ILLINOIS REPEATER ASSOCIATION

 

BOARD of DIRECTORS MEETING MINUTES

 

Friday, July 21, 2023

Eastland Suites Conference Center

Bloomington, IL

 

  • Meeting called to order by Greg K9QI, President at 9;07 pm. Present were President Greg K9QI, Sec’y/Treasurer Will W9WSS, Directors Al K9SI, Steve WD9CIR, Freq. Coordinator Aaron N9OZB, Asst Frequency Coordinator Mike K9KQX. Visitor Kurt W9YNP, Member Neil KB9VMR. Also present member Kermit Carlson W9XA.
  • Greg started the meeting in the Conference Center at 8:57 pm hours.
  • Greg thanked everyone for attending after 3 years of no in-person IRA meetings.
  • Discussion of a possible VHF SNP frequencies if voted by the membership.
  • Aaron said that several applications were pending where requests for VHF frequencies. Having SNP frequencies for VHF have advantages which we never had before.
  • Greg had everyone introduce themselves. Al K9SI will retire from the IRA Board at the 2024 election.
  • Greg has issues that need to be addressed until the next IRA meeting in 2024.
  • Will gave the Treasurer’s report.
  • Greg mailed out 427 meeting announcements; Six were returned undeliverable. Two of the Board members did not receive the mailing.
  • Aaron read the frequency coordinator’s report. Included were actions taken by Assistant Coordinator Mike K9KQX. If Rfinder would turn off crowd sourcing when the IRA submits repeater information, we would consider submitting information to Rfinder in the immediate future. The format would have to be acceptable for submission to Rfinder. If Repeater Book would accept the same conditions, we would consider sending them our data also. Kurt W9YNP volunteered to assist with the database. A Zoom meeting will be convened to further discuss and accept the above transactions. Aaron found several alternatives to present CTK coordinator software. This will be brought up at the general membership meeting tomorrow.
  • Changes in IRA meetings and notifications will change if accepted. Existing bylaws only accept in-person meeting. President may call an electronic meeting if a full in-person meeting cannot be held. Proposed that there will no longer be a 3-year gap without a personal face-to-face meeting, unless there are circumstances that cannot allow meetings. Membership meeting
  • Membership in Mid America Coordinating Council will be removed, as it no notifications shall remain via US Mail, and not by electronic means, by the discretion of the Board. longer exists. This was brought up by Kermit.
  • Greg will mention at the meeting tomorrow that he intends to step down as President of the IRA. Greg said that he would like to appoint Kermit as interim President of the IRA if accepted by the IRA Board. Greg would like to stay involved with the IRA in a technical capacity. At a meeting with Aaron and Neil, Greg would like Aaron hand over the frequency coordination over to Mike K9KQX on a full-time basis. Greg asked Mike AA9VI to turn the Vice-President position over to Aaron. The Board as a whole agreed on all issues, including Greg to remain with the IRA on a technical basis.
  • Greg called the meeting to an end at 11:10 pm.

 

 

ILLINOIS REPEATER ASSOCIATION

 

GENERAL MEMBERSHIP ANNUAL MEETING MINUTES

 

Saturday, July 22, 2023

Eastland Suites Conference Center

Bloomington, IL

 

  • Meeting called to order by President Greg K9QI at 10:05 am. Present were President Greg K9QI, Sec’y/Treasurer Will W9WSS, Directors Al K9SI, Steve WD9CIR, Jerry N9RBQ, Frequency Coordinator Aaron N9OZB, and Ass’t Coordinator Mike K9KQX. Absent was Vice-President Mike AA9VI.
  • Board members introduced themselves.
  • Participants of the meeting introduced themselves
  • A moment of silence was taken for the passing of Tim K9CQ, past V/P.
  • Treasurer’s report read by Will W9WSS, motion made to accept,
  • Aaron was appointed Board Member; Mike AA9VI appointed Vice-President over the past year by the Board as interim positions.
  • There will be the next election during the March or April 2024 membership meeting.
  • Aaron Collins N9OZB Frequency Coordinator read the Coordinator’s and Ass’t. Coordinator’s report; Motion made to accept the report, seconded, and passed. The report has been entered in the record.
  • Will read the 2019 General Membership meeting minutes. They were accepted after being motioned and seconded.
  • Will read the Treasurer’s report. Motion to accept the report, seconded, and passed.
  • Aaron read the Frequency Coordinator and Ass’t Frequency Coordinator’s report. Motion made to accept, seconded, and passed.
  • Greg mentioned that coordination by modeling and simulation is being explored; Aaron and Greg both agreed that it’s feasible.
  • Greg would like to mention a possible change to the bylaws. A second paragraph would be modified that if in person meeting cannot be held, an electronic meeting would take place without interaction by the membership if possible. Those meetings will be convened by the approval of the Board. We wish to have face to face meeting if at all possible. This has been published and discussed. A motion was made by Kermit, seconded, and passed. Bylaw change has been accepted.
  • Greg discussed adoption of new two meter plan, changing frequencies (as printed on attachment authored by Mike AA9VI and Greg). New VHF repeater pairs, and two VHF SNP channels for repeaters. This would not affect active digital modes such as APRS and some packet frequencies. These frequencies are Illinois exclusive, not for other states. A motion to accept this band plan was made, seconded, and passed. 
  • A question was made regarding the new Volunteer Monitor Program. Kermit explained it is very effective and a positive change. It is successful because of numerous issues being addressed quietly behind the scenes.
  • Greg said that he was stepping down at the close of this meeting. He is appointing Kermit W9XA as the Interim President of the IRA. Greg will remain active with the IRA in a technical capacity. Aaron will be appointed Vice-President. Mike AA9VI will be retained as technical assistance. Mike K9KQX will take on the role of Frequency Coordinator with Aaron’s assistance. Al K9SI will remain on the board until next election. Kermit came up to the podium and made comments that he was happy to take the position.
  • Motion was made to close the meeting. Seconded, and passed. Greg closed the meeting at 11:54 am.

 

 

ILLINOIS REPEATER ASSOCIATION

 

BOARD of DIRECTORS MEETING MINUTES

(after General Meeting)

 

Saturday, July 22, 2023

Eastland Suites Conference Center

Bloomington, IL

 

  • Greg called after meeting at 12:00 hours.
  • Present was Greg K9QI, Aaron N9OZB, Kermit W9XA, Jerry N9RBQ, Mike K9KQX, Steve, WD9CIR, Al K9SI
  • Changes made to appointed positions will be in effect until the general membership meeting in March/April 2024.
  • An open director position to fill Al’s retirement will be needed.
  • The interim positions will be Aaron Vice-President Pro Tem, Kermit President Pro Tem, Mike K9KQX Assistant Frequency Coordinator, Neil KB9VMR Tech Committee member.
  • Greg ended the meeting at 12:05 hours.