Florida Repeater Council, Inc.
Minutes of Annual Business Meeting
February 10, 2001
Orlando, Florida
The open forum was started at 1:00 PM on February 10, 2001 by President Ray
Kassis, N4LEM. The following staff were in attendance:
Directors in attendance were:
District 1: Nilo A. Hernandez, W4HN
District 2: Mark Filla, KS4VT
District 3: Karen A. Power, KD4DJX
District 4: Paul Knupke Jr., KR4YL
District 5:
District 6: Matthew Bush, KA9RIX
District 7: Ted Wirick, W7YJC
District 8: Frank Butler, W4RH
Staff Members in attendance were:
President: Ray Kassis, N4LEM
Vice President: Ira R. Bickham Jr., K8HRR
Secretary/Treasurer: Dana G. Rodakis, K4LK
Database Manager: Dana G. Rodakis, K4LK
President Kassis welcomed all present and explained that the first part of the
meeting would be an open format, where anyone could express any thoughts. This
portion of meeting would lead into the formal portion of the meeting where no
participation by the members would be allowed.
Clyde Rogers, WD4LWG, complained that he sent a repeater update with dues check
by certified mail and it was returned. Database Manager Rodakis indicated that
he is too busy to retrieve certified mail from the post office and that he
would be willing to provide acknowledgement by mail or phone. Considerable
discussion followed.
Wally Cashman W4EFK, complained about the 145.490 MHz repeater that was
coordinated to his father and have since been omitted from the database due to
his father's passing.
Mike Whitmore, WB8ONY, also complained about returned certified mail and
indicated that someone in the Council must accept certified mail.
Director Hernandez offered to accept certified mail on behalf of the Council and
forward it to the correct person. Clyde Rogers suggested that the originator of
the mail receive an acknowledgement from the end recipient by regular mail.
President Kassis indicated that a motion would be made during the business
meeting to establish a certified mail procedure.
Considerable discussion about the 145.490 MHz repeater in Tampa resumed. Wally
submitted a new application and the repeater was restored to coordinated
status. Also, Wally mentioned that the upside down repeater 449.600 MHz would
have to be rebuilt to invert it. Wally will notify the Council when the
repeater conforms to the ARRL band plan and would accept a conditional
coordination of necessary. Wally mentioned that he hasn't heard the Orlando
444.6 repeater in a month.
It was mentioned that the 147.075 MHz conditionally-coordinated repeater in
Flagler Beach has increased height by 20 feet and has increased power without
permission from the Coordinator. This information was mentioned on the air.
The Database Manager complained about many other repeaters that have changed
technical parameters without permission.
Mike Whitmore, WB8ONY wanted to know how the FRC gets involved in interference
complaints that involve the FCC. The Council provides technical information
concerning coordinations to the FCC upon request. The Council does not have
any rules enforcement authority.
Chuck, N4EHM, of Lake City, mentioned that he submitted an application for
146.940 that was once in operation at the Boys Ranch in Live Oak, Florida and
that the trustee has passed away. Chuck also mentioned that the Boys' Ranch
repeater equipment has been removed. Considerable discussion followed
including the fact that deceased amateurs often remain in the FCC database
until expiration. (COORDINATOR'S NOTE: I HAVE BEEN CONVERSED WITH DAVE STOCKY
K4KE DURING JUNE 2001, AND HE IS INTERESTED IN RESTORING THE REPEATER TO
SERVICE. I HAVE SENT A LETTER TO CHUCK INDICATING THAT HIS REQUEST IS DENIED).
Bill, N4XEO, mentioned that PL tones should be implemented to solve
interference cases. Considerable discussion followed concerning voluntary
versus mandatory PL usage and the fact that some feel like PL tones are
unfriendly. It was suggested that all repeaters should generate PL tones and
that it is inexpensive and has numerous benefits. It should not be mandatory.
It was suggested by Mike, WB8ONY, that after a certain date, all new
coordinations should be contingent upon the repeater encoding a PL tone and that
when the next repeater status report is due, existing repeaters be required to
encode a PL tone in order to maintain coordination. The Council does not have
the authority to require a PL tone.
