Welcome to the MARC Newsletter a publication of the Michigan Area Repeater Council. This news letter is published quarterly in conjunction with the quarterly business meetings. If you prefer a columnized version of this newsletter click here for the standard version.

President’s Update:

The next MARC meeting will be on December 12, 2020 on line. There will be elections for President, Secretary and one Board member. There is a mail in ballot included in this newsletter or you can join the on line meeting to vote. You must be a fully paid member on December 11, 2020 to vote at the meeting or have your ballot counted.

MARC needs volunteers. Several positions in MARC are in need of radio amateurs who can donate some time to help the coordination effort. A Webmaster, Treasurer and a Coordinator are needed. MARC could also use a volunteer to obtain coordination data from adjacent states and keep it up to date. This may involve data parsing into a report that can be read by our separation checking programs. These jobs will take some training and time to become familiar with. Database updates could be a good starting point to help me with the coordinating job. Almost all of the work for MARC is at home using a computer. Most meetings are on line as well. So, if you have some time to volunteer please contact me at mail@miarc.com to see if we can work out a position that you would like to take on.

73, Phil W8IC

Electronic Meeting Information:

The December 12, meeting is an Electronic Meeting at 1:00pm!

PHONE BRIDGE ONLY:

Use this ONLY if you are only using the phone.
Dial In Number:    712-770-4819
Access Code:      384775#
   1. Dial into bridge using Dial In Number
   2. Enter Event ID
   3. If the meeting organizer is already present,
        you'll be connected. If not, you'll be
        placed on hold until the organizer appears.

WEBMEETING & Phone Bridge:

Using your web browser

   1. Activate your Web Browser
   2. Go To https://join.freeconferencecall.com/marc-meeting
   3. Enter your name and email address
   4. Click the phone icon, you will have a choice to
        select using a telephone or your computer for
        audio if you have speakers and mic.
   5. If you select computer you should connect.
   6. If selecting telephone you will be presented with a number
        to dial and an access code.
   7. When prompted enter the access code followed by the # symbol.
   8. Once the audio connects you will need to press # once again
        and enter the synch code followed by the # symbol.
   9. You should now be connected.
       

Participation in the webmeeting is only needed for things like slideshow presentations, or use of a whiteboard where someone may need to do an illistration. It also allows us the opportunity to display the actual text of a motion for everyone to read. If you are unable to participate in the webmeeting you may still join in on the phone bridge from wherever you are.

Vice President Writes

This December's meeting will include MARC elections. Normally these are done at the September meeting, however we discovered that we would not be able to use the Delta Township Fire department training facility somewhat messing up our schedule.

Emergency measures were taken to make adjustments and facilitate the need to move the elections to the December meeting. New terms do not start until the first of every year, so this will not extend any of the terms.

As always we continue to seek volunteers to help with the work load. We are still looking for a Treasurer and a position to help with the website. Please join us via the virtual meeting by going to the website listed above and following the directions.
Dan N8WKM
MARC Vice President

Elections

The following board positions are up for election this year.

President, currently Phil Manor W8IC
Secretary, currently Ann Manor KT8F
Director, currently Jeff Oberg, KB8SXK

If you can't join us at the meeting, an absentee ballot is available. Please mail it to the address listed on the ballot as soon as possible. Please note, in order to vote, your membership dues must be paid and the ballot must reach the PO Box by the Thursday prior to the meeting Dec 10th, 2020.

MARC Meeting Minutes

Date: September 12, 2020
This meeting took place via internet and phone connection.

Officers:

President: Phil Manor, W8IC
Vice President: Dan Thompson, N8WKM
Secretary: Ann Manor, KT8F
Treasurer: Jeff Oberg, KB8SXK
Director: Jim Kvochick, K8JK
Director: Jeff Oberg, KB8SXK
Coordinator: Dan Thompson, N8WKM
Coordinator: Phil Manor, W8IC
Coordinator: Jeff Oberg, KB8SXK
Coordinator: Bob Walchli, N8ZCC
Database Manager: Bob Walchli, N8ZCC
Newsletter Editor: Dan Thompson, N8WKM
*Consultant: Dave Johnson, WD8DJB

Absent: Indicated by * above
Visitors: John KB8OIS, Rick WA8UMT, Jay WB8TKL


Note: call signs of board members are not repeated in the minutes as they are listed above.

Meeting called to order by Phil at 1:00 PM

The Covid19 pandemic did not allow use of the Fire Hall meeting room. In addition, the need to maintain the safety of the members of MARC made it necessary to hold today's meeting on line.

