May 2012

Mid-South Amateur Radio Association - Club Meeting Minutes May 3, 2012

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

Attendance: President Dennis Foster (KJ4BDU), Vice-President Roger Schlichter (WR4R), Secretary Linda Ware (KJ4ELL), Treasurer John Parish (KD4EUZ), Board members: Tony Brignole (WA4KHN), Lance Morris (N4GMT), Ned Savage (KA4BLL), Danny Banks (KJ4FXZ). Total membership attendance approx. 30.

Welcome: Meeting called to order by Dennis (KJ4BDU) at 7:00 p.m. and went right into the program, as described below. Skipped introductions.

Minutes from previous club meeting motioned (Randy W4RMV), seconded (Ham W4GMM), and accepted as posted on MARA website. Printed copies of previous month’s minutes and Treasurer’s report are always available at sign-in table. Treasurer's report (April 1 through April 30, 2012) read by John Parish, motioned (Lance N4GMT), seconded (Randy W4RMV), and accepted by attending membership (viva voce).

Announcements:

Condolences to the family of Greg Butler (KI4OTG) Silent Key.

Ham (W4GMM) had sign-up sheet available for the Armed Forces Communication Exercise (formerly held at Huxtable) for May 12^th at WKNO.

Jim (KI4I) has a big battery available for any ham-related project.

Old Business: SOFTWARE ORDERS were distributed by Randy Van Voorhis (W4RMV). For any questions contact Randy at: randy@markseven.com. Many thanks to Randy for doing this for MARA again this year!

Results from FreeFest by Tony … see following pages for details. $3,600 to LeBonheur this year. Thanks to everyone for working to make it a success.

Follow up on club jackets/patches not addressed.

Follow up on increased insurance coverage not addressed.

New Business:

Joe (WA4OVO) and Dennis (KJ4BDU) initiated a discussion about Ham Hilliard’s (W4GMM) request of funds for food at the Armed Forces Communication Exercise. The MARA budget calls for a contribution to match Delta up to $50.

(Note: Check was issued before the event.)

Program: Neighborhood Watch

Betty Seago, the Neighborhood Watch program coordinator for the Memphis Police Department gave a presentation on how it works and lots of helpful tips. Officer J. Bailey conducted a Q&A session following the presentation and offered very good information.

Drawing for door prize won by Ned (KA4BLL).

Motion to adjourn by Ham (W4GMM), seconded by Ray (KJ4DUE) and adjourned by Dennis (KJ4BDU) at 8:00 p.m.

Notes:

Dayton is May 18-20, 2012.

Next meeting will be same location, June 7^th at precinct.

Field Day is next month, but was not discussed at this meeting.

Next year’s FREEFEST will be at its same location on Saturday, April 13, 2013.

Respectfully submitted by Secretary Linda Ware (KJ4ELL)

FreeFest 2012 Comments

Prizes are key get good prizes to attract buyers – ipads and TV went great in 2012.

Donated approximately $3600 to LeBonheur.

This included $63 from smashing old scope at $1 per hit in parking lot.

Estimated attendance in 400-500 range. Ran out of free tickets at around 300 at 10:30 a.m.

Order more tickets

2500 in 2011 ordered 3600 and then 2000 more sold out at 10:30 a.m. Saturday

Missed $200-300 in sales

Gave out approx 300 to entry folks sold rest of 5600

Sold $1,500 in presale

Sold $2,000 on Saturday prior to running out.

Start Selling Earlier

Started in mid-March need to start by March 1

Vendor mail out sequence;

General to past vendors/donors mid December

Layout Mid January

Mail out to rest of world by mid January

Don’t have so many price brackets consider dropping $100

Don’t take reservations from – all cancelled or failed to show.

Chicago Surplus

Lee Roden

D & L Antenna

Phil Lofton

Audit following

Need beige masking tape

Probably OK on Gaffer’s tape

Sound system from Ray Cole better

Speaker stands loaded to capacity

Add 2 speakers inside and lower volume

Add outside in flea if possible.

Add upstairs in test room – could be issue with noise

Comments from vendors about loudness and amount of traffic

MARA banner wrinkled see if we can iron it out

Make aisle at ticket barrel wider. Shift whole table layout south toward MFJ

Kitchen training critical to avoid near riot like this year.

Food list from John Parish

Concession gross was $1,030

Spent about $540 at Sam’s but $250 was donated

Net was around $900

Had food and cokes left over for Field Day and/or meetings

Ease up Concession prices next year.

Continue to feed vendors

Better marking for Flea Market – keep yellow tape out of building.

Need 600 linear feet of cardboard and paper for tables.

About 5X 140 ft rolls of Kraft paper

Cardboard at Brignole clubhouse may need little extra

Lance can get some from Sam’s

Floor arrangement as laid out short about 4 tables we have to bring in.

Redo club list to be more accurate

Update FreeFest Vendor e-mail list to be more accurate.

Try to get better handle of hourly donations earlier to sequence

Have better prizes around mid day to hold folks there.

Used 927.5 MHz as control frequency – worked fine.

Advertising – go hams need to get local by pitching flea market and computers, old radios etc.

Mail to media list by mid March

Posters to choice locations

Saks on WUMR

Good Morning from Memphis

Nets, clubs, etc. Mail outs to ARRL clubs

See if Medlin wants to broadcast again.

Get Vickers to check cards again.

Rick Kanschat made great large banners on large printer at LeBonheur.

Banners for back of main table

Banners for prizes main and hourly

Forum notices and Exam notices for doors

Bartlett Municipal Center has excellent WIFI in building