Indian Wells Valley TV Booster, Inc.

Minutes of the May 5, 2008, board meeting

A. Opening
1. Call to order
President Cole called the meeting to order at 5:06 pm.
2. Attendance
Board members present: Blazek, Cole, Katzenstein, Manos, Middlemiss, Starr, Wetzel
Board members absent: Ash, Longo
Visitors: Bob Corzine, Roy Mayhugh
3. Approval of minutes
The minutes of the April 7 meeting were approved as presented (M - Blazek, 2nd - Manos, voice vote: 7 ayes, 0 nays, 0 abstentions).
4. Treasurer's report
Blazek reported April income of $285 in donations, including $170 received during the Home Show, and expenditures totaling $2,318.66. Of the latter amount, more than half ($1,226.56) paid our annual insurance premium, and the rest went for the National Translator Association conference fees ($865), monthly telephone bill ($50.10), and $177 to reserve a booth at next fall's Santa's Art Shop. Resulting balances in all TV Booster accounts totaled $20,028.89.
5. Correspondence
Blazek received four FCC broadcast license renewals, as expected, for Booster low-power TV transmitters at Laurel Mtn.
6. Announcements
Middlemiss is preparing a set-top-box (STB) demonstration for use in the public library. On April 23 the government is expected to mail more STB coupons to applicants.
B. Committee reports
1. Standing committees
b. Operations
Wetzel reported that it became necessary to turn off the translator for KPFK (FM at 88.7MHz locally) because of severe multipath distortion following a change in the broadcaster's antenna setup at Mt. Wilson. There was no estimate as to how or when that service might be restored. Additionally, the translator input for KCNV was shifted from KCNV-HD1 (89.7 MHz, Las Vegas) to KNPR-HD2 (88.9 MHz, Las Vegas) to solve a dropout problem involving overriding signals from the "Air One" standard-FM affiliate based in Randsburg. This change should improve reception, but not affect the content, of KCNV's classical-music programming (Booster FM at 107.1 locally).

Mayhugh discussed amplifier pallets and a plan to test the power supplies to see if augmentation with an inexpensive series-wired 5-volt supply would allow a working output of 30 volts.

c. Publicity
Middlemiss prepared a new Digital Transition "Boostergram" issue, updated (April 15) following the Home Show. Copies are available at the Ridgecrest library. Printing costs were discussed, but no action taken.
4. Web site committee
Cole has posted minutes of the 2008 board meetings (through April) on the restored web site. Middlemiss will transfer an information disk to Cole.
D. New business
1. Middlemiss moved to approve expenditure of not more than $800 for a new amplifier pallet, assuming that the three pallets remaining to be acquired can be purchased at a lower rate, with total outlay for these items held to $3,000 or less, including tax and shipping cost. (Manos 2nd; passed on a voice vote of 7 ayes without opposition or abstention.)
F. Closure
1. Next meeting: 5:00 PM, June 2, 2008, Vaughn Realty Meeting Room, Ridgecrest
2. Adjournment: There being no further business, president Cole adjourned the meeting at 5:54 pm.

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