Florida Parishes VE Group - Testing sessions are scheduled for the last Sunday of each month [with the exception of holiday conflicts] at AmVets Post #68; 26890 Hwy 42 (jct. of Hwys 42 and 43) - Springfield, La. 70462 (approximately 3 miles south of I-12 at exit 32) at 2pm with $15 testing fee. Bring photo ID and any appropriate CSCE. For more information contact n5xes@arrl.net or Find an Amateur Radio License Exam in Your Area.

Date: [2026-07-14]

Time: [07:06] - [End Time]

Location: [SLU Cate Teacher Education Center, 1300 N General Pershing St., Hammond, LA 70401]

Attendees: Ed (KE5GMN), Pat (KE5KMM), Russ (WI5ARD), Tyrone (N5XES), Houston (N5YS), Bill (KF5YBY), Ernie (N5NIB), Mike (KI5GGP), Keith (KF5VLX), Greg (W5IDD), Carmen (KF5VXO), Kirby (KJ5PTJ), Nick (N5MUN), Ricky (W5ARN), Sumana (KI5WNV), Don (KD5REW), Mark (KJ5DKD)

Guest: Debra H Young, Rosy Duncan

Call to Order: Russ Plyler (WI5ARD) at 7:06pm

Pledge of Allegiance: Russ Plyler (WI5ARD)

Click for Flag

Introductions: Russ Plyler (WI5ARD)

Minutes of Previous Meeting: Russ Plyler (WI5ARD)

• 1st motion to accept meeting minutes as posted by Tyrone (N5XES)

• 2nd motion by Houston (NY5S)

• All Approved

Treasures Report: Mike Jackson (KI5GGP)

• 1st motion to accept meeting minutes as posted by Tyrone (N5XES)

• 2nd motion by Houston (NY5S)

• All Approved

Bills / Correspondence:

• N/A

New Member Applications / Renewals:

• 1st motion to accept meeting minutes as posted by N/A

• 2nd motion by N/A

• All Approved

Health & Welfare:

• Joe Holland is going on Thursday for triple bypass surgery. He is the Delta Club President per NY5S.

ARES Report: Pat Mason (KE5KMM)

• 90 check-ins for the month.

• 42-43 check-in for Winlink from noon to 8:30

• FLDIGI Classes. 1 Class and in early stages. Still time to participate

• This coming Thursday there is a Zoom meeting for 40 minutes for FLDIGI.

• Tim “Trip” Lynch with Scouting America got Ham Radio merit badge. Alia, an Eagle Scout, was the second scout getting her Ham Radio merit badge also. She is trying to get 100 merit badges before she exits scouts and this badge is 95. Ed (Amite EOC), Pat (Home in Amite), Jerry (Metairie), and Houston (Home in Hammond). Tyrone is also a merit badge counselor.

Repeater Committee: Tyrone Burns (N5XES)

• Tickfaw

• Hammond

• New Tower

Packet:

• HMU (Hammond, LA, North Oaks Hospital) GOOD

• PCC (Ponchatoula Community Center) GOOD

• W5TEO (Hammond) GOOD

• SIL (Lacombe) GOOD

Field Day: Aaron Davis (N5OMM) Ryan Dellucky (KI5NMJ)

• Saturday, June 27, 2026, through Sunday, June 28, 2026

• WM5T (4340), KE5GMN (350), WI5ARD (382) files uploaded to ARRL for a TTL of (5072).

• ARRL Results <link> The results will not show up till December.

Training: Russ (WI5ARD)

• Making Double Chain Sinnet / Daisy Chain Stitch

◦ Making Double Chain Sinnet / Daisy Chain for Rope & Electric Cable

◦ How to tie a Double Chain Knot - Shrink & Store Your Rope Efficiently

◦ How About in the Water

◦ Machine Washing the Daisy-Chained Rope

• Please provide training suggestions.

• August Meeting - ARES by Ed Mason

Old Business:

• NA

New Business:

• Congratulations on the new licenses and/or upgrades from the VE Session of the Florida Parishes VE Group:

◦ Technician

▪ Gary Bales KJ5QXO - Liberty, MS (garysatv@gmail.com)

◦ General

▪ Gary Bales KJ5QXO - Liberty, MS (garysatv@gmail.com)

◦ Extra

N/A

• iCal for SELARC Events that will show nets, meetings, and special events.

• Keep your ears open for someone using Williams callsign KB5YZD who is not a SK. The person claimed he was Willaim and was in Louisiana. The Net Control Alan N5MSE commented that the signal strength is what he would have expected on 7290 today around 11:00. If you hear the callsign on one of the repeaters quickly check the input to try and narrow down where.

• Website Changes

◦ The server was rolled back and lost some capabilities. Jimmy recreated and is also making some improvements to the site.

• Ham of the Quarter for SELARC.

◦ Looking for award suggestions. Please send a message to one or all of the board members.

Next Meeting

• August Meet & Greet (5:00pm to 6:45pm)

Stuffed Potatoes & Poboys

1801 Nashville Ave., Hammond, LA70401

• August Meeting (7:00pm to 8:00pm)

SLU Cate Teacher Education Center

1300 N General Pershing St., Hammond, LA 70401

Upcoming Events / Hamfests:

• Shreveport Hamfest Division

◦ Dates: August 7th & 8th

◦ https://www.k5sar.com/sbhamfest/

• Huntsville Hamfest

◦ Dates: August 22 & 23, 2026

◦ https://hamfest.org/

◦ Pete WB5ERM “The Whisperwood Cottage 4BR

▪ $1226 Includes $80 Pet Deposit 20th to 23rd

▪ 145 Whisperwood Ln, Madison, AL 35758

▪ Pete will not be attending but is waiting to see if anyone wants the location before he lets it go.

• SELARC

◦ New Location & Time for the 2027 Hamfest Voted On

▪ We have outgrown the Ponchatoula Community Center. Out of the 3 location options below the decision was made to relocate the Hamfest to the Ponchatoula Area Recreation District 1 along with moving to April. This puts us 5-6 months away from the Slidell Hamfest.

• 1st motion to accept by Don KD5REW

• 2nd motion to accept by Keith KF5VLX

• All Approved

◦ Ponchatoula Area Recreation District 1 (OPTION 1)

▪ $500 for Friday Afternoon & Saturday

▪ 2 basketball courts

▪ Food Court inside facility

▪ 2 meeting rooms

▪ Park Atmosphere

▪ Kiddie Park

▪ The 1st Weekend in April is the preferred date. The 2nd weekend is the Strawberry Festival so that is not desired.

▪ Nearby Hotels

▪ Would have to move to early April

▪ We could have our own Food Trucks

▪ 1st weekend LA and MS QSO Party but LA is looking to move to the 2nd weekend in May.

▪ Pictures of the location were viewed during the meeting.

◦ SLU (OPTION 2)

▪ $500 per court

▪ Restricted to their food vendors and very costly.

▪ Issues with entry are still the same.

▪ Nearby Hotels

◦ Amite Fairgrounds (OPTION 3)

▪ $2000+

▪ Large Facility

▪ Tables would have to be rented.

▪ We could have our own Food Trucks.

▪ Pictures of location were viewed during the meeting.

General Discussion, Presentation, or Training

• N/A

Motion to Adjourn

• 1st motion to accept meeting minutes as posted by Mark (KJ5DKD)

• 2nd motion by Keith (KF5VLX)

• All Approved