OPD, 107 Civic Plaza Drive, Taos, NM 87571 Potluck started at 5:30pm. Thanks to everybody for bringing food.
Sign in. Meeting began at 6:15 with Greg (KF5TTO).
Guest and member introductions, 16 members attended in person.
Approval of the minutes for the meeting of March 12, 2025. Motion was made to approve by Tim (W5TNM) and seconded by David (KJ5DFQ). The vote was unanimous with no objections.
Approval of the Agenda. Motion to approve by Leonardo (KF5ORZ), seconded by Craig (KI5HKU).
Treasurer's Report. Treasurer's Report - Ed (KF5EIG) Expense
a) summary, balance. Approval of Treasurer's Report.
b) February Deposits - $164.95, Membership Dues
c) February Expenses - $1,281.38, USPS, ARRL, KCEC, Reimbursement
d) February Ending Balance - $16,983.40
e) Quarterly reports are now posted on the bulletin board. Questions about dues payments can be addressed to any current officers.
Vice-president Greg (KF5TTO) made the President’s remarks.
a) Active Shooting training will be hosted by the Town of Taos on 05/29 and 05/30 2025. Contact Mark Ortega (Taos County FEMA Coordinator) if interested. Must have FEMA training prior.
b) Town of Taos Concert Events. June 21 and 22 will feature Allison Krause and Lake Street Dive at Kit Carson Park. TARC will be supporting. Friends and family members are welcome to attend. TARC members in attendance will earn a TARC embossed hat.
c) NM QSO Party on April 12, 2025. OPD Shack will be open for people interested in attending/participating with TARC radio equipment available for use. Discussion of process, frequencies and past experience. Club has been entered into the Party. Mike (KI6KGC) explained the contesting portion. OPD will be open at 8:00 am.
New Business.
a) Update - FCC License Class May 10th & 31st, Testing June 14th. Tim (W5TNM). May 10, class is full. Second class scheduled. PSA running on radio. Approval from Town/County to hold classes at EOC if they become too large. Additional class on May 31st with test scheduled for June 14th. VE’s will be needed. Exam date posted on ARRL website.
Old Business:
a) Grant(s) Update - Keith (K5FS). In two weeks, Keith (KF5FS) will begin teaching at the elementary school, static, and electrostatic forces and atomic structure. Teaching students and instructors. Previous teacher instruction on AI has been embraced and will be revisited in May to take to the next level. The current political climate has been disruptive to the donor community at large. Local organizations are now focused on helping displaced workers. Current focus will be on organizations such as the American Digital Corporation and ARRL. Request for ideas from members on ideas for grant submittals, possibly focused on core ham function in Emergency Roles, in more remote Taos County areas.
b) TARC social media FB and Instagram presence. No Update.
c) ARES Update – Brian (NB5R). He will be attempting to work with some folks attempting to secure weatherproof radios and equipment.
Repeater update: Unchanged as work cannot be performed during the winter at repeater sites. Upcoming extensive work planned with Angel Fire this summer for their repeater network. With new tower construction, ham equipment can be moved to these. A new repeater has been installed on Green Mountain to extend coverage to Ute Park. The Angel Fire repeater is still problematic, hoping to move to a location on Sawmill Mountain. Multiple Towers on Molycorp property are being removed, with the intent of erecting one large tower. Mega link issues discussed on TSV and SAM. Batteries are dead and have not been replaced at TSV. Summer work planned for SAM.
Net report listed on agenda.
Technical Presentation - Mike KI6KGC, NM QSO Party. Mike presented an extensive presentation on the NM QSO party.
The Business Meeting Closed at 7:30 pm with motion to close by Zack (W5ZAC) and seconded by Tim (W5TNM).
Reminders:
a) Statewide ARES Net – HF 3939, 1st Sunday, 7pm.
b) TARC Net - VHF/UHF-DMR, 4th Wednesday, 7pm