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 the columnized version of this newsletter click here for the standard version.

President’s Update:

I hope that everyone has started off this new year well, with lots of projects and fun.

This June 8, 2024 quarterly MARC meeting will take place on line. Details of connecting to the meeting can be found below.

A Thank You to the new MARC Volunteers who are working to get up to speed in their new positions. I know there are volunteers waiting to do more, but there has been much going on and a few unforseen hoops to jump through slowing progress. Please stay with us and keep learning about the process, as the people who have left and are wanting to retire have many years in service to MARC, and it is difficult to fill their shoes easily.

In our last meeting, we spent much of our time working with the new volunteers and to began to familiarize them with the things that happen to make MARC work.

There was no new MARC business other than working with the new volunteers, so the meeting was fairly short, but the phone conference lasted for a very long time.

73, Dan N8WKM

Electronic Meeting Information:

The June 8, 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 web-meeting is only needed for things like slideshow presentations, or use of a whiteboard where someone may need to do an illustration. 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 web-meeting you may still join in on the phone bridge from wherever you are.

MARC Meeting Minutes

Date: March 10, 2024
This meeting took place via internet and phone connection.

Officers:

President: Dan Thompson, N8WKM
Vice President: Keith Armitage, KD8ZSK
Secretary: Ann Manor, KT8F
Treasurer: Roy Watts W8ROY
*Director: Jim Kvochick, K8JK
*Director: Jeff Oberg, KB8SXK
Coordinator: Dan Thompson, N8WKM
Coordinator: Phil Manor, W8IC
Coordinator Jon Blome, NX0H
*Coordinator: Jeff Oberg, KB8SXK
Database Manager: Cliff Bills, AK9TX
Newsletter Editor: Dan Thompson, N8WKM
Statistical Researcher: Keith KD8ZSK
Volunteer: Joe Erlewien, N8CN
Absent: Indicated by * above
Visitors: None


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

Meeting called to order by Dan at 1:00 PM

Minutes of the last meeting were read by Ann. Motion to approve minutes from the last
meeting was made by Phil, seconded by Cliff, vote taken, Motion Carried minutes approved.

Treasurer's report provided by Dan. The copy in the newsletter had some errors in it. A motion to revisit and provide the March treasurers report at the next meeting in June was made by Phil, seconded by Ann. Vote taken, motion passed.

Old Business:

Dan has been working with Roy on the treasurer's position. Roy has completed the necessary paperwork for the required changes to the MARC financial accounts. Roy has been appointed to hold the treasurer' position until the next election for treasurer. Dan will work with Roy on updating procedures for membership payments.

Phil announced that Jon, NX0H is now the 440 MHz coordinator. He has taken a large load off of Phil's Job.

Phil checked with Jeff and found that his MIARC mail was getting through to him. and that Jeff was up to date on out state requests. Some of Jeff's email messages had showed up as bouncing.

Dan will send Cliff information on logging into the MARC Cpanel web account, possibly starting with a test database. Cliff will look into backing up the database through Cpanel, once comfortable with the Cpanel system.

Phil is sending copies of some of his coordination work to Joe and Roy to see the coordination process.

Phil's 2 meter coordination report: There are 4 applications on the waiting list. There are 6 applications in line for coordination and 1 on 6 meters.

Keith is willing to look into sending reminders to repeaters of updates that are late. Examples of update forms will be sent to Keith to work with.

Phil would like to see two coordinators for the 10, 6 and 2 meter bands. 2 meters is very difficult to find available frequencies for, and often takes a lot of extra time. Two coordinators could alternate between each other taking on new co-ordinations and re-coordination's. This would give each a break between coordinating as normally only one can be worked on at a time.

Ann announced that although retiring from MARC in September, she is available to continue as secretary until the end of the year.

New Business:

None

Adjournment:

Motion to close the meeting made by Keith, seconded by Ann, meeting closed at 1:46 PM.
The next meeting will be held electronically on June 8, 2024 at 1:00 PM

Respectfully submitted,
Ann Manor, KT8F, Recording Secretary

Treasurer's Report
For the Period: 02/01/2023 - 04/31/2024

Marc funds balance on Feb 1, 2024 $3746.31
Income for Feb, Mar, Apr $43.73 from dues and interest.
Expenses for Feb, Mar, Apr. $4.20

MARC funds balance on April 30, 2024 was $3785.84

Respectfully Submitted,
Roy Watts, W8ROY
MARC Treasurer

Supporting Detail

MARC Funds as of 02/01/2024