, the Illinois convention will be held in conjunction with Superfest in 2024
- Also proposed to division director Carl that they move the Central Division convention to Superfest as well for 2025
- With a little luck, can then have it for the next two years after that
- Wants us to take a look at the Club Grant program… specifically involving STEM-interested high school students
- There’s also a possibility for a convention grant – he’ll let us know more info soon. If we are funded for the first year, we have to make a commitment to have the convention again for the next two years. We will have to re-submit for funding those additional years, but it’s easier. That would help fund guest speakers, etc.
- Tom asks if we have to be a 501(c)3 to qualify for these grants and we do not.
- Ben asks what the ARRL needs from us for the convention… Thom says a couple of cables and two tables for their booth. He’ll also be doing a lot of advertising for the Illinois and sectional convention designation.
- A few months ago, Thom went to the ARRL to say that they need something to help them move into the 21st century – so he asked for a 32” monitor, speakers, new signage, etc. He’s hopeful that we can be a test case for the ARRL.
- Tom asks Thom how many additional people might be possible for the state convention? Not sure exactly, They wanted a central location to help pull from the Chicagoland area, along with those in Southern Illinois as well.
- Brainstorming ideas for where to have dinner for Superfest 2024… Rob brings up Grecian Gardens as a possible option. Darren will check.
- Tom asks if we can take a look at any promo material before being sent by ARRL… Thom says no problem.
- Thom also suggests that we may want to set up an HF station at ham fest or have a boot camp for newbies where they can try building something radio related. Maybe even involve the Scouts.
- Asks if we’ll have flyers printed for Superfest – and yes, we will. (We should update the proposed design to mention the state convention.)
TREASURY REPORT FROM TANYA:
- $323.98 in checking
- $33.86 in savings
- $10,618.45 in money market
- $355.75 in Square account
- Not sure how much in PayPal due to access issues
- Tower rent check of $1200
- Tom introduces a motion to the board that we authorize Tanya and Ben to be issued CEFCU debit cards. Jake and Darren simultaneously second this. All are in favor.
- Rich makes a motion to accept the treasurer’s report, Tom seconds. All are in favor.
REPEATER COMMITTEE REPORT FROM TOM:
- New repeater chair is Jake (K9WFT)
- Tom proposes Steve Groeb, Matt Boenke, Rich Holtman, Ben, Tom, Justin, Todd (N9CS). Rob makes a motion to accept the list in total, Jake seconds. All are in favor.
- Series of goals for 2024:
- An additional, new repeater site
- We have 443.875 allocated by Illinois Repeater Council. Right now, it’s set up for the 075 physical site. Looking to move this to the proposed new repeater site, but need cans (not duplexers.) We have a spare DR-1 repeater. Jake says that we may have possible options at the Glasford site, but may not be tuned the way we need them. Otherwise, we could look for some in Dayton. New is $1200, used is half that.
- 85 site in Glasford can’t be reset remotely, so we need a way via internet (we can do that via 075 repeater)
- Get WIRES-X on all repeaters, including the new Kickapoo site. We need an HRI200 by Yaesu to do it… we have only one.
- Link all analog repeaters together for great coverage
- Longer term… link with other organizations’ repeaters in the Tri-County area.
- Get a station going at the new Red Cross building (minimum of VHF/UHF/Winlink.) We need a route for a transmission line to the roof. The height of the new building is real close to the height of the existing tower.
- We’ll need to set up a budget for the cans, linking equipment, etc. Looking at a couple of thousand dollars without antennas involved.
- Darren does have a vertical antenna that Fritz bought for the club, in addition to a tri-band dipole.
OLD BUSINESS:
- $250 paid so far for 501(c)3… and we may have also not been an active 501(c)7 due to not having paid the past few years. Looking into this.
- Darren will send out bylaw changes to the board for review.
- Spotter training with the National Weather Service in Lincoln is usually in March… we will contact them to coordinate with the club.
NEW BUSINESS:
- A new Facebook group has been made to help us communicate as a board.
- We need to update our equipment inventory for the club.
