Greater Norwalk Amateur Radio Club (GNARC)
Meeting Minutes 10/08/2025
Held at the Westport Public Library
Present: W1SMS (Vice President), N1DPD (Treasurer), AI1V (recording), K1RF, K1MGD, W1PPL, K1CYW. We were unable to run internet access due to technical problems.
Meeting called to order at 7:30 pm
Minutes of the September meeting were approved.
Treasury: Good financial shape. We paid our CT Business Registration Fee ($50). Our insurance and website payments are coming up which will be about $375 total.
We have 65 current members, pretty much the same as last year.
Website: Nothing to report.
Repeaters: W1SMS has been busy and has not made any progress on the hospital repeater. He is still working on getting an MOU with the hospital to make sure we are covered there. He is planning on integrating Echolink into the repeater site rather than having it external to the repeater.
N1DPD was at the trailer and noticed a little rust on top of the back door. We will need to address it sooner rather than later.
It is time to start planning the holiday party – hint hint.
New business:
K1RF pointed out that we need some major events and meeting programming to get some club excitement going. WE NEED VOLUNTEERS TO ORGANIZE EVENTS AND ORGANIZE MEETING PROGRAMS!!!
Next meeting:
The next meeting is expected to be November 12 at the Westport Public Library. Informal gathering at 7pm, formal meeting to start at 7:30 pm.
Meeting adjourned at 8:20 pm.
Date: Wednesday, October 8, 2025
Time: In person 7:00 PM, Remote access starts at 7:30 PM
Location: Westport Library – Room 210,
20 Jesup Rd. Westport, CT 06880
Our informal session will run from 7:00 PM to 7:30 PM, providing a great opportunity for discussion and brainstorming. The formal part of the meeting will begin at 7:30 PM with audio/video access available. Topics will include upcoming fall activities, event planning, and general club updates.
If you cannot attend in person, you can join the meeting online. Instructions will be sent out to club members.
Hope to see you all there.
Greater Norwalk Amateur Radio Club (GNARC)
Meeting Minutes 9/18/2025
Held at the Westport Public Library
Present: W1SMS (Vice President), N1DPD (Treasurer), AI1V (recording), K1RF, KB1HVC, KC1WSE
By internet: KC1FB, W1PPL
Meeting called to order at 7:30 pm
Deferred approval of the minutes of the previous meeting due to lack of people.
Treasury: Good financial shape. Summer picnic cost $699. We had budgeted $700. Spent $95 on a wheel lock for the trailer since it is no longer being stored at the fire station.
We have 65 current members.
Website: Nothing to report.
Repeaters: W1SMS has been busy and has not made a lot of progress on the hospital repeater. However, he has been working on getting an MOU with the hospital to make sure we are covered there.
NV1P regularly runs the Wednesday night ragchew net and would love to get more people on the net. Details are on our website at http://gnarc.org/category/nets/
AA1XV is taking steps to make sure we are properly represented in the CSMA. We need to update the repeater trustees to active local members, which is a requirement for CSMA. In fact, CSMA requires that any trustees are officers of the club.
Lighthouses On The Air: Three members went out to Sheffield Island for a LOTA activation. It went well.
Further discussed issues around implementing a remote station at W1SMS’s site. If you are a club member and think you would be interested in operating via a remote station at his site, please contact W1SMS via our email reflector.
W1SMS is also interested in knowing if anyone would be interested in operating HF contacts from his location in the Danbury area. Again, if you are interested, contact W1SMS via our email reflector.
New business:
We received some equipment from an elderly ham. N1DLD has photos. Is anyone interested in taking the equipment to a local hamfest – especially the Nutmeg hamfest coming up in October?
Next meeting:
The next meeting is expected to be October 8 at the Westport Public Library. Informal gathering at 7pm, formal meeting to start at 7:30 pm.
Meeting adjourned at 8:25 pm.
We will be getting together about 7pm at the Westport Public Library and the meeting will officially start at 7:30pm.
The Westport Public Library is at 20 Jesup Rd, Westport CT
Held at the Westport Public Library
Present (12): AA1XV (President), AI1V (recording), K1RF, KB1FBX, N1DPD (Treasurer), W1SMS (Vice President), KB1HVC, K1RF, K1CYW, KC1TMT and “chaffeur”, Sara (not yet licensed)
Meeting called to order at 7:30 pm
Minutes of the previous meeting were approved.