Minutes of the last meeting were read by Ann.
A motion to approve minutes from the June meeting was made by Jim, seconded by Jeff, vote taken, Motion passed.

Treasurer’s report provided by Dan.
A motion to approve the report was made by Jim, seconded by Bob, vote taken, Motion passed.

Old Business:

Fred ,W8FSM, sponsor for numerous repeaters is not responding to MARC requests to renew delinquint repeaters. MARC will hold any new coordination activity until he responds.Phil asked if there are any volunteers to run for the vacant treasurer’s position. No response.

Jim made a motion to appoint Phil until such time as a new treasurer can be elected. Motion seconded by Jeff. Dan acted as president pro-tem to act on the motion. Vote taken, motion passed.

Dan opened up nominations for the positions of president, secretary, and one director for the December meeting. Phil was nominated for re-election as president, he accepted. Ann was nominated for re-election as secretary, she accepted, Jeff was nominated for position of director, he accepted. No other nominations at this time. < br /> Motion made by Jeff to suspend the elections until the December meeting. Second by Jim. Motion passed. < br /> Nominations will remain open until the December meeting. Nominations will close just prior to the elections at the online meeting in December.

Phil resumed presiding over the meeting.

Resolution #23 – 12 September 2020
In the event of logical or legal issues that would prevent a physical meeting, the board may choose to hold the annual elections as an electronic meeting, per voice vote, or mail in ballot.
Motion by Dan, second by Jeff, motion passed.

New Business:

Resolution #22 - 12 September 2020b
Sponsors of 5 or more repeaters may report their yearly updates, with a 1 year grace period, using a spread sheet in lieu of the web page TDS update/renewal submission. The spreadsheet containing the current data for the trustee's coordinations will be sent to them upon a request to the database manager. The spread sheet must be checked for accuracy by the trustee. Corrections to the coordinations data must be made on the spread sheet. Please highlight any changes. The Trustee should insert their name and date at the bottom of the sheet and email it to the MARC database manager at mail@miarc.com. This will then be checked by the database manager and if accepted, the MARC database will be updated. This will be valid for 1 to 2 years. Individual updates must be made on the MARC web page by submitting a TDS application if changes are made to a coordination that require re-coordination.
Motion submitted by Bob, 2nd by Jeff. Vote taken, motion passed.

Fred will be contacted and informed that the resolution has passed . Fred will also be requested to send in his spreadsheet with changes, if any, to mail@miarc.com.

Dan will be working on database tools to assist in inserting updates in the database, using spreadsheet submissions. This can be difficult and may take considerable time.

Corwin, WB8UPM has become a silent key. Corwin was very involved with repeater systems over many years and he had maintained repeaters on his own tower. Corwin had designated WB8TKL, as his coordination successor/sponsor. Jay, WB8TKL is now the sponsor of Corwin's coordination. The repeater is currently back on the air.

MARC received a complaint from Jack Hill, K8YPW, that MARC is not responding to his postal letters and updates. MARC has not accepted postal mail for updates in many years. K8YPW was informed of this years ago. Jack does have problems because his location has poor cell coverage and no internet. Jack did use the internet for a recent TDS submission to re-coordinate his repeater in a new location. Phil is currently working on his re-coordination. Bob will send Jack an email requesting that he submit any future TDS requests for a new repeater electronically.

Phil reported that we need people to volunteer to help MARC. The workload is heavy at times and some positions have been held for an extended period of time. Some volunteers are doing two or more jobs. New volunteers would start out with simple jobs. With more volunteers, each one could take on a job to help spread out the load. A request for volunteers may be added to TDS and dues payment responses.

After discussion, the Board decided to provide Dave, WD8DJB, a token of our appreciation for the many years of dedicated work and service to the MARC organization he provided. Jim will handle this.

Adjournment:

Motion to adjourn made by Dan, seconded by Jeff, motion carried. Meeting adjourned at 2:30 PM.

The next meeting will be conducted electronically on Saturday, December 12, 2020, at 1:00 PM.
Respectfully submitted,
Ann Manor, KT8F, Recording Secretary

Treasurer's Report
For the period August 1, 2020 – October 31, 2020

Marc funds balance on 8-01-2020 was $ 3,779.59

Marc funds balance on 8-01-2020 was $3779.59 From dues and interest
Expenses for August, September and October was $ 311.36 from PayPal,
Quicken renewal, State Incorporation Renewal, Honorarium, Go Daddy web page
renewal and Site 5email server renewal

MARC funds balance on October 31, 2020 was $3540.38

Respectfully Submitted,
Phil Manor, W8IC
MARC Treasurer

Supporting Detail

MARC funds as of July 31, 2020