Meeting Minutes  

April Business Meeting — April 5, 2007

Meeting called to order by Louie-W1CH at 7:00 PM.

A roll call of members present showed 28 members and 1 guest present.

Secretaries Report: accepted as posted on the website.

Treasurer’s Report: the report was read. Motion to refer to audit. Passed unanimously.

Standing Committees
Technical Committee: Dave-W1DJG reported that station-logging system is up and running. Work on the antennas will commence as soon as weather permits. The vertical antenna needs repair, as does the 80-m antenna leg. The broken keyer could be auctioned at the end of the next meeting. He would check out anything that needed attention.

Building and Grounds: Mike-N1ITQ reported that the club should realize noticeable savings in heating costs; the vents and ductwork are repaired and the heat to the hut is shut off. Thanks for doing the work in emptying the hut and setting up the station in the main hall.

Scholarship Committee: No report.

Special Committees
ARES/Skywarn: Rob-KD1CY reported that the P3 Hurricane Hunter aircraft would be at Quonset Point, in N. Kingstown, RI on Monday, April 30 from 3–6 PM. There will be a Special Event station on air. The next ARES exercise is to take place on the first Monday in June, between 7:00 and 9:00pm.

Communications: None

Ratification of New Applicants: 2 applications were received.

Davis C. Bruce (no call)

Keegan Lamp- KB1OLI

Motion to accept both and passed unanimously.

President's Comments: Louie-W1CH asked for a round of applause for the job that was done by the members who cleaned out the hut and transferred contents to the storage trailer. Members of the “New Building Committee” and others did it. The radio station was moved to the main hall as a temporary arrangement. Thank You to all that assisted.

Old Business
A notice about auctioning the broken keyer will be made via the reflector.

John-WA1ESO reported that it would cost $350-$500 to get an evaluation of the condition of the main building by a Mass Licensed contractor. Motion that the club hires the contractor at $350 to inspect the building and give us a written report on its condition. After some discussion, the motion was unanimously approved. The report will be presented at the next meeting.

New Building Committee: Dave-K1JGV estimated costs of the removal of the hut, and also removal of the total structure. For total removal of the hut and permits needed: approximately $3400; a contractor will knock down and remove the debris from the property for $2500, the rest is for fees, and environmental inspections. For the total demolition of the buildings standing is about $9300. There will be a complete proposal for membership approval in May.

New Business
Mike-N1ITQ made a motion that $3500 be allocated from the treasury for the removal and disposal of the hut. After much discussion, the motion passed with 4 against.

Mike-N1ITQ made a motion for the club to assign 1 person (new building committee chairman) to be the spokesman for the club at the Town Hall. The motion also included a provision that any other member so doing should be reprimanded. The motion was approved unanimously.

For the Good of the Club
Bill-WA1FYF noted that the by-laws as they have been rewritten over time are not the ones that the state has on file. They have the original copy of the by-laws submitted in 1977. He cautioned that some of our procedures being used might not be acceptable according to the documents that are filed with the state authorities.

Mike-N1ITQ stated that there would be a gigantic scout weekend held at Ft. Taber Park on Columbus Day weekend. He asked if the club would be willing to setup a station there so that the scouts would be able to work on their communication badges. There was no action taken.

Nominations for Board of Trustee Vacancy
John-WA1ESO nominated by Louie-W1CH

Nominations will be accepted up until the May meeting. Notice will be given on the Reflector.

Meeting Adjourned at 7:55 PM

Respectively Submitted,

Armand Augustine, W1BUG, Secretary

Note: A full copy of the minutes can be read or downloaded from the SEMARA Website. A full copy will be also posted on the bulletin board in the clubhouse.