\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0ORANGE COUNTY RADIO AMATEURS<\/b><\/p>\n
\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Executive Board Meeting \u2013 February 9, 2021 20 \u2013 7:30 pm<\/b><\/p>\n
\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Platforms Utilized: Zoom.<\/b><\/p>\n
MEETING CONVENED AT 7:30 PM<\/b><\/p>\n
OFFICERS PRESENT: W4SAR <\/b>David, (President); KR4UB Dan<\/b>, (Treasurer); N8BR Bill<\/b>, (Secretary); KD4YDJ Karen, <\/b>(Board Member); N1LN Bruce, <\/b>(Board Member); W4CFO Jim,<\/b> (OCRA Member); W4ORD Ladd,<\/b> (Vice President); KU4GC Dee, <\/b>(Board Member); KA1HPM<\/b> Nick<\/b> (Board Member): KM4MBG Jack, <\/b>(DFMA President) and W4BOH<\/b> Wilson <\/b>(Board member)<\/p>\n
W4SAR (<\/b>Dave): <\/b>\u00a0Welcome. Call to order. The draft agenda for this meeting is as follows: 1) Officer’s reports\u00a0 2) ARES\/Auxcomm report\u00a0 3) A quick tutorial on use of the new G-Suite platform\u00a0 3) Review of Second Draft, Updated Officers and Board Members Role Descriptions\u00a0 4) Review of Proposed Acceptable Use Policy\u00a0 5) Preliminary Field Day plans\u00a0 6) Other items, time allowing.<\/p>\n
OFFICER REPORTS<\/b><\/p>\n
Vice President W4ORD <\/b>(Ladd): The exchange Club is holding a place for us on their schedule for next December in case COVID 19 restrictions are lowered between now and then.\u00a0 Or, we may have a potluck, Time will tell.<\/p>\n
Treasurer:\u00a0\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n
KR4UB (<\/b>Dan): First, I believe the board should know that when club finances are discussed in open meetings we never announce specific account balances. Second, I want to explain an expenditure I made on behalf of the club since I would like to be reimbursed for the funds.\u00a0 Specifically, I purchased a new S–com Controller for $580.00 and a Polyphaser for $90.24, and would like to draw $670.24 from the club account for my reimbursement.\u00a0 Both of these items are to be used on our repeater systems. Dan shared with board members a copy of the paperwork confirming the purchase and a receipt for the payment.\u00a0 The board voted unanimously to approve this transaction.<\/p>\n
Repeater Committee\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n
KA1HPM <\/b>(Nick) :\u00a0 Not much to report.\u00a0 We will build our new repeaters when the weather warms up. The antenna that Dan is storing at his QTH needs to be tested before it is moved to the new site in Goldston where it will be installed.\u00a0 Bruce (N1LN<\/b>) offered to help with moving the antenna, setting it up for testing at Dan\u2019s QTH, and checking the SWR.\u00a0 It was mentioned that Steve (W3AHL) may like to be involved in this project.<\/p>\n
Change in Agenda\u00a0\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n
W4SAR (Dave):\u00a0 <\/b>I would like for Jim, W4CFO to present a mini-tutorial on our new Google Suite, but I believe it is more appropriate to have him do that later in the meeting.\u00a0 So let’s move ahead to other items:<\/p>\n
Plan for reviewing and approving club minutes<\/b><\/p>\n
N8BR (Bill)<\/b>:\u00a0 <\/b><\/p>\n
In response to questions from an earlier meeting regarding the processes used by the club for reviewing and distributing our meeting minutes, I drafted proposals for processing and reviewing meeting outcomes from both the executive board as well as those from the general membership.\u00a0 The overarching goal of each procedure is that it be as simple as possible and at the same time to maximize transparency in the decision-making functions of our club.\u00a0 Both draft proposals were discussed at length by the executive board, revised pursuant to their recommendations, and adopted unanimously by their vote.<\/b>\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n
1, Executive Board Meeting Minutes:<\/strong><\/p>\n The club secretary will prepare draft\u00a0minutes of executive board meetings and distribute them electronically to board members for review and approval within seven (7) days of the board meeting.\u00a0 Board Members will be permitted seven (7) days to review those draft minutes, articulate recommended revisions to the secretary, and for him\/her to post the revised minutes on the club website for the general membership.<\/p>\n 2.\u00a0 General Membership Meeting Minutes:<\/strong><\/p>\n The club secretary will prepare draft\u00a0minutes of general membership meetings and distribute them electronically to board members for review and approval within seven (7) days of the general membership meeting.\u00a0 Board Members will be permitted seven (7) days to review those draft minutes, articulate recommended revisions to the secretary, and for him\/her to post the revised minutes on the club website for the general membership. Approval or disapproval\u00a0of the minutes will be voted upon by general membership present at the following general meeting.<\/p>\n Plan for Loaning of Club Equipment<\/b><\/p>\n N8BR (Bill):\u00a0 <\/b>At our last executive board meeting N1LN (Bruce) proposed that OCRA establish a program through which club members could borrow club-owned equipment. The concept was approved by the board contingent upon the development of appropriate paperwork and a management strategy to oversee its operation. I have followed up on that charge with the form presented below that has been extensively edited by N1LN (Bruce).\u00a0 I believe, as does the executive board, that It adequately facilitates the implementation of the new program for club members.\u00a0 In the near future we will prepare an inventory of club owned equipment that is eligible for loan to members. Discussions concerning liability ensued.\u00a0 W4ORD (Ladd): <\/b>\u00a0Perhaps we should provide borrowers with specific instructions for grounding the equipment they borrow.so if lightning hits and their house burns down we won\u2019t be sued.\u00a0 N1LN (Bruce):\u00a0 I have added a section requiring borrowers of club equipment to install proper grounding to the items they use. Plus, there are waivers of liability in the lending agreement.