Minutes of August 25, 2016

Post date: Aug 26, 2016 8:51:41 PM

Jack Garner called the meeting to order at 7:05 with pledges to the Texas and US flags. Richard Stone offered the prayer.

Rose Head read the minutes from the July meeting. They were approved as read.

Henry McKinney gave the treasurer’s report. The balance reported at the July meeting was $969.50. The August electric bill was $17.87. The ending balance is $951.63. The report was approved as read.

Old Business:

Rondel Stevens reported that the Brownwood club will be participating in Early’s pioneer days. When he first called to reserve space the fees were quoted as $50 vendor fee plus $25 electricity fee. A week later he emailed the organizers a description of what amateur radio does free as a service to the community. After that, the club was invited to participate in the event as a pioneer craft for free. The club will show Morse code and also the newer communication techniques. Their club member Jerry KF5AOK will set up his fully equipped emergency command radio trailer.

The Early pioneer days event runs from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on September 17th. There will be a concert at dark that same night. It will be in Early city park a couple of blocks down Trailer Drive from Hwy 67.

Jack asked Rose to add Alan Brown’s new Lampasas repeater to the list of local repeaters.

In New Business:

Walt Kovar agreed to fill in as secretary for the next meeting while Rose is on vacation.

Cotton Inks asked about the lack of activity on the local repeaters. Even the net nights have been quiet. Cell phones were blamed for lack of radio use. Also band conditions have not been good for some of the nets.

There was discussion about the repeaters functioning in an emergency. The latest power outage didn’t affect them but a larger one would. Ronnie Head mentioned that we have a backup battery for the 146.79 repeater but it hasn’t been wired in.

Richard moved that the meeting adjourn. Mary Inks seconded. The meeting adjourned at 7.34.