Minutes for meeting held October 11, 2008
Gus and Georges Steak and Spaghetti house

There were 10 members present
Sal Yorks opened the meeting at 1:08pm

He called for old business and there was none.  Under new business, Butch announced that he was the keeper of the QSL cards sent to us.  He discovered in his data base that we have cards from 49 states.  Hawaii is the missing one.  We have worked Hawaii but we haven’t received a card from there. He then checked the state of Wisconsin and found that we have confirmed one third of the counties there.  He believes that advertising the fact that we have contacted all 50 states would enhance our standing at Nauticus.  If we could confirm a contact with all of the Wisconsin counties that would be icing on the cake.  He proposed that we start a third yearly special event and join the Wisconsin QSO party the second week-end in March. Charlie mentioned that this would be the same week-end as the Shamrock Run.  Charlie asked if there was a possibility of some of our members working as W4NIS from home at times when the ship’s station was off the air.  Butch wants to contact Wisconsin’s section manager to find out whom to contact about the QSO party.  He would like to ask them to advertise the fact that we would be in the event looking for contacts.  I suggested that he might be interested in giving extra points for working us.  Butch proposed that members should operate from home using the ship’s call before and after the operation on board.  Your log must be turned in and individual stations would have to be allotted frequency, mode and time slots.  Sal commented that this sounds like a very good idea.  Sal has recently received Emails asking when we are on the air.  Charlie also said we should research for a date for one other special event making four for every year.  The Navy’s birthday was one suggestion.  Fleet week was another.  Christening date of the ship was another.  Sal asked if anyone knew if the Navy Museum receives any additional revenue because of the Wisconsin being there.  We should stress that our events could help bring more visitors to the museum. Sal said that we have had zero opposition to us since he has been involved with the club.  The club voted to add the Wisconsin QSO party to our special event schedule with Butch sorting out the details.  Charlie will investigate other venues. Of course, there will be other stations other than Wisconsin stations and all will be gladly accepted.  Sal said we plan to operate two stations in December.  Hopefully, we can find the proper filters to eliminate cross band interference.  The DX club has one that we could probably borrow.  Charlie asked if it would be a good idea to buy our own filters.  They cost about $300 apiece. Vern mentioned that one of the people going on his cruise was bringing three or four home built filters.  This item was tabled until Vern gets back with information on the home built filters.  Sal pointed out that we would need two filters at special event time as we would be running just one station aboard ship in normal times. This would be when we have a permanent station set up.  A question about whether we would use ship’s antennas was brought up.  Sal said that we would probably want to install our own antennas to match the gear that we will be using.  There are many museum ships that have activated the original ship’s radio gear and use the ship’s antennas.  We might have to worry about the powers that be about adding our own antennas. Sal said Butch is a master at hiding our wires.

Charlie mentioned that a group would be sailing from Norfolk Monday and they would be on 20 meters.  Ed is still in Gitmo.  The Orlando Hamfest is coming up and another cruise from Ft. Lauderdale is planned for the QCWA national convention.  There will be a hamfest in Boxboro, Mass.  The cruise Monday will be an HP2 call.

Sal closed the meeting at 1:42pm