<\/p>\n W4BOH (Wilson): <\/b>\u00a0Perhaps we need to have an agreement similar to this that will apply to the repeater equipment we loan to Chatham County. Of special concern are the liability issues. KR4UB (Dan):<\/b> explained that the repeater equipment remains under the ownership of OCRA and is housed in Chatham County secure communications facilities.\u00a0 The FEMA MOU \u201cMemorandum of Understanding for Auxiliary Support\u201d defined by FEMA for such arrangements, will be used as the instrument to document this long-term agreement.<\/p>\n APPLICATION FOR EQUIPMENT LOAN PROGRAM<\/b><\/p>\n Note: The document represented below is a draft of the application form that the board approved for the equipment Loan Program. Printed copies for actual use by those wishing to apply for the program may be obtained from the Club Secretary<\/p>\n The Equipment Loan Program is a new initiative for the Orange County Amateur Radio Club, having been launched in January, 2021.\u00a0 Its goal is to help club members who are new to the hobby borrow a piece of club-owned-equipment for a period of up to one year in order to get a new station up and running, or to replace failed gear in an existing setup.\u00a0 The application process is simple.<\/p>\n (1)<\/b> We ask that you complete the form presented below.\u00a0 It is a request for your basic contact information.<\/p>\n (2) <\/b>Please supply the name of the equipment you would like to borrow, its serial number, and the length of time you want to use it.\u00a0 Keep in mind that the initial loan period we offer is for a maximum of 6 months.\u00a0 Depending on circumstances and your needs, with club approval this period could be extended to one year.<\/p>\n (3)<\/b> Along with your application please submit a photocopy of your current valid amateur radio license from the FCC web page. We will use that document to verify your qualifications to legally operate the borrowed equipment.<\/p>\n (4)<\/b> Sign and date the Loan agreement below, and return to the club officer who manages this program. He\/she will advise you on equipment pick-up and return.<\/p>\n Name (last)__________________ (first)_____________________Call Sign________<\/strong><\/p>\n Address(street)________________________________________Zip______________<\/strong><\/p>\n Phone(cell)____________________(home)_____________________email________<\/strong><\/p>\n Equipment Requested<\/strong><\/p>\n Make___________________ Model No______________________ Serial __________<\/strong><\/p>\n Additional items included such as a microphone, power supply, morse key, antenna tuner, etc.<\/p>\n \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Item\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Make\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Model\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Serial #<\/strong><\/p>\n Date of loan _______________Agreed date for equipment return_______________<\/strong><\/p>\n Loan Agreement:<\/b>\u00a0 By signing this agreement the borrower agrees to comply with the following terms:<\/p>\n Signatures:<\/strong><\/p>\n Borrower<\/strong>___________________________________________________Date_______<\/p>\n Lender (OCRA Board Member)_<\/strong>__________________________________________________Date_______ <\/p>\n Review and Revision of Job Descriptions for Club Officers<\/b>.<\/p>\n W4SAR (David):<\/b> Presented the second draft of his ideas on proposed duties of executive committee officers and members at large.\u00a0 The presentation garnered substantial discussion and led to numerous suggestions for additional revisions.\u00a0 We also have to give consideration to the job descriptions for board members at large. David will consider the committee\u2019s suggestions and craft revisions for consideration at the next executive board meeting.<\/p>\n Review and revision of Acceptable use policy for club repeaters<\/strong><\/p>\n KR4UB (Dan):<\/b> Provided an overview of the revisions made in the draft of the club\u2019s acceptable use policy for repeaters. Discussion ensued on the legality and enforcement of repeater rules. The thesis presented is based on FCC regulations and enforcement declaratory rulings that amateur radio repeaters are private property.\u00a0 And as such, in addition to their responsibility to ensure compliance with FCC regulations, the owners have the right to establish policies that dictate how those facilities are to be used and what behaviors are acceptable for their users. The only extra-organizational body that influences this process is the FCC. So, as long as our repeaters function within the guidelines of the FCC, we can regulate them in whatever way we determine is in the best interest and safety of our users and the hobby they enjoy.\u00a0 If our guidelines are violated by a user, we can ban that person from using our repeater.\u00a0 The FCC will support this decision even to the extent of taking action to temporarily suspend or even revoke his or her amateur radio license and possibly level fines..\u00a0 In practice this is usually done via a multi-step process over a defined period of time.<\/p>\n Dan will place the latest revised acceptable use policy draft on the OCRA G-Suite document system. for another round of board reviews and alterations as needed..<\/p>\n W4CFO (Jim)<\/strong>:\u00a0 Presented a brief but very useful overview of the \u201cbig picture\u201d in our club\u2019s struggle to learn and effectively use Google Docs and its associated editorial tools.<\/p>\n Meeting was concluded at 9:11 P.M.<\/p>\n WLB\/DE\/s<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0ORANGE COUNTY RADIO AMATEURS \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Executive Board Meeting \u2013 February 9, 2021 20 \u2013 7:30 pm \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 … Continue reading \n
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\nThis document has been reviewed by the Executive Board and adopted by the unanimous vote of that body.<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n