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April 24th, 2009 - General Membership Meeting
Notes Posted By Ray Anderson on April 28th, 2009

The Vienna Wireless Society General Membership Meeting - April 24, 2009

President, Jim, W4JTP formally opened the meeting at 7:36 pm .

TOTAL ATTENDANCE: 53

GUESTS: 5, Andrea Hartlage, KG4IUM (Main Presenter); Bob Kennedy; Grace Sharer; Sara Robinson; Mehrdad Maroofi

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

  • Jim, AG4MA reminded the Membership that our QRP To The Field and Krazy Antenna Day would be held the next day, Saturday, April 25th at the upper pavillion of Glyndon Park in Vienna.  A show of hands by Members indicated that the event would be handsomely attended.  Jim emphasized that food that would be served, especially baby-back ribs, and additional hands were immediately raised.
  • Tom, K4TCM updated the Membership on the Saturday, March 9 Fox Hunt at Lake Fairfax. Three Foxes with approximately 5 watts of power and three to five Rabbits with approximately 35 milliwatts of power will be hidden for the hunt. The transmitters will be within five miles of each other.  When Tom asked how many Members would be interested in participating in a Tape Measure Antenna Building Session only one Member indicated an interest.  Other Members still had access to some of the many antennas that were built previously.  Because of the low interest in the building session, it may be canceled.
  • Bernie, N4JDF the Club's Field Day Chairman, updated the Membership on the progress of the Field Day '09, which will commence at 2:00 pm on Saturday, June 27th  and continue until 2:00 pm on Sunday, June 28th.  As reported in the last meeting's minutes, all of the Band Captains' positions have been volunteered for.  Bernie announced the additional volunteer position of Field Day Videographer which will be filled by Matthew, KG4URU .
  • Pete, K6BFA encouraged Members who wanted to purchase Field Day '09 Memorabilia from the ARRL to sign up as quickly as possible.  Doing so would save Members' shipping costs.  In order to ensure that all asked-for T-Shirt sizes would be filled by the ARRL, Pete announced that the order would be sent off early.
  • Pete, KG4OJT summarized the Club's successful participation in the April 18th Sally Ride Science Festival  at George Mason University.  He recounted the enthusiastic interest that many of the girls, who attended the Festival, showed at the Club's three tables.  A special thanks was given to Pamela, KB9SCM, Ione, KJ4FHL and Ann, W4JDF who spoke to many of the girls about the wonders of Amateur Radio.
  • Bob, AJ4RS made a Public Service Announcement about upcoming races that would use Ham's as voluteers.  These races included the upcoming Bull Run Marathon, the Potomac River Run as well as others.
  • The Membership was reminded that Ole' Virginia Hams Amateur Radio Club will host its Manassas Hamfest on Sunday, June 14th.  For more information, click on this link for a Hamfest flyer: http://www.w4ovh.com/HFFLYR09.pdf
  • Ray, KJ4CNN announced that the auction for the complete cw radio station from the McDevitt estate would be finalized at this meeting after the Main Presentation

FREE GIVEAWAYS: Mike, KZ9U donated COAX cabling to the Membership.  Thank you, Mike!

BREAK: 

  • Refreshments and caloric indulgences were provided by John, KA4YMA.

POST BREAK:

  • President Jim, W4JTP announced that two 50-50 winners would be selected during this meeting 
  • The first winner was Skip, KF4ZXX and the second winner was Tom, K4TCM .   

MEETING PRESENTATION

  • Mike, AE4R, the Club's Program Committee Chair, introduced the evening's main presenter, Andrea Hartlage, KG4IUM, the 2004 Amateur Radio Newsline Young Ham of the Year and an ARRL Assistant Section Manager - Youth, Georgia Section.  Andrea's well researched presentation offered a multitude of techniques on attracting younger hams to the hobby.  Using audience interaction techniques, Andrea presented proven ideas on how we can make the hobby more interesting and appealing to younger hobbyists.  Her presentation stimulated questions and active discussion participation from the audience.

SPECIAL ESTATE AUCTION

  • Upon the request by the McDevitt family, the Club auctioned off this family's SK's cw radio station.  The successful bidder, George, WB5OYP purchased the rig out of sentimental reasons, saying that he'd personally known the designer of the cw transmitter.

President, Jim, W4JTP formally closed the meeting at 9:40 pm

For a look at some pictures of this meeting, click on:http://www.flickr.com/photos/viennawireless/sets/72157617401606022/

Respectfully submitted by

Ray Anderson, KJ4CNN

Secretary, VWS

 

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