***THESE MINUTES REMAIN UNOFFICIAL UNTIL ADOPTED AT THE NEXT CLUB MEETING***
The March 2nd, 2026 monthly HARC meeting was held in Hermiston High School Room 313 and was called to order by President Sam at 19:02.
Member Attendees: KI7CUS (Dennis), W7JJK (Jeff), KJ7NYZ (Anna), KK7JLW (Tony), AA7TH (Sam), KD7VX (Whitley), KM7BHY (Sylvia), KE4TRR (Alan), W7ILD (Todd), NB7O (Kevin), K7MGO (Michelle), KM7CGA (Abraham)
Guests: Travis
New Members: KG7WYY (Fred M.)
The February 2026 meeting minutes and March 2026 Secretary/Treasurer’s Report were distributed via email by J. Kelso on 02/27/2026. A motion to adopt the February meeting minutes was made by Todd and seconded by Kevin. The motion passed unanimously.
The March 2026 Secretary/Treasurer’s Report was read by Jeff.
Ongoing Business:
- Dennis provided a solar report to the membership.
- Testing – We have had no applicants this month, according to Kevin. He’ll take down the online sign-up tonight.
- The Fourth Thing – We toured KOHU at 5 PM today. Sam summarized the visit for the membership.
- A vote was held for Director Position #1 and Whitley was re-elected to the position by a unanimous vote.
- Packet BBS and Vara FM Winlink Gateway Proposals – Jeff presented two proposals with cost estimates for both a Club-owned Packet BBS ($540) and a Vara FM Winlink Gateway ($475). A discussion ensued and questions about both methods were answered. The general sentiment seemed to be that it would be worth prioritizing the Vara FM Winlink Gateway over the Packet BBS. It was decided to wait until next month to discuss the matter again when we might have some more clarity around the Club’s application for the use of the Carnegie Building.
- Purchase of a Club-owned CW key and oscillator. The proposed equipment to purchase is a CW Hotline from Ham Radio Solutions with an iambic paddle. The cost of the kit is $56 shipped. Jeff made a motion to purchase the kit. The motion was seconded by Whitley. The motion passed unanimously. After some additional discussion, Kevin made a motion to purchase a Bencher BY-1 paddle and the required cable kit. The motion was seconded by Abraham. The motion passed unanimously.
- Carnegie Building update – Sam provided an update on the Club’s Carnegie Building proposal. Sam will write a proposal and submit it to the City Manager to ask for a room in the basement of the building. Sam took questions from the members about both the proposal and the Carnegie Building space.
New Business:
- HHS Sports Boosters Auction – Anna proposed that the HARC make a donation to the silent auction at this event. She proposed that the Club include a free $25 club membership and then purchase two whip antennas for inclusion in the HARC-sponsored basket. Todd made a motion to approve the purchase of the items with a total expenditure not to exceed $150. The motion was seconded by Michelle. The motion passed unanimously with one abstention.
- Temporary Meshtastic node – Sam proposed that the HARC might allow him to put a magnetic-mount, temporary Meshtastic repeater node on the club’s repeater shack on Silusi Butte as a proof of concept. A couple of clarifying questions were asked by the members and Sam provided some answers. Jeff made a motion to allow Sam to put the device on the repeater shack. The motion was seconded by Fred. The motion passed unanimously.
- HARC by-laws review committee – Todd, Alan, Anna, Jeff, and Kevin have volunteered to be on a committee whose task is to review and perhaps propose revisions to the HARC by-laws. Jeff will follow up with the committee volunteers via email.
- Approval of expense for web hosting for ai7ho.org – Jeff reported that the Club’s web hosting contract with Bluehost is due to renew in April. Jeff asked the club for approval to renew the contract for another three years at a cost of $359.64. Michelle made a motion to approve the expense. The motion was seconded by Fred. The motion passed unanimously.
- Jeff mentioned that the Club received an envelope in the mail from David Mull, a founding member of HARC. The envelope contained some original Club documents and was made available for investigation by anyone who was interested in doing so at the meeting. Jeff will store the documents with the rest of the HARC records, which are currently resting comfortably in his garage.
Announcements:
1. Club Breakfast – Saturday, March 21st at Rayz Dayz, Umatilla at 8:00 AM.
The meeting was adjourned by AA7TH at 20:26.
Respectfully submitted by Jeff Kelso, W7JJK.
