The regular meeting of the Arlington Amateur Radio Club on 2008-05-20 
was called to order at 1935L by President Jack, WA4FXX. Also attending 
were

Mike, NW3V,
George, KR4MU,
Gary, KC5QCN,
Tom Wedige [guest speaker],
Prentiss, K4PDJ,
Ian, KI4DTP,
Aric, KI4THM,
Paul,
Mike, KG4RKL,
Mike, KA8OPJ,
Randy, WB4MJF,
Arthur, W4ART,
Adrian, VK5ZSN,
Dan, N8YSZ, and
Dennis, W4PWF.

Jack asked whether there were additions or corrections to the draft 
minutes of the April meeting, and offered this one: "quot;We need to note 
that we were approved to buy ink for the shack printer."quot; It was moved, 
seconded, and passed to accept the April minutes with this amendment.

Then, it was moved, seconded, and passed to accept the minutes of the 
March meeting.

Treasurer Mike, KG4RKL, presented his report on the Club's finances. 

Jack noted that two web applications for membership had been received. 
Three applications are pending. One, for an applicant not present and 
not known, was tabled. It was moved, seconded, and passed to accept the 
applications from Geraldine Cox and Cynthia Kellam, who were away at a 
Medical Reserve Corps event.

Activities Chair Gary KC5QCN introduced distinguished guest speaker Tom 
Wedige, Director of Operations for Secretary of Defense Communications.

Jack asked Dennis for a report on ARRL activities. Dennis said, "quot;Some 
survived Dayton. The FCC just dismissed two petitions; nothing is 
pending. We may get some court notes back for copying, since we 
prevailed."quot;  

Jack turned to EMCOMM. He said the NCAC net still exists, Sunday night. 
He said he assumed that a new ARES Arlington County Emergency 
Coordinator would be announced soon. Jack asked about recent or 
imminent public service events. Ian said that Fairfax was holding an 
Emergency Vehicle Rally, and that the American Red Cross will help.

Gary thanked Jack for helping to operate WAR for the cross-band 
military-ham communications event.

Jack raised old business, and said discussions of the repeater and 
Field Day would be postponed until after the program. Randy displayed 
the failed, swapped-out IDer/COR (carrier-operated relay) module from 
the Rosslyn site. Craig Church,K4GOR, had loaned a replacement. Art 
asked Jack whether he could run a link power budget for the northwest 
remote site. Jack replied that he could, and asked Art to email him. 

Dan said ...

[Looks like I'm missing a page of notes.]

Tom Wedige, Director of Operations for Secretary of Defense 
Communications, gave a fascinating presentation about his work, which 
involves providing the Secretary of Defense with whatever 
communications he needs, before he needs it. This covers everything 
from sending advance teams to provision hotels and resorts in exotic 
destinations, to providing secure communications to the SECDEF even if 
hurtling (through Maryland) in a special vehicle at high speed.

After the program, the agenda turned to Field Day, the repeater, and 
other topics.

Randy, reporting on his trip tothe ARRL Dayton Hamvention, said the 
Icom girls were back, but attendance was down. Ian asked why. Randy 
cited the price of gasoline, and the fact that rain was forecast.

Randy said that Arlington County had migrated to APCO-interoperable 
digital radio, and suggested a digital scanner that could be used to 
monitor the traffic. The County inaugurated a new Emergency 
Communications Center (ECC), equipped with the radios.

Prentiss asked what dues were. Jack said $10. Prentiss suggested that 
we consider increasing dues to build up tha Club's balance.

Field Day 2008

Jack said that the Director (of the Arlington County Chapter of the 
American Red Cross) had approved our request to operate as an Emergency 
Operations Center--Class F--during Field Day 2008. We'll run off the 
generator maybe two hours on Saturday and one hour on Sunday. 

It was moved, seconded, and passed to authorize advance expenditure of 
up to one hundred dollars by George, KR4MU, for Field Day provisions. 
For Saturday supper, George plans to cook burgers, potato salad, and 
baked beans. For Sunday breakfast, expect eggs, home fries, bacon, 
sausage, and more.

Randy asked what we might do to reach out to other clubs (invite them 
to our Field Day).

Jack said that there had been no acceptances yet of our invitations to 
elected officials.

We noted that Commissioner Morroy had not yet been invited. Jack said 
that he would run propagation forecasting software to predict good 
times for contacting her Uncle Otto, PZ1AC. 

Jack said that, based on experience, he doesn't recommend mailing Field 
Day announcements.

Mike NW3V said that Ken, WB4AKK, would bring two laptops, one with 
Windows software, one with Linux, to operate digital modes, including 
machine CW, with interface cables for IC-720As.

Ian asked how to reach out to new hams. Jack said we need volunteers. 
Mike KG4RKL asked about reaching out to the Thomas Jefferson [High 
School for Science and Technology] Radio Club. Art said [can't read my 
notes--need fill, Art].

Turning to other public-service topics, Jack asked whether members 
helped pack gear at the National Headquarters for emergency deployment. 
Ian said that he and others did. Jack said that the Minutes should show 
that.

Ian said that he volunteered to bring the American Red Cross Mobile 
Coordination Center (MCC) here for Field Day.

Returning to the matter of TJHSST, Art noted that school would be out 
of session by Field Day.

Treasurer Mike, KG4RKL, collected money for ARRL Field Day 2008 shirts 
($13) and pins ($5). [Jack: ? Can'tread my note.]

Dan said that he would provide an IC-706 for Field Day. Mike NW3V asked 
about networking for logging. Dan said that James KB1JMV and Adam AI4QB 
had provided gear for FD2007.

Jack adjourned the meeting at 2145L.

Respectfully submitted,
Mike, nw3v, acting Secretary