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SOUTH FLORIDA FM ASSOCIATION AUGUST 13, 2007 MINUTES OF MEETING PRESIDENT: RONNIE HAIK (KG4DBI) DIRECTORS: MAIL YOUR DUES TO: Meeting was called to order at 19:48 with 14 present. Tonight we are again having a joint meeting with the SFFMA and the Dade Radio Club. The SFFMA met first tonight. Ronnie welcomed everyone to the joint SFFMA and DRC meeting. The meeting was broadcast live on the air tonight from the EOC. Testing is being conducted tonight in another room. The microphone was then passed around the room and everyone stated their name and call sign. Ray requested that if anyone is going to say something to use the microphone for those that are listening so that they can hear what is being said. There are no minutes tonight. Repeater update: Ray reported on the 146.760. It is working fine. We are on it right now. No problems that he knows of. If you have any problems, email Ray. Please use it. Merritt reported on the 147.000. Same as receiving and transmitting. The power is extremely low. Cabinet is slated to go up next. Carl reported on the 444.200. Operating well. Need people to use it. Robert was not present to report on the 220.000. No projects. No events coming up. New Business Ronnie is going to send an email suggesting the merger between SFFMA and Dade Radio Club. He needs a list of current members. He will contact those on the list so that it can be acknowledged by the next meeting that the current members are aware of what is happening and to give everyone an opportunity to give their opinion at the next meeting. The repeaters will be taken over by the Dade Radio Club. The Dade Radio Club has more money. It is too expensive to keep two clubs going. Dade Radio Club had no intension of dissolving their club. There is one meeting each month and it is basically the same people. We don’t need two presidents; 2 vice presidents; 2 secretaries; 2 treasurers, 2 insurance policies, etc. Ronnie will have Brian deposit the checks that he has for membership and a check that Randy sent in just for the repeater fund before SFFMA merges with Dade Radio Club. Ronnie acknowledged Randy to his generous gift to the repeater fund of $250.00 and thanked him. Carl asked about the repeater fund. Ronnie advised that SFFMA will write a check to Dade Radio Club to take care of it. The members of the SFFMA will become members of the Dade Radio Club with the merger. Merritt said that dissolving SFFMA close to December makes sense and he suggested that it be dissolved as of December 31, 2007. Ronnie advised that SFFMA is not insured by ARPSC but the Dade Radio Club is. SFFMA did not pay the $400.00 to insure the club until next year. The merger will take place next meeting. Technically, we could close the SFFMA tonight, but we want to do it the right way. Ronnie will email or contact each paid member of SFFMA on the list and you will have to sign that you agree. The next meeting will be September 10, 2007. Hollis asked if we dissolve SFFMA, if Dade Radio Club will take over just the repeaters. Ronnie said that the Dade Radio Club will take over all of SFFMA’s property and assets. The SFFMA funds will go to into a separate repeater fund to replace antennas, etc. The Dade Radio Club will have to get insurance for the repeaters. Ronnie asked the Dade Radio Club officers if they have any other information or questions. Since Dade Radio Club charges only ½ of what SFFMA charges for membership, the Dade Radio Club may have to increase their dues to cover the new expenses. The Dade Radio Club will take into consideration that SFFMA has some lifetime members and per Dave of the Dade Radio Club, the lifetime members will be lifetime members with the Dade Radio Club too. Ronnie announced that there are 2 people taking exams tonight and they both passed. Brian spoke about the weekend before last was a Mass Casualty Drill at UM. There were six fire departments and 6 police departments involved. It was put together based upon the events of Virginia Tech, the same scenario. It was a great exercise. They found out how well they can communicate together. It went very well. The importance of Ham radio is to public safety was discussed. Miami Beach is going back to analog. Miami-Dade Fire Dept is and will always be analog. The FCC is pushing digital. Ray announced that after 2009 waive goodbye to battery operated TV’s. There are no battery operated HD TV’s. It will be a problem in an emergency. Now if we have a hurricane or an emergency or a power failure, people can get information from battery operated radios and TV’s. After 2009 it will all be radio. Everyone will really need a battery operated radio. We have two new members tonight: John Daenzer KI4FPHF and John Anderson KF4FIJ. He has checks from Charles, Frank and Dennis and is depositing them. It was announced that the antennas for several of the repeaters need to be replaced. If anyone wants to donate any funds to the repeater fund, please see Ronnie. Ronnie advised that the Melbourne Hamfest will take place Sat Oct 13 and Sun Oct 14. He said that he went last year thinking it was not going to be a great show, but it turned out really great. He got some really good deals. Ray advised that last weekend was the Ft. Pierce Hamfest. It was small. With no other business, Ronnie thanked everyone for coming and advised that snacks were in the cafeteria. The SFFMA meeting was adjourned at 20:26. Dade Radio Club then conducted their meeting Joanne Carbana |
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