20250916-TARC-Meeting-Minutes – PDF
On Tuesday, 16 September 2025 at 1900 hours local, Mark, WA5MA, called to order the meeting of the Tulsa Amateur Radio Club in Room-3140 of Keplinger Hall at the University of Tulsa. See a copy of the agenda below left.
1 Attendance
Thirty-four hams added their names to the attendance register, a copy of which is reproduced above right.
2 Introductions
WA5MA introduced the club officers present: 1st Vice President, Jack, W5JHC; 2nd Vice President Ky, KY5VAR; Secretary Andrew, W5AWS; Treasurer Jerry, KE5PMK; Quartermaster Paul, KE5EHM; TARC Merchandise Coordinator, Robert, KI5WDD; Rerpeater Trustee, Gregg, W5GGW; and Bart, N5TWB, the club Public Service Liaison.
WA5MA initiated round-robin personal introductions of those present at the meeting.
3 Business
WA5MA said that we had a lot of business to address since our meeting in August was the ice-cream social meet-and-greet at Chandler Park.
If you were absent the club meeting, see this link for the video recording of the proceedings:
3.1 Newsletter
WA5MA announced that newsletter editor Richie, W5OKL, feeling unwell is now in hospital where he has been for the last week. Richie has relinquished his role as editor of the newsletter. WA5MA produced the most recent newsletter, which became available to the membership via an active link in a TARC Blast email.
Andrew, W5AWS, volunteered to edit the newsletter, which Webmaster Jack, W5JHC, will make available to the membership via a TARC Blast containing an active link to the website location.
As a member of the club, we encourage you to contribute articles to the newsletter. The editor will ensure that you look good in print, so don’t worry about wobbly English. Deadline for contributions to the newsletter is the 25th of the month.
3.2 Minutes
WA5MA asked for any questions or comments about the minutes of the July meeting. Nothing heard. Ky, KY5VAR, moved to approve the minutes as written; Mark, KD5SMF, seconded; members approved the minutes by acclamation.
Andrew, W5AWS, will deliver future minutes of meeting to Webmaster Jack, W5JHC, for storage on the website and distribution to the membership via an active link contained in a TARC Blast.
3.3 Financials
WA5MA asked Treasurer Jerry, KE5PMK, to update us on the state of the treasury, sinking fund, and current membership. KE5PMK acts as the membership committee too.
KE5PMK said that most recently, six members paid their dues. Membership now stands at 204, which means a quorum consists of 41 members.
KE5PMK said that the treasury contains a total balance of $13,760, and the Sinking Fund balance stands at $6,846.
WA5MA asked whether there were any questions about the financial reports as published in the newsletter.
WA5MA asked for a motion to approve the financial reports. Mark, KD5SMF, moved to approve the financial reports; Jeffrey, KJ5JDO, seconded; and the members present passed the motion by acclamation.
3.4 Maker Faire Wrap-up
WA5MA asked Jack, W5JHC, for a summary of our activities at the Maker Faire.
W5JHC reported that the Tulsa Amateur Radio Club members were well-represented at the Tulsa Maker Faire, supported by off-site radio coverage by members who talked to the youthful third-party radio traffic who were receiving their first experience of amateur radio from inside the TARC Communciations Trailer.
3.5 Discovery Lab Tinkerfest
W5JHC said that the Tinkerfest will happen at the Discovery Lab on Saturday, 20 September 2025. The event is similar to the Maker Fair. TARC will be present with the Comms Trailer and needs the help and support from the club membership.
W5JHC yielded the floor to WA5MA.
3.6 Dam J. A. M. Wrap-up
WA5MA asked W5JHC to use notes provided by WB5ANX to summarize the Dam J. A. M., WB5ANX being absent the meeting.
W5JHC asked for any feedback from those who participated supporting the event.
W5JHC said that a significant change this year improved on-course operations by having Safety And Gear (SAG) drivers wait at their staging positions until the first bicyclists pass by then drive to patrol the course instead of waiting for instructions from Net Control.
Ben, WB5VST, is NCO #3 positioned at home where he monitors the APRS traffic and serves on standby as backup to the NCOs 1 & 2. WB5VST has been involved with the Dam J. A. M. event since its inception; he said that this year was the smoothest running event that he has experienced.
