Welcome to the MARC Newsletter a publication of the Michigan Area Repeater Council. This news letter is published quarterly in conjunction with the quarterly business meetings. If you prefer a non-columnized version of this newsletter click here for the wide version.

President’s Update:

Upcoming in September are officer elections for 2027. This year we will be voting for the positions of Presidetn, Secretary, and one Director (currently held by Tony Griffen, KE8NSU). If you have a nomination, please attent the online meeting, or send them in via email. Please note nominees have to be willing to participate, and attend meetings.

We still need help with a coordinator to handle VHF requests.

I need to address an issue that we have been dealing with. The purpose of the TDS is for MARC to have accurate data as to expected performance of your repeater. Recently, over half of the TDS that have been turned in, have glaring errors.
First are coordinates. With modern tools available, there is very little reason for things like an address not to match coordinates. Far more often are the thing like HAAT and ERP. These are not guesses, there are links to instructions on how to calculate these things. I know that some of it is confusing, but there is a link to a calculator to help with this.

Also, if you do not know your MINO, please leave it blank. We use software to read your TDS, and filling in an incorrect MINO will cause your information to not be found. The MINO is not publicly available, it is not found in the repeater directory. It is found on your provisional coordination documents. Not filling this in will not prevent you from submitting your TDS.

We encourage members to join us online to attend the quarterly meetings. Input on the things we are working on is always needed. Members can also be included in the votes to new or changing efforts. Full membership is only $10 per year and helps offset the cost of operating MARC. Membership dues can be payed using PayPal or by sending a check to the MARC mailing address, both of which can be found on our website, by clicking on the link to "Pay Your Dues".

73, Dan N8WKM

Electronic Meeting Information:

The June 6, meeting is an Electronic Meeting at 1:00pm!

PHONE BRIDGE ONLY:

Use this ONLY if you are only using the phone.
Dial In Number:    712-770-4819
Access Code:      384775#
   1. Dial into bridge using Dial In Number
   2. Enter Event ID
   3. If the meeting organizer is already present,
        you'll be connected. If not, you'll be
        placed on hold until the organizer appears.

WEBMEETING & Phone Bridge:

Using your web browser

   1. Activate your Web Browser
   2. Go To https://join.freeconferencecall.com/marc-meeting
   3. Enter your name and email address
   4. Click the phone icon, you will have a choice to
        select using a telephone or your computer for
        audio if you have speakers and mic.
   5. If you select computer you should connect.
   6. If selecting telephone you will be presented with a number
        to dial and an access code.
   7. When prompted enter the access code followed by the # symbol.
   8. Once the audio connects you will need to press # once again
        and enter the synch code followed by the # symbol.
   9. You should now be connected.
       

Participation in the web-meeting is only needed for things like slideshow presentations, or use of a whiteboard where someone may need to do an illustration. It also allows us the opportunity to display the actual text of a motion for everyone to read. If you are unable to participate in the web-meeting you may still join in on the phone bridge from wherever you are.

MARC Meeting Minutes

Date: March 7, 2026
This meeting took place via internet and phone connection.

Officers:

President: Dan Thompson, N8WKM
Vice President: Keith Armitage, KD8ZSK
Secretary: Roy Watts W8ROY
Treasurer: Roy Watts W8ROY
* Director: Jim Kvochick, K8JK
* Director: Tony Griffin, KE8NSU
Coordinator: Dan Thompson, N8WKM
Coordinator: Jon Blome, NX0H
*Database Manager: Joe,Erlewien, N8CN
Newsletter Editor: Dan Thompson, N8WKM
Statistical Researcher: Keith KD8ZSK

Absent: Indicated by * above
Guests: John Palmisano KB8OIS, Jay Mol N8ROM

Note: call signs of board members are not repeated in the minutes as they are listed above.

Meeting called to order by Dan at 1:00 PM

Munites: Presented by Dan in Roy’s absence. Keith made a motion, Roy, to accept the minutes from the last meeting as presented. The motion passed unanimously.

Tresurers Report: Through 1/31/2026. Presented by Dan in Roy’s absence.
A motion was made by Roy and seconded by Keith to accept the treasurers report. The motion passed unanimously.

Old Business:

Dan discussed the issue of the old web page host and the possibility of moving forward at the least cost.

Keith has been working on sending out email messages to those who have TDS’s overdue. Discussion was made to send letters out to those who have not responded via email.

New Business:

Jon reported on the new software from the Colorado group.
Jon suggested that we use the Colorado groups server since it is already up and running. Jon and Dan will set up the details with Board approval when we have all the details. Please look for emails.

Continued discussion about updates with Coordinations. Discussions about some of the repeaters that have coordinations in question.

Jon provided a UHF update to the group.
Reaching out to coordinators in Indiana to see if we can wrap up a couple coordination’s here in SW Michigan.

Adjournment:

A motion was made by Kieth and seconded by Roy to adjourn the meeting.
Motion carried. Meeting adjourned at 1:49 pm.
The next meeting is June, June 6, 2026 at 1:00 PM

Respectfully submitted,
Roy Watts, W8ROY
Secretary, MiARC

Treasurer's Report
For the Period: 02/01/2025 - 04/30/2026

MIARC Funds balance on Feb 1, 2026 $3362.72
Income for the period: $27.38 from dues and interest.
Expenses for the period: $1.68

MARC funds balance on Apr 30, 2026 $3388.42

Respectfully Submitted,
Dan Thompson, N8WKM
MARC President

Supporting Detail

MARC Funds as of 02/01/2026