BOARD of
DIRECTORS MINUTES
April 27,
2012
The
Illinois Repeater Association Board of Directors meeting for April 27, 2012 was
called to order by IRA President Bill Kraus KA9FER at 08:55 PM at the Eastland
Suites Bloomington/Normal,
IRA
Officers Present:
President:
Bill Kraus KA9FER
Vice
President Tim Childers, KB9FBI
Interim Secretary/Treasurer
Will Sperling K9WSS
Directors:
Al Wolfe, K9SI
Steve Craig, WD9CIR
Milt Forsberg K9QZI – NOT PRESENT
Rich Ranson KD9Q -
NOT PRESENT
Staff
Present:
Aaron Collins, N9OZB, Frequency
Coordinator
Fred
Seibold, W9FWS, Newsletter Editor.
Greg
Buchwald K9QI, Technical Committee Chairman
Guests
Present:
Dave Karr, KA9FUR,
Jim Amidei N9ABF,
Bill LoBianco KA9LFU,
President
FER thanked everyone for attending, and also in memory for Larry Schroeder
KA9KDC who passed away suddenly last year. Will K9WSS is working to put
together documentation as interim Sec’y / Treasurer.
Request
of additional items to be added to the agenda:
By-laws to
be discussed.
Access to
other state’s software
Items
identified for discussion during Committee Reports and New Business.
Minutes
of Previous Meetings:
Al SI moved and Steve WD9CIR seconded a motion to approve the board minutes
as previously published in the 2012 printed newsletter and website. Motion carried by unanimous voice vote.
Treasurer's
Report: Treasurer’s
report: Secretary/ Treasurer, WSS read the
treasurer's for the period of June 2011 to April 2012
Greg Motion
As of April 24th (before meeting) there were: (with additional
expected for renewal at next days General Meeting). Some few members have paid for memberships
for several years in advance.
Treasury/account details read & reviewed with board; and available
from IRA Treasurer. “Account balance is
stable year over year”.
KA9FER Mentioned
that Larry KDC did quite a bit behind the scenes. WSS is working hard to keep
up with new duties & responsibilities as interim Secretary and Treasurer.
Al SI said
that a quorum of Board members were in fact present at this Board meeting.
Steve CIR concurred.
COMMITTEE REPORTS:
v Frequency
Coordinators Report : Aaron Collins, N9OZB, IL Frequency Coordinator
gave a review of past years coordination and actions. For April 2011/ April 2012 processed 68
repeater apps, most have been moved and changes in admin issues. 53 granted .
14 are still pending at this time. Decoordinated 15 systems. OZB didn’t have a
lot of time due to personal reasons. 2-3 years get decoordinated as late. They
are all due for due process in all fairness. OZB said that some of these
systems will be checked for active use on the air. Steve CIR said that other
Board members can help OZB with those repeaters NOT currently on the air
throughout the State. Countless NOPC’s from adjacent states. Approx. 4-5 a
month. Mailing 514 pages. Mandatory PL project was scrapped as
unenforceable. Tones are not done totally by region, some are picked
arbitrarily. Grandfathering, older systems, etc., not willing to change because
“it’s been this way for so long.” Tim said that in past times, users had old PL
decks; now they easily programmable. Greg will investigate further. Report
accepted by the entire Board.
v Technical
Committee Report : Greg Buchwald K9QI appointed by President Bill
KA9FER. Bill suggested Greg possibly put together a proposed PL plan. QI said
he would take on spectrum issues as necessary which he sees on a regular basis
as a Motorola professional. 420-450 band always at risk. 500 MHz commercial
applications coming in the future, also freqs above 1.2 GHz. Pressure is going
to build keeping UHF frequencies at risk. Spectrum usage should be mandatory
otherwise we could lose valuable bands. D-Star and TRBO is a good example of
fine usage of the spectrum, plus they are networked some all over huge regions
and the world. Greg is proposing ongoing work with IEEE and a task group to
look at more efficient use of spectrum. Use HAAT data, and transitional
modeling program for wide-area systems. Allowing putting oneness on persons
using the systems. Adding low-height repeaters will not cause interference to
other systems. OZB said that the software already has this built-in, he and FUR
have already been doing it with the software. Alternate ways to short space
should be examined and possibly utilized. Dealing with digital techniques can
be used with D-Star systems coordination. Co-location at the same site has
always been a possibility with certain conditions of the respective digital
systems. This task committee could take on some of this material, and come back
to the Board sometime possibly six months. A lot of this plan is similar to
what Greg already is doing at work with Motorola. He will ask for volunteers at
the General Membership meeting for his committee. This will be for statewide
issues, not just regional-only systems.
