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:

I would like to thank the Board for stepping up and filling in for me during my absence in article writing. We now have two years under our belt holding our meetings electronically, and I am pleased to say that this format has worked out well for us. We had hope for more participation from the membership using this format, but it just has not happened. To join in on the meetings you call in on a toll free number, and you can see material submitted for review by logging in to the bridges website. Information to this is listed else where in the newsletter.

I am pleased to say that I am currently working on the backlog for 2m. There are a couple of request that have been out there and are patiently waiting to hear if they can be coordinated.

There will be a vote to a proposed By-Law change. The following motion was placed on the floor: 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 of or incapacitation of the 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 bases.

MARC currently has 46 repeaters that are three years or older in sending in the required TDS. The following can be found under MARC Standards, F, paragraph 1. If updates by submitting a Technical Data Sheet (from the system sponsor) are not received a minimum of once every two years the (MARC) coordinator may withdraw the Co-ordination Authorization. Notification will be sent concerning de-coordination of these repeaters.

If you are a trustee, you can go to http://miarc.com/repeater_directory.html to find out the statues of you coordination.

Remember, TDS’s are due yearly, but can go up to two years. Please help keep your information current in our Database.

Our next electronic meeting will be conducted on March 5th, starting promptly at 1:00PM. Again, check else where in this newsletter for the procedure of participating in the meeting. If you have a question please call 586.465.7126 and leave a message concerning MARC, or contact anyone on the Board by sending email to mail@miarc.com

73,
Dennis, W8DFG
President

Database Manager's Corner

We have a number of TDS submissions that are overdue. In fact, over 22% 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.

MARC submitted our repeater information to the ARRL in January. The 2011 - 2012 ARRL Repeater Directory has gone to press.

Dave Johnson, WD8DJB

Electronic Meeting Information:

The March 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: December 4, 2010
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, W8YUC
Director: Jim Kvochick, WB8AZP
Coordinator: Dan Thompson, N8WKM
Coordinator: Phil Manor, W8IC
Coordinator: Dennis Gaboury, W8DFG
Database Manager: Dave Johnson, WD8DJB

Absent: None
Visitors: Corwin Moore WB8UPM, John Meyer, K8IHY, Ron, W8YUC, John Sundstrom, N8YQD

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

Meeting called to order by Dennis at: 1:00 PM.

Motion to approve minutes from the March meeting was made by Phil, seconded by Ron, W8YUC, e-vote per roll call taken, motion approved.
Treasurer’s report provided by Dave. Motion to accept the report made by Dan, supported by Phil, roll call vote taken, motion carried.

Old business:

Corwin requested that the trustee of the Semara Club contact him. Dennis stated he would contact the Semara trustee for Corwin and provide him with Corwin’s phone number. Corwin reported no info on the new committee yet (Coordinate using propagation software).

New Business:

Dan requested the format for the ARRL repeater directory database. Dave will continue to send ARRL the Michigan repeater database. Dan reported that Vince, a former coordinator, has some old paperwork from 1990 to 1993 and asked if MARC wants it. The consensus was that the paperwork is no longer needed and may be discarded. Dennis will send Vince the message.

Dan re-introduced the discussion of making arrangements for the succession of the repeater pair coordination in the event of a repeater sponsor’s incapacitation or death. It was suggested that the TDS specify the wishes of the sponsor for the transfer of the coordination of the pair upon his or her death or incapacitation.

Considerable discussion on the subject followed. The object is to allow a well-established repeater a reasonable way to maintain operation if something happens to the sponsor of the coordination. Dan mad a motion for a proposed by-law change as follows: 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. Motion seconded by Fred. Call for discussion. Vote per roll call – motion passed. This proposal will be published in the March newsletter and can be voted on at the March meeting for inclusion in the bylaws.

Fred stated that he would work on coordination request from KD8KUB for a 440 repeater.
Dennis polled the membership for any further questions or comments.

It was mentioned that the electronic meetings are working well and saving alot of time and money. (No travel)

Phil reported on the status of 440 coordinations. He is working on one and waiting on information from 3 applicants, some for over a year, and has begun working on the backlog of eight 440 Dstar applications from April 2008. Phil is working with W8GDS on a coordination and is having trouble reaching him. Phil asked Dan if he would be able to contact W8GDS. He needs to move off of 442.475 in Glenwood due to interference. The location is in southwest Michigan. Dan will try to contact him.

Adjornment:

Motion to adjourn made by Dan, seconded by Ron at 1:55 pm, motion carried.

Respectfully submitted,
Ann Manor, KT8F

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

March Meeting Information:

March 5 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.