MICHIGAN AREA REPEATER COUNCIL NEWSLETTER

WEB SITE: http://www.miarc.com e-mail: mail@miarc.com

SEPTEMBER 2006

A short note from the Prez………..

Our meeting in Traverse City was a very productive one. Under a new policy that the Board has enacted is to audit the Treasurers records twice a year. Our Vice-President Jim Maike KB8IFE and myself went through the information Dave gave us and we are good to go till December. If you take time to read the Minutes from the meeting, you will see that a lot of ground was covered.

Along with the nominees running for office, you will see that there is some proposed By-Law changes that were made that will be voted upon at the September meeting. The membership will have thirty days to send in their remarks to the Mt. Clemens Post Office Box, and these remarks will be read on the floor.

Also remember, dues must be paid 24 hours prior to the date of the meeting, to be eligible to vote.

We have split up 2M and 440 bands to help expedite the backlog that we have. Jim KB8IFE has taken on the 440 pile up, while I’ll keep 2 meters.

For those of you who did not go to Dayton this year, D-Star Digital Communications is here, and the Board is currently looking at where to include this into our Band Plan. Speaking of Band Plans, notice’s have been sent out to the Trustee’s of those that are three years or older in sending in TDS’s. Some have replied to the notice, those who do not a letter of de-coordination will be sent out via Certified Mail. Remember, TDS’s are due yearly, but can go up to two years. Please help keep your information current in our Data Base.

The December meeting, as of this newsletter, will be at the Lapeer Elks on the 2^nd of the month. We move the meetings around the state so all may have a chance to attend at least once a year. As tradition goes, if nothing’s wrong, low or no attendance. We try to get locations far enough in advance so one can make plans to attend.

If anyone has any questions, you can reach the Board via of the website, or my phone number is 586-465-7126. For those of you making the Annual Meeting, as per the By-Laws, on September 9th, I’ll see you there.

73,

Dennis, W8DFG

President

Database Manager’s Corner

Just a quick reminder, over 19 % of our coordinated repeaters have a TDS that is overdue. The last Repeater Directory update was done on 7/15/06. Please take a minute to check your repeater in the MARC Repeater Directory. If the entry is RED you have a TDS that is overdue.

Thanks to all of you who take the time to submit accurate updates. It really makes my job easier and improves the validity of MARC data.

The deadline for Renewal TDS submissions to make the 2006 – 2007 ARRL Repeater Directory will be December 31, 2006.

Dave Johnson, WD8DJB

Treasurer’s Report for 05/31/06 to 06/30/06:

MARC Funds balance on 05/31/06 was $3,754.24.

Total income for the period was $ 50.92 from dues and interest.

Total expense for the period was $.00.

MARC Funds balance on 06/30/06 was

$ 4,147.21.

Respectfully Submitted

Dave Johnson, WD8DJB

MARC Treasurer

Supporting Detail:

MARC Funds as of 05/31/2006

Share Acct $ 5.00

Money Market $3,754.24

Checking $ 337.05

Beginning Balance $4,096.29 $4,096.29

Income

Dues $ 40.00

Interest $ 10.92

Total Income $ 50.92

Expenses

None $ 0.00

Total Expenses $ 0.00

MARC Funds as of 06/30/2006

Share Acct $ 5.00

Money Market $3,765.16

Checking $ 377.05

Ending Balance $4,147.21 $ 4,147.21

MARC MEETING MINUTES

Date: 6/3/06

Absent: Ron Gordon W8YUC.

Meeting called to order at 1:00PM

Minutes from previous meeting read by Ann, KT8F. Motion to accept the minutes as printed in the newsletter made by Jim, KB8IFE and 2nd by Dave WD8DJB, motion carried.

Treasurer’s report provided by Dave. Motion to accept the report made by Jim, KB8IFE and 2nd by Ann, motion carried.

Old business:

Dennis, W8DFG provided an update on repeater co-ordinations.

Phil, W8IC made a motion to add resolution #9 under the DOG.

MARC shall require not less 100 miles separation between co-channel repeaters that cross state lines. This does not include Canada or Upper Michigan. This distance has been used between Michigan and adjoining states successfully for many years per a “Gentleman’s agreement” which was associated with MAC, the Midwest Affiliated Coordination Council.” 2nd by Jim, KB8IFE, discussion followed, motion carried.

New business:

Dennis – a nomination committee should be formed for the upcoming elections. The committee shall consist of the non-running officers: VP, Treasurer, and Director.

Dennis stated that we need to clarify the description of the coordinator. He then read from MARC bylaws article #3 paragraph B-7 regarding coordinator(s) from the bylaws.

