MINUTES OF LIDXA INC. MEETING; September 15, 2000
Location: Polytechnic University, Farmingdale, N.Y.
The LIDXA President, Marty, NN2C, called the meeting of September 15 to order at 8:12 PM. This meeting was held in the school's cafeteria, since the scheduled classroom was locked up. Marty welcomed back all members after the summer hiatus. In particular, Marty welcomed the XYLs of members K2ENT, N2DXJ, and N2JE to tonight's meeting.
In terms of DX, specific activities mentioned:
The club congratulated Ed, K2MFY on his third place score in the USA (low power, 10 meters) in the 1999 CQ WorldWide SSB DX Contest.
The club thanked (in absentia) the Corresponding Secretary Marty, KA2NRR for putting together a very interesting and informative September club newsletter. Appreciation was also given to Marty, NN2C, for furnishing most of the editorial contest of this newsletter. It was recommended that future issues include photos of LIDXA members' stations (which could sent to KA2NRR on a digital format).
OLD BUSINESS
Since the last meeting (June 16) was poorly attended and the club did not have sufficient members to form a quorum, no minutes were taken. Instead the membership approved the minutes of the May 26 meeting.
The LIDXA Treasurer, Russ, W2RL, was at this meeting; however, a Treasurer's Report was not recorded. Russ reminded the club that the annual membership dues in the amount of $25, for the year 2000-2001, are now due.
Of major interest at tonight's meeting was the new repeater site proposal, which was discussed in depth at the August 22 Board of Director's meeting. The minutes of this meeting were prepared by the LIDXA Secretary, Ed, K2MFY, and included in this month's mailing to the membership.
The club's present repeater has not been functioning properly for almost two years. It is suspected that the problem may be a poor feedline or antenna. Until we get someone to climb the tower at the Melville Fire Department site at Jane's Hill, the problem will exist. Fortunately during this present crisis, due to the generosity of the Grumman Amateur Radio Club, the LIDXA has use of the Grumman repeater, on 146.745 MHz, to conduct the Sunday night net. However, Pat, KE2LJ, indicated that with the sale of the Grumman Plant 5, this Grumman repeater site might eventually have to come down. At the Board of Director’s meeting Marty presented an alternative plan for survival of the LIDXA repeater.
Present at that meeting was Howie Liebman, W2QUV. Howie, who is a member of the Grumman club and also well known to LIDXA members and the Hudson Division radio amateur community, is a communications consultant to The Millennium Tower Corporation of Carle Place, NY. This company is presently looking to install a large communications tower (about 240 feet high) for commercial usage, in the Town of Babylon near Belmont State Park. They would eventually be renting out spaces on the tower for commercial customers.
In order for Millennium Tower to apply for a town construction permit, they would like to say that they already have a "tenant" for their new tower, namely the LIDXA. This will serve as force to show the Babylon Township that they have in place, a non-profit organization (with civilian defense capability), as an active source of emergency communications on the tower. As an incentive to get the LIDXA to install their repeater site on this tower, Millennium Tower will provide to the club a repeater site and a location on this tower, free-of-charge, for an indefinite period. The company would also furnish the necessary hard-line at no cost. When, and if, the construction permit is approved, tower construction would begin immediately. The corporation would guarantee that the LIDXA would be the only amateur repeater on the tower. The LIDXA repeater equipment would be stored in a secure shelter (with electricity and telephone lines at no charge), along with the commercial customers, at the base of the tower.
NEW BUSINESS
Marty announced that following the August Board of Director's meeting, he had several meetings and discussions with Millennium Tower Corporation personnel and other knowledgeable individuals. As a result, a "Letter of Intent" was drafted and signed between Millennium Tower and the LIDXA (represented by NN2C) summarizing these oral agreements. In particular a list of eleven stipulations were demanded by the LIDXA prior to signing this "Letter of Intent." Marty read off these stipulations as follows (and provided the Secretary with hard copies of all documentation):
The club discussed in depth the above conditions. At the conclusion the membership then voted unanimously to go ahead with the above conditions that Marty had outlined. It was felt that when, and if, Millennium Tower got the permit, the tower would be constructed and ready for our equipment in about 6 to 7 months (earliest date in Spring 2001).
Marty said he would keep the membership informed on any events concerning Millennium Tower and its application of a permit with the Town of Babylon.
Since it did not appear that Millennium would be furnishing a new antenna for the club, Marty requested that Ed get some prices on commercial, ruggedized, 2-meter omnidirectional antennas suitable for use at a height of 200 feet. Ed found that our repeater's original "Station Master" antenna, which was originally manufactured by Phelps Dodge, is now supplied by Celwave Antenna in NJ. Ed contacted the company and was informed the list price of this antenna is now $1704; however he was assured that "discounts are available from distributors" (it was felt that a price in the $600 range was more realistic). Ed also contacted Scala Electronic Corp. in Medford, OR on their model OG4-150 omnidirectional antenna. This was probably the antenna the club sold back in 1994. A list price of $590 was quoted (bonafide clubs would get an additional 10 percent off list). Ed passed around a data sheet on this antenna. Ed said he would try to get firms quotes on these antennas. Art, N2KA said he would also check on some of his sources on these antennas, or alternatives, for price and availability.
It appears that if the club were to obtain a new antenna, approximately $600 would have to be allotted. Marty suggested that the club must find additional sources for this expense, rather than take the money out of the club treasury. One possible small source might be the "Blind Auction," now scheduled for the meeting of November 17.
Marty then read a letter of resignation he had received from member Larry, K2LS. Since Larry had been such an active member of the club for so many years, several members said they would contact Larry and ask him to reconsider his decision.
It was recommended those members with expertise in certain areas; such as digital modes (RTTY, PSK, etc.), QRP, computer logging, etc. present some demonstrations to the membership at future meetings.
Since this meeting took place in the cafeteria, it was not possible to obtain the proper equipment to show the scheduled video on the Rowley Shoals DXpedition. Marty said he would try to bring the video next month. This meeting concluded at around 9:30 PM after all the scheduled business had finished. Marty urged all members to look around for items that could be sold at the November's "Blind Auction," and in turn, raise needed revenues for the club.
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Ed Whitman, K2MFY
LIDXA Secretary