Treasury: Good financial shape. Current income matches current and expected outflows except that there is only very limited funds for a holiday party. 60 paid members.
Website: Nothing to report.
Repeaters – dealing with various administrative issues. Making progress on controller for the repeater. W1SMS is going to build a test box for the controller. W1SMS intends to go up to the site some time in the next few weeks to start preparing to move in and install the equipment. Discussion about reinstating a formal agreement with the hospital.
AA1XV is taking steps to make sure we are properly represented in the CSMA.
Field Day – members who went to the Westport Astronomical Society report a very successful Field Day.
Discussed issues around implementing a remote station at W1SMS’s site.
New business:
It was reported that there are problems with the FCC’s registration system and noted that the ARRL is especially helpful in dealing with those problems.
AA1XV to work with N1DPD to plan the summer picnic which is expected to be in mid-August.
Next meeting:
Assuming we have a summer picnic, the next meeting is expected to be September 10 at the Westport Public Library. Informal gathering at 7pm, formal meeting to start at 7:30 pm.
Meeting adjourned at 8:15 pm.
Present In Person (10): Hugo AA1XV, Steve K1RF, Jeff KB1C, David N1DPD, Steve
W1SMS, Peter KC1TMT, (with guest/chauffeur Peter G), Jon AI1V, Zig N1ICL, Dan KC1WSE
Present Virtually (4): Toy K1WYG, Paul N1II, Paul W1PPL, Jeffrey KB1HVC
(Some members dialing in virtually continue to have trouble with audio)
Meeting called to order by President Hugo AA1XV at 7:32
Minutes from last month approved
Old Business:
Treasurers Report
Treasurer David N1DPD reported the club continues to be in good shape financially, with 59 paid members. Recently the sale of an amplifier brought in $1000.
Anticipated expenses: small donation to Westport Astro Soc for those who participate in Field Day there this year; some taxes are coming due; summer picnic
Webmaster
Douglas WA1SFH had requested TUESDAY eve CERT Net be announced, Jon AI1V reports we have already Published it on the website.
Repeaters
Steve W1SMS reports further progress in the works: a visit to Norwalk Hospital is planned for next week to establish best access to the roof and scout sites for antennas.
New Business:
Bloomin Metric Report
David N1DPD reported on Ham Radio participation in recently held Bloomin Metric cycling event, All went well with help from GNARC and the Stamford Club numbering 8 altogether. Steve Urso N1CM can’t do it next year and is looking for us to take over ownership of the course monitoring next year. David may Be the man for the job, he will need help, we will see what we need to organize when we get closer to Next year’s event.
Field Day
Field Day weekend is upcoming, the last full weekend in June, 6/28-29.
No official participation for GNARC but all who are interested are invited and encouraged to join the group at the Wesport Astronomical Society whose setup has worked well in the past. GNARC will donate to WAS based on our participation number. We are also invited to Stamford’s FD.
Miscellany
There was some good/informative discussion and interesting sharing of stories involving various 2m-6m-HF Nets in the East, and various TV/cable/radio interference/pranks/achievements. We must move our trailer to a new home, currently there is no good option; we have one more month in its current location.
Any interest among club members in using a Remote Station?
FLEX radios are becoming inexpensive enough to make this kind of setup feasible; many different bands can be covered with better antennas and can be accessed even from a cell phone. If the club puts something up will people use it?
The meeting was adjourned at 8:46
Respectfully submitted, Jeff KB1C, Secretary
REMINDER: THE NEXT MEETING WILL BE THURSDAY JULY 10 INSTEAD OF WEDNESDAY JULY 9. THE MEETING WILL BE AT THE WESTPORT PUBLIC LIBRARY. WE EXPECT TO BE RETURNING TO A WEDNESDAY SCHEDULE AFTER THAT.
Dear GNARC Members and Friends,
Please note a change to our upcoming meeting schedule due to room unavailability on the regular dates:
- June Meeting: Moved from Wednesday, June 11 to Thursday, June 12
- July Meeting: Moved from Wednesday, July 9 to Thursday, July 10
Both meetings will be held at the Westport Library in Room 210. Doors open at 7:00 PM, with a call to order at 7:30 PM.
Please save these new dates on your calendar. We’ll send a reminder closer to each meeting.
Thank you for your understanding.
73,
Hugo W. Catta – AA1XV
