Minutes of the Annual General Membership Meeting of
The Rib Mountain Repeater Association
13 November 1999
Wisconsin State Patrol District 3 Headquarters, Town of Rib Mountain near Wausau, Wisconsin
The meeting was called to order at 13:21 by KC9NW.
Present were KC9UC, K9PT, W9GAA, K9DB, KB9VBR, and KC9NW.
Printed copies of the annual financial statement were distributed. K9PT motioned to accept
the statement. KC9UC second. Passed unanimously by acclamation.
Old Business:
KC9NW reported on the reassignment of the callsign "W9BCC" to the RMRA as a memorial.
The application has been made but was returned because of a fee increase that had recently
taken effect. The reapplication with the correct fee has been made but as of the time of
this meeting, the FCC has not yet made the reassignment.
K9DB reported on the status of the application being made for tax exempt status. Wausau
Tax and Accounting has been retained to process the application. They are the same firm
that processed a similar application for the Wisconsin Valley Radio Association. As of
the time of this meeting, WT&A has all the information and materials they requested, but
has not returned anything. K9DB will pursue this in the following week.
New Business:
KC9NW reported that the Midwest Area Coordinators Council (MACC) has requested all new
repeater systems be equipped with input PL tone capability, and recommends input PL on
all existing systems. A discussion followed on the pros and cons of installing PL on the
RMRA systems, in particular the .22/.82 repeater. By consensus the membership decided that
all RMRA systems for now will remain carrier access. KC9NW addressed the issue of autopatch
access code changes. He recommended that since there has been little access abuse, no
changes be made. By consensus the membership decided that no access code changes be
made at this time.
K9DB announced that the club has been approached by KF9RU, who is currently not a member,
offering to build an RMRA web page. The offer would include all programming but not a host
site. KB9VR volunteered server space to host the site. By consensus the membership decided
to allow KF9RU proceed with the creation of an RMRA web page. K9DB will be the club contact.
K9PT expressed concern over the aging ACC Systems RC-850 controller. K9PT has contacted
the controller's servicing agency. They claim the unit is Y2K compatible. KC9NW reported
that he had run a test by setting the system clock ahead, and that no problems were
encountered. K9PT stated that the unit is of 1970's vintage and that some parts may be
unavailable. There are several more modern and units on the market with more capabilities.
By consensus the membership decided that the acquisition of a new controller be researched,
and that if possible, be included in any request for funding from outside sources.
Results of the election of officers for the 1999-2000 fiscal year were announced. Only KC9NW
and K9PT had formally declared themselves in writing as candidates. In accordance with the
by-laws they were therefore automatically elected. The remaining three positions were filled
by election at the meeting. KC9UC, W9GAA, and N9QQ were nominated from the floor. KC9UC
moved and K9DB seconded that the nominations be closed and that the secretary be instructed
to cast a unanimous ballot for each of the three nominees.
Passed unanimously.
The so elected RMRA Board of Directors for 1999-2000 consists of:
Rich Maier KC9NW
Dean Andrewjeski K9PT
Bill Bergs KC9UC
Herb Bloedel W9GAA
Dick Trempe N9QQ
KC9NW requested permission to set up an experimental link from the .22/.82 system to the
Hayward repeater at no financial expense to the RMRA. By consensus the membership decided
to allow experimentation in this area.
K9PT reported on the construction of the new HDTV tower on Rib Mountain and its effect on
the RMRA. The RMRA has been approved to install an antenna system identical to what is on
the existing tower on the new tower. The RMRA has also been approved to install an exposed
dipole array for the 146.22/.82 system and an exposed dipole array for the 444.30 system.
The new tower should be finished by mid summer 2000 so the antenna will probably have to
be installed within the next year. By consensus the membership decided to consult with
the WVRA to discuss various combined antenna system and transmission line configurations.
A discussion was held on the ongoing misuse of the repeater by several individuals.
Although no laws are apparently being broken, the provision discouraging excessive
ragchewing in the RMRA Operating Procedures apparently is. It was felt the content and
behavior of the individuals involved in these sessions is presenting a poor image for
Amateur Radio in the community. It was felt that the recent drop in membership is due in
part to this activity. It appears that the verbal and written warnings are going unheeded
and that some form of enforcement may now be required. Various punitive measures were
discussed, including a system shutdown at the discretion of the control operator. It was
the consensus that since all RMRA repeaters are open machines, such action should not be
based on status as an RMRA member. By consensus the membership deferred any further
action against these individuals on this issue to the Board of Directors and the License
Trustee.
The meeting was adjourned at 16:06.
Respectfully submitted,
Paul Nelles, K9DB
