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:

The next MARC meeting will be held on June 12, 2021at 1:00 PM on line. Instructions to join the meeting are included in this newsletter. All interested parties are encouraged to join the meeting. Again, the call for volunteers is echoed in this column. Jobs like webmaster, Treasurer, and coordinator are all in need of some new volunteers. If you have some time to volunteer, MARC can very much put you to work. Almost all the work is done from home, on line. Some volunteers are doing several jobs which is a strain on their, what would be, spare time. Generally, one job is enough with an occasional extra project.

Send an email to mail@miarc.com letting us know what area of coordination that you are interested in. Coordination applications are stacking up on me, after being almost caught up a few weeks ago. They will be processed in the order that they came in. It takes about 5 weeks per application, per band, fo r many requests, as out state clearance is usually required. Hopefully many of the delayed repeater maintenance and update jobs will be accomplished this summer as the pandemic hopefully subsides.

Electronic Meeting Information:

The June 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

As I write this note for this months newsletter, I thought Winter was behind us I have caved in and turned the heat back on after running the air conditioning last week

With the weather improving we hope to be able to get back to doing normal ham things like going to hamfests to find the parts that we need to work on our stations and repeaters. One such hamfest happens in West Michigan on the same day as our MARC meeting every year making it difficult for me to attend, and make the meeting on time. Nevertheless, I have it on good authority that the hamfest sponsored by the Independent Repeater Association at the Hudsonville Fairgrounds will be taking place this year. It is good to see some activity starting to make a comeback.

Please, if you find that little gem at a fleamarket and make a significant change to your repeater, please fill out a TDS and let us know. Please keep in mind there are some limitations to what and how much change can be made. We have neighbors and we have agreements with them so that we can all get along.

Dan N8WKM
MARC Vice President

MARC Meeting Minutes

Date: March 06, 2021
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: Dan Thompson, N8WKM
Newsletter Editor: Dan Thompson, N8WKM

Absent: Indicated by * above
Visitors: John KB8OIS, 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

Minutes of the last meeting were read by Ann.
A motion to approve minutes from the December meeting was made by Jeff, seconded by Dan, vote taken, minutes approved.

Treasurer’s report provided by Phil.
An error was noted in the newsletter treasurers report and it will be corrected later today by Dan. A motion to approve the corrected report in the newsletter was made by Jeff, seconded by Dan, vote taken, Motion passed.

Old Business:
Jeff requested that Bob Burns official email address to be sent to him. Phil will send it.

New Business:

Resolution # 19 was due for a second vote. Resolution read by Phil, as follows: Reserve 442.125/447.125 as a SNPR pair to align Michigan with several adjoining states. Motion made by Jeff, seconded by Ann, vote taken and resolution #19 passed. Resolution to be added to the bylaws.

Resolution # 3 , from September 1, 2003 was brought up for discussion. The resolution was not brought up for a second vote. Eventually, a modified version of the resolution was most likely voted on for inclusion as a bylaw change. Dan will check dates and votes and see if any further action is required by MARC. Motion tabled until the next meeting.

John, KB8OIS asked some questions regarding the successor sponsor of Corwin, WB8UPM's (SK) repeater.(146.74) Jay, WB8TKL was listed as the successor sponsor on Corwin's coordination. John asked Jay if he would list The University of Michigan as the successor sponsor for the 146.740 repeater. Jay indicated that he wants to keep ARROW as his successor sponsor for his 146.740 coordination. John asked if a co-sponsor is a possibility. The MARC Board answered that only one sponsor can be the holder of a coordination. This avoids complications from disagreements between sponsor and any other involved party.

Dan is working on a program for the spread sheet submissions. Progress on the spread sheet tools is proceeding but is very time consuming. There was a discussion on some of the problems in implementing the spread sheet system. Dan also made a correction to the data base for one of K8SN's repeater links. Jeff will call KB8SWR to check on the status of his spread sheet.

Adjournment:

Motion to adjourn made by Jim, seconded by Jeff, motion carried. Meeting adjourned at 1:42 PM .

The next meeting will be conducted electronically on June 12, 2021 at 1:00 PM. Respectfully submitted,
Ann Manor, KT8F, Recording Secretary

Treasurer's Report
For the period February 1, 2021 -April 30, 2021

Marc funds balance on 2-1-2021 was $3687.44

Income for February, March and April $ 91.99 from dues and interest.
Expenses for February, March and April were $24.56 from PayPal charges and mailing costs.

MARC funds balance on April 30, 2021 was $3754.87.

Respectfully Submitted,
Phil Manor, W8IC
MARC Treasurer

Supporting Detail

MARC Funds as of 02/01/2021