The January 14, 2023 meeting of the Philipsburg Amateur Radio Association was called to order by president Darren Dixon at 12:02 pm in the second-floor meeting room of American Legion Post #437 in Philipsburg PA.
Audio Recording
Members in Attendance
- Darren Dixon, President
- John Horgas, Vice-President
- Bob Snyder, Secretary
- Tim Leet
- Chris Deck
- Johna McCormick
- Ryan Williams
- Scott Rummings
- Dick Thompson
- Greg Guise
- Jim Warg
- Cody Beish
- John Lee
Treasurer’s Report (electronically submitted by Jason Terosky, Treasurer)
| December Starting Balance | $965.71 |
| Funds Received in December | $1400.00 |
| — $400 dues | |
| — $1000 Philipsburg borough donation | |
| December Ending Balance (reconciled with CNB statement) | $2365.71 |
| Dues received in January | $40.00 |
| Current CNB balance | $2405.71 |
Liability Insurance
Bob Snyder presented a quote from Hrenko Insurance Agency of Philipsburg, PA for a $2 million liability insurance policy at an annual cost of $435. The policy would cover all PARA members as well as the following entities:
| Insured Entity | Facilities Used by PARA Members |
|---|---|
| Centre County Government | Rattlesnake repeater site Philipsburg repeater site at District Court building (if funded and approved) |
| American Legion Post #437 | Second-floor meeting room Second-floor office used as an amateur radio station |
| PAComm LLC (Tom Pecosh) | Sandy Ridge repeater site |
PARA member Greg Guise noted that he is currently required by Centre County Government to carry a liability insurance policy for the UHF repeater that he has installed at the Rattlesnake repeater facility. He suggested that the proposed PARA insurance policy might be sufficient to cover all PARA repeater activities at Rattlesnake and indicated that he might be willing to contribute to the annual cost of the PARA policy.
A motion to authorize a maximum expenditure of $435 for liability insurance was made and seconded. The motion carried by a unanimous vote.
Before purchasing the insurance policy, PARA officers will contact the relevant parties to explore the feasibility of Greg’s suggestion.
Lease of Office Space
A motion to authorize PARA officers to sign a lease agreement with American Legion Post #437 was made and seconded. The motion carried by a unanimous vote.
The lease provides exclusive use of a secure office located on the second floor of the American Legion building at 315 E. Presqueisle St, Philipsburg, PA. The office space will be used as an emergency communications (EmComm) radio station to benefit the residents of Philipsburg Borough and the Moshannon Valley region.
Nominations of Officers
President Darren Dixon asked for nominations of officers for the year 2023. No nominations were made by any of the members in attendance, and no nominations were submitted electronically. A motion to retain the existing officers in their current positions was made and seconded. The motion carried by a unanimous vote.
Since none of the elected offices are contested, there is no need to have elections at the February meeting. Consequently , the officers for 2023 are as follows:
| Office | Elected Member |
|---|---|
| President | Darren Dixon |
| Vice-President | John Horgas |
| Secretary | Bob Snyder |
| Treasurer | Jason Terosky |
Volunteers
The following members volunteered to contribute to PARA’s success in 2023:
| Role | Members |
|---|---|
| PARA Facebook Page Administrator | Scott Rummings |
| PARA Facebook Page Contributor | Johna McCormick |
| EmComm Coordinator | Bob Snyder |
| EmComm Advisors | Scott Rummings Darren Dixon |
EmComm Team Members | Joe Petrulionis (via prior communication) John Horgas Chris Deck Ryan Williams Tim Leet |
Upcoming Events
The following activities were scheduled:
| Date & Time | Activity | Volunteers |
|---|---|---|
| Monday, Jan 16 – 9:00 am | Replace ceiling tiles at the Rattlesnake repeater facility. | John Horgas Darren Dixon Bob Snyder Greg Guise |
| Monday, Jan 23 – 5:00 pm | Clean attic, clean and repaint office space at American Legion building. – Chris Deck will supply paint, brushes, rollers, etc. | Darren Dixon Bob Snyder Chris Deck |
Respectfully submitted,
Bob Snyder, Secretary
Jan 15, 2023