SouthEastern Repeater Association, Inc.
Winter 2008 Board Meeting
 

Roger Gregory, SERA President, called the meeting to order on January 05, 2008, at 13:00.

Those staff members present were: Roger Gregory, W4RWG, SERA President, South Carolina Director, & Repeater Journal Correspondent; Richard Wright, W4LOC, SERA Vice President & Assistant to the Georgia Director; Alex Hedrick, N8FWL, SERA Secretary & West Virginia Director; Johnny Wofford, WA4ETE, SERA Treasurer; Pete Seabolt, N4KHQ, Georgia Director; Phil Heaton, N4BBQ, Georgia Vice Director; Terry Jones, W4TL, Assistant to the Georgia Director; Mike McCown, K4ITF, Kentucky Director; Steve Grantham, AA5SG, Mississippi Director; Aubrey Bilbo, KE5LT, Mississippi Vice Director; Harold Bullard, K5WHB, Assistant to the Mississippi Director; Frank Lynch, W4FAL, North Carolina Vice Director; Jim Cantrell, WJ4C, South Carolina Vice Director; Alan McClain, KA4BNI, Tennessee Director; Don Williams, W4VT, Assistant to the Virginia Director; Richard Dillon, K8VE, West Virginia Vice Director; Tom & Jean Marie Gallagher, N4IOZ & KI4DDC, SERA Repeater Journal Editors; and guest Mike Knight, K4IJ.  

Roger Gregory welcomed all that were in attendance and recognized Don Williams who introduced Mike Knight, K4IJ, who is visiting with us today and will be nominated as an Assistant to the Virginia Director.  A round table type of introduction was conducted by the staff for the benefit of Mike.  

Roger announced that all the SERA executive staff members were re-elected without opposition and he appreciates the confidence of our constituents.  Roger then made his presidential appointments for the forthcoming 2008-2009 term.  David Ward was named to continue to serve as SERA Membership & Database Administrator, Frank Lynch was named to continue serving as FCC Liaison, Danny Hampton was named to continue serving as SERA Technical Advisor, Tom Gallagher was named to continue serving as Publications Chairman, Jim Cantrell was named to continue serving as Frequency Coordination Chairman, and Alex Hedrick was named to continue serving as Internet Manager.  

Jim Cantrell was recognized and nominated Danny Hampton to continue serving as Executive Committee Member-at-Large.  Alex questioned if Danny had been contacted and expressed a will to continue serving and Frank responded in the affirmative.  Seconded by Frank Lynch the motion passed unanimously.  

The June, 2007, meeting minutes had previously been circulated to all SERA staff members by e-mail, as well as being posted on the FTP site.  A motion to “accept and approve the minutes” was made by Richard Dillon.  Seconded by Steve Grantham, the motion passed unanimously.
 

EXECUTIVE STAFF REPORTS
 

VICE PRESIDENT:  Rick Wright advised the group that we still need to get the electronic database operational and that we need more input and/or help because the project has been ongoing for four years.  He also added that we need to affirm our stand on D-Star repeaters and their coordination.  Roger advised that Steve Grantham has a proposal to offer, in the form of a motion, later in the meeting concerning D-Star.  Don Williams interjected that he has a coordination request on hold due to the lack of policy, with Frank adding that D-Star repeaters may be illegal because there is no way known to remotely turn them off, as required by FCC regulations.  

SECRETARY: Alex Hedrick advised that he had handled the formal complaint made to the SERA by Harold Finley, W4BAD, by responding to C. Douglas Fisher, who serves as Finley’s attorney of record.  To date, no answer or counter complaint has been received to our official answer (see exhibit 0108-01).   

TREASURER: Johnny Wofford gave his presentation of SERA’s financial condition (see exhibit 0108-02).  Our 2007 total income was $47,110.29 and our 2007 total expenses were $41,422.84. At present we have $10,356.00 in the Wachovia checking account, $22,459.22 in our first CD at the Bank of Bartlett, $19,853.70 in our Bank of Bartlett annuity, and $11,715.09 in our Anico annuity account for a balance total of $64,384.01.  

PUBLICATIONS: Tom Gallagher reports that he and Jean have reduced the number of repeater Journal copies being printed to 3,500, due to the fact that membership is now less than 2,900.  Alinco Electronics has pulled their advertisement and participation in the color cover ad and at the present time LDG has committed to advertise in the February edition.  Pat Spencer has resigned as the Kentucky correspondent and there is a need for a new correspondent to be found to represent that state.  As you may have noticed, the frequency index is located in the center of the Journal and is so designed to be easily removed from the magazine as a reference document.  Comet Antenna agreed to place a one time color ad for this section in the November 2007 edition.  While our color covers had been produced in Johnson City , Tennessee , we have secured TG of Kernersville, North Carolina as the new producer.  Frank Forehand provided great assistance to the SERA Publications team for the past two editions.  Tom said that he has fielded a few questions as to why part of the front cover is upside down and that it is due to printing and postal regulations.  Tom added that he has also received inquiries about the Hamfest Calendar being moved and the reason is that it is now contained with the “pull-out repeater index” so that our readers can have that section as a complete and removable frequency & hamfest reference guide.  