W5JHC said that there was one serious medical incident that required ambulance service.
W5JHC yielded the floor to WA5MA.
3.7 Route-66 On-The-Air Wrap-up
WA5MA summarizing the Route-66 OTA event saying that he doesn’t yet have all the logs to tally the contacts. However, band conditions were poor; despite that, Gregg W5GGW reported making lots of contacts via FT8.
3.8 Repeaters
WA5MA asked David, N5DMK, to report the status of the repeater system.
N5DMK said that with the death of Bob, W5RAB, the club will become responsible for many more repeaters. To support the additional equipment, N5DMK and WB5ANX have been clearing an enormous quantity of repeater equipment from the W5RAB workshop. We now have a shortage of storage space. If we have to rent storage, the cost to the club treasury will be approximately $160 per month.
There was a brief discussion of various storage options, the most viable of which is for the club to distribute the spare equipment in additional equipment racks at each transmitter site. This would put spare equipment and parts within easy reach at the sites ready to transfer to the operational rack to replace failed components. Small items could be stored in locked contractor boxes bolted to the floor adjacent to the equipment racks.
N5DMK yielded the floor to WA5MA.
3.9 ARES SET
WA5MA said that the Amateur Radio Emergency Service Simulated Emergency Test will happen on Saturday, October 4th 2025, from 0900 hrs until Noon. This is a national test. We will be exercising use of a Resource Net to which all participants check-in; we will exercise frequency agility and our ability to follow instructions from net control; we will activate the hospital net, and practice Winlink messaging.
Anyone involved with ARES should participate in this event. The event is open to anyone interested in participating; you do not have to be directly involved with ARES.
3.10 Trailer Team
WA5MA said that the club now has a Trailer Team, eight members able to tow the Comms. Trailer from its new storage location to wherever it needs to be. It means that there should always be someone available to tow, distributing the burden among many. Many hands make light work!
3.11 Public Service Liaison
WA5MA said that Bart, N5TWB, is relinquishing his role as Public Service Liaison due to health restrictions.
N5TWB said that he is willing to support the new Public Service Liaison with advice and share historical knowledge.
3.12 TARC Officers 2026
WA5MA said that all club officers except the Public Service Liaison officer have agreed to serve again in 2026.
WA5MA said that Andrew, W5AWS, agreed to serve as Parliamentarian. Anyone who would like to challenge an incumbent or become the new Public Service Liaison officer should contact w5aws@use.startmail.com.
3.13 Standard Frequencies
WA5MA drew our attention to the TARC base radio frequency list on the back side of the agenda, saying that these frequencies should be programmed into all our radios to make on-air reference as easy as saying which channel to select. Find the frequency list at this location:
3.14 Miscellaneous Events
Check the club event calendar to find out where you can help support club operations: https://w5ias.com/events/month/.
• Boy Scouts of America Camporee
• Tulsa County SET
• BSA Jamboree On The Air (JOTA)
3.15 Club Badges
These club badges await collection by their owners:
• KC5BTQ, Lowell ― paid
• NJ5Z, John ― $2
• KI5TZG, Ellis ― paid
• KI5HJM, Cameron ― paid
• KD5DPB, Doug ― paid
• KI5ZWB, Gabe ― $2
Jeffrey, KJ7JTU, proposes to produce club badges for any member who wants one. The new club badge is more durable and looks like the one shown below, except with your name and callsign.
3.16 Drake Equipment
WA5MA has some Drake equipment for sale from a ham who is unable to pursue the hobby any longer. Contact wa5ma.mark@gmail.com for pictures and additional information.
3.17 Tech Night
WA5MA said that the next Tech Night will be on October 7th beginning at 1900 hrs instead of 1830 hrs. It will be an open forum for discussion of anything related to ham radio.
4 Next Meeting
Our next monthly meeting of the Tulsa Amateur Radio Club is October 21st at the University of Tulsa, Keplinger Hall, Room 3140, beginning at 1900 hrs.
5 Adjournment
There being no further business, WA5MA called for a motion to adjourn; Mark, KD5SMF, made a motion to adjourn; Paul, KE5EHM, seconded; motion approved by a general exodus.
Meeting adjourned at 2015 hrs.
Minutes respectfully submitted by
Andrew, W5AWS, Secretary.