Month: March 2014

  • Treasurer’s Report – March 11, 2014

    Income:

    WRTC: $290.25
    Dues:  $45.00
    FT857 Raffle: $860.00
    Hamfest Sales: $61.21
    Total Income: $1256.46

    Expenses

    None:  $00.00
    Total Expenses: $00.00

    Starting Balance: $8410.49

    Ending Balance: $9666.49

    Net Income from FT857 Raffle: $910.00

    Note: WRTC has a payable of $4000 by June 1st (balance on WRTC station purchases)

  • Board Meeting Minutes – March 11, 2014

    HCRA Board of Directors Meeting
    March 11th, 2014

     Location: West Springfield, MA. The meeting was called to order at 7:13PM
    Present: KK1W, KB1NWH, AA1YW, N1FJ, N1KXR, W1MSW

    OFFICER REPORTS

    Vice President – KB1NWH
    More antenna installation with Eric/W1MOR

    Treasurer – AA1YW
    Current financial report: $9666.49
    Status of WRTC Sales: $5713.00 sold to date
    Status of FT857 raffle:  Net profit for this raffle: $910.
    It is noted we have a payable due WRTC by June 1st for $4000 for the WRTC stations.
    We have a balance of $28.52 in our PayPal account.

    Secretary – Open – KK1W will take notes
    Ed is handling USPS PO Box pickup. All mail is up to date

    DIRECTOR REPORTS

    Technical – K1YO (not present)
    April’s Tech corner will expand to fill the whole meeting with the subject of Yagi antennas.

    Zero Beat, N1FJ
    Frandy is close to securing a service that can print and mail the USPS Zero Beats. He will be testing it  and have results for us at the May meeting.

    Membership – N1KXR
    Current Membership: 74 Regular, 9 Family, 3 Life and 7 Prospects
    Members joining after March 1 will have an expiration date of 8/31/2015
    Rich is working on a method of following up with non-renewed members from 2012 and 2013.

    At Large – Not present
    Venture Crew 510 Charter should be on track for renewal.

    Program – W1MSW – Not present
    April: – Bob/K1YO on Yagi Antennas
    May:  Chuck/ARRL on the ARRL’s “Intruder Watch” program
    June: Field Day planning, N1MM workshop, elections

    OLD BUSINESS
    The ‘cloud database’ has not been completed. The board decided to stay with our present Access database. Ed is maintaining it and Bob/K1YO has offered to help with queries.

    Jim/KK1W is working on reaching out to members and encouraging them to join the board.

    Ed/KB1NWH reported the Town of Agawam is happy to have us back for Field Day 2014. There is construction at the park but it shouldn’t pose any problems.

    Dave, Jeff and Jim will develop a ‘PayPal’ workflow so next year’s Treasurer will be in a position to handle the high renewal influx.
    .
    NEW BUSINESS
    Our table at the MTARA hamfest was a great success. We had lot’s of staff for the table and many visitors. Raffle ticket sales were brisk. HCRA donated two tickets to MTARA for raffle prizes during the hamfest. The drawing was held at noon and the winner was Frandy/N1FJ. HCRA thanks MTARA for their generous hospitality. (KK1W)

    W1MSW and KB1NWH tell us Field Day 2014 planning in underway and on schedule. There was some discussion about providing food. General consensus was not to do so again this year. The main reasons are close proximity to many restaurants and a lack of a ‘food person’ to run the job. They would entertain providing coffee/donuts on Saturday and Sunday morning if a volunteer is found to do it.

    Our new contact person at HMC is now Doug/KB1JC.

    2013/2014 Board Meeting Dates
    May 6th
    June 10th

    Meeting adjourned at 9:00 PM

    Respectfully submitted by Jim Mullen/KK1W

  • Ham radio ops / Volunteers needed for Simulated Emergency.

    From Bruce Fuller (KB1TLX):
    (As mentioned at HCRA’s past meeting (3/7/14))

    The simulated emergency is based on the aftermath of a “tornado”. They are looking for patients/victims and well as radio operators. For anyone interested, the volunteers can operate on the “Tag Team” basis, meaning they can volunteer for what ever time they feel comfortable with. The exercise will start on Thursday, 10 April at around 1400 hours and end on Friday, 11 April at around 1200 hours. The website to sign up for this exercise is http://umassdrill.eventbrite.com/


    logo

    Shelter victims will portray the part of those affected by the tornado disaster. They will arrive at 3pm and live the life of a shelter resident. Participants are encouraged to consider the option of joining a sleepover as part of the event. How many people can say they’ve had a slumber party in the Mullins Center?!

    Shelter volunteers will assist the team leaders with shelter operations. Volunteers are needed in various positions from 2-9pm. There are 8 positions to choose from:

    • Registration Volunteers: Assist with welcoming victims into the shelter.
    • Donations Management: Assist the team leader with collecting donations brought to the shelter.
    • Dormitory Management: Assist the team leader with management of sleeping quarters.
    • Medical Component: Assist the team leader with medical needs of clients (both simulated and real).
    • Food Service: Assist the team leader with serving pre-made meals to all participants.
    • Mental Health: Assist the team leader with assessing simulated mental health needs of clients.
    • Childcare: Assist the team leader with providing a safe and entertaining area for children.
    • Animal Sheltering: Assist the team leader with managing shelter pets.

    All exercise participants will be provided meals during the event, including snacks, dinner and breakfast.
    Registration for the shelter roles is on a first come basis. All participants are encouraged to bring their pets to the drill. You do not need to bring anything for cats and dogs, but be sure to bring the necessary habitat for unique pets (i.e. cage/heat lamp for snakes). Children are also invited to the drill as there will be a childcare area. Please be advised though there will be some simulated injuries with blood, so younger children are not recommended to attend.

    We hope you are able to join us at this great event!

  • Thanks to everyone that stopped by our table at the MTARA hamfest today!

    A fun day at the hamfest. Thanks to everyone that stopped by to say hello, purchase some raffle tickets, join the club, pick up a few bargains and more. It was nice seeing many faces we had not seen since last year too!

    Congratulations to Frandy/N1FJ – winner of the Yeasu FT-857. I checked, it does have CW on it so he ‘may’ actually turn it on! Also congrats to Laurie who went home with a new VHF radio thanks to the MTARA raffle. Our table was the place to be!

    A special thank you to everyone that volunteered to help cover the table throughout the morning. Laurie/KB1WQK, Jeff/NT1K, George/KC1V, Dave/AA1YW, Steve/N1SR and Rich/N1KXR. What a crew and they did a fantastic job!

    ’73 until next year,

    Jim/KK1W