FCC LIAISON REPORT: Frank Lynch advised that he was happy to report that all of Harold Finley’s (W4BAD) repeaters have now been granted coordinated status (see the reference in the Secretary’s Report).  Frank was called upon to provide the FCC with information on repeaters and trustees of the WR3S repeater system.  Frank worked with the FCC and N4DTR concerning repeater interference in western North Carolina from unlicensed operators who were hunting bear in that area and utilizing amateur radio frequencies to do so.  Finally Frank has been in constant contact with the FCC staff and holding numerous discussions concerning D-Star amateur radio.
 

v     Meeting break from 13:42 until 13:54
 

DISTRICT DIRECTOR REPORTS
 

WV-S by ALEX HEDRICK: Alex reports that he has handled twelve repeater matters involving physical moves, frequency changes, changes in ownership, changes in club trustee, and repeaters being taken off the air on all bands except 222 MHz and 902 MHz.  

WV-N by RICHARD DILLON: Richard reports he has received five VHF coordination requests resulting in two frequency pairs coordinated, one frequency coordination pending, one involving ongoing research in the northern panhandle, two requests rejected due to the lack of available frequencies in the service area requested, and one re-coordination due to the owner becoming a silent key.  

VA-W by DON WILLIAMS: Don reports that he has coordinated four repeaters in western Virginia .  In Marion , Mike Farris is looking for a new location for his repeater, due to interference being received from a nearby paging transmitter.  Farris hopes to move his repeater closer to Roanoke if possible.  Due to Jim Campbell’s absence, and the fact that Jim officially notified Roger in order to pass his vote to Don, Don is nominating Mike Knight, K4IJ, as Assistant to the Virginia Director.  It is Don’s intention to train Mike over the next year, with Mike taking over western Virginia frequency coordination on January 01, 2009.  Seconded by Frank Lynch, the motion passed unanimously.  Johnny Wofford was recognized and he presented Don with a plaque for the SERA’s appreciation of Don’s twenty years of service.  Roger and Frank added their thanks and their personal comments.  

TN by ALAN McCLAIN: Alan reports that there are 558 coordinated repeaters in Tennessee .  For 2007 Alan handled two six meter re-coordinations, four new coordinations & fourteen re-coordinations on two meters, two new coordinations on 222 MHz, twelve new coordinations & five re-coordinations on 440 MHz, and one new coordination on 1.2 GHz.  Alan also advised that he returned two 440 MHz repeater pairs and one 902 MHz repeater pair to the frequency pool, and has three coordinations pending.  

SC by JIM CANTRELL: Jim reported that he and Roger have handled twelve new two meter coordinations and thirteen new coordinations on 440 MHz mostly involved with the SCHEARTS system.  They have also handled one re-coordination due to a physical move, one de-coordination, and have two requests pending.  In 2007 Roger & Jim coordinated a total of fourty repeaters.  

NC by FRANK LYNCH: Frank reports that North Carolina has 536 known repeaters with only eight of those uncoordinated and twenty-six are proposed.  There are 292 SERA full member repeaters for a membership average of 54.5%.  The year of 2007 was productive for Frank & Danny as they succeeded in granting coordinated status to a lot of previously uncoordinated repeaters.  In 2007 Danny & Frank coordinated a total of fourty-one repeaters.  

MS by STEVE GRANTHAM: Steve reports that he has coordinated eight repeaters on two meters with one of those being a “D-Star” operation.  He has also coordinated three repeaters on 440 MHz with one of those also being a “D-Star” operation.  Steve has received 104 requests for concurrence from neighboring coordinators, has three repeater assignments pending, and one pending application.  Steve also added that he has handled over 300 pieces of coordination and correspondence since our last meeting.  

KY- E by MIKE McCOWN: Mike reports that coordination in Kentucky is currently a mess due to his divorce and Tim Osborne’s divorce.  Mike asks for patience as they work to get their problems cleared up and return their focus to SERA matters.  

GA by PETE SEABOLT: Pete reports that the Georgia staff has coordinated ten repeaters from June 01^st to December 31^st and this is the first time that he can remember that he has applicants waiting on frequency pairs to become available.  In the past the Georgia staff has been able to help obtain short spacing waivers for co-channel operation, but there are now none to be had.  Pete added that Terry has moved his D-Star repeater operation, but is operating on a non-standard frequency and may have to move back if we don’t take some sort of action to address D-Star operation.  
 

