ILLINOIS  REPEATER  ASSOCIATION

 

BOARD of DIRECTORS MINUTES

April 20, 2007

 

The Illinois Repeater Association Board of Directors meeting for April 20, 2007 was called to order by IRA President Rich Ranson at  9:15 PM  at the Eastland Suites Bloomington/Normal, Illinois.

 

IRA Officers Present:

President: Richard Ranson, N9YAY

Vice President Tim Childers, KB9FBI

Secretary/Treasurer Larry Schroeder, KA9KDC

Directors- -

Al Wolfe, K9SI.

William Kraus, KA9FER 

Stephen Look, KA9SZW

Stephen Craig, WD9CIR

 

Staff Present: Aaron Collins, N9OZB, Frequency Coordinator.

         Robert Shepard, KA9FLX, Technical Committee Chairman.

         Fred Seibold, W9FWS, Newsletter Editor.

 

Guests Present:

Dave Karr, KA9FUR, Wisconsin Frequency Coordinator

 

___________________________________________________________________________     

Request of additional items to be added to the agenda:

 

 

Minutes of Previous Meetings: K9SI moved and KB9FER seconded a motion to approve the minutes as previously published in the newsletter.  Motion carried by unanimous voice vote.

 

Treasurer's Report: Secretary/ Treasurer, KA9KDC, read the treasurer's for the period of April 2006 to April 20, 2007.   Association account balance as of 4-20-2007 was $5659.74. Through the year expenses were $2309.85 and income was  $2139.00. KB9FBI moved and WD9CIR seconded a motion that the report be accepted. The motion carried by voice vote.

 

 

COMMITEE REPORTS:

v      Frequency Coordinators Report : Aaron Collins, N9OZB, IL Frequency Coordinator gave a review of past years coordination and actions.

 

v      Technical Committe Report : Bob Shepard, KA9FLX gave a summary of issues and active topics related to coordination.     Discussion of a emerging technology, concerns and coordination guidelines for digital repeaters, proposed plans for technologies that utilize narrow FM in terms of separation & coordination covered in new business.

 

A motion to accept the committee reports was made by KA9KDC  and seconded by KA9FER. The motion was passed by voice vote.

 

Old Business:

 

Several of the board members identified address and contact information corrections for the web site.

Tim Childers change email address:     kb9fbi@arrl.net.  WD9CIR street address  -  4112 N Grand.

 

Board signatures provided for change of Illinois registered corporation agent - transfer of corporate agent from Dick Isely to Larry Schroeder.

 

New Business :

 

 

KA9FLX - continued discussion on the Tech Committee presentation on digital technology & repeater systems coordination.   Bob Shepard presented proposal for spacing systems w/narrow FM bandwidths, such as  DSTAR in present 2 meter and 70cm band plans.    Board supported Bob's efforts, and a present for the proposals will be given during the general membership meeting.     Based on the technical factors presented, additonal trials for the potential spacing  recommendations will be led by Kermit Carlson, W9XA with several DSTAR based digital systems [in West & North suburban areas of Chicago, including FRRL & NSRC] in coming months.

 

Bob will post key components of the proposal on the IL repeater association internet site.   The board agreed that this proposal should include noted copyright information to avoid other groups from misuse or misunderstanding.

 

Discussed guidelines  for handling of existing repeater coordinations, when a  request is made for  narrow coordination -  such as a conventional repeater that desires to shift to STAR or other narrow digital technologies.    the board agreed to have a  1 year period of conversion allowance for conventional coordinations who request to convert to digital/narrow coordinations over, after that time the coordination will be for the narrower channel.     Further discussion occurred on mixed P25/analog mode repeaters and present packet/digital repeaters which occupy standard FM coordinated repeater "channels",  it was recognized that a number of such repeaters exist within Illinois and that the IRA has always fairly handled all coordinations whether they be analog or digital.  

 

 

Adjournment:  KA9KDC moved and KA9FER seconded that the IRA Board of Directors' Meeting be recessed until after the annual meeting on April 20, 2007.  Motion passed by unanimous voice vote.  The meeting was recessed at  1:00 AM.

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

Larry Schroeder, KA9KDC

Secretary/Treasurer,

Illinois Repeater Association Inc. 

