SARASOTA AMATEUR RADIO ASSOCIATION Minutes of the May 20,2003 Meeting

The meeting opened at 8:08 p.m. with introductions. We had 15 people present.

The secretary read the minutes of the previous meeting, which were approved. Current rosters were offered. The secretary, Elmer Dickson announced that he would be out of the country until December and asked for someone to volunteer to be the secretary pro tern. No response was made.

The president, Eddie Martin, reported that meeting notices had been sent by a new e-mail connection. Several reported not having received them.

Charles Michael announced that a Ham fest date was set for November 22/23, 2003 in the Potter Building at the fair grounds, with plenty of space behind the building for a tailgate area.

Treasurer, Vivia Martin, said no checks had been written or deposits made in the preceding month. Insurance for the June 28/29 Field Day was secured and that she would arrange for a porta-potty closer to the date. She noted that insurance to cover terrorist damage to our equipment is now being supplied at no additional cost. A financial report is available at the executive committee.

Field Day on June 28/29 at Wilkinson School was discussed briefly. Final plans will be made next month. Volunteers to set up the equipment were asked for, with several positive responses.

The expression of recent radio activity brought concerns about antenna installation from several condo residents. Don Vnder Polder showed a home brew antenna built with PVC pipe and metal tape ruler that looked great - but, he said, did not work. We learned that WSUN in the Tampa area was, in 1932, the first AM radio station in the nation to use a directional antenna system to protect night time operation from interfearing with a distant station on the same frequency.

For a Journal report. Bill Schlapfer, recently recovered from heart surgery, reported on the features of several hand-held transcievers.

We broke for refreshments at 8:50 and reassembled at 9:00 for a program about the Hospital Radio Room. After an overhead projector display of the room and equipment, Eddie Martin took us to the room for a closer look at a well equipped shack! It was 9:35 when we went to the radio room, and people began leaving by 10:00 p.m.

The executive committee was not held due to the hour.

Respectfully submitted.

Elmer Dickson, Secretary