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 non-columnized version of this newsletter click here for the wide version.

Presidents Update:

This newsletter brings with it some sad news for the amateur radio community. By the time this is published many of you will already know that Dennis W8DFG has unexpectedly signed SK on April 13, 2011.

Dennis was a very active member in many groups including MARC, U.S.E.C.A, the Moose, Elks, Eagles and AMVets in Mount Clemens coordinating many activities such as the March of Dimes Walk. Dennis also served in the National Guard and was the co-owner of Northpointe Fabrication. To say the least, he will be missed by many people, and the Red Wings have lost one of their greatest fans. Life and time will go on, but there will be a big gap where Dennis left off doing what he liked to do best, serving and helping others.

Vice President Phil Manor will be taking the responsibility of MARC President for the remainder of Dennis's term in accordance with the bylaws. Phil's column for this quarters newsletter can be found below.

Often times when I create this newsletter I reuse bits and pieces from previous newsletters to help maintain a uniform look and to save some time and effort. As I come to the close of this section I think I will save one section of source code that Dennis always used at the end of his newsletter posts that he emailed to me.

73,
Dennis, W8DFG
President

And a final 73 to Dennis Gaboury W8DFG /SK
Dan, N8WKM
Editor

From Acting President Phil Manor:

I am sorry to report that MARC’s President, Dennis Gaboury, W8DFG, became a silent key on April 13, 2011. This was horrible news to me as Dennis was a close personal friend to me as well as my wife, Ann.

Dennis became President of MARC on Dec 1, 2000. Dennis always kept the meetings professional and fair. His leadership helped improve MARC and set an example as President for those that follow. Here is a link to Dennis’s obituary.

Along with his presidential duties, Dennis also did some repeater coordinations. I have attempted to contact all of his waiting applicants. If I missed you, please contact me and I will work on your TDS application. Dennis was doing mostly 2-meter coordinations. Unfortunately, most of the repeater pairs in the majority of the state have already been assigned on 2 meters.

I would like to thank Dan, N8WKM, for accepting the appointment to the office of the Vice President of MARC. This appointment is in accordance with the MARC Bylaws. Dan will serve until the next Vice Presidential election, to be held in September 2011.

I have noticed that there have been times that an application or corresponde nce to MARC has not been answered within a reasonable time period. Usually, the reasons for this were that the email was simply missed or on rare occasion did not make it through the servers. If you send a message to MARC or make a TDS application for a new repeater, and there is no response within 30 days, please contact me. I will then connect you with the correct board member. Dave, WD8DJB normally does TDS renewals very quickly, but the posting to the web page could take over a month since Dave updates the web page with groups of renewals. Please give Dave at least 45 days to post your renewal.

Fred, W8FSM, is our newest Coordinator. He is doing some of the 440 coordinations at this time. Thanks, Fred, for volunteering.

MARC’S next electronic meeting will be conducted on Saturday, June 4, 2011 at 1:00 PM. Info on how to join in the meeting will be found elsewhere in this newsletter.

Phil W8IC
w8ic@miarc.com

Database Manager's Corner

We have a number of TDS submissions that are overdue. In fact, over 23% of the repeaters in our database have not been updated in two or more year’s. So take a minute and check your entry in the MARC Repeater Directory to see if it is time to update your records.
Dave Johnson, WD8DJB

Electronic Meeting Information:

The June meeting is an Electronic Meeting!

PHONE BRIDGE ONLY:

Dial In Number:    888-232-3870
Event ID:        603585#
   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:

Your browser must be Microsoft™ Internet Explorer Version 4.x, 5.x or Netscape™ Communicator Version 4.x.

   1. Activate your Web Browser
   2. Go To https://connect2.uc.att.com/attinc/meet/?ExEventID=8603585
   3. Enter your name and email address
   4. Click on the "join event" button
   5. Once connected click on the telephone
       icon for dialing instructions.

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.

The abilities for MARC to use the Phone Bridge and Webmeeting facilities has been brought to us by Jim WB8AZP and his employer.

We hope that moving to this format will increase participation by the membership of MARC so that we are better able to serve the amateur community.

MARC Meeting Minutes

Date: March 5, 2011
This meeting took place using electronic communications.

Officers:

President: Dennis Gaboury, W8DFG
Vice President: Phil Manor, W8IC
Secretary: Ann Manor, KT8F
Treasurer: Dave Johnson, WD8DJB
Director: Fred Moses, W8FSM*
Director: Jim Kvochick, WB8AZP
Coordinator: Dan Thompson, N8WKM
Coordinator: Phil Manor, W8IC
Coordinator: Dennis Gaboury, W8DFG
Coordinator: Fred Moses, W8FSM*
Database Manager: Dave Johnson, WD8DJB

Absent: Fred Moses
Visitors: Corwin Moore WB8UPM

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

Meeting called to order by Dennis at: 1:20 PM.

