date

2024-02-17

convened

09:38

adjourned

10:59

Officers

• President: David Bailey (K5DKB) present
• Vice President: Paul Bilke (KF5WGJ) present
• Secretary: Matthew Barry (KG5LYE) present
• Treasurer: Lorna Flansburg (KI5FIZ) present

Attendees (28)

Quorum attained!

• David Bailey (K5DKB)
• Paul Bilke (KF5WGJ)
• Lorna Flansburg (KI5FIZ)
• Matthew Barry (KG5LYE)
• Ron Hambric (N5SBN)
• Ron Estes (KJ5EFO)
• Don Hutchcraft (KE5ADX)
• Mindy Caldwell (KJ5MJC)
• Patti Weir (KJ5BED)
• David Vickers (KI5WEH)
• Mike Wisby (KA5HIA)
• Rick Pfeil (W4RDP)
• Ralph Cobb (W5RYC)
• Robert O'Connell (KC5DWB)
• Ken Wilson (KE5DFR)
• Steven DeVillier (KI5AYW)
• Bill Preston (KZ3G)
• John Walker (W1JCW)
• Harold Turbyfill (KG5SDG)
• Nathan Wood (KN4TTV)
• Russ McDonald (KL2PB)
• Dennis Norris (KJ5DWC)
• Jim Hanks Jr. (W5CYN)
• Brad Snyder (KG5SDE)
• Tom Johnson (KI5ZPG)
• Phil Gates (N5ZKF)
• Rich Rychetsky (KI5QNR)
• Jack Rychetsky

Officer Reports

President

David Bailey (K5DKB)

• I’m here… Thanks for being here!

Vice-President

Paul Bilke (KF5WGJ)

• (See below for Winter Field Day Graphs)

Secretary

Matthew Barry (KG5LYE)

Approval of Minutes

• Hearing no corrections, minutes stand approved as sent out
• Minutes from this meeting will be sent out later today

Treasurer

Lorna Flansburg (KI5FIZ)

Last Month’s Statement

• Starting balance: $8,633.06
• Income: $894
  • $375 membership dues
  • $33 club sales
  • $6 donations
  • $75 ham license exam fees
  • $405 meal tips field day
• Disbursements: $515.92
  • $75 ham license exam fees
  • $175.92 food and supplies
  • $115 Copy Corner
  • $150 donation to American Legion for cleaning
• Ending balance: $9,011.14

Club Merchandise

• Winter Field Day 2023 stickers: $2
• Club logo pins (limited): $3
• Club logo stickers: $2
• Club logo window clings: $2
• Club logo patches: $5
• Club logo keychains: $2

Membership Renewals

Membership can be renewed in any of the following ways:

• online at Ham Club Online
• request PayPal invoice via email
• mail in cash or check (PO Box 4442, Bryan, TX 77805–4442)
• bring cash or check in-person at a meeting

Other Business

Brazos County ARES

Ron Hambric (N5SBN)

• Next meeting
  • 2024-02-19 18:30
  • American Red Cross
• Discussing alternate ways of operating a radio, even remotely
  • e.g., Echolink on the W5BCS Repeater
  • Taking advantage of new technology
• CEOC visits on Fridays 09:00
• Interesting story:
  • Was on Carnival Ship Jubilee when it rescued two guys on a kayak about 10 mi off Cancun
  • Had stopped 30 min prior for medical transfer; might not have seen them otherwise

Robertson County ARES

Jim Hanks Jr. (W5CYN)

• Trying to get All-Star node for W5KVN Repeater

RACES

Mike Wisby (KA5HIA)

• “If offshore boat does not have working EPIRB, get off immediately”
  • Alerts others via satellite in event of emergency
• TDEM Facility at RELLIS is almost ready
  • waiting for coax to be pulled
  • would like to host meeting out there one weekend

American Legion

Don Hutchcraft (KE5ADX)

• Need volunteers for American Legion Boys’ State
• District Convention in Alvarado coming up as well, but conflicts with W5BCS club meeting
• Many paths to membership if you want to get involved
  • Auxiliary now open to men whose wives served in the armed forces

Winter Field Day

• Attendance: 61 people this year
  • 16 more people than last year!
  • Granted, these are only the people who signed in…
    • Shout-out to Bill Preston (KZ3G) for greeting people and having them sign in!
  • Good outreach for radio and TV stations
    • With lots of help from American Legion’s relationship with them
• Financial Recap
  • Income: $405
    • all from meal tip jar
  • Expenses: $440.92
    • $175.92 food and supplies
    • $115 printing
    • $150 cleaning donation to American Legion
  • Net cost was $35.92
  • Food donations by Rick Pfeil (W4RDP) and Paul Bilke (KF5WGJ) — Thank you!
• Thank you to all who helped make the event possible!
  • setup for antennas and logging system
  • loaning equipment
  • cooking and organization
  • Winter Field Day Committee
• We made 3543 total points
  • 192 contacts (227 pts)
    • 157 phone contacts (1 pt each)
    • 35 CW contacts at (2 pts each; 70 pts)
  • Multiplier (for band/mode combos): ×9
    • phone on 80m, 40m, 20m, 15m, 10m
    • CW on 40m, 20m, 15m, 10m
  • 1500 bonus points (500 each):
    • alternate power source
    • antenna setup
    • operating away from home
• Survey Result Graphs
  • Lots of good participation and feedback
  • Looks like everyone had a good time
• K5DKB: saw all 3 radios being used to teach others
• Some ideas for improvement:
  • volume in radio room was problematic; headphones, sound-absorbing panels
  • dietary needs accommodations
  • logging system robustness: logging stops if main computer goes offline
  • inviting other people to bring and test their equipment
    • having
  • always looking for additional help/volunteers
  • if you have any ideas, feel free to reach out!
• All about learning and adapting to unforeseen/emergency scenarios
  • All around, “a marvelous success!”

April Meeting

• Falls on Support your Parks weekend
• maybe discuss holding meeting (and radio operations?) at nearby state park

Health and Welfare / Good of the Order

• Update on Dick Zimmer (W5DZ) (as of 2024-02-12) from Mike Wisby (KA5HIA)
  • had appointment in Houston with new doctor
  • Sends his regards to everyone
• If anyone needs help with anything please reach out to the club. You can contact any of the officers at:
  • officers@bryanarc.org

Next Meeting

2024-03-16 09:30 at American Legion Post 159

Closing