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:

MARC has received an unusually high amount of coordination requests in the last 6 weeks or so. This slows down the coordination process, so please have some extra patience until we can catch up.

Each application is first checked for accuracy. When there are discrepancies in the data submitted, each has to be corrected by the applicant and this takes time. The more accurate and complete your application is, the quicker the process can move. Please do not leave entry fields on the application blank unless you can’t figure out the needed info. Once the application is complete and accurate, a check is run to find any available pair that will work.

If there are any, a check must be made to see if the pair would work for an application on the waiting list. This list is derived from the applications from which no available pairs were found. If the pair does not work for any application on the waiting list, the process continues.

A notice is sent out to surrounding states that are close enough to a new repeater application that might cause interference. The adjacent states have a 30-day period to respond. If a state objects because of interference concerns, that request is abandoned and we then try again.

If after all possibilities are tried and fail, the request is denied. At this time, the applicant is notified and can drop the request or ask to be put on the waiting list. This list is not official. I keep it myself for the bands that I am coordinating (440 MHz, 2,6,and 10 meters).

The list is active for one year from the denied date and can be renewed any time before the one-year time period expires by submitting a new TDS. If you don’t submit a new TDS for renewal within the 1 year period, the application is deleted from my list. I currently have four on my 2-meter waiting list and one on 440.

It is evident that the coordination process usually takes about 5 weeks, and sometimes much longer. Some applications require numerous tries.

73, Phil W8IC

Electronic Meeting Information:

The March 3, meeting is an Electronic Meeting at 1:00pm!

PHONE BRIDGE ONLY:

Use this ONLY if you are only using the phone.
Dial In Number:    641-715-0663
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 webmeeting is only needed for things like slideshow presentations, or use of a whiteboard where someone may need to do an illistration. 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 webmeeting you may still join in on the phone bridge from wherever you are.

MARC Meeting Minutes

Date: December 2, 2017
This meeting was an electronic meeting.

Officers:

President: Phil Manor, W8IC
Vice President: Dan Thompson, N8WKM
Secretary: Ann Manor, KT8F
Treasurer: Dave Johnson, WD8DJB
*Director: Jim Kvochick, K8JK
*Director: Jeff Oberg, KB8SXK
Coordinator: Dan Thompson, N8WKM
Coordinator: Phil Manor, W8IC
*Coordinator: Jeff Oberg, KB8SXK
Coordinator: Bob Walchli, N8ZCC
Database Manager: Dave Johnson, WD8DJB
Newsletter Editor: Dan Thompson, N8WKM

Absent: Indicated by * above
Visitors: Jack, NY8D


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

Meeting called to order by Phil at: 1:10 PM.

Motion to approve minutes from the Sept 2017 meeting was made by Dan, seconded by Dave, vote taken, minutes approved.
Treasurer’s report provided by Dave. Motion to approve the report was made by Ann, seconded by Dave, vote taken, Treasurers report approved.

Old Business:

Dan discussed [Rfinder] repeater directory issues with Bob Greenburg. Bob will be raising the price of the directory and working to make the repeater directory work better with coordinators.

Dan stated he and Dave made updates to MARC database software.

Dan is designing a program to work with the database, including surrounding states databases, which will put the results on a map when a frequency is chosen. This will include adjacent channels on the map.

New Business:

Dave the new backup drive had been placed into service and is working well.

Dan stated Bob has done a lot of good work cleaning up the database.

Adjournment:

Motion to adjourn made by Dan, seconded by Ann, motion carried. Meeting adjourned at 1:30 PM.

Note: The next meeting will be conducted electronically on Saturday, March 3, 2018 at 1:00 PM.
Respectfully submitted,
Ann Manor, KT8F, Recording Secretary

Treasurer's Report
For the Period: 11/30/2017 to 02/28/2018

MARC Funds balance on 11/30/2017 was $ 4,554.15

Income for December, January and February was $ 82.73 from dues and interest.
Expenses for December, January and February were $ 4.14 from PayPal fees.

MARC Funds balance on 02/28/2018 was $ 4,632.74

Respectfully Submitted,
Dave Johnson, WD8DJB
MARC Treasurer

Supporting Detail

MARC Funds as of 11/30/2017