Roanoke Valley Amateur Radio Club (RVARC) is dedicated to the advancement of amateur radio, serving Southwest Virginia, since 1932
February 13 General Business Meeting Minutes
Open the Meeting
Call to order
Pledge of Allegiance
Moment of silence
Introduction of members: 13 present
New: Noah, General, interested in Contesting, emergency
Mission Moment – Ben Burch N4FHL shared his experience working net control. Dick K4SR asked him to take net control over about 20 years ago, and he did. He enjoys it, and with his rotating tower he can reach from Covington to Danville from his home. The club will be taking a road trip to see his tower. People can learn from it.
Gary Wr4PS Yohe will do the mission moment next month.
Approval of Previous Meeting Minutes
Minutes from the November and January meetings were approved.
Treasurer’s Report
Doug N4MGW Kabler gave the summary of current financial status
Approved as presented
Event Reports
Past
Winter Field Day: Activated radio room 8-9 people attended. 3 used the radio in the radio room. 86 contacts logged and submitted. Vara chat and VARAAC were set up in the conference room. Avery Gibbs presented a program on CW.
Upcoming
February 27 – Potluck
VA QSO Party – March 21 and 22
March 28 – Radios In The Park – Greenhill Park, Salem
April 25 – Auction (Lead: Doug N4MGW Kabler, Ben KK4EWT Williams Contact Ben (activities@w4ca.com)
Hamfest—Aug 1 Still looking for a location, date. Planning group: Ben KK4EWT Williams, Ben N4FHL Burch.
Updates
American Red Cross EmComm (FM): 19 members in the chapter, Roanoke and Bristol office. Last 2 weeks of Feb there will be a no notice alert drill for setting up shelters.
VE and education update (Ben Williams): 4 new hams passed exams last week in the NRV. Work is being done to have a radio club at William Bird High School.
W4CA website and social media (Linda): Group emails to reach leaders are now on the homepage.
Membership (Linda KQ4VGS Cheek): 32 hams replied to the questionnaire. The results were presented. We will use the suggestions to set up future programs, activities. Thanks to all who responded. The board is working on a digital method to allow membership applications and payment. It will hopefully be on the website next month.
Next Meeting With Eating–Golden Corral March 14, 8:30 AM
New Business
SDR Special Interest Group – Robert Schafer W5IUA gave a presentation. SDR is a communication system implemented in hardware. Advantages are interoperability, flexibility, extended communications range, rapid adaptation to different bands—HF, VHF, UHF. Switch modes quickly, support voice/data communications. WEB 888 is an example SDR. For SIG W5IUA@IUA2.net
VARA Chat – Pat Lewis N3AYW gave a short presenation on VARAC and VARA Chat.
Secretary: Due to health conditions, Mike K2JML Lugar had to resign as secretary. Linda Cheek was nominated and accepted to fill the position for the rest of the year.
W4CA Trustee: Mike K2JML Lugar is the current trustee. Marty will check with him to see if he wants to continue, or resign.
2026 Program Meeting Topics: Suggestions made on the questionnaire will be used.