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 columnized version.

President’s Update:

Coordination activities are still very busy on 440. I am actually backed up so some applications are waiting to be processed. Applications are processed in the order in which they came in, in most cases. There are a few exceptions. If a coordinated repeater is moving but staying within its coverage area, it is processed right away. Also, if a newer application is out of the protected range of the other applications it can be processed. (Over 100 miles on 440)

MARC received an inquiry about the ARRL directory. There is still a problem with the companies’ policy running the directory. (Rfinder) Until the problems are worked out, MARC will not send the MARC protected data to Rfinder for publication. The MARC TDS application still asks if you want your data published. This is so we can put your listing in the MARC Repeater directory and eventually, have it listed in Rfinder when the problems are worked out.

I would like to thank the W8OAK repeater group for working with MARC to solve an interference issue. Changing frequency appears to have cleared up the interference issue.

73, Phil W8IC

Electronic Meeting Information:

The June 2, meeting is an Electronic Meeting at 1:00pm!

PHONE BRIDGE ONLY:

Use this ONLY if you are only using the phone.
Dial In Number:    641-715-0663
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.

Note: The next meeting will be conducted at the Delta Township Fire Department in September.

MARC Meeting Minutes

Date:March 3, 2018
This meeting was an electronic meeting.

Officers:

President: Phil Manor, W8IC
Vice President: Dan Thompson, N8WKM
Secretary: Ann Manor, KT8F
Treasurer: Dave Johnson, WD8DJB
*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: Dave Johnson, WD8DJB
Newsletter Editor: Dan Thompson, N8WKM

Absent: Indicated by * above
Visitors: Visitors: Mike, W8VPC: Corwin, WB8UPM


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

Meeting called to order by Phil at: 1:10 PM.

Minutes of the December 2017 meeting were read by the Secretary. Corrections were made on the date and one sentence was deleted from the minutes printed in the current March newsletter. A motion to approve minutes from the December 2, 2017 meeting as corrected was made by Dan, seconded by Dave, vote taken, minutes approved.
Treasurer’s report provided by Dave. Motion to approve the report was made by Ann, seconded by Bob, vote taken, Treasurers report approved.

Old Business:

Dan discussed [Rfinder] repeater directory issues with Bob Greenburg. Bob will be raising the price of the directory and working to make the repeater directory work better with coordinators.

Dan stated he and Dave made updates to MARC database software.

Dan is designing a program to work with the database, including surrounding states databases, which will put the results on a map when a frequency is chosen. This will include adjacent channels on the map.

New Business:

Ann made a motion for a Proposal #20, seconded by Bob. Dated March 3, 2018 as follows:

A Trustee that receives a provisional coordination and does not send in an operational TDS within 3 months of issue of the Provisional Coordination, or have not requested a time extension, may receive a notice that their provisional coordination is about to be DE-coordinated. This notice, sent by email, phone message and regular mail, ( NOT registered or certified ) will state that the DE-coordination of the provisional coordination will occur in 30 days from the date of this notice. If MARC contact information for the Trustee is not correct, or there is no response within the 30 day period, the provisional coordination will be removed from the active repeaters database and recorded as DE-coordinated in the records. The frequency would be immediately available to other applicants. The Trustee could re-apply but there would be no guarantee that the original frequency or any other frequency pair would be available. If MARC is contacted by the Trustee of the coordination holder within the 30 day period, issues for the delay by the Trustee to finish the repeater and submit the required TDS update can be discussed and a time extension can be granted at the discretion of the coordinator.

Discussion on overdue provisional coordinations and the wording of the resolution took place.
Vote taken, proposed resolution #20 passed.

Bob recommended that new applications are checked against the database for overdue existing TDS reports by repeaters held by the new applicant. The application can be put on hold until the existing due reports are submitted. Dave may build in a search function to easily check this. Phil and Bob will attempt to watch for new applications with this condition.

Dave gave a report on the database tools improvements. This includes an access.to a test database for coordinators to learn the operations and make changes and editions to the database without causing any change to the existing database files.

Dave stated that he needs to build up a new MARC computer, before the old one fails. He proposed providing the one he is currently using to Phil for MARC work. The plans for a replacement computer will develop starting in April and should be completed by September.

Adjournment:

Adjournment: Motion to adjourn made by Ann, seconded by Dan, motion carried. Meeting adjourned at 2:16 PM.
Respectfully submitted,
Ann Manor, KT8F, Recording Secretary

Treasurer's Report
For the Period: 02/28/18 – 05/31/18

MARC Funds balance on 02/28/2018 was $ 4,632.74

Income for March, April and May was $ 62.81 from dues and interest.
Expenses for March, April and May were $ 30.99 for PayPal fees and ESET Virus Software.

MARC Funds balance on 05/31/2018 was $ 4,664.56

Respectfully Submitted,
Dave Johnson, WD8DJB
MARC Treasurer

Supporting Detail

MARC Funds as of 02/28/2018