January 2025 Meeting Minutes

It’s the start of 2025 and CMARA is back in session with a new president and a great group of members!

Jim N1EKO started the meeting at 7pm with the requisite introductions and folderol. BTW, we had 22 members in the building and 10 on Zoom. Not bad for a January meeting.

Secretary’s Report

Even though my note taking ability is a still a bit strained we managed to get reasonable notes taken and properly transcribed for the December. The minutes as written in the official CMARA minutes…(that’s kind of redundant) were approved by all present.

Treasurer’s Report

Total balance at last report (December 2024): $12,047.23

January Financial Report

  • Income
    • Annual Dues: $ 451.68 (17 members + 1 donation)
    • New members: $0 (none)
  • Expenses
    • Deposit for Field Day 2025 site (Troutbrook Holden): $400.00
  • TD Bank Balances
    • $11,690.91
  • Cash-on-hand
    • $408.00
Total Funds in the Treasury
  • $12,098.91
New Member Applications
  • None received
Notes
  • Zelle online payment setup in TD Bank – still learning how to use best
  • TD Bank balance includes $100 for coffee fund
  • Name badges: continuing…

Patrick Perkins
KO1NE
CMARA, Treasurer
(m): 508.667.6335

Membership Committee

Lots of members and folks paying their dues. Which reminds me…

DUES ARE DUE!

73, Dick / W1REJ

Repeater Committee

The machine on the big hill is still working like a champ.

New Business

There is a new payment option on the website. I’m not sure what it is due to sloppy note taking but you will see it there somewhere.

The SURVEY about changing the meeting start time. 52% vote to keep it the same. 1% didn’t care. 47% voted for change. So for the time being we will continue to meet at 7pm.

New Website

I spilled the beans earlier in the minutes but we have a new website look. Check it out at ‘www.cmara.org’. Many thanks to Tom N1TJC for all the hard work.

Next Meeting

Thursday, February 20, 2025 at St. Francis Episcopal Church, 70 Highland St., Holden, MA. (or Zoom if you prefer) Doors will be open at 6pm and Zoom link up at 6pm (maybe)

Program

Gil WK1H presented the program on ‘Volunteering for the Boston Marathon’. It takes almost 300 ham radio volunteers to make the event go smoothly and YOU are needed.

CMARA Board Meeting 1/14/2025

7pm start time with Jim, Dan, Tom C, Connor, Nick, Greg, George Tom G and Selina

Badges

We are still working on a new vendor. Film at 11.

Website

Tom C N1TJC has all the credentials and new look is active.

A/V Issues

The current laptop doesn’t have Power Point. We approved $ to but Office 365.

The SURVEY

The members voted to keep the meeting time the same.

Trout Brook for Field Day

Wrapped up and paid for!

Repeater Use Request

Another group would like permission to use our repeater as an emergency back up to their emergency system. All approved and Greg will make the proper contact.

Bylaws

We will take up the by-law changes that got abandoned when covid closed everything down. The last known revision will be sent to the board by Greg. This is like déjà vu all over again…and again.

Dan (K1)Rau

October 2024 Meeting Minutes

You’ve heard of late news, well this the late minutes from October. This is the truncated version of the October 2024 minutes. Due to circumstances beyond my control (like a stroke on 10/28/24) my typing is VERY slow.

Secretary’s Report

Accepted.

Treasurer’s Report

Total balance at last report (September 2024): $12,117.18

October Financial Report

  • Income
    • Annual Dues: $ 93.02 (4 members)
    • New members: $0.00 (no prospective members this period)
  • Expenses
    • None Paid
  • TD Bank Balances
    • $11,767.20
  • Cash-on-hand
    • $443.00 (includes $100.00 held for coffee fund)
Total Funds in the Treasury
  • $12,210.20
New Member Applications
  • None received
Notes
  • Name badges: continuing

Membership Committee

102 paid for 2024. 

Repeater Committee

SOS

Old Business

  • Field Day venue. Need volunteer to scout it.
  • 90th b/day, need volunteer to organize it.

New Business

Nominations for board and officers. Those who will continue are: Dan, Pat and Gill for officers and Greg, Selina, Connor, George and Steve for board. Tom may or may not run again due to personal issues. We only have 5 board members and need one more to stay in our charter.

The suggestion of a club activity arose and we will look into it. Perhaps a J-pole build project.

Next Meeting

November 21, 2024. 6:30 social 1/2 hour and the meeting will start promptly at 7pm. Location is St. Francis Episcopal Church, 70 Highland St., Holden, MA. (or Zoom if you prefer)

Program

I know the program was presented by Phil Luscre K8ZT but have no recollection of what it was. It was interesting… that I remember.           

Dan (K1)Rau, Keeper of the minutes and other drivel.