S.A.R.A. Minutes from meeting on 4/14/2004
Saratoga City Hall
The minutes were respectfully submitted by Don Anastasia, Secretary.
There were a total of 11 club members in attendance, including:
- John Glass, NU6P
- Don Anastasia, AA6W
- Lou DeGive, WA6RAG
- Christina Sand, KG6ORH
- Rob Vance, N6ROB
- Larry Goodwin, KG6ENF
- Greg Reynolds, KG6HDI
- Dick Crouch, N6RC
- Stephen Stearns, K6OIK
The meeting was called to order at 7:30 PM by John Glass.
Old Business:
- Bylaws. Old business included proposed changes to existing club bylaws, including changes to current club membership criteria. (See March Board of Directors meeting minutes). The club members in attendance voted unanimously to ratify the proposed SARA club bylaws, thereby adopting 2 separate and distinct classes of club members. The SARA club will now maintain 2 separate classes of club members: A voting club membership, and a non-voting club membership. A unanimous vote was achieved by the club members in attendance at this April club meeting, in support of these changes to the existing SARA club bylaws.
New Business:
- Repeater: Members, John NU6P, and Rob N6ROB will be implementing both Echolink and IRLP, into the local 2 meter club repeater. Eventually, current repeater codes will be maintained, which will allow club members access to IRLP nodes through the K6SA repeater.
- Upcoming Events. Don AA6W, announced upcoming city and county-wide amateur radio drills. A county wide drill was scheduled for April 17, 2004. This drill was based on an earthquake scenario. Additionally, Don announced an upcoming city round table discussion on emergency preparedness located at the Saratoga City offices, on April 19, 2004, with numerous Saratoga city officials to be present. The scenario, for this discussion was initially a Hazardous waste situation. The local time for this round-table discussion was scheduled for 2:00 pm. Don, invited any club members or guests whom were interested to participate and or observe, any of the 2 above mentioned drills.
- Antenna Modeling Presentation. The guest speaker was announced by club President John NU6P. Our guest speaker for the evening was Steve Stearns, K6OIK. Steve is an employee at Northrup Grumman ESL company. Steve provided all members in attendance a wonderful overhead projection of the theories and modern day applications of Smith charts. Steve showed the club members many overhead slides of old and new antenna transmission line theories. Steve is a specialist in regards to Smith charts, and it would be beyond the scope of these meeting notes, to try and accurately re-create, or represent the details of Steve's presentation to the SARA club. Steve had many books, on the topic of Smith charts to share with all of the club members. Some of these books were ARRL books like the ARRL's Antenna Compendium (includes 7 series), and the ARRL's Handbook, just to mention a couple of titles. Addtionally, Steve pointed out that the ARRL's book titled: Radio Designer is a good source of additional information on Smith Chart topics. Steve explained that the Smith Chart itself is a tool used to display complex impedances. Steve, brought in such a basic Smith Chart, and passed it around to club mebers, for viewing. A Smith Chart has circles of constant resistance and constant reactance depicted within it. Steve also made reference to numerous software products and programs available to amateur radio operators with regards to Smith charts. Some of the software titles available are: Hamcalc, EZnec, Gamma, TLW (Transmission lines for Windows), Geoclock - utility, Elsie (a filter program), and a program called Serenade, which has both student and designer versions. Steve, higly recommended a program called Winsmith, for accurate Smith chart information. Additionally, Steve explained that some of the above referenced software titles can be located on the world wide web at the CQ amateur radio web-site. Steve also briefly identified some of the leading scientists over the last century whom literally advanced many of today's modern electro-magnetic and radio wave theories. Steve answered a few questions from addditional club members after his formal presentation.
There was no more formal business for the club, and the meeting was adjourned at approximately 9:00 p.m.