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 narrow version.

President’s Update:

MARC is still up to date on it’s coordination activity. There are normally some applications being processed at any given time. If you have an active application and have not heard anything for 30 days please contact the coordinator you have been working with.

I coordinate 10, 6, and 2 meters as well as 440 MHZ. Dan, N8WKM is the coordinator for 220 MHZ and 900 MHZ and above. Dan also does the newsletter. All the newsletters are available on the MARC web site. The newsletters include the minutes of each meeting.

Dave, WD8DJB, is our Treasurer and also does our database and web site updates.

Jim, WB8AZP, is a board member. Jim issues MINO numbers for coordination and helps by finding repeaters that need to be repaired or need to turn in their unused pair. Jim is available for technical questions with coordination. He has worked with Michigan and Ohio for many years.

Fred, W8FSM, is a board member who is available for coordination and repeater questions. He has experience with many digital modes as well as analog. He helps to de-coordinate repeaters that are no longer on the air.

Our newest volunteer coordinator is Jim, K8ABZ. He is now processing the out of state coordination requests on 10, 6 and 2 meters as well as 440. Dan, N8KWM, does the other bands.

All are invited to our next quarterly board meeting. It will be held electronically and info on how to attend is included in this newsletter.

73, Phil W8IC

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.

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Database Manager's Corner

We have a number of TDS forms that are overdue. Over 24% 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.

A reminder to repeater sponsors, as the holder of your coordinated repeater pair, if you decide to transfer your coordination to another ham or club you must notify MARC by letter via snail mail. The letter must state the current callsign, the pair being transferred, the new sponsor and be signed and dated. The new sponsor must submit a TDS with the new operating specifics, location, call, power, elevation, etc.

MARC Meeting Minutes

Date: March 2, 2013
This meeting took place electronically

Officers:

President: Phil Manor, W8IC
Vice President: Dan Thompson, N8WKM
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: Fred Moses, W8FSM
Database Manager: Dave Johnson, WD8DJB
Newsletter Editor: Dan Thompson, N8WKM
* Absent: none
Visitors/Members present: Corwin Moore, WB8UPM; Doug Chauvin, N8PYN

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.

Treasurer’s report provided by Dave. Reported on income, current balance. Motion to accept the report made by Dan, supported by Fred, vote taken, motion carried.

Old Business:

Phil reviewed issues that were discussed at the last meeting. Fred stated he is working on the simulcast experiment. Phil requested a report and description of the system and would like to include it in the newsletter.

Phil checked with Dave on secondary sponsor. The applicant can put the primary sponsor on the application line then a slant bar or dash, then add the secondary sponsor.

New Business:

Phil reported on his coordination activity. He has 5 active coordinations, 2 on hold, and 6 on the waiting list. The active applications were received within the last 30 days.

Dave reported that there is a block of repeaters that was been removed from the ARRL and MARC directory. TDS for these have not been received in 3 years or more and may be off the air. Board members can work on de-coordinating these as they have time.

Discussion headed by Jim about some recent statements that he saw that were derogatory to the MARC organization. Jim questioned the individuals and supplied them with information that cleared up the issue.

Also discussed: if for some reason you send an email to MARC and have not received a response within 30 days, resend the email to MARC. You should always get a response, including on TDS applications and renewals.

Increased activity is reported on 900 MHZ P25 as over 1000 HT radios became available at low cost on eBay.

Adjournment:

Motion to adjourn made by Fred, seconded by Dan at 1:38 PM motion carried.
The next meeting will be June 1, 2013 and it will be electronic.

Respectfully submitted,
Ann Manor, KT8F, Recording Secretary

Editors Note:

The September meeting will be the yearly physical meeting and elections. If you have someone in mind to nominate, please feel free to make the nominations at the June meeting as this is when nominations will be opened.

June Meeting Information:

June 1 2013
1:00 pm EDT
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.