Motion to approve minutes from the March meeting was made by Dan, seconded by Phil, e-vote per roll call taken, motion approved.
Treasurer’s report (As emailed to the board members for the period 11-30-2010 to 1-31-2011 ) by Dave. Motion to accept the report made by Dan, supported by Phil, motion carried.
Dave then provided the February Treasurer’s report. Motion to accept by Ann, second by Jim. Vote taken, motion carried

Old business:

Proposed bylaw change as printed in the December minutes; “The sponsor may choose another licensed amateur or amateur radio entity (such as an incorporated club) to maintain the coordination. In the case of the death or incapacitation of a coordination holder (sponsor) who has not specified a line of succession, the coordination will be returned to the pool and recoordinated on a first come-first served basis.”

Discussion. Corwin had 2 issues. He stated that his concern is that this change to the bylaws could lead to some type of property rights. The board is in agreement that there are no property rights involved. He also stated that some board members might use the amendment to reject his attempt at coordination on 146.740. The Board agreed that the proposal to add this amendment is not based on any of Corwin’s applications. The reason for the amendment is the increasing number of sponsors becoming silent keys, this includes some very large systems. It was mentioned that this amendment is much the same as a cosponsorship.

Dan – proposed that a time limit could be added to the amendment for someone to take action after the death of the sponsor. Discussion followed. It was decided to leave the bylaw change as is.

Vote per electronic roll call – vote 5 for, 1 against, motion passed. Corwin stated that he has had no contact with the owner of the Semara club, 146.74 repeater, and requested that the owner’s email address be sent to him. He was provided with the owner’s email and his phone number during the meeting.

New Business:

Dennis brought up that MARC’s laptop is old – Dave mentioned that it was purchased in the fall of 2004. Discussion. Dennis requested that Dave look around to see what is available currently that would meet MARC’s needs – about $700-800, plus software. The operating system should be Windows 7. Jim made a motion that the amount for the hardware does not exceed $800.00. Discussion. Software expenses could be approved at a later date, as they become needed. Dan may have some software for the new computer if it becomes necessary. Dan seconded the motion. E-vote – motion passed.

Corwin stated he filed 4 TDS in the last 4 years and he did not get responses on 2 of them. The first, a (SNPR) and the last, 146.74 were not responded to by MARC. Dennis stated he would pull up all 4 TDS’s and review them and report back to the board and Corwin.

Phil asked if anyone has had heard from Fred, as he has not seen any responses to MARC 440 repeater applications. Phil will send an email to Fred this week.

Adjornment:

Motion to adjourn made by Jim, seconded by Dan at 2:08 pm, motion carried.

Respectfully submitted,
Ann Manor, KT8F, Recording Secretary

-----------------------------------------------

Annual Business Meeting And Elections:

This is a reminder that the September meeting will be a physical meeting to take place in Delta Township (Lansing Area) where annual elections will be held. More information will be in the Spetember newsletter. If you have nominations for open positions please see that we have those prior to August so that they may be published in the newsletter and absentee ballots.

Offices that will be open for election this year are:
  Vice President: **Currently Dan N8WKM
  Director: Currently Jim K. WB8AZP
  Treasurer: Currently Dave WD8DJB
**The office of Vice President was filled by appointment at this time due to the loss of President Dennis Gaboury. According to our Bylaws the elected Vice President (Phil Manor) will serve the remainder of the Presidents term and is responsible to appoint a new Vice President.

The rotation of what board members are elected remains the same with the Vice President, One Director and the Treasurer to be elected in odd numbered years, with the President, Secretary and the other director to be elected in even numbered years.

Unless Phil chooses to resign, he will remain MARC president until the office is open for election in 2012.

June Meeting Information:

June 4 2011
1:00 pm EST
Electronic Meeting
Callin Numbers:
    Toll-Free 888-232-3870
    Toll         805-240-9853
Access Code:    603585#   (For Bridge & Webmeeting)
Webmeeting URL: https://connect2.uc.att.com/attinc/meet/?ExEventID=8603585
Meeting Number: 8603585

Directions:

For the Conference Bridge:
Dial the callin number listed above.
Wait for the call to be answered by the automated receptionist.
When prompted enter the meeting number listed above followed by the #.

For the Web Meeting:
Click on the link provided above.
Enter your name and email address, then select the "join now" button.