GBARC Meeting Minutes November 2023

Virtual Presence: 2, In-person: 10

Brett K9BY – President

 Lyndon WA9JLD – Vice President

Dean K9FLO – Secretary

Greg K9GJN – Treasure

Chuck WD9BB – Officer

Secretary Report:

Dean-K9FLO, we reviewed the minutes from our October 2, 2023, meeting.     Recommended for Approval by Chuck-wd9bb, seconded by Ed-kb9nbp.          

Treasurer Report: Greg-k9gjn reviewed the status of the Club funds.     The Blackhawk Bank who we currently use has been bought out by First Mid effective December 1,2023 and there are no banking changes planned at this time.    We decided to stay with First Mid for now unless there are banking changes which we would need to address.     Greg-k9gjn the club is in good financial condition.     Dues fund drive starts in December through February and are still only $25.     A motion to approve by Chuck-wd9bb and seconded by Ed-kb9nbp.     

Old Business:    

        Brett-k9by We had the last Foxhunt of 2023 and we had four teams start and two teams finished.      Bret-k9by the Fox was just North of Big Hill Park by the River aiming at the hill.    Jim-kd9jdy & Brenda-kd9gdx took about 1.5 hours and Chuck-wd9bb got turned around at the park.    Chuck-wd9bb thanked Brett-k9by for all his effort in making the Foxhunts successful.    Dave-ak9f  said the Boy Scouts would be interested in being involved in a Foxhunt.         Brett-k9by we have planned special event for this February 2024.     Greg-k9gjn recommends a special event call sign of “K9B” (which is currently available) for special event call or a “W9B” (B for Beloit) which would be good for only 30 days (checking on number of event days).      This would be a new first-time event for our club and it would go along with our 60^th anniversary.     Brett-k9by explained what a special event station is to all that were present.     The station would operate for a month or less during February.     Publish the special event call sign, the date duration, to ARRL and related publications.      We will also publish a QSL card with the club information and a photo of the original club house from 1965.     Brett-k9by can create a logging program for Rock Ham-radio Special Event.     Do we want to have a club competition within the club (discuss later)?     Greg-k9gjn recommended we have a 30-day event.     We had a general discussion on the ideas.      Greg-k9gjn volunteered to check into a call-sign, QRZ page and a QSL, (e) card.    Kurt-ke9n can do the QSL card with the photo, Dean-k9flo will send the 1965 club house photo to Kurt-ke9n .     Brett-k9by do we need to have a vote?    Brett-k9by made a motion to have a club special event station for the 60^th anniversary of our club during the month of February.     Motion approved by Chuck-wd9bb and seconded Brian-kd9qvb.     Motion approved.       Winter Field Day January 27-28, 2024, will be held at Chuck-wd9bb’s QTH with heat.   Set up like last year’s with dipole and Chuck-wd9bb antenna.      Brett will check to see if the rules are the same as last year in which we were able to use Chuck’s beam.    Chuck-wd9bb we do have antenna options available if needed.         

  New Business

 Last summer Brett-k9by, Greg-k9gjn and Andy-kd9esm went up to the Oshkosh EAA, to find the fox valley radio club special events station and we helped them out.      They were in The Kids Venture Area of the event.      We found after awhile their members were leaving (backing out) and we ended up helping the kids (up to 35) came into the Radio tent.     They had contact with an operator in TX who had two young daughters who were put on the air to talked to all the kids at the EAA radio tent.     We really enjoyed the ham radio participation, and if you are interested in doing the radio tent, you will receive free passes.      We are hoping the club will have interest in participating at this next year.       Chuck-wd9bb what is the status/ procedure on our elections 2024?          2024 elections nominations will be march (in person) and dues will be paid by then (paid member can only nominate & vote).     The election is April.      Remember you can pay your dues online at GBARC “PAYPAL” or by US mail.   

 A motion to adjourn the meeting by Greg-k9gjn and seconded by Ed-kb9nbp.    Meeting adjourned at 7:40pm.

Program:  none

Next Meeting will be December 4, 2023. 

Secretary: Dean-K9FLO