Florida Amateur Digital Communication Association
Promoting packet radio in the State of Florida


Mail Address:
L. E. "bud" Thompson
1131 Abady Court
Deltona, FL 32725



MINUTES OF FADCA BOARD OF DIRECTORS' MEETING
DECEMBER 4, 2004 (TAMPA HAMFEST)

Those present included:

Bill Sinbine, N4XEO President; Director District 3
Chuck Hast, KP4DJT Director District 4
Doug Welcker, WB4KGY, V. President; Director District 2
Bud Thompson, N0IA, Sec/Treas; Director District 5
Russ Oder, N4KOX Director District 7
Free Crosby, W1NPR, Web Page Manager
Doug Christ, KN4YT, Member
Blake Hudson, KE4SGK
Ben Willbanks, KA6R (Highland County)
David Penezic, WA4GUK (Lee County)
Dan Bobezynski, KG4HNS
Sam Everts, KE4BXF
Gary Sessums, KC5QCN
Julleta Welker

Five of six of FADCA directors being represented, a quorum existed. President Sinbine brought the meeting to order at 1400 hrs.

Russ, N4KOX moved that FADCA pursue 501.3(c) status. Motion seconded by Chuck KP4DJT. Motion passed.

There was a discussion that FADCA apply for a Club call for mobile switches for filling in gaps in coverage in an emergency when a switch might be destroyed.

There was a general discussion on getting digital devices established in Highlands and Lee Counties. Ben, KA6R (Highlands) and David WA4GUK (Lee) had been specifically invited to the meeting due to their participation from the floor during the earlier presentation on E-Mail over Ham Radio in Support of EMCOMMs. Several issues were settled and plans made for establishing these areas into the network.

There was a general discussion on moving to FPAC LINUX. Chuck KP4DJT demonstrated his recent results with the LINUX version and will continue helping others to make this change. This lead to a discussion of the need for increasing backbone link speeds above 9.6kb which would generally require more modern data radios and terminals. The need for FADCA to find grants or funding to sponsor these upgrades became apparent. This resolved to the concept that we need to first concentrate on the basics - getting the present and additional LANS covering more areas where needed and get interconnecting backbones working reliably at any speed, at least 9.6kb. The upgrades to high speed data terminals and modern data radios can then proceed as funds or sponsors become available.

President Sinbine reminded all that the annual General Membership meeting will be held at the Orlando Hamfest in February 2005. During this meeting elections of officers and District Directors will be held as required by the by-laws.



No further business needing attention, the meeting was closed at 1520 hrs.

Respectfully submitted


Loren E. 'bud' Thompson N0IA
Secretary/Treasurer


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