Month: April 2024

Present: Stan VE6SYS, Larry VE6WL, Kalvin VE6KRO, Kevin VE6KVV, Wayne VE6WEK, Chad VA6OEM, Dave VA6SYS, Gary VE6CV, Tyler VA6TI, Roy VE6AWT, Norm VE6NFW, Brian VE6LAY, David VE6DRL, Charlie VE6KN, Barry VE6BGR, Peter VA6ARI.

Call to Order by: Gary VE6CV at 10:03 am
Seconded by: Tyler VA6TI
All in favour.

Thanks to Kalvin for securing us a new (free) meeting location at the College.

Reading of the Minutes of Feb. 17 by Peter VA6ARI
No omissions or corrections.
Motion to accept minutes as read by: Kevin VE6KVV
Seconded by: Tyler VA6TI
All in favour.

Treasurer’s Report by Barry VE6BGR
Major expenses this month: RAC Insurance and Website hosting fee, which was donated by Cory VE6COR

Repeater Committee Report by Barry VE6BGR
Not much new to report. Still suspect the solar panels.
The toroids have arrived. Will install when weather is nicer.
Will also check on the grounding.
Also working on a remote announcement system.

Field Day Report by Gary?
Email address for FD announcements and info: saarcFieldDay@gmail.com
Field Day info posted to Website and Facebook, and there is a Discord channel.

Old Business
1) Club Generator: Steve VE6SCL recommends four options:
– A-ipower 2000 W Dual Fuel Gasoline Powered Inverter Portable, $600 at Costco
– Anker 535 Portable Power Station 512Wh, $600 at Costco
– Firman 3,200 W Dual Fuel Inverter Generator, $990 at Costco
– Firman 4550/3650W Dual Fuel Generator, $700 at Costco
It was decided that we do not need a new generator right now and will reassess if/when that changes.
2) Basic Classes: Ron VE6PAP is checking with the College to see if they’re interested. Not present for an update.
Roy VE6AWT has broken the question bank into the eight sections and has created Word Doc files of all the questions in each section. These could be posted to the website. Barry is going to look for a coordinator.
3) Month 2 of Bruce’s VE6ATY link of Echolink to CAM repeater. Seems to be working. We will address it again next month.
4) Name tags. Name tags will be ordered through The Engravers at $10 each for anyone interested.
5) CW Practice. Contact Cory VE6CYT if interested.

New Business
1) Since the club is not a federal Registered Charity, we are not able to issue donation receipts.
2) Emergency Communications discussion with the city. Tyler is in contact with Jamie at the city. There will be a city meeting Aug. 1, 2024 to talk about Emcomm. Tyler will invite Jamie to Field Day.

Move to close the business portion of the meeting by: Kalvin at 10:56 am
(no seconder required)

NanoVNA Presentation by Barry VE6BGR

Next meeting will be on May 25 (fourth Saturday because of the long weekend) here at the College.

Southern Alberta Field Day 2024 will be happening the weekend of June 22 to 23 at the Lion’s Club Campground, about five km north of Fort Macleod on highway 811 (GPS coordinates: 49.7566, -113.4061). Last year’s Field Day was very well attended and this year we are expecting even more. We have invited hams from Calgary, Medicine Hat, Montana, and of course everyone in the Lethbridge area.

Camping is available (there’s lots of space). There are NO services but there is non-potable water, free firewood (end cuts from the Truss Plant in town), and out-houses. Sites are so nice and a very good size. You are welcome to come early and stay as long as you want.

Agenda (tentative):

• Saturday morning flea market around the cook house.
• Saturday hotdog and hamburger lunch provided.
• Saturday pizza supper (ordered individually from Fort Macleod Pizza and delivered to the campground).
• Sunday pancake and sausage breakfast provided.

Other Events are still in the planning stages (like a scavenger hunt for both kids and adults, and door prizes and draws). Please watch this site for updates as we get closer to the date. Also, let others know about the event and invite them along.