OPD, 107 Civic Plaza Drive, Taos, NM 87571
Potluck started at 5:30pm. Thanks to everybody for bringing food.
Meeting began at 6:11 with Donovan (K2AH) presiding.
Sign-in with 14 members present.
Guest and Member Introductions.
Approval of January 12, 2026, meeting minutes. Motion was made to approve by Ed (KF5EIG) and seconded by Ed (N6RFG).
Approval of Treasurer's Report by Donovan (K2AH) and Ed (KF5EIG) Expense summary, balance.
a. We began the 2026 Fiscal year with $17,973.81 with current balance at $18,086.92. Karen (KI5AXU) is operating as the club bookkeeper, reconciling accounts and working with the Treasurer. A discussion was conducted about the Filings dates that the club has with the New Mexico Secretary of State office.
b. The Forest Service Lease payments was made on 02/11/26, at $152.00 per site for 2026.
c. The ledger will be posted to the Shack Bulletin board.
A motion to approve the report was made by Mike (KI6KGC) and seconded by Mickey (N5TSV)
Donovan (K2AH) made the President’s remarks:
a. The Taos Middle School Science fair will be tomorrow (02/12/26) and a request was made for volunteers to sign up for judging. The event will be held all day, with a 09:00 am start.
b. The Rocky Mountain Ham Tech Fest will be in Albuquerque on 02/28/26. All signups are done online.
New Business:
a. Mike (KI6KGC) gave a detailed follow-up report on Winter Field Day. He explained the intent of being portable, away from home. He set up at the TARC shack. Hefurther explained the point award system. Randy (AG5QC) assisted him, and together they made 71 contacts, from 8:00 am to 7:00 pm on Saturday. He displayed his Award Certificate and explained that Winter Field Day was structured more like Emergency Communications support, focusing on being mobile. He detailed the equipment and processes that they used, and why they chose the OPD. He also explained the situation with high QRM at the shack which may be attributed to the streetlights around the OPD.
Old Business:
a. No Grant(s) Update, as Keith (K5FS) was not present.
b. No ARES update as Brian (NB5R) was not present.
There was no repeater update, by Brian (NB5R) as he was not present. Craig (KI5HKU) noted that he spoke with Brian (NB5R) earlier in the day and that there were no issues with any of the repeaters.
Net Report (Attendance listed below)
a. Donovan (K2AH) gave a report on the last analog NET with Wayne (W5GWR) acting as new control, indicating that 4 folks new to the net were on the NET. The DMR net was not held.
Technical Presentations
a. Donovan (K2AH) requested that any folks have any requests for Technical Presentations at the meetings contact him via email.
b. Ed (N6RFG) suggested the possibility of exploring nuclear weapons, and the effects of nuclear magnet pulse (EMP) on radio waves and equipment. With the possible use of faraday cages. Ed (KF5EIG) explained the uses by Submarines using very long towed antennas arrays and the bands used. A discussion was had over the radio wave propagation and frequencies, and how ground-based stations communicated with submarines, submerged or on the surface.
c. David (KJ5DFQ) arrived late for the meeting start and updated the club on the Middle School Science Fair happening tomorrow (02/12/26), with scheduling and the needs for judges. He indicated that they have 160 projects to judge, with a shortage of judges. He detailed the need for judges between 9:00 am and 11:00 am. They will be conducting a “Foxhunt” in April, and that club members were invited to participate in the “Radio Rodeo”. He detailed a 3-week build schedule, with week one being construction of tape measure antennas. The second week will be soldering and the third week being the actual “Foxhunt”. He further detailed many of the projects that the students were constructing and presenting.
The Business Meeting was closed by a motion at 6:42 from Ed (KF5EIG) and seconded by Mickey (N5TSV).
** Reminders:
a. Statewide ARES Net – HF 3939, 1 st Sunday, 7pm.
b. TARC Net - VHF/UHF-DMR, 4th Wednesday, 7pm
Picuris VHF/UHF NET CONTACTS 4 TH Wednesday 7PM Net:
Analog: January 2026 Net
- K2AH Donovan
- KJ5NPE Olin
- KF5EIG Ed
- KJ5NPF Katrina
- K5CSJ Matt
- KI5AXU Karen
- W5JHW John
- NM5MK Mike
- KJ5NSQ Sam
- W5TNM Tim
- W5TAO Gary
- KE5CEJ Catherine
- W5GWR Wayne (Net Control)
DMR January 2026 Net No DMR
HF Net Friday, 8PM, follows the 4 th Wed Net: