Meeting Minutes

May 2025 Meeting Minutes

This was one of the quickest business meetings I’ve ever witnessed. It was 11 minutes long! YES!! Just 11 minutes. How did we do it? 

Anyway, Jim passed the microphone around to the 21 members in the room and the four that were on Zoom and once that was done we got to the….

Secretary’s Report

The report, as sent through the magic of the interweb was accepted and approved by the members. If I could only get the interweb to write the minutes…..

Treasurer’s Report

There wasn’t a treasurer’s report this month because Pat was in Ireland looking for leprechauns and a pot of gold. 

Membership Committee

94 paid for 2025 and a bunch that are delinquent for 2024. If you are in “arrears” PAY YOUR DUES!

Submitted by Dick W1REJ

Repeater Committee

No repeater report this month but since the repeater is working then it speaks for itself. 

Old Business

Nothing this month…

New Business

George is working with a group to communicate with the ISS (International Space Station) in the future. We will be the radio connection for the group. There will be more details as things are worked out.

 Club Flea. Dan K1RAU brought up the Club Flea in April. Should we continue or not? The club voted to continue.

George asked about who has the definitive list of club equipment. (I believe that Herb started a list a few years ago but I’m not sure if it’s been kept up to date

Next Meeting

June 19, 2025. 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)

Adjournment

7:11pm. I think that is a speed record for a CMARA meeting!

Program

Gil WK1H presented the plans, hopes and aspirations for Field Day. Great presentation!

CMARA Board Meeting 5/13/2025

I have to admit that I missed most of the board meeting. I totally forgot that it was happening and I got in late. 

The only thing of note was that Nick W1NMR talked to Kurt and all is well on the hill for us to remain.

Dan (K1)Rau

The Forgetful Secretary

Uncategorized

Mark Your Calendar: HamXposition 2025

HamXposition 2025 is coming to Marlborough, MA from August 21–24! As the ARRL New England Division Convention, it’s the largest ham radio event in the Northeast—featuring presentations, workshops, a huge flea market, prizes, and more. Whether you’re a longtime amateur or just getting started, there’s something for everyone. See the flyer for full details and visit hamx.org to learn more. 

Field Day

Field Day 2025 Updates and Sign Up Form

Below is the URL for the CMARA Field Day signup form.  Please use it to sign up as an amateur radio operator participant for our Field Day!

https://forms.gle/jdVyjCGTcVDgf7ZL6

The signup form URL has also been added/updated on the our Field Day 2025 page.

Feel free to invite other hams you may know that are not CMARA members.  You don’t have to be a CMARA member to participate in our Field Day.

Thanks much and 73,
Gil Hayes WK1H
CMARA VP
Field Day Event Coordinator

Meetings

May 15, 2025 CMARA Meeting Reminder

The May 15, 2025 meeting will be at St. Francis Episcopal Church, 70 Highland St., Holden, MA. The doors will be open at 6 for the social hour and the meeting will start at 7pm sharp..

The program this month is…

Field Day Planning!

See you on Thursday the 15th..

Dan (K1)RAU

——————————————————————————————————

HERE IS THE LINK IF YOU WANT TO MEET VIA ZOOM

The link will open at 6:30 for the social 1/2 hour and the meeting will start promptly at 7pm.

Copy and paste the link below to your browser…..

https://zoom.us/j/6985960997?pwd=Uyt6WXl6TUhhQTl2cUVlV1pKRG1ZQT09

Or if you want to do it the traditional way use the info below…(the link above is easier as long as you have Zoom on your computer)

Meeting ID: 698 596 0997 

Passcode: CMARA

Greg WA1JXR

Meeting Minutes

April 2025 Meeting Minutes

Here we go again! The April meeting was delayed a week because of Holy Week. Instead of the meeting on April 17 (which was Manudy Thursday) we met on April 24. That threw me off by a week and I realized yesterday that the May meeting is on the 15th and not the 22nd. That’s why you are getting last month’s minutes almost after the nick of time….Whew!

Jim called the meeting to order at 7:04 and we played pass the microphone for the introductions of the 24 people in the building and the 4 that were on Zoom. 

Secretary’s Report

Through the magic of the internet the secretary’s was distributed, read and amazingly accepted by the members. 