A motion to accept the committee reports was made by FER and
seconded by CIR. The motion was passed by voice vote.
Old Business:
FER mentioned changing SOS
corporate agent from KDC to WSS.
Having two people on bank accounts
and data bases should be backed up in two sources. OZB and WSS send their data
a few times a year to other Board members.
New Business:
Same applies to above in old business regarding
back-ups of proprietary data bases for IRA.
FER suggests doing the same with “personal” repeaters
and associated information.
Spectrum Defense Fund – money from ARRL; in past
year’s donated $1000 to ARRL for this fund.
Discussion for amount of funds to be donated to
Spectrum Defense Funds (SDF) by FER. Possibly have an area on the application
for donation for SDF. Round number up to $600; Suggestion will be taken to
General Membership. Board recommends this be brought up to General Membership.
Motion by SI; 2nd by FBI. Voice vote passed. Possibly increase our dues from
current $12 yearly membership to $15.
Multiple states for coordination – MO inquires what’s
similar to WI for short-spacing. FUR suggests to have a set policy and model
for all contiguous states working under same conditions. SI states that if we
follow these procedures, it should be posted on the website, especially
modeling programs for self-coordination.
SI brought up, and a discussion about utilization and
how to set up and monitor this project?
FER suggested a plaque for KDC’s time and effort for
all the years he served, to be given to KDC’s family. FBI mentioned that KDC
was on the IRA Board since at least the early 90’s. FER made motion for plaque
not to exceed $100; CIR seconded. Voice vote passed. This will be mentioned at
the General Membership meeting. WSS will research and work with FER to get it
made and presented to KDC’s family.
FER also asked about a plaque presented in the past
for Bob Hajek W9QBH and Bob Shepard KA9FLX.
Additional Board Inputs and
Discussion:
Milt and CIR are up for election
this year. SI said that Milt not present would like to submit his name, so
would CIR like to run again for the next term.
A
replacement for KDC will have to be elected. WSS was appointed interim
secy/treas at this time. By-laws would have to reflect this change because of
the position of KDC was not expiring until next year. A vote to fill his
vacancy will be brought up to the General Membership for WSS to fill the term
of Secretary/Treasurer.
Directors
would be elected; the Directors would elect the President, V/P, Secretary/Treasurer.
Large organizations do this already; IRA doesn’t at the present time. FBI said
that the by-laws would actually have to be changed. FBI will work on this, and
submit this to the Board.
A
special meeting was held at the Peoria Hamfest last year of the Board to decide
if WSS should be appointed the interim Secretary/Treasurer. This was brought up
as a feasible idea possibly for this year.
FUR
asked who might be attending the Dayton Hamvention this year.
FER
was elected to the Board of Directors of the NFCC.
ARRL
and MOU discussed; FER would like to have some things changed on this. We have
to November to submit our suggestions.
FER
mentioned about a situation in
Next
year’s meeting date brought up by SI; should be earlier in the month of April
for 2013; possibly the 20th? WSS will make reservations with the hotel, as KDC
did in year’s past.
Annual
$200 donation to FUR as in past years discussed; will be brought up at general
membership meeting.
ARRL
members – will be brought up to General Membership meeting.
Adjournment: CIR
moved and SI seconded that the IRA Board of Directors' Meeting be recessed until after the annual meeting on April 28,
2012. Motion passed by unanimous voice
vote. The meeting was adjourned at 11:10
pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Will Sperling K9WSS
Interim Secretary/Treasurer,
Illinois Repeater Association Inc.
Annual Meeting Minutes
April 28, 2012
Call to order: The meeting was called to order by IRA president Bill Kraus KA9FER
at 10:00 am at the Eastland Suites, Bloomington/Normal Illinois. Will Sperling,
Interim Secretary/Treasurer, verified that there was a quorum present as
required in the constitution to conduct business.
A moment of silence for
Past Secretary / Treasurer Larry Schroeder KA9KDC who passed away in 2011.
Introduction of Officers and Attendees: KA9FER asked everyone to introduce themselves and
identify the repeater(s) they represent.
Also
present was
K9SI
mentioned K9WSS doing a very difficult job taking over Secy/Treas for KA9KDC
who passed away last year.
Approval of prior meeting minutes: KB9LNK moved, and KA9LFU seconded motion that the
minutes of the 2011 annual meeting be approved as published in the IRA
newsletter (and website). Motion carried by unanimous voice vote.