The business meeting was called to order at 2:00 PM on February 10, 2001 by
President Ray Kassis, N4LEM, who determined that a quorum of qualified
Directors were in attendance:
Directors in attendance were:
District 1: Nilo A. Hernandez, W4HN
District 2: Mark Filla, KS4VT
District 3: Karen A. Power, KD4DJX
District 4: Paul Knupke Jr., KR4YL
District 5:
District 6: Matthew Bush, KA9RIX
District 7: Ted Wirick, W7YJC
District 8: Frank Butler, W4RH
Staff Members in attendance were:
President: Ray Kassis, N4LEM
Vice President: Ira R. Bickham Jr., K8HRR
Secretary/Treasurer: Dana G. Rodakis, K4LK
Database Manager: Dana G. Rodakis, K4LK
SECRETARY'S REPORT:
Director Hernandez made a motion which was seconded by Director Knupke to
approve the minutes of the September 2000 meeting without further reading.
They are published on the Council web site and in the December 2000 newsletter.
Passed unanimously.
The secretary mentioned that the December 2000 was mailed 12/18/00. Forty came
back undeliverable. They were passed along to the Directors for investigation.
The next newsletter will be mailed in mid-July 2001.
TREASURER�S REPORT:
The FRC Secretary/Treasurer reported the following accounting:
Opening balance, 10/01/00: $ 7,793.90
Expenses: $ 124.94
Income: $ 1,050.00
Balance: 2/7/00: $ 7,918.84
The treasurer mentioned that it might be a good idea to transfer some of this
balance to a savings account.
WEBMASTER'S REPORT:
The Council web site receives 20 hits per day. Repeater listings are updated
fairly regularly.
DATABASE MANAGER/COORDINATOR'S REPORT:
Ten repeaters have been coordinated, and seven have been de-coordinated. There
are currently 1,150 repeaters in the database. The data for the next ARRL
repeater directory was submitted on-time during the end of November.
PRESIDENT�S REPORT:
President Kassis mentioned that all Directors for districts 2, 4, 6, and 8 are
due for re-election along with the Council President. President Kassis
mentioned that he would entertain a motion to re-elect all four directors
unless there is no-one else interested in running. Dave Armbrust, AE4MR
indicated that he would be interested in serving district 6. Matt Bush, KA9RIX
tendered his resignation as director but would like to continue serving as
6-meter coordinator. Director Power made a motion to re-elect Directors for
districts 2, 4, and 8. It was seconded by Director Hernandez. Motion passed.
The meeting was then turned over to Vice President Ira Bickham Jr. who
entertained nominations for FRC President. Ray Kassis was nominated for
President by Director Hernandez and was seconded by Director Filla. Director
Butler moved that the nominations be closed. President Kassis re-elected.
President Kassis then entertained a motion to re-appoint Dana Rodakis, K4LK as
Secretary, Treasurer, Coordinator, Database Manager, and Webmaster, Matt Bush,
KA9RIX as 6-meter coordinator, Dave Armbrust, AE4MR as District 6 Director and
Ira Bickham Jr., K8HRR as Vice President. Motion made, seconded and passed.
REPORTS OF DIRECTORS:
District 1: All quiet
District 2: Director Filla reported that he has been contacting non-reporting
trustees and also urged trustees owners to update their repeaters. There are
still repeaters in Broward county with 305 area codes. The 146.94 repeater
owner renewed his license. The 444.500 repeater is coordinated and operating.
The 147.12 repeater in Bellgrade is now on a county tower. The 145.11 interference
complaint is being worked. Remove Mark's FAX number in newsletter.
District 3: All quiet
District 4: Director Knupke is working with Wally Cashman on the upside-down
repeater issue. He mentioned that he is requesting the Database Manager
deleting non-updated inactive coordinations. He urged other Directors to
do the same.
District 5: No report
District 6: All quiet
District 7: All quiet
District 8: All quiet
OLD BUSINESS:
None
NEW BUSINESS:
President Kassis requested that a motion be made to establish a certified mail
procedure. Director Hernandez will accept certified mail. This mail will be
forwarded to the intended person by regular mail. Director Power made the
motion. It was seconded by Director Butler. No discussion. Motion passed.
The amateur who started the discussion about the benefits of encoding PL on
a repeater planned to author an article. It would be available for the
next newsletter.
The meeting was adjourned at 3:30 PM by President Ray Kassis.
Respectfully submitted
Dana G. Rodakis, K4LK
Secretary/Treasurer