---

Minutes of the SARA Meeting

SARA MEETING MINUTES - June 11, 2008 (approved July 9, 2008)

Meeting called to order at 7:31 pm by Prescott Grey.   Twenty-four were in attendance including the speaker and three visitors.  

Speaker: Studying Hazardous Asteroids Using MRO's 2.4m Telescope by Dr. Eileen Ryan, Project Manager and Chief Scientist for the Magdalena Ridge Observatory.  Dr. Ryan presented information of the origins and design of the MRO 2.4m telescope and it's recently funded mission to document asteroids in near Earth orbit.

Announcements:

• Dave Finley was recognized for having been mentioned in the recent edition of QST.  
• Al Braun was thanked for printing and mailing the June 2008 edition of SARA News.  

Approval of Minutes

It was moved (Johnson) and seconded (Spargo) that the minutes from the May meeting be approved.  The minutes were approved as set.

Treasurer's Report

Bill Brundage reported that as of May 31, 2008 the SARA portion of the balance in the treasury was $4,593.79.  The TARA balance is $320.08. 

Reports

• LEPC/Fire and Emergency Services - Bear Albrecht reported that the focus of the LEPC continues to be on hazardous materials.  Advance 2-way was recently visited to see the repeaters to be installed on Granite Mountain .  These are nearing completion.  This repeater will serve Socorro County sheriff and fire providing radio communication between Socorro and Magdalena.   

Old Business

• Field Day
  • Datil Well - Johnson reported that the Group Site at Datil Well has been reserved from noon on Friday, June 27 through 2:00 pm on Sunday, June 29.  There is adequate room for parking and RV at the Group Site.
  • Socorro - Glenn Mauger recommended that a work party reassemble the communications trailer before Field Day.  The trailer has not been reorganized since it returned from the Manzano fire last year.   There was discussion related to the radios and antennas to be used at the Plaza station.
• A Skywarn Meeting will be hosted in the Socorro EOC during July for number of entities.  SARA participation is encouraged.  Meeting time and location information will be made available online and in the July SARA News.
• Insurance - Penny Lommen reported on her research of club liability policies.  Typical premiums cost ~$500/year, an amount exceeding the most recent quote received from the ARRL plan.  It was moved, seconded and approved that SARA use the ARRL endorsed plan.  

• Hamfest

  • Leavitt will see to the reservation of the banquet room at San Miguel

  • The ARRL has provided the sanction for the 2008 SARA/TARA Hamfest.

  • Johnson asked that mailing addresses be requested from the ARRL this year.  

  • Inclusion of the Hamfest Flier with a URFMS mailing was discussed.  Mauger suggested that a donation to URFMS would be appropriate.  

• Brundage reported that a required annual report related to SARA's nonprofit incorporation has been sent to the New Mexico Public Regulation commission and that the annual IRS Form 990-N has been filed.

New Business

• None

Good of the Organization 

• Prescott Grey noted that a visit to the Socorro Public Library indicates that their holdings related to amateur radio are minimal and dated.  Although the Library is concerned about increasing the size of collections, they would be receptive to receipt of a donation of useful ham books.  It was moved, seconded and approved that we provide selected materials.
• Providing ham license classes via the New Mexico Tech Community College was discussed.  Grey will pursue this option with the school.

Adjournment

The meeting adjourned at ~9:20 pm

David B. Johnson KB5YIW
Secretary