 

 

ILLINOIS REPEATER ASSOCIATION

 

Annual Meeting Minutes

APRIL 21,2007

 

Call to order: The meeting was called to order by IRA president Rich Ranson, N9YAY at 10:00 AM at the Eastland Suites, Bloomington/Normal Illinois. Larry Schroeder KA9KDC, secretary/treasurer, verified that there was a quorum present as required in the constitution to conduct business.

 

Introduction of Officers and Attendees: N9YAY asked everyone to introduce themselves and identify the repeater(s) they represent. There were 56 persons in attendance representing 88 unique repeater sponsors.     

 

Also present was Dave Karr, KA9FUR, Wisconsin Frequency Coordinator

            __________________________________________________________

 

Approval of prior meeting minutes: W9XA moved and WD9HSY seconded a motion that the minutes of the 2006 annual meeting be approved as published in the IRA newsletter. Motion carried by unanimous voice vote.

 

Treasurer’s report: Secretary/ Treasurer, KA9KDC, read the treasurer's for the period of April 2006 to April 20, 2007.   Association account balance as of 4-20-2007 was $5659.74. Through the year expenses were $2309.85 and income was  $2139.00.    As of April 20th (before meeting) there were 122 IRA members, with 94 paid through '07, 12 through '08, 9 though '09, 5 through '10, and 2 through '11.

 

N9JWI moved and N9ZD seconded a motion that the report be accepted.  The motion carried by voice vote.

 

Coordinator’s report: President N9YAY introduced Aaron Collins, N9OZB Frequency Coordinator, and thanked him for his efforts in the past year. Aaron presented his written report that highlighted the activity in the past year.    Aaron noted that the effort taken to have a 2nd notice mailing for annual update had beneficial results for getting a number of repeaters to provide more accurate information, as well as reduce the number of systems that are at risk of decoordination for failing to provide annual updates.

 

Aaron highlighted the value of the "coordinators toolkit" software is in performing coordination work. This is a software package engineered by Dave Karr, WI Freq Coordinator.

 

Waiting list for 2m systems (Northern IL) is presently 3.

 

 

A motion to accept the coordinators report was made by WD9HSY and seconded by KB9ZRU.

 

The motion was accepted by voice vote.

 

 

Technical Committee report: Robert Shepard, KA9FLX, reported that details of years technical committee efforts was covered by the Coordinator' report.   Bob did stress that repeater coordination information needs to be technically correct and accurate to improve the associations efforts in handling coordination actions, in particular he noted that numerous systems have have incorrect ERP calculation/data, and physical specifications for their site.

 

Presentation on digital technologies for repeater and respective coordination handling proposals would be given in New Business.    

 

President’s  report:

Rich Ranson, N9YAY, IRA president summarized his view of 2006-2007 activities of the organization, thanking the board and committee chairs for their work.  In particular for Aaron Collins work on frequency coordination.  Rich discussed NFCC role.

 

A motion to accept the presidents report was made by W9XA and seconded by W9JWI.

The motion was accepted by voice vote.

 

 

Election of Officers/Directors:

 

Nominations were taken from floor

 

PRESIDENT  --                   N9YAY,  … nominated by W9MAF

 

VICE-PRESIDENT  --           KB9FBI,  … nominated by WA9RTI

 

SECRETARY/TREASURER  --  KA9KDC,  … nominated by W9XA

 

DIRECTOR  (two - 2 yr term slots )

 

K9SI ,  … nominated by N9RBQ

KA9FER ,  … nominated by KC6VVT

 

W9XA made a motion that all nominees be declared elected.

 

The motion was seconded by WD9HSY and carried by voice vote Therefore:

 

Your Elected Board for 2007-2008:

President-                       Rich Ranson-N9YAY

Vice President-                Tim Childers-KB9FBI

Secretary/Treasurer-       Larry Schroeder-KA9KDC

Directors-    

(2006-2008) Stephen Craig-WD9CIR,         Steve Look-KA9SZW   

(2007-2009) Al Wolfe-K9SI,                     KA9FER-William Kraus

 

 

Old Business:

 

n                   Discussed location for IRA annual meetings.  general consensus that the EASTLAND SUITES facility, Bloomington, IL continues to be a good location.   2008 meeting will be arranged for the same facilities (2008 Meeting will be April 19-2008).