Treasurer’s Report

Total balance at last report (March 2025): $12,306.38

April Financial Report

  • Income
    • Annual Dues: $ 20.00 (1 member)
    • New members: $25.00 (1 prospective members)
  • Expenses
    • Club USPS annual post box fees: $ 248.00
  • TD Bank Balances
    • $11,779.38
  • Cash-on-hand
    • $324.00
Total Funds in the Treasury
  • $12,103.38
New Member Applications
  • Jack Sullivan (KC1WBZ)
Notes
  • TD Bank account min balance to avoid fees: from $1,500 to $2,500
  • Zelle online payment setup in TD Bank – information on website
  • TD Bank balance includes $100 for coffee fund
  • Name badges: Jim Singer investigating

Patrick Perkins
KO1NE
CMARA, Treasurer
(m): 508.667.6335

Repeater Committee

Kudos to the repeater committee for keeping W1BIM among the best repeaters in New England!

Repeater Committee

MEMBERS PAID DUES FOR 2025 :  64  

MEMBERS NOT PAID FOR 2025 : 56

MEMBERS NOT PAID FOR 2024 : 28

TOTAL MEMBERSHIP FOR CMARA: 148

73, Dick / W1REJ

Old Business

There wasn’t any old or new business so we closed the meeting and went to the Annual Flea.

Next Meeting

Thursday May 15, 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)

Flea Market!

Lots of junk treasures changed hands and there was plenty of BS (Brotherly Speech) between the attendees.

CMARA Board Meeting 4/15/2025

7pm start time

In attendance, Connor, Dan, Tom S, Nick and Tom C.

Reminder about the meeting date change.

Secretary to send reminder about the date change.

Field Day Security

We need to remember to not leave radios and equipment unsecured. Trout Brook is a public site and anyone can access it.

Bylaws and succession plan

We need to address the succession plan for the repeater trustees in the bylaws.

ARDC. (Amateur Radio Digital Communications) 

There was some discussion about this but didn’t write it down.

Dan (K1)Rau

Public Service

Groton Road Race 2025

 ** Groton Road Race scheduled for Sunday May 4, 2025 **

Greetings all,

The Groton Road Race Committee has again requested the assistance of the Amateur Radio community for the Race on May 4. The Amateur Radio community have been providing situational awareness, health and safety communication for this event for over three decades.

The course circles Groton Hill, starting and ending at the Groton Hill Music Center as in 2024. This will be the third year the Race has followed this course.

The planned event schedule this year is similar to last year; the two main races start shortly after 10am. The communications support that we provide is expected to start around 9am and we should be done shortly after 1pm.

The Groton Road Race continues to be a major event for Amateur Radio in North Central Massachusetts. Those of you who have joined us in previous years know that the runners sincerely appreciate our presence. Many say so as they run past. This event is so large that Police Departments and other public safety organizations from several communities come to assist the Groton PD. Part of our role is to provide the communications from the Groton Police to these out-of-town officers who come to help with this event.

Contributing to the public good is one of the reasons Amateur Radio exists. Our public service events are a key opportunity for us to show our colors, volunteer our skills and equipment, and demonstrate why it is in the public’s interest to continue to allocate precious RF spectrum to our the Amateur Radio Service. The Groton Road Race is a low-stress event and a great way to gain more experience with the public service aspect of amateur radio. Please consider joining us on the 4th.

If you are a new Ham or know of another Ham who is interested in helping at these events but unsure of what is expected or what equipment may be needed, please do not hesitate to introduce yourself (or them) to me.

The Groton Road Race Committee and the Groton Police Department repeatedly praise and express their appreciation for our assistance in providing communications for this event for many years. I do hope you will be able to join us this year; please let me know.

Thanks and 73,
Ralph KD1SM
ralph@kd1sm.net

Meetings

April Meeting Will Feature Our CMARA Member Flea Market

The monthly CMARA membership meeting for April 17 will be our monthly flea market and social hour. Bring whatever equipment you want to sell or trade. Also consider bringing some cash as you never know what type of equipment you might see of interest.

There’s no reservation, registration or fee of any kind other than an active CMARA membership. Just come early if you want to sell items so that you can set up on a table.

See you then!