Treasurer’s report: Secretary/
Treasurer, WSS, read the treasurer's for the period of April 2011 to April 24,
2012. KA9FER said that expenses have increased because KDC was able to get
items printed without charge to the IRA, but this is quite different now.
As of April 15th
(before meeting) there were 121 members [103 members paid through 2011; 12
through ‘2012, 3 thru ’13, and 3 thru ’15]. During meeting check-in, an
additional 50 membership checks were received.
W9XA moved and N9ABF seconded
a motion that the report be accepted. The
motion carried by voice vote.
Coordinator’s report: President KA9FER 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 de-coordination for failing to provide annual updates. SEE
AARON’S REPORT. No signal interference issues. Examine VHF spectrum; ways to
make room for digital systems. 12 pending for VHF; 2 for UHF. No one wants to
give up center channel pairs. Nothing really open for these bands. Will be
doing enforcement, repeaters on the air, using spectrum resources, etc.
Aaron highlighted the
value of the "coordinators toolkit" software is in performing
coordination work. This is a software package engineered by
A motion to accept the
coordinators report was made by NJ9T and seconded by KC9DFU .
The motion was accepted by
voice vote.
Technical Committee report: Greg
Buchwald K9QI recently appointed by KA9FER. Greg said what could be happening
long term. He spoke about the ARRL Spectrum Defense Fund. Tim spoke about 500
MHz for use of broadband, and other possible higher frequencies. 406-420 will
be back up for auction. 470-512 MHz will be taken away in next ten years, and
auctioned off to other services. ITU protection 420-430 only. More pressure to
utilize 406 MHz band for future use. What happened with 220 might occur to
420-450 MHz. Dennis Roberson, Greg’s former colleague monitors numerous
frequencies for this spectrum utilization project. Greg needs help with
efficient use of the spectrum utilization
project. Narrow-banding of amateur radio use needs to be examined for maximum
use of the spectrum. How long and how much of the spectrum is being occupied.
Looking for people by show of hands to work with Tim on this project.
Approximately 5 people said that they would be interested in helping with this
project, along with KA9FUR who will contact MN and other contiguous states.
Further discussed among attendees; A few ideas were presented. Greg said this
could be an actual threat to the amateur spectrum, so we need to be diligent
and be on point so that we don’t start losing these frequencies that are being
scrutinized. Greg requested participants’ email address if interested in being
involved and getting email; possibly a Yahoogroup.
President’s
report:
KA9FER, IRA president
summarized his view of 2011-2012 activities of the organization.
Question to participants
how many were ARRL members? Most raised their hands. HB1390 being worked on
right now, to be voted on Tuesday April 30, 2012. W9XA explained HB1390 and
asked everyone to write their representative, go to IL House website and find
your designated rep. Ask for support, be reasonable for support, asking to vote
positive for HB1390. Contact W9XA@arrl.org
who is Vice-Director of IL WIS IN for ARRL. Spectrum Defense Fund, KA9FER said
that $600 will be donated to the ARRL for the Spectrum Defense Fund. Motion by
NJ9P; seconded by N9ABF; voice vote passed. Several hands went up as
participants donated to Spectrum Defense Fund on their own. Dues for upcoming
years from $12 to possibly $15. Question
from the floor asked if backup should be set up for collection of storage
suggested. KA9FER says files are sent back/forth currently by the Board. KA9FER
mentioned that most is done via email, exchanged among the Board members for
regular business.
Election of Officers/Directors:
For this year: President, Vice-Pres, Sec-Treasurer &
two bard directors require election.
(2
YEAR TERMS):
Directors- 2012-2013 - Stephen Craig WD9CIR & Milt Forsberg-K9QZI
Motion by W9XA; 2nd by KA9LFU.
Motion to close nominations W9XA; 2nd by
KA9LFU.
NOMINATIONS:
Vote
for Secretary/Treasurer; Interim K9WSS
Nomination
for K9WSS made by N9ABF; 2nd by KA9LFU.
Nominations
closed. Motion passed.
Elected by voice vote.
Old Business:
Meeting
location is currently accepted by most participants, and April 20, 2013 to be
set for next year’s annual Board and General Membership meetings.
KA9FER
membership considers giving $200 to Dave Karr KA9FUR. Motion by AB9DEE, 2nd
KB9LNK. Motion passed by voice vote. Check will be given to KA9FUR.
KA9FUR
spoke about relationships among regional organizations, and how that has been
working currently. Will meet informally at Dayton Hamvention 2012.
KA9FER
elected to NFCC, due to KA9KDC’s passing. NFCC has been resurrected. NFCC is
a large body that designed to work with
coordination groups in the region. Some by multiple states, others by region.
