Metro DX Club March 2024 Meeting Minutes
March 15, 2024
We had an in person meeting this month as well as offering a ZOOM option for those unable to attend. The meeting was called to order CJ WT2P filling in for our President Patrick W9PDS who was out of town.. In attendance besides CJ were KD9UTJ, NV9X, WA0O, NE9A, W9KM, W9ILY, K9LSH, N9TK, WB9FMC, K9GA, W9EWZ, K9EL, W9MR and WA9LEY. Some attending were via ZOOM.
MINUTES: John W9ILY motioned to accept the February minutes, it was seconded by George K9GA and approved.
HEALTH AND WELFARE: It’s reported that K9NR is having health issues.
OLD BUSINESS
TREASURER’S REPORT: John W9ILY reports that the Club had dues income of $15. Our expenses included a $50 NCDXF donation and $100 to sponsor a DX Marathon plaque. It was suggested that we catch up with last year’s donations so we voted to approve $100 to INDEXA, $100 to Club Log, and another $50 to NCDXF. The benefits of Club Log were explained to those not familiar. Detailed Treasurer reports are filed on our groups.io site.
DUES: We still have 1 member not renewed for 2024.
WUST: No WUST awards to report.
NEW BUSINESS
CONTESTS: This weekend is BARTG RTTY and WPX SSB is on at the end of the month. See WA7BNM.com for upcoming contest info and links to the sponsors.
FIELD DAY: Our site this year is located at Bolt Field in Monee and we have the Civil Air Patrol building available to us Several members made a couple of site visits and report it’s a nice site with plenty of room for antenna and operating positions. A committee will be set up for planning (Mel volunteered to be chairman-not sure of this). Please volunteer if you can help with this. More to follow.
CLUB DISCORD CHANNEL: Andriy W9KM set it up and it’s going well with contest info, sales, and DX cluster posts. See Andriy for more info.
ROUNDTABLE
George K9GA offered the following sightings. S79VU on 10 SSB, T32EU on 12 CW, VP6MW on 12 FT8, 4S7AB on 12 FT8, 4L1MA and 4L7T on FT8, XW4KV on 15 FT8, KH0W on 15 CW .
Glorioso Island will be activated by a ham on work assignment 5/24-6/19.
A POTA activation to a shipwreck site in Indiana near the Dunes is planned when buoys are installed marking the site and the weather is good.
FK8CP was just spotted on 6. Many report that 6 meter activity is encouraging.Andriy W9KM just received his Canadian license, VA3MMW.Congrats to Mel NE9A achieving his DXCC award.Lee WA9LEY reviewed his POTA activations in NV, UT and AZ.A CP 6 meter DXpedition coming up in May.Madison DX Club will have a program about 7Q6M coming up.
Kurt WB9FMC motioned to adjourn the meeting, it was seconded by Mike KD9UTJ and the meeting was adjourned.
PROGRAM
We were pleased to have Mike W9MR, President of Society of Midwest Contesters, speak to the group about SMC which now has over 300 members. The core members are in IL, IN and WI but there are many members outside this circle. Mike explained the awards program is designed to encourage contesting and keep “butts in the chair”.
Lifetime Achievement Award-making 10,000 contests in qualifying contests. It may take several years to achieve this award.
Championship Medals- In qualifying contests, 200 contacts = 1 point, 500+ contacts= 2 points. The medal awards reset each year July-June.
A list of qualifying contests can be found on the SMC website as well as your personal progression toward these awards.
Be sure to submit your contest scores to the sponsor and to 3830.com as this is where SMC will gather the data.
Multi year awards are being offered.
Mike expects 70+ medals to be awarded this year.
Other plans at SMC are a Discord Channel for regular on-line gatherings. They also want to expand their on-line presence with a You Tube channel and revitalize their Face Book page.
Mike reminded us of SMC fest, a big gathering of members in August.
Submitted by Lee WA9LEY
Metro Secretary