Tom makes a motion to adjourn, Rob seconds… all are in favor and we are done at 8:14 p.m.
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Membership Meeting – January 9, 2024
7:01 p.m. call to order by Ben (KD9RYH)
26 members/board members are in attendance via Zoom
Deb (WD9EB) makes a motion to accept the minutes in BandBits, Jon (NM0O) seconds that motion. All are in favor and they are approved.
Treasurer’s report from Tanya (KD9YPM):
- $33.86 in savings
- $1,823.98 in checking
- $9,118.45 in money market
- Had to move some money to checking to cover tower rent for the year
- Just under $400 for Square
- $586.81 in PayPal
Superfest report from Darren (KD9HZZ):
- He talked with Woodford EMA guys about bringing their trailer to Superfest. Peoria Co ECOM is coming as well. He’ll check with Tazewell to see if they’ll come.
- Reminder that ARRL will be at Superfest for the Illinois Convention
- Woodford’s club will be there as well and will need two tables
- Scott DeSantis wants to work with us on go-kits for Superfest
- Dwight has 600 tickets printed and will bring them to Winter Field Day (should have all 3,000 printed by then.) Just need to print placards for flea market vendors.
Repeaters’ report from Tom (W8NWG):
- Jake has identified two digital interface boxes to enable Wires-X, but we need cables for one of them. We need a third one purchased so we can have all of our repeaters connected. (Kickapoo D-Star repeater, 075 machine that formerly had WiresX, 85 in Glasford for Fusion)
- We need a way to remote control the Glasford repeater)
- Also need some older computers for these sites (Deb has one, Scott has a few more.) We’ll also need monitors. Four sets are needed in total.
- We’re also intending to link up the repeaters together… Jake will check to see if we’ll have what we need via the digital interfaces and computers.
- Some other exciting things in the works that he’ll be able to announce soon!
Winter Field Day in Hopedale:
- We have the site (and Community Room) from Saturday afternoon until we get done on Sunday.
- Event starts at 1 p.m. through 1 p.m., with setup on Saturday at noon
- Hoping to operate overnight… Deb will be there and Justin volunteered to help those early hours as well
- Darren had mentioned bringing Italian beef, Tanya will get some hoagie rolls at Costco. Deb will make some cheesy Calico beans.
- Icom 7300 and the Yaesu 991a of the club’s will be there
- People are welcome to bring their own radios as well (we have limited bandpass filters, though.)
Other old business:
- Deb is still working on the test membership site at w9uvi.org
- Radio room at Red Cross has been emptied out of furniture. Among items salvaged are 2x 200ft+ runs of heliax, 4x runs of 100ft+ LMR-400. All lightning arresters were pulled out of the box, but still need to get antennas and coax down. We’ll also be allowed to take the tower itself down.
- It will likely be June before we get the trailer they’re giving us.
- There are two meeting rooms at the newer Red Cross building we can use. Tom and Darren have badges, Ben will also have a badge.
- In March, we’ll probably have a Superfest meeting there.
- We haven’t been given a time to get the cable and tower dismantled… we just needed to vacate our space more urgently.
New business:
- New PAARC board for 2024 (updated on website)
- Scott asks for suggestions for Superfest training sessions… Tom is asked if he would do an Extra-class session, but says that he’d be more comfortable doing a CW one. Reach out to Scott if you want to help participate (or even group teach!)
- Ben was approached for setting up a STEM radio-related program for students in Washington… he would like to have the club get involved. Jake has kids in the district, so he’s in. We’re looking at doing this maybe in 2025.
- Jim Nelson asks if members can post to the club’s Facebook page… apparently that’s no longer possible, but we’ll look at the settings to see if we can fix it. Tom makes a motion for Jake to be moderator for the club’s page, Rich seconds it. All are in favor – good luck to Jake (who got his new vanity call today… K9LE)
Darren makes a motion to adjourn, Tom seconds. We’re done at 7:53 p.m. Scott then begins a short presentation on ham radio software for old computers.