 

New Business:

 

Following a technical presentation on digital & narrowband repeater technology and related spacing and coordination considerations by KA9FLX (slides to be available on IRA web site).

The following recommendations from the April 20-2007 IRA Board meeting were presented:

 

1.      The board recommends the addition of emission designator as a condition of coordination.

2.      The board recommends adoption of narrowband guidelines for coordination of narrowband systems.

3.      The board recommends that an existing analog coordination holder who wishes to seek a change in coordinated emission designator be allowed to retain their analog coordination for a period of up to one year from the date of the change.

 

Motion to accept the coordination recommendations by W9XA, Seconded by N9RBQ.  Accepted by voice vote.

 

W9SRV recommended that Rich present our digital/narrowband plans to the NFCC.

W9XA stated thanks to the technical committee and coordinator for their support of technical trials & experiments related to band plans for digital systems, such as DSTAR.

 

---------------

 

Repeater Coordination software: KA9ZRU made a motion to donate $200 to Dave Karr, developer for the coordination toolkit, Seconded by N9FWS.  Motion passed by voice vote.

 

After discussion of value for coordinator to have good computer-based topographic data, WD9HSY motioned for $200 allocation for Freq. Coordinator to acquire Topographic mapping software.  KA9ZRU seconded.   Motion passed by voice vote.

 

Suggestion recorded from floor discussion that IRA Web Site include a FAQ and technical section that provides information and guidance on topics related to coordination, such as calculating ERP, problem resolution procedures, etc.

 

---------------

General discussion topics (no specific recommendations or motions):

n                   "PL PLAN"

n                   Interference issues

 

Adjournment: There being no further business before the body a motion to adjourn was made by N9JWI and seconded by W9FWS and approved by a unanimous voice vote. The meeting was adjourned at 11:35SAM

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

Larry Schroeder, KA9KDC

Secretary /Treasurer

Illinois Repeater Association Inc.

BOARD of DIRECTORS MINUTES

 

April 21, 2007

 

The meeting of the Board of Directors of the Illinois Repeater Association was called to order by IRA President Rich Ranson at 11:45 AM at the Best Western, Eastland Suites Bloomington/Normal, Illinois.

 

IRA Officers Present:  President Richard Ranson, N9YAY - Vice President Timothy Childers, KB9FBI- Secretary/Treasurer Lawrence Schroeder, KA9KDC - Directors: Allen Wolfe, K9SI – William Kraus, KA9FER- Stephen Look, KA9SZW, Stephen Craig, WD9CIR

 

IRA officers absent:  None.

 

Committee and Frequency Coordinator Appointments: N9YAY appointed Aaron Collins, N9OZB to serve as Frequency Coordinator for the next year.

KA9FER moved and KB9FBI seconded that this appointment be confirmed.

 

N9YAY Appointed Bob Shepard, KA9FLX to serve as IRA Technical Committee Chairman.

 

KA9SZW moved and  WD9CIR seconded a motion to confirm this appointment.

 

N9YAY appointed Fred Seibold, W9FWS, to serve as Newsletter Editor.

 

K9SI  moved and KA9FER seconded a motion that this appointment be confirmed.

 All three motions passed by a unanimous voice vote.

 

MACC Director Appointments: N9YAY appointed KB9FBI and W9GIG to serve as MACC Directors for the next 12 months, and N9OZB to serve as MACC Frequency Coordinator.

 

KA9KDC moved and KA9SZW seconded a motion that the IRA Board of Directors confirm these appointments.  Motion passed by unanimous voice vote.

 

NFCC Delegate: K9SI moved and WD9CIR seconded a motion that: “The IRA President shall cast all NFCC ballots on behalf of the IRA, and that the IRA Vice President shall do so in the absence or incapacity of the IRA President, or by the direction of the IRA President.”  Motion passed by unanimous voice vote.

 

Adjournment: KA9SZW moved and WD9CIR seconded that the IRA Board of Directors meeting be adjourned.  Motion passed by unanimous voice vote. 

 

The meeting adjourned at 11:47AM April 21, 2007.

 

Respectfully submitted,

Larry Schroeder, KA9KDC

Secretary/Treasurer,

Illinois Repeater Association Inc.