Annual Meeting Western Tidewater Radio Association, Inc.

Meeting Minutes
January 9, 2023

President Duffie McLamb-KM4KBL called the meeting to order at 7:09 P.M. January 9, 2023. A sign in sheet was initiated by President McLamb KM4KBL and each member was requested to introduce themselves along with their Federal Communications Commission issued amateur radio call. President Duffie McLamb-KM4KBL advised that the current secretary Peter Horman-KO4ERT had verbally resigned. G. Stewart Tyler-WA4JUO agreed to take the minutes. President McLamb then gave a report on the December 3, 2022 Club Christmas party which was held at the Smithfield Villas Clubhouse.

Richard B. Harrell, Treasurer-W4RBH explained why we do not have the 52 members as some are inactive and/or have an honorary member.

Stewart Tyler-Secretary 2021 explained that minutes were not kept at the January 2022 annual meeting due the lack of a quorum as required by the bylaws; thus, no official actions were taken. The officers for 2022 were chosen at the February 14, 2022 regular meeting.

Richard B. Harrell-Treasurer-W4RBH gave the annual treasurers report for year 2022.  A motion to accept the report was made by Dean Madden-WB4GUH. The motion was seconded by Rob Wilson-KJ4HMZ. The motion was approve by a voice vote by all in attendance.

G. Stewart Tyler-WA4JUO made motion that the annual dues be increased to $100.00 per year for each licensees household. The motion died due to a lack of a second.

Glen Little-KA7HBH made a retrospective motion that the annual dues be increased as of January 1, 2023 to $25.00 per licensees household and be prorated for the second half of the year and that the $2.00 imitation fee be eliminated. The motion was seconded by G. Stewart Tyler-WA4JUO. Discussion ensued. Arthur Singleton-KM4EBT called for the question to cut off debate. The vote on the question passed and then the vote on the main motion was taken dues increase. The matter of the dues increase passed on a voice vote of those in attendance.

President Duffie McLamb-KM4KBL was questioned by Jeff Laferty-KE4HUD as to the date of the last review of the bylaws of the Western Tidewater Radio Association, Inc. It appeared it had been over five (5) year; thus, President McLamb appointed a bylaw study committee. Member Jeff Laferty- KE4HUD, Glen Little-KA7HBH, Don Curnutte-WB8SCC along with himself serving as the ex-officio (non-voting) member.
President Duffie McLamb-KM4KBL appointed Kurt Brunner-KN4SJC Chairman of the American Radio Relay Leagues 2023 Field Day June 24th and 25th of 2023.

Richard B. Harrell-Treasurer-W4RBH gave the annual report on the operation of the repeaters. Discussion ensued. No motions were made on the matter. The proposed Western Tidewater Radio Association, Inc proposed budget was presented by the treasures, Richard B. Harrell-W4RBH. Dean Madden WB4GUH made the motion the budget as presented be approved. Gen Little-KA4HBH seconded the motion. The Budget was approved by a voice vote by all in attendance.

Randy Grigg-Vice President-WB4KZI gave his initiative on his proposed programs for the ensuing year. This included ARES activities, programs, net control operators, and field day.

President Duffie McLamb KM4KBL ask for volunteers to run for the authorized officers of the club. President Duffie McLamb offered to serve as the President for the ensuing year, Randy Grigg- WB4KZI volunteered to serve as 1st Vice President for year 2023, Richard B. Harrell volunteered to serve as Treasurer for year 2023 and Kirk Brunner-KNSJC volunteered to serve as Secretary for year 2023. Richard B. Harrell-W4RBH advises the membership he had received permission to place the name of Don Lovett-WB4BYR for 2nd vice president. No other nominations were received. The members at large gave an affirmative vote of approval on the officer for the Western Tidewater Radio Association for year 2023.

Being no further business be for the annual meeting of the Western Tidewater Radio Association, Inc., President Duffie Mclamb-KM4KBL declared the meeting adjourned.

Minutes Recorded by G. Stewart Tyler-WA5JUO Acting Secretary

Minutes Western Tidewater Radio Club

November 14, 2022

The meeting of the Western Tidewater Radio Association, Inc. was called to order by Randy Grigg-WB4ZKI-Vice President at 7: 09 P. M. President Duffie McLamb, Jr.-KM4LBL was absent due to a Work commitment.

G. Stewart Tyler WA4JUO presented the minutes in print from the August 8, 2022 meeting for the Western Tidewater Radio Association, Inc. since the Secretary Peter Horman-KO4ERT was absent. A motion to approve the minutes was offered by Arthur SingletonKM4EBT. Glen Little-KA7HBH offered a second to the motion. The minutes were approved by those in attendance.

Richard Harell-W4RBH-Treasurer presented the financial report for the Western Tidewater Radio Association, Inc. and passed copy around for the attendees to view. John Jacobs-KA1UGM made the motion to accept the treasures report. Rob Wilson KB4HMZ offered a second to the motion. The membership in attendance voted to accept the verbal report after viewing the report as passed around.

Richard Harrell-W4RBH Treasures and a member of the repeater committee offered a report on the operations of the two (2) repeaters. The problem with the hum on the 147.195/147.795 was discussed. It appears the hum is coming from the amplifier. Supposedly the ARES Chair Randy Grigg-WB4KZI is considering requesting the county to purchase a new amp flier for the repeater. Glen Little–KA7HBH noted that the audio on the Echo Link and IRLP need to be adjusted as these modes are experiencing low audio.

Old Business: Randy Grigg-Vice President-WB4KZI announced the annual Christmas Party would be held at the Villas Clubhouse on December 3, 2022 between the hours of 5:0000 P. M. and 8:00 P. M. President Duffie McLamb-KM4KBL and his wife Annette would be hosting the event. Q-Daddy’s is catering and members are requested to bring a side dish.

Richard Harrell-W4RBH-Treasurer announced the W4VX-Chris Hanslit would be giving up the hosting of our web site as of January 1, 2023. Chris and his wife had hosted the web site free since 1997. Don Curnutte-WB8SCG has agreed to assist with the hosting of the web site for the Western Tidewater Radio Association, Inc. Don advised the membership the minimum fee to the provider is approximately $160.00 per year with no email service.

A discussion was held between Richard Harrell-W4RBH-treasurer and Randy Grigg, Vice Pressident-WB4ZKI as to the alternatives to the email server, to no avail.

The members in attendance unanimously approved Don Curnutte as the Web master for the Western Tidewater Radio Association, Inc.

G. Stewart Tyler-WA4JUO made a motion to increase the annual dues of the Tidewater Radio Association, Inc. to $25.00 per year per household. KA7HBH seconded the motion. Discussion ensued until Don Curnette-WB8SCG offered an amendment to defer the dues increase motion to the annual meeting January 9, 2023. The amended motion passed on a divided vote.

Randy Grigg, Vice President-WB4ZKI gave his usual report on the lack of ARES participation and announced that Butch Moore-W4DXZ would be stepping down as Town Of Smithfield ARES representative as of January 1, 2023 due to other commitments. Randy WB4KZI will be looking for a replacement for Butch.

Glen Little-KA7HBH made the motion to adjourn the business meeting of the Western Tide Water Radio Association, Inc. be closed. A second was made by John Jacobs-KA1UGM. On a voice vote approving, the meeting adjourned.

The program was given by Ira & Paula Swartz on the HEART communications centers in Hampton Roads, Virginia on Hampton Roads Hospital Communications during an emergency.


Submitted by G. Stewart Tyler, Acting Secretary