President Neal Brown started the meeting at 0705 ADT. Members present were: Billy-KC8MVW, John-KL1AZ, Amy-KL1WY, Chad-AL2D, Bill-KE4ITP, Linda-AD4BL, Jerry- KL7EDK, Myles-KL1NU, Kevin-NL7WO, and Neal-WL7NZ. A quorum existed.

Neal said that he would be gone for the next club meeting and the BOD meeting as well. Kevin will have to pick up the gavel for those meetings.  Neal also mentioned that the May/June balloon launch will have to slide until September time slot due to payload problems. The group is having some problems resolving a few issues and will not have the equipment ready to fly until the latter part of the summer.

Tour-de-Cure is the 5th of June and Neal said that Helen is not going to be able to take care of the coordination due to other work loads. It was suggested that a joint effort for the control station at Pike’s might be handled by several people who have had experience in the past. Those would be Scott-KL1PF, Ann-KL7FY, Al-KL7AG, Mike-KL7GL. These folks have covered the net control position in previous years and would be most familiar with the operation. Neal also had a list of previous members who have covered other checkpoints in the past but the list needed to be updated since some folks are no longer in the area. That list will be updated and info passed out. We still have well over a month to get ready.

Agenda for the May meetings will be GeoCaching by Diane Marshall. All members are encouraged to bring your GPS (or 3G iPhone). Plan to do some hands on in the class room as well as outside.  Neal thought there might also be some discussion about current band conditions....which are pretty well nonexistent due to the recent geomagnetic activity and also mobile HF antennas. Time will be the guide on what gets covered.

At the April Club meeting we forgot to see if there was interest in a special email reflector list for band conditions and DX spots. Those interested would sign up to receive an email of current activity reported by club members. A good example would be 10 meter openings or other activities. The members will be asked at the May meeting if there is interest.

Neal asked about the list of ‘life members’ in the club. John will get with Dan and see where the list is at. It used to be on the web site...only names and call signs. No other data that could be harvested by robots.

Topic items for the June meeting were discussed. 1) Possible talk about RF and Noise in the shack.... 2) Field Day preps....3) Portable operations.

Business items:

1. Motion by John to pay Benny for the expenses in getting the phone patch back up on the Ester Dome machine. Billy seconded, motion passed.
2. Motion by Linda to pay Steve Estes for the renewal of the web hosting services for the club web site. John seconded, motion passed.

Meeting was adjourned by way of a quiet riot at 0755 ADT.