Florida Parishes VE Group - Testing sessions are scheduled for the last Sunday of each month [with the exception of holiday conflicts] at AmVets Post #68; 26890 Hwy 42 (jct. of Hwys 42 and 43) - Springfield, La. 70462 (approximately 3 miles south of I-12 at exit 32) at 2pm with $15 testing fee. Bring photo ID and any appropriate CSCE. For more information contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or Find an Amateur Radio License Exam in Your Area.

Birthday Wishes for February go out to Mary Pat Mason KE5KMM, David Catania N5QOX
If we missed your birthday, then please let us know.

SELARC Meeting Minutes

(Meeting Type: In-Person)

(Ponchatoula Community Center, LA)

January 9th, 2024

Call to order: Russ Plyler (WI5ARD) at 7:20 pm

Pledge of Allegiance: Russ Plyler (WI5ARD)

Introductions: Done

Minutes of previous meetings: Russ Plyler (WI5ARD)

• 1st motion to accept meeting minutes as posted by Tyrone Burns N5XES
• 2nd motion by Terry Williams N5TDW
• All Approved

Members present: Russ Plyler (WI5ARD), Mike Jackson (KI5GGP), William Harris (KF5YBY), Terry Williams (N5TDW), Tyrone Burns (N5XES), Bob Spahn (WD5BJW), Ryan Dellucky (KI5NMJ), Mary Melancon (KG5ITF), Dean Melancon (KG5AAE), Timothy Lynch Jr. (AG5XK), Timothy Lynch III (KJ5BRD), Ralph Shaw (K5CAV), Keith Samrow (KF5VLX), Greg Nothacker (W5IDD), George Carr (KB5ILL),Tracy Durio (N5CTZ)

Guest present: Mark Duncan (KJ5DKD), Deborah Young

Treasurers’ report: Mike Jackson (KI5GGP)

• 1st motion to accept the treasurer's Keith Samrow KF5VLX
• 2nd motion by Dean Melancon KG5AAE
• All Approved

Bills / Correspondence:

• Wood $92.49
• 1^st Motion to pay Russell for the wood by Mike Jackson KI5GGP
• 2^nd motion by Dean Melancon KG5AAE
  • Post office PO Box $226.00
  • 1^st motion Tyrone Burns N5XES
  • 2^nd motion Dean Melancon KG5AAE

New member applications / renewals:

-Greg Nothacker

• 1st motion to accept by Tyrone Burns N5XES
• 2nd motion to accept by Russell Plyler WI5ARD
• All Approved.

Health and Welfare:

ARES report: Pat Mason (KE5KMN)

• Average check-ins have been running 15 check ins

Hamfest Committee: Tyrone Burns (N5XES)

• Ponchatoula Community Center
  • Confirmed
• Confirmed Vendors
  • The SignMan on 7/10
  • Connector Guy - Richard East N5IAW
• Prizes (Other)
  • Flex Radio
    • Some “SWAG” for door prizes. (T-Shirts, Caps, Decals, and Flyers)
  • Wireman
    • Provided some gift certificates.
• Prizes (Main)
  • 1st ICOM IC-7300
  • 2nd RigExpert AA-650
  • 3rd Yaesu FT-70DR
  • 4th Yaesu FT-65R
• Tickets
  • Time to sell tickets.
• Wrist Bands
  • Ernie Bush (N5NIB) purchased wristbands for the hamfest.
• Food Vendor
  • Boss Hog is confirmed. Same as last year. Tyrone to see if he will make coffee.
• Member Volunteers
  • Ticket Sales
  • Security
  • Kids 12 and under are free.
• Speaker System
  • How are the repairs being taken care of? Yes they have

Repeater Committee: Tyrone Burns (N5XES) & Russ Plyler (WI5ARD)

• Tickfaw
  • Waiting to see when the grounding is down at the tower.
  • Future Steps
    • Insulation is on location and needs to be installed on the ceiling.
    • Wall outlets have exposed wiring and burnt plugs that need to be corrected.
    • Power distribution in the cabinet.
    • 110 power wall sockets within the building.
  • Thanks to Terry N5TDW just prior to OZONE Hamfest he swung by the Tickfaw site and picked up the Commander Technologies Repeater antenna and brought it to the club house in Ponchatoula.

• Hammond
  • Tyrone programmed the 6-meter repeater of Pete’s. Waiting to see when to install. Still a question on the repeater controller needed.
  • Future Steps
    • Power distribution in the cabinet.

Packet:

• HMU (Hammond, LA, North Oaks Hospital)
  • Operational
• PCC (Ponchatoula Community Center)
  • Down while the radio desk is being put back together.
• NEW: W5TEO is back online in Hammond
  • W5TEO-2 = Mail
  • W5TEO-8 = NODE
  • DOTD = Digi Alias

Old Business:

• Preparations have been done to get the shelf back into place for the Hamfest and Field Day. Lots more needs to happen but we need to be set up for both these events and then continue on the remainder of work.

Field Day: Mark Lacey (WX5RN)

• Winter Field Day The weekend after the Hamfest.

Training

• For the month of February 2024
• Learning what is type of Morse Code Keys are out there
• General Discussion on CW
  • EMP Protection / Dave with OZONE on LRS (Lightning Rig Saver) Russ WI5ARD to contact Dave.

New Business:

• Congratulations on the new licenses and/or upgrades from the VE Session of the Florida Parishes VE Group.
  • Technician
    • Nathan Day - Slaughter, La. <This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.>
    • Lincoln Pranikoff - New Orleans, La. <This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.>
  • General
    • Keith Day / KD5YVW - Slaughter, La. <This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.>
    • Matthew Day / KG5ABQ - Slaughter, La. <This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.>
  • Extra
    • N/A

• February Meet & Greet (5 PM to 7 PM)
  • Don’s Seafood
• February Meeting (8 PM to 9 PM)

○ Ponchatoula Community Center

■ 300 N 5th St., Ponchatoula, LA 70454

Upcoming events / Hamfest / Cancellations:

• SELARC Hamfest
  • Date: January 20th, 2024
  • Ponchatoula Community Center, LA
  • We are still in need of volunteers. Please email Tyrone Burns (N5XES).
• Capital City Hamfest
• Date: February 2^nd, 3^rd, 2024
• Jackson, MS
• Acadiana DX Hamfest
  • Date: March 8th, 2024
  • Rayne, LA

General discussion, presentation, or training:

• QRP- George Carr (KB5ILL) January
• ARRL Section Manager Election
  • Ballots are on their rail and should arrive in the mail soon. Matt Anderson KD5KNZ who currently is in the position is asking for our votes to continue on in the LA Section Manager position he currently holds after John Mark stepped down.
  • Your ballot must be returned by Friday, February 16, by 4 PM.
  • Fox hunt for Ham fest

Motion to adjourn:

• 1st motion to adjourn meeting by Tyrone Burns
• 2nd motion by Keith Samron KF5VLX
• All Approved.