LARG Monthly Meeting
November 20, 2010


The meeting was called to order at 8:38 A.M. EST by LARG President Jay, KI4TXP. There were 35 attendees present. Please double-click here for attendance roster.

Minutes from the October meeting were approved with no corrections/additions.

Jeff, KE5APC, presented the posted treasurer report with the additions of $100 from Dave Boltson - WA4TXE, for the LARG surplus tower the club agreed to sell him in the September LARG meeting and the $700 donation from the Reston Bike Club just received. The Treasurer's report was approved as presented/posted.

No guests/new members were present.

Committee Reports

Public Service
: Gary, NC4S indicated he had received a thank you letter from Reston Bike club and gave a quick synopsis. The letter is below Please double-click here to open thank you letter.

Jay, KI4TXP indicated that there was no information for First Night Leesburg support and members should watch the LARG Reflector for updates.

Training: Jay Greeley, KI4UTB, reported that no classes will be held in the remainder of the year due to scheduling a date and the availability of instructors.

Jay did report that the Fauquier Amateur Radio Association will be holding a Technician Training Class – February 12th (Part 1) and 19th (Part 2), 2011 in Gainesville VA.

Public Relations: Jay Greeley, KI4UTB, reported there had been no activity. Jay G. indicated there may need to be something put on the website for First Night Leesburg.

Contesting: John - W4AU indicated that the ARRL Sweepstakes would be starting at 4PM. The exchange is considered somewhat arcane. The weekend after Thanksgiving, the CQ Worldwide CW contest will be held.

Website: Report made by Jay, KI4TXP, reading an email from Norm, AI2C, who was unable to attend the meeting.

"The 2010 K4LRG Field Day Report was published on November10. Now, priority goes to the Reston Century and the Leesburg Air Show Communications Support Operations. Comments and suggestions are always welcomed."

Awards
: Report made by Jay, KI4TXP, reading an email from Norm, AI2C, who was unable to attend the meeting.

"We are still trying to kick start this. Hopefully, the new year will bring more energy. Rick - AI1V, Denny - KF4TJI and John - W4AU are with me on this one. We invite others who can help with art work.

We are being driven to two directions:

1). An award for members of LARG.
2). An award for commonwealth, national and international QSOs.
(John, Rick, and Denny, maybe we can get together over the holidays to focus this?)"

Legislation Affairs
: Rick, AI1V indicated there had not been much activity, with the FCC and ARRL working to clarify some of the fringe cases for vanity call signs.

Programs: Luther, K5NOB, gave an update on the upcoming programs:

January 2011 – Election of LARG Officers, with additional programs undecided.

Repeater Status
:

Dulles Repeater (145.310 MHz - W4DLS Repeater): Frank Gentges, K0BRA, indicated there were no issues pending with the repeater. Gary, NC4S, indicated he thought the input sensitivity was dropping and Frank indicated he would investigate.

Leesburg Repeater (146.700 MHz - WA4TXE Repeater): Dave Boltson - WA4TXE, reminded everyone about the auxiliary repeater channel, 145.17 MHz, located on the west side of the mountain. Dave is working with Rick, AI1V, on level control for the repeater since the audio level seems to be low. John, W4AU, asked Dave if he would create a document explaining the repeater setup and Dave indicated he would.

Old Business

Jay Greeley, KI4UTB, indicated that the agreement with VFW was still being worked.

New Business


Denny, KJ4TJI, request that members send him pictures from throughout the year taken at events the LARG participated in for possible inclusion in the LARG themed calendar he producing for 2011. The proceeds from the calendar sales goes directly to the LARG treasury to support LARG activities.

Gary, NC4S, called for any members holding LARG owned equipment to send him a list (including serial numbers if the equipment has one) for inclusion in the updated LARG equipment inventory he is working on.

The meeting was adjourned at 9:16 A.M. EST.

After the formal close of the meeting, Jeff, KE5APC, made a presentation on Echolink, with demonstrations using Mobile, Handy Talkie (HT), and Cell Phones (running the Android operating system).

Respectfully submitted, Dodson B. Brown, AJ4EY, LARG Secretary

NNNN

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A reminder to all about Holy Trinity's inclement weather policy: if Loudoun County Schools are closed (or would be if it were a school day), all activities at the church are cancelled – this includes outside groups. This policy allows for parking lot clearing so snow is not packed down; and it is also a safety issue.