Will recognize the coordinating councils already existing. An MOU must be
present by August 2012. Chris Imlay, Attorney, will be helping with this
project. A problem currently in WY, other individuals took over coordinating,
and which person would be the coordinator in WY? Databases must be shared, this
would be most difficult. A recognized body should be under the guise of the
NFCC. W9XA discussed what is being done by the ARRL to get this clarified, and
to get NFCC to accept and approve the coordinating bodies from the
organizations. KB9FBI explained how it works by the amateur population, and
given respective votes for these bodies. K9UQF wanted to thank FUR and the IRA
board for their continued work.
New Business:
General discussion topics (no specific motions)
Adjournment: There being no further business before the body a motion to adjourn
was made by KB9APW and seconded by KA9LFU and approved by a unanimous voice
vote. The meeting was adjourned at 11:10 am.
Respectfully submitted,
Will Sperling K9WSS
Secretary /Treasurer
Illinois Repeater Association Inc.
BOARD of DIRECTORS MINUTES (after
General Meeting)
April 28, 2012
The meeting
of the Board of Directors of the Illinois Repeater Association was called to
order by IRA President KA9FER at 11:20 am at Eastland Suites,
Bloomington/Normal,
IRA
Officers Present:
President
Bill Kraus, KA9FER
Vice
President KB9FBI- Secretary/Treasurer K9WSS - Directors:
2012-2014
board members: Milt Forsberg K9QZI, and Stephen Craig, WD9CIR
2011-2013
board members: Al Wolfe K9SI, and Rich Ranson KD9Q
IRA
officers absent: K9QZI and KD9Q
Committee
and Frequency Coordinator Appointments: President KA9FER appointed Aaron Collins, N9OZB to serve as Frequency Coordinator for the
next year.
K9SI moved
and WD9CIR seconded that this appointment be confirmed.
President
KA9FER appointed K9QI as Technical Committee Chairman
Motion by
WD9CIR; 2nd by KB9FBI.
President
appointed Fred Seibold, W9FWS, to serve as Newsletter Editor.
K9SI moved and WD9CIR seconded a motion that these appointments be
confirmed. Passed by a unanimous voice vote.
NFCC
Delegate: KB9FBI
moved K9SI 2nd that IRA President shall cast all NFCC ballots on
behalf of IRA and V/P will act if Pres is unable to vote. Motion Carried
Unanimous.
Adjournment: Motion by WD9CIR; 2nd
by K9SI that the IRA Board of Directors
meeting be adjourned. Motion passed by
unanimous voice vote.
The meeting
adjourned at 11:30 April 28, 2012.
Respectfully
submitted,
Will
Sperling K9WSS
Secretary/Treasurer,
Illinois
Repeater Association Inc.
BOARD of DIRECTORS
MINUTES (after General Meeting)
April 28, 2012
The meeting
of the Board of Directors of the Illinois Repeater Association was called to
order by IRA President KA9FER at 11:20 am at Eastland Suites,
Bloomington/Normal,
IRA
Officers Present:
President
Bill Kraus, KA9FER
Vice
President KB9FBI- Secretary/Treasurer K9WSS - Directors:
2012-2014
board members: Milt Forsberg K9QZI, and Stephen Craig, WD9CIR
2011-2013
board members: Al Wolfe K9SI, and Rich Ranson KD9Q
IRA
officers absent: K9QZI and KD9Q
Committee
and Frequency Coordinator Appointments: President KA9FER appointed Aaron Collins, N9OZB to serve as Frequency Coordinator for the
next year.
K9SI moved
and WD9CIR seconded that this appointment be confirmed.
President
KA9FER appointed K9QI as Technical Committee Chairman
Motion by
WD9CIR; 2nd by KB9FBI.
President
appointed Fred Seibold, W9FWS, to serve as Newsletter Editor.
K9SI moved and WD9CIR seconded a motion that these appointments be
confirmed. Passed by a unanimous voice vote.
NFCC
Delegate: KB9FBI
moved K9SI 2nd that IRA President shall cast all NFCC ballots on
behalf of IRA and V/P will act if Pres is unable to vote. Motion Carried
Unanimous.
Adjournment: Motion by WD9CIR; 2nd
by K9SI that the IRA Board of Directors
meeting be adjourned. Motion passed by
unanimous voice vote.
The meeting
adjourned at 11:30 April 28, 2012.
Respectfully
submitted,
Will
Sperling K9WSS
Secretary/Treasurer,
Illinois
Repeater Association Inc.