Jun 2011

Mid-South Amateur Radio Association - Club Meeting Minutes June 16, 2011

Location: Northeast Police Precinct (Appling Farms Parkway) 6850 Whitten Bend Cove, Memphis, TN 38133

Attendance: President Tony Brignole (WA4KHN), Vice President Del Earnheart (AJ4EM), Secretary Linda Ware (KJ4ELL), Treasurer John Parish (KD4EUZ). Attendance: approx 27.

Welcome: Meeting called to order by Tony at 7:00 p.m. Introductions; introductory comments.

Minutes for previous meeting posted on MARA website (maraonline.org) and printed copies, along with Treasurer’s Report available on front table. Motioned (Lance N4GMT), seconded (Jeff AJ4GY), and accepted as posted by attending membership. Treasurer's Report read by John Parish (KD4EUZ). Motioned (Del AJ4EM), seconded (Ned KA4BLL), and accepted as read (viva voce).

Old Business: Tony passed around copies of the “thank you” article from the LeBonheur newsletter of May 15, 2011. MARA raised more than $2,200 for the hospital at FreeFest.

New Business: FIELD DAY planning is in full swing! Place: Cox Park in Collierville, Times: Start set-up at 7:00 a.m. Saturday morning. Operating noon Saturday til 1:00 p.m. Sunday, June 25-26, 2011. Most of the logistics will be worked out tonight. Details are listed below.

Announcement by John (KA4RXP) re: a 70 ft. Universal crank-up tower in Southaven – free for the taking. Would need a backhoe, crane, flatbed to move it. Weighs several thousand pounds, galvanized steel. Tony suggested Industrial Crane Service would work with you doing the lift. This announcement was well-received and created a lot of excitement!

Our July meeting will be a pool party at the club house Friday June 22, more information below.

Program: Guest speaker, Randy Wilder (WB4LHD) proudly displayed a Proclamation from the office of the mayor officially recognizing amateur radio, Field Day, and designating the week of June 19-26, 2011 as Amateur Radio Week in the town of Collierville, Tennessee.

Randy gave a comprehensive overview of Field Day 2011. Planning started back in February and the Tri-State web site is up to date, with memos and announcements going out daily at this point. All the clubs are being represented this year, Tri-State, MARA, and Delta, along with EMA, ARES, the Collierville Police Dept., CERT, Red Cross, and Memphis D-Star. Tri-State batteries will be available. Be sure to wear your badges/hats. Parking will be coned off, near pavilion. There will be a display area for 6-meter rigs. Logging will not be networked, will combine afterward. Using same software as before: N3FJP Field Day 2.8.

Russ Myers (WD4JHD) will be the Safety Manager. Electricians will be David Perry (AJ4KF) and Frank Griffin (K4FEG). Local news and TV media will be announcing the event through the week, and Jeff (AJ4GY) will have plugs 7:40-8:00 a.m. Thursday and again at approx. 8:00 a.m. Friday on AM 990 KWAM radio. Link to map for Cox Park is on MARA web site (home). Details, lists, etc. are being sent out daily by Tri-State. W5KUB will be there with live web cam. There are lots of opportunities to advertise and promote ham radio.

Call sign used will be W4BS. Talk-in frequency is 145.41 w/107.2 Hz tone.

Short break.

Coordination/full discussion of set-up and layout throughout the Field Day event.

Condolences for Neal Talley (WA4EAI) Silent Key. Neal did the talk-in at FreeFest for the last couple of years. He was very well-liked and respected in the ham community for many years.

Notes: There will be a pre-Father’s Day Danver’s breakfast this Saturday morning at 8:00.

Next meeting is scheduled for Friday, July 22^nd at the club house – poolside at 6:30 p.m.. Sign-up sheet on front table for attendees/guests – need head count for planning of hamburger/hot dog cookout/party. Country Club Estates, 2417 Lacosta Drive, Bartlett, TN 38134.

Motion to close (Del AJ4EM), seconded (Roger WR4R), adjourned by Tony at 8:20 p.m.

Respectfully submitted by Secretary Linda Ware (KJ4ELL)