Phil made a motion to change the bylaws as follows: that the following line should be struck from B-7 in the bylaws. “If four (coordinators) are appointed, one shall be responsible for coordination activities regarding two meters and down and the other shall be responsible for coordination activities above two meters in the ARS allocated frequencies.” This will provide more flexibility for our

coordinators. Seconded by Jim, KB8IFE, discussion followed, motion carried. This matter will be brought to the membership for a vote after the proposed change has been published in the newsletter.

Dennis and Jim, KB8IFE performed an audit today, and all was in order.

Upcoming meetings: Delta Fire Dept in Lansing has been secured for the September 9 meeting (on Saturday). December meeting will be held December 2 (Saturday) at the Lapeer Elk’s club.

Dennis stated pictures should be taken of the officers and posted on the website.

As of today, Jim, KB8IFE has volunteered to help coordinate the backlog of repeater applications on the 440 band. Phil will continue to handle the out-of-state requests and links on the 440 band.

Jim, WB8AZP will notify the NFCC regarding who they should send their email notifications to: the President, Dennis, W8DFG; Database Manager, Dave, WD8DJB; Phil, W8IC, and Dan, N8WKM.

Phil made a motion to place DOG resolution #10 as follows: Proposal to allow One Way Links to be coordinated North and East of the “A” line in the 430.525 to 430.975 frequency range. The links will be limited to the area East of 84 degrees longitude. Supported by Jim, WB8AZP, discussion, motion carried.

Jim, WB8AZP reported on the new D-star digital voice, digital data radios and repeaters. They will require 3 frequencies for coordination. Digital and analog cannot share the same frequencies. As these become more prolific, this will create some challenges in coordination. The Board is looking at the Band Plan. Currently one request for coordination of a digital repeater has been submitted.

Deadline for getting the newsletters out is the end of July.

Phil made a motion to amend the bylaws as follows:

Under MARC standards Article I paragraph F-1: If updates by submitting a Technical Data Sheet (from the system sponsor) are not received a minimum of once every two years the (MARC) coordinator may withdraw the Co-ordination Authorization.

Under MARC procedures, Article 3, paragraph B: Technical Data Sheet. It is the responsibility of the repeater trustee to examine and edit as necessary the Technical Data Sheet (TDS) to reflect the operating parameters of the repeater system. Failure to file the TDS by it’s due date may result in an incorrect or omitted entry in the ARRL repeater directory. Failure to file a TDS for two consecutive years may result in the loss of co-ordination. The loss of co-ordination will be preceded by a certified letter of intent to revoke the repeater’s co-ordination. A 30-day response period will be allowed. The frequency pair thereafter may then be made available for other co-ordination. 2nd by Jim, KB8IFE: Discussion followed. Vote taken, motion passed. This matter will be brought to the membership for a vote after the proposed change has been published in the newsletter.

Motion to adjourn the meeting made by Jim, WB8IFE and 2nd by Phil. Motion carried. Time 3:10 PM

Respectfully submitted,

Ann Manor, KT8F

September 9, 2006 Absentee Ballot

President:

___ Dennis Gaboury W8DFG

___ Write in:________________________________

Secretary:

___ Ann Manor KT8F

___ Write in:________________________________

Director:

___ Ron Gordon W8YUC

___ Write in:________________________________

Absentee Ballots MUST arrive to the address below by September 8 2006 to be eligible for inclusion in this election.

MARC

PO Box 463148

Mt Clemens, MI 48046

Dues must be paid by September 8 2006 for your

vote to qualify.

Meeting Location:

Saturday September 9, 2006 1:00 pm

Delta Township Fire Station

811 N. Canal Rd.

Lansing, MI

Directions: Take I-96 to M-43 exit 93, go East to the first traffic light at Canal Rd. Turn left (North) on Canal Rd, go 150' to Administration Dr turn left (West), the new fire station will be on your right. Take the first driveway on the right to the West parking lot. Enter the building at the South entrance on Administration Dr.

MARC Officers Appointed Positions:

President: Dennis Gaboury W8DFG	Frequency Coordinator 902MHz & up Dan Thompson N8WKM
Vice President: Jim Maike KB8IFE	Frequency Coordinator 440MHz & down: Dennis Gaboury W8DFG
Secretary: Ann Manor KT8F	Frequency Coordinator Links & Control: Phil Manor W8IC
Treasurer: Dave Johnson WD8DJB	Database Manager: Dave Johnson WD8DJB
Director: Ron Gordon W8YUC	Newsletter Editor Dan Thompson N8WKM
Director: James Kvochick WB8AZP

All MARC officers receive email using their callsign@miarc.com

The December MARC meeting

The meeting is scheduled for Saturday December, 2 at the Lapeer Elks Club in Lapeer, MI. This is the same location where the December meeting was held last year. Please take special note that the meeting is scheduled for SATURDAY.