The second was detailed presentation on Summits on the Air. This is a facet of amateur radio activity that involves operations from high mountain tops. There are about 500 plus locations for this activity in Virginia alone. Summits on the Air uses light weight equipment to operate from these mountain top locations. Special field deploy-able radios, antennas, and power sources are used. Some of the specialized equipment was available for show and tell during the presentation and after the regular club meeting.

Club Business – President Norton called the club meeting to order at about 8:30 PM. The club voted KK4QGG to club membership. Matching funds were contributed by passing the hat for the Obscure Organization which hosts the club’s web pages. All reports on ARRL, Club Repeater, Club Net, and Digital After Net were normal. Preparations for Field Day are on track. Chuck and Ken will meet with our sponsor at the Knights of Columbus.

In attendance were: Ken WB4AKK, Mike NW3V, Mike KA8OPJ, Doug KK4QFR, Jack W2JWP, Mike KK1MM, Dennis W4PWF, Randy WB4MJF, Mike KG4RKL, John KK4EBG, David N4WDC, Melissa (Visitor), Arthur W4ART, Chuck K4QS, Roy AI4GO, and George KR4MU.

Randy also reaffirmed that the program for the May 21 meeting will be about Summits on the Air (SOTA).

-Terminal Node Controllers used for digital communications,
-Hand held radios of various types used for local communications along with accessories needed to charge the radios under various field conditions,
-Portable HF antennas for field use that could easily be transported in a backpack or similar compact arrangement,
-Home brew baluns to support end-fed antennas for various amateur bands,
-Examples of good quality voltmeters and multi-meters that gave accurate measurements,
-Morse code practice equipment (about 30 plus years old),
-Superbright LED based flashlights for emergency use,
-Examples of using Power Pole Connectors to wire up your shack or go kit, and
-Set up of a local Wi-Fi network to distribute specific technical information to Wi-Fi equipt cell phones, tablets, or laptop computers for specific events (like hamfests).

Encomm – Club members interested in supporting the Pentagon Amateur Radio Club’s May 11th work on the Armed Forces Day Cross Band Test should contact Gary at: kc5qcn@arrl.net. Chuck also invited people to contact him about participation in the Airport Drill on May 4th. A handi-talkie would be desirable for this event.

The Treasurer made his report. Art mentioned that this a good time of the year to view the International Space Station. See URL: http://www.heavens-above.com/PassSummary.aspx?satid=25544.

In attendance were: Ken WB4AKK, Mike KA8OPJ, Mike KK1MM, Rich KK4OGG, Roy AI4GO, Arthur W4ART, Martina KK4GOU, Randy WB4MJF, Mike NW3V, Brian KC7IWL, Jonathan N4ERD, Benn AK4AV, David KJ4EMI, Chuck KI4DHW, and Mike KG4RKL.

President Norton called the meeting to order about 8 PM. First topic discussed was the VA QSO party experience last weekend. Because of the inclement weather, no outdoor operations were conducted. However, operations were conducted from Chuck’s station and a number of the other members. Members felt the N3FJP logging software was very helpful in making the contest log easier to compile and submit. (All members who participated should submit their logs and indicate their club membership as W4WVP.) A coronal mass ejection event during the QSO party made the operation a little more challenging.

Dennis reported that all ARRL activities were going well. The Logbook of the World is operating correctly. The ARRL will have an expo at the Dayton hamfest.

Prentiss passed out a survey of club interests. These were completed and returned to Prentiss and the committee. Ken volunteered to lead the Field Day activity this year. We will ask to hold this at the Knights of Columbus site used last year.

The club voted to sell off the 1976 Clegg 2 Meter FM radio in exchange for parts for the club’s repeater. The club briefly discussed the idea of meeting with another club to see what they were doing. The meeting adjourned at about 8:55 PM.

