Minutes from the KARS Monthly Meeting February 14, 2022

The meeting was held in person at the fire station and a contingent of members attended via Zoom. The meeting was started at 7:35 pm with the Pledge of Allegiance.

We had three new members to report: Dan Mumford (WB5DSC, Advanced), Michelle MacDonald (KI5MDW, General), and Jonathan Taylor (KI5OZK, General). There being no dissenting votes all three are now official members of the Katy Amateur Radio Society.

The Katy Safety Fest will be held on April 23 at Katy Mills Mall (Burlington entrance) and promises the be a rather large event with many participants from public safety, law enforcement, and branches of the military. Geographically, too, the event will be spread out and HAM operators are requested to held with supportive communications to free up radio channels for official business.

The sidewalk sale outside of Freddy’s Café of some of Mike Brennan’s bequeathed radio equipment will become a regular swap meet to be held every third Saturday of the month, except for March as not to conflict with the Houston Area Tailgate (which replaces the Houston Area Hamfest this year). The swap meet at Freddy’s Café will be advertised to local area HAM clubs.
There is $xxxx in the account with no outlays coming up until June/July for the insurance.

All board positions were opened for new candidates, but there being no new candidates and the existing board members all indicating their willingness to serve another term meant that the board was reappointed by acclamation.

A new location for VE testing was named, being the Episcopal Church on Grand Parkway and Highland Knolls. This is in addition to the American Shooting Centre on Westheimer Parkway (inside the reservoir) that has also been offered as a potential location. Gerald Doucet will be the final arbiter to make a decision as he runs the VE program.

Sheree and Bill run a local traffic net and there is a push for the creation of a digital traffic net, similar to the current traffic net.

The MS 150 bike ride is held at the end of April. A training ride, Peddling the Prairie, will take place on February 26. The Buffalo Bayou Regatta will celebrate its 50^th anniversary on Saturday, March 5 from 7:30 am to 2:30 pm. All three events are opportunities for HAM operators to volunteer their services.

The meeting concluded shortly after 8 PM

Hielke Buddelmeijer KI5JYX

Secretary KARS

Minutes from the KARS BOD January 31, 2022

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 $xxxxin the bank account and $xxxx in the PayPal account. This reflects membership renewals and the proceeds from the sale of Mike Brennan’s bequeathed radio equipment. HamClubOnline automated messages are going out for members to renew their membership.

• KARS received new member applications from Dan Mumford (Advanced), Michelle MacDonald (General), and Jonathan Taylor (General) who will be put up for a vote at the February (Valentine’s Day) General meeting.

• Bridgecom was mentioned as a potential speaker on DMR and/or DMR equipment for the General Meeting as was ABR Industries to give a presentation on coax cable.The Katy Safety Fest will be held on April 23 this year at Katy Mills Mall.

  There will be a swap meet outside of Freddy’s Café every 3^rd Saturday of the month from 8AM, except in March as not to conflict with the Houston Area Tailgate (which replaces the Houston Area Hamfest this year). The swap meet at Freddy’s Café will be advertised to local area HAM clubs.

The meeting concluded at 7:54 PM.