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MIDWEST SUPERFESTTM
We have tickets and flyers. Flyers will be available at the next club meeting February 13.
Dwight is working on placards, I hope to have them soon.
I will email all the vendors that have not responded the by first or second week in February.
I will be taking some tickets and flyers to Bill at Midwest Two way and to Don Bell.
The next Midwest Superfest meeting is February 20th on zoom. The March meeting will probably be in person at the Red Cross.
View and download the Midwest Superfest Flyer.
Darren Weir, “KD9HZZ, Midwest Superfest Chair
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PEORIA COUNTY ARES
Amateur radio operators use their training, skills, and equipment to provide communications during emergencies, When All Else Fails®.
February 7, ARES Net @ 7:00 PM CDT on the W9UVI (147.075) repeater
February 14, ARES Net @ 7:00 PM CDT on the W9UVI (147.075) repeater
February 21, Monthly Meeting via Zoom, 7:00 PM
The PAARC-hosted Weather Spotter Training Class is coming to the March Club Meeting on the 12th at 6:30 PM. If that timing does not work for you there are multiple other training sessions available around the Central Illinois area – check https://www.weather.gov/ilx/spotter for these sessions.
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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JANUARY NET LOGS
1/7
KD9RYH K9XJT KD9ANU N9WX W9WGN K9HJZ KC9IH KD9AER KD9WRX KD9YPM KC9VEW KD9VAN KD9ERS W9JDP K9TNT N9NDF NM0O K9RCS K9WFT KD9PXZ W9WTF W8NWG KB9ATO N9WFT KD9JXR KD9IVV WF9E WW9DLM K9CEW K9UQF KD9STL KD9RJH K9QZ KD9LHA KD9ZFC NP2WJ N9CS KD9LQL KD9NYE Submitted by KD9DBQ
1/14
KD9HZZ KD9RYH K9LE KD9IVV WD9EB W9WGN K9HJZ KC9IH KD9YPM KD9ZFC KD9WRX KD9QQU W9JDP K9TNT KD9JXR N9NDF NM0O KD9ZKZ KD9PXZ KD9YYD W8NWG W9FYR KD9STL N9WFT KD9RJH KD9NYE NP2WJ K9UQF K9RCS KD9IBC N9GZ N9CS K9QZ KB9ATO KD9ERS WW9DLM Submitted by KD9DBQ 73
1/21
W9WTF KD9RYH WD9EB KD9ANU KD9HZZ W9WGN K9HJZ KD9ZFC KC9IH N9NDF KD9TEG KD9AER KD9YPM KD9IBC KD9WRX NP2WJ KD9JXR NM0O K9LE K9TNT KD9PXZ KD9ZKZ KB9ATO KD9QQU N9WFT KC9VEW K9RCS W9JDP W8NWG KD9STL WF9E K9QZ N9GZ Submitted by KD9DBQ 73
1/28
KD9RYH KD9ANU W9WTF W9WGN KD9IBC N9NDF (from Taiwan via Echolink) KC9IH KD9ZFC KD9WRX KD9YPM K9HJZ KD9VRW KD9HZZ W9JDP K9TNT NM0O KD9IVV KB9ATO KD9PXZ KD9JXR W8NWG N9WFT N9SL KD9VIN NP2WJ WW9DLM KD9STL K9UQF KD9QQU N9GZ N9CS K9LE K9RCS KC9VEW KD9TZU W9DAY KD9ZKZ Submitted by KD9DBQ
FEBRUARY CLUB EVENTS
February 6 – 7:00 p.m. – Board Meeting via Zoom. Link on club meetings page
February 7 – 7:00 p.m. – ARES Net on the W9UVI (147.075) repeater
February 13 – 7:00 p.m. – Membership Meeting: Bartonville American Legion – Setting up a simple mobile station for POTA, eComms or Field Day
February 14 – 7:00 p.m. – ARES Net on the W9UVI (147.075) repeater
February 17 – 12:00 noon – 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
February 27 – 7:00 p.m. – Midwest Superfest Meeting via Zoom link on club meetings page
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