In attendance were: Ken WB4AKK, George KR4MU, Prentiss K4PDJ, Chuck KI4DHW, Mike KK1MM, John KK4EBG, Randy WB4MJF, Dave KI4EMI, Mike KG4RKL, and Mike KA8OPJ.

http://www.qsl.net/sterling/VA_QSO_Party/2013_VQP/2013_VQP_Main.html

President Norton called the meeting to order at approximately 7:45 PM. Minutes of the January 2013 meeting were approved. Dennis reported that the Log Book of the World is working well now, including for the recent CW contest. Mike reported that net operations are working well with up 15 check-ins. The digital after-net is also usually well attended.
Randy reported that the repeater is operating well. He may be able to obtain some spare parts for the current equipment. Cynthia reported that the CERT program will start two classes shortly. Both classes are full. She noted that CERT member were interested in gaining more experience with hands on operations, like Field Day and the VA QSO Party.
Art noted that new satellites will be coming into operations. He needed a volunteer to attend the next T-MARC meeting.

Prentiss presented ideas from the Issues Committee that looked into the future of the club and what its activities should be. Key ideas were as follows: First more education for the members. This might be enhanced through higher dues to cover future expenses. The club should also look into the advantages of non-profit status, and a more formal process for budgeting and planning for future expenses. Third, the club should look at improving its web site and recruiting new members. The club should think more clearly about its mission and develop a more formal mission or objectives statement.

President Norton suggested that the members review the detailed material developed by the Issues Committee. Please provide feed back to the Issues Committee members so we can have more detailed discussions in the future.

Mike presented two motions concerning support to the Obscure Organization for their hosting our web site. Motion one concerned contributing $ 20 per year to Obscure for their current web site hosting. This motion was passed. The second motion concerned contributing $ 120 to Obscure for past web site hosting. This motion was defeated.

Attendees at the meeting were: Ken WB4AKK, Mike NW3V, Pat KJ4OCA, Liz KK4ODU,
Arthur W4ART, Jonathan N4ERD, Cynthia KJ4CLK, Dennis W4PWF, John KK4EBG, Dennis W4PWF, Prentiss K4PDJ, Mike KK1MM, Mike KA8OPJ, Chuck KI4DHW, and Conrad KK4CYY.

The club voted to renew the ARRL Liability Policy for the club for 2013. Dennis reported that earlier problems with the ARRL Logbook of the World have been addressed with fast technology for the computers used for this service.

There was no E-Com report. Chuck reported the need for additional volunteers to examine such activities. They could hold the position of Assistant Emergency Coordinator for Arlington County. There could be several people with this title. (See later in the minutes.)

Mike reported that the club nets are generally well attended. The is a digital “afternet”, which affords participants the opportunity to practice digital modes that could also be used for long distance HF communications in an emergency. Mention was made of the Vienna Wireless Society HF Digital Net held on 80 meters at 8 PM on Tuesdays.
See URL: http://www.viennawireless.org/nets.php.

The club’s repeater is also operating well. There was no additional information on Red Cross activities.

Cynthia reported that the CERT training will begin again in March . CERT has trained more that 500 persons, and about 250 are active in supporting on-going programs. She noted that CERT is also very active in presenting preparedness programs for the general public. There is a need to train more CERT members as radio amateurs. Generally this is being done through programs at the Alexandria and Stirling radio clubs. The need for club members to take the National Incident Management Program courses ICS-100 and ICS-700.
See URL: http://training.fema.gov/EMIWeb/IS/is100b.asp

New Business – A discussion about supplying funds to the Obscure.org, our website host. A wide variety of issues were raised about this and related questions. The broader question concerned what the club should do in the future, that is its forward direction. A committee of Dave, John, and Prentiss volunteered to look at this question and bring recommendations to club at the next meeting.

Randy also distributed a survey for the members to complete and return to him on their activities and interests. This would help him plan programs in the future. Members were reminded to send their 2013 dues to Treasurer Mike.

Attendees at the meeting were: Ken WB4AKK, Mike NW3V, Randy WB4MJF, Dennis W4WPF, Chuck KI4DHW, Cynthia KJ4CLK, Pat KJ4OCA, Mike KG4RKL, John KK4EBG, Mike KK1MM, Dave KJ4EMI, Jack K5OTZ, Jim W3HVN, Roy AI4GO, Mike KA8OPJ, and Prentiss, K4PDJ.