UNFINISHED BUSINESS
 

ELECTRONIC DATABASE COMMITTEE REPORT: Richard Wright reiterated that we have been working on this project for four years and there is still no real progress to report and he is frustrated.  Alex offered that Chris Hatcher & Tucker Sizemore have volunteered to assist in any way possible if someone would contact them and tell them specifically what needs to be done.  Richard reported that Jay will post a sample of the program so that we can observe the program process.  

UPDATE ON SERA’s OFFICIAL D-STAR POSITION: Originally circulated by e-Mail on October 18^th and then re-sent again with the winter meeting agenda on December 31^st, Steve Grantham presented his proposal for the coordination of D-Star and other digital voice technology repeaters (like APCO P-25 or similar) and made the motion that we “implement his proposal”.  (So as not to re-type the entire three page proposal, please see exhibit 0108-03 (or go to - Updated D-Star or Digital Repeater Statement) which is attached to this document, and is dated October 18, 2007, at 23:55 EST.)  Seconded by Alex Hedrick, there was considerable discussion.  Johnny Wofford asked about possibly using the band set aside for packet or APRS?  Frank Lynch pointed out that there are twenty-six frequencies there but they are in an area of the band where repeaters are not allowed.  Steve added that the detail in his proposal was necessary for a direction in which to proceed.  Frank Lynch reminded everyone not to put D-Star and APCO P-25 in the “same box” as other applications due to the difference in technology.  Frank also asked if we should coordinate something that cannot legally be operated due to the inability to remotely control a D-Star repeater?  Tom Gallagher and Alan McClain also offered their viewpoints.  Richard Dillon interjected that he felt that it should not matter to us whether the repeater was D-Star or analog and that we should coordinate the repeater in question using our existing frequency utilization plans.  Roger Gregory reminded us that it is our job to coordinate repeaters that will not interfere with each other.  Alex asked those present how many D-Star repeaters existed in all of SERA territory and found that there are only twenty-two in existence.  He then posed the question – are we rushing this matter?  Roger then asked – if we approve the proposed eight repeater pairs contained in the proposal, now, are we hurting ourselves and possibly causing problems later?  Johnny “called for the question” on Steve’s motion and the second by Alex, the vote was 14 in favor of the motion with one abstention.  

Pursuant to a point contained in the motion, Roger Gregory appointed Steve Grantham, Danny Hampton, Frank Lynch, Alex Hedrick, and Jim Cantrell as the working D-Star Committee. 

v     Meeting break from 15:31 until 15:42

AUXILIARY STATION OPERATION & FUP FOR THE TWO METER BAND: Steve Grantham requests that this matter be held over to the next regularly scheduled meeting.  

SHOULD WE CHANGE OUR BY-LAWS CONCERNING MEETINGS: Proposed originally by Johnny Wofford, Jean Marie Gallagher spoke about the possibility of using “Adobe – Connect” in order to conduct regular business meetings by internet connection.  Using this program, up to fifteen people can connect at the same time.  Roger Gregory added that he looks forward to the meetings we have and the face to face interaction.  Alex Hedrick asked – do we really need to cut out meetings now from a financial standpoint?  Johnny replied to the negative – that we did not.  Richard Wright offered that we need to investigate all aspects of this matter, including our operational by-laws, and revisit this idea sometime in the future if necessary or recommended again by Johnny.
 

NEW BUSINESS

FEELINGS AND/OR THOUGHTS ON THE “NEW NFCC” DEBACLE: There was a general free form discussion from Alex Hedrick, Frank Lynch, and Steve Grantham about the recent e-Mail from a group claiming to be the “new NFCC”.  This discussion was offered for general knowledge, because the group claiming to be the “new NFCC” did not send their propaganda e-mail to our entire staff.  

v     The meeting recessed at 16:12 for dinner and is to reconvene at 08:30 on Sunday.  

Roger Gregory, SERA President, called the Sunday session to order at 08:30 on January 06, 2008.  Except for Aubrey Bilbo, Johnny Wofford, Pete Seabolt, Phil Heaton, & Terry Jones, all of the attendees previously listed for the January 05^th meeting are present.  

There was some miscellaneous round table discussion between Don Williams, Alan McClain, Frank Lynch, Steve Grantham, & Mike Knight about D-Star operation and the motion passed yesterday.  

Tom Gallagher advised us that he has moved the back issues of the Repeater Journal from David Ward’s house to his house for storage and dispersal.  He reminded us that he is cutting back on the press runs to save money and cut our waste.  Tom also reminded us that the next edition of the Journal is going to press next week and Kentucky needs a new correspondent, should we know of anyone interested and capable.  

Noting that all apparent business had been conducted Frank Lynch offered a motion to “adjourn the meeting”.  With no second required, the motion passed unanimously.  The President declared the meeting adjourned at 08:37 on January 06, 2008.  

v     There are 03 exhibits attached and made a part of this document.

Given under my hand this 20^th day of May, 2008.  

H. Alex Hedrick, Jr., N8FWL
Secretary, SouthEastern Repeater Association