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Palestine/Anderson County Amateur Radio Club – K5PAL

www.pacarc.org P.O. Box 1376, Palestine, TX 75802 K5PAL@arrl.net

MEETING MINUTES

The regular monthly meeting of the PALESTINE/ANDERSON COUNTY AMATEUR RADIO CLUB - K5PAL was called to order at 7:00pm Tuesday, July 3rd, 2018 by President Charles McReynolds, W5IAK. This was a Hamburger Dinner Meeting. Larry Shattel, KF5FN, led the club in the Pledge of Allegiance. There were sixteen (16) members and one (1) guest, for total of seventeen (17) persons present.

The Minutes and Treasurers Reports were posted from the last monthly meeting. The current Treasury Balance is $2034.50

There were no applications for membership.

NET CONTROL

August 6^th Jeff Montgomery, WB4WXD

August 13^th Charles McReynolds, W5IAK

August 20^th Tom Wardell, KB5YUE

August 27^th Bob Dyer, WB5EAT

Monthly Speaker: Bob Dyer, WB5EAT, led a discussion about his upcoming emergency drill on July 21^st starting at 10am. The drill will be one that specifies home based emergency power on 2 meters. Information gathering via commercial AM and FM radio, as well as shortwave broadcasts will be a part of the exercise. Tom Wardell, KB5YUE, gave a presentation on local ham and public service frequencies that are included in his ARES workbook. Jeff Montgomery, WB4WXD, presented a list of 50 kilowatt AM radio stations and a list of shortwave tips and frequencies suitable for North American listening.

MEMBER REPORTS:

Bob Dyer, WB5EAT, has been working on information gathering via AM radio.

Charles McReynolds, W5IAK, discussed working ARRL Field Day from San Antonio and contacting Bob Dyer from the San Antonio station.

Tom Wardell, KB5YUE, is working on ARES lists and frequencies.

Hugh Summers, KF5CDW, is working with the Curious and Railroad museums and is interested in bringing ham radio to both venues.

Toby Nivens, KD5TN, has several antenna projects in various states of completion. He is working on a loop fed array, a magnetic loop, a helically wound loop, and a cobweb antenna.

Jeff Montgomery, WB4WXD, is working on his Zumspot DMR hotspot and the GD77 DMR radios

COMMITTEE REPORTS

ARES: Jeff Montgomery, WB4WXD, reported there were no ARES activities this month. He reiterated the need for participation in Bob’s drill and that the AmRRON annual T-REX drill would encompass the same weekend and were complimentary in scope and purpose.

VE: Jeff Montgomery, WB4WXD reported that on the attempted one day class on 16^th of June. No one showed up for the class or the following VE session. A deposit for the class and test will be required for the next session. Jeff thanked Alan Wacha, KD5IZV, Tom Wardell, KB5YUE, Gary Grimes, W5GEG, Mark Ryan, W5MSR, and Joe Blaha, KA5IRR for their help and time. The new Technician Class question pool is in effect for all upcoming tests

BUILDING MAINTENANCE: Charlie McReynolds, W5IAK, reported mowing the lawn and happily that the lack of rain has slowed down grass growth. Dorothy McReynolds, W5DJM, a member of the building committee will produce a list of needed cleaning supplies and the club will purchase them.

FIELD DAY: Bob Dyer, WB5EAT, reported on Field Day which was on the weekend of June 23^rd and 24^th this year. This year’s event was held at Dogwood Park on Manley Mountain at the picnic area. He reported that Alan Wacha, KA5IRR, and Jeff Montgomery, WB4WXD participated from the site and he participated from home with and emphasis on information gathering via AM radio. Charles McReynolds participated from San Antonio , Texas . For the most part, the bands were in poor condition, but Toby Nivens, KD5TN said there was a good opening on 20 meters when he participated from Grapeland , Texas

TUESDAY PROJECT NIGHT: Project Night meetings are on the 2^nd and 4^th Tuesdays of each month. There was one project night this month and was attended by Charlie, Bob, Tom, and Jeff checked in via cell phone. Discussions included ARES flash drive information, mounting radios in vehicles, helpful YouTube amateur radio videos, cellphone antenna applications, communication capabilities within a 70mile radius in case of disaster, gps coordinates of each member, and locating a series of rally points.

OLD BUSINESS: Picnic in the Park was not held June 24^th, due to the heat. The next PITP has been held back to the end of September given weather conditions and club interest. Charlie reiterated that the board agreed to keep the dues the same at $25 per person for the 2018-2019 club year. Annual Dues are now past due so please remit them if you want to be a member for the coming year. Roberta Blount, KF5RIX, widow of Don Blount, KF5CDV, was able to attend the meeting and brought a list of Don’s equipment that she wishes to part with. This list will be emailed to the membership in the next few days. Jeff Montgomery, WB4WXD, reported on the Plano Hamfest and how it seemed to be well attended and had lots of inside and outside vendors. There was plenty of room for the tailgaters in the back parking lot and the seminars were numerous and well attended. Jeff is working with Jason Johnston on configuring the talk groups for the DMR repeater.

NEW BUSINESS: The club received and email from John Newman, N9JS, that ETECS had purchased JC Cason’s Rusk, Texas repeater and changed the CTCSS tone to 136.5. It has been added to the ETECS linked repeater system. John asked if there was interest in adding the 147.140 Palestine machine into the ETECS system in times of emergency. It was discussed and the club agreed to a non full time linking where the club could bring up and take down the linking as needed. A motion was made to pursue the linking with these provisos by Larry Davis, KB5JHW, and seconded by Tom Wardell, KB5YUE with the motion passing. John will be notified of the decision and details will be worked out. Charles McReynolds discussed the use of the clubhouse for members wishing to attend the Fourth of July Fireworks. Members may use the building to park and keep cool while awaiting the fireworks display to begin and then remain cool in the building after the display concludes until the traffic in the area clears. Those interested may secure entry by contacting and club officer with a key prior to the event.

T-REX 2018 will be the weekend of July 20^th through the 22^nd.

The Emergency Communications drill will commence at 10am on July 21^st.

Harvey Houses On The Air, is always on the second Saturday of September which will be September 8^th this year.

Jeff Montgomery, WB4WXD, reported that club patches are available at $3.00 each.

The Next Meeting will be held August 7th, 2018, and will NOT be a Dinner meeting.

A motion was made by Tom Wardell, KB5YUE, and seconded by Larry Davis, KB5JHW, to adjourn the meeting.

Meeting adjourned at 8:01pm

Jeff Montgomery, WB4WXD

Secretary/Treasurer 2017-2018

PACARC

7/4/2018