Minutes from the KARS BOD November 29, 2021
Original agenda:
1. Apologies for absence
2. Treasurer report
3. Secretary report
* Activities coordinator report
4. General discussion
Meeting notes:
Our KARS board of directors meeting was conducted via Zoom.
- The meeting started at 7:30 PM with all board members present.
- The treasurer reported that there is $xxxx.xxin the bank account and $xxx.xx in the PayPal account. The members had approved the purchase of a (used) laptop to conduct our General Member meeting also via Zoom, but a suitable laptop has not yet been found. There are several attractive options available, and the expectation is that we will soon find a good deal and purchase it.
The amateur radio field trip to the Senior Road Tower facility in Missouri City has about 30 members signed up.At the November General Meeting the members approved that KARS would contribute $150 towards the costs of refreshments and lunch.
- KARS received a new member application from Salvador Garza (KI5SRR, General) and Ed Arrighi (Associate) who both will be put up for a vote at the December General meeting.
To date, 22 sets of 6 tickets (132 tickets total) have been sold. A pack of 6 tickets costs $10 meaning that we already more than broke even on the Raspberry Pi 400 prize.
- Jack Cavutti (NZ5TX) reported that at the last VE training session they had 9 people taking exams. Two became Extras. One person did not pass their technician class exam.
Winter Field Day will be held on January 29 and 30. It will likely be a low-key fun half day at Cullen Park as it has been in the past.
The Treasurer shared an inventory list of old radio equipment that was donated to the club (Mike’s bequest). The board will have to decide what to do with it. Some may be sold, some of it may be kept by the club for club use, and some of it may be given to club members. The inventory list will need to be cleaned up and values will have to be assigned to the various items.
The Christmas party (December General Meeting) will have no presentation, but Sergio will touch base with John Thurmond about either giving, or knowing about someone who might give, a presentation on grounding.
The meeting concluded at 7:54 PM.
Hielke Buddelmeijer
KARS Secretary
KI5JYX
The Christmas meeting on 13th December will be held at Rudi’s BBQ on the I-10 starting at 7:30. We have the rear room reserved but Rudi’s advised that if they get a ‘paying’ booking we may have to vacate and move to the main room. I am assured this isn’t really an issue though.
The raffle prize will be drawn so make sure you have your tickets beforehand. Heilke will have some for sale on the night.
Hope to see you all there for some great BBQ and fun.
Original agenda:
1. Apologies for absence
2. Treasurer report
3. Secretary report
4. Activities coordinator report
5. General discussion
Meeting notes:
Our KARS board of directors meeting was conducted via Zoom.
- The meeting started at 7:30 PM.
- The treasurer reported that there is a little over $7,000 in the account. Given that the members have approved spending by the board without approval as long as it is below $250, the Treasurer will go ahead and purchase a Raspberry Pi 400 kit for the Christmas raffle, and a webcam and microphone to conduct the General meeting over Zoom for those unable to attend in person at the fire station. The club has been using member’s private equipment, but given that Zoom seems to be a permanent feature the investment was deemed prudent.
The Treasurer secured an amateur radio field trip to the Senior Road Tower facility in Missouri City. This is a 2000 foot mast (tower) that is used by the majority of the FM radio stations in Houston. We will get to see the combiner room, and hopefully we will get to see some of the Transmitter rooms. The date is Dec 11th at 10am. Participants need to sign up on a Google Doc. Information has been provided through the KARS listserver. If approved at the General Meeting, KARS will contribute $100 towards refreshments and lunch.
The members will be asked to approve the purchase of a (used) laptop during Black Friday / Cyber Monday to run Zoom during the General Meetings. The initial idea of using the Raspberry Pi 400 failed because the unix client for Zoom does not run on the processor the Raspberry Pi uses (AMD?).
- Robert Hicks (W5TKB, Extra Class) will be put up for a vote for membership in the upcoming General Meeting.
Raffle Tickets will be created by the Secretary using the templates from last year. Care needs to be taken to include the legally required details. These aren’t too onerous but need to spell out the day of the drawing and the prize, among others.
The Christmas party and meeting will be held at Rudy’s at 1930 hours on the second Monday in December. The room has been reserved, with the understanding that should a paying party show up we will be bumped towards the patio in the front.
The meeting concluded at 7:50 PM.
Hielke Buddelmeijer
KARS Secretary
KI5JYX
