RATS has used the Wild Apricot membership management platform since around 2018.  Wild Apricot provides automated billing, roster management, event registration and ticketing, web hosting, member email blasts, and more.  It's a great system but it sure is expensive.  When we started using the service we had about twice the number of members and Wild Apricot was less than half as pricey as it is today.

In August, the club's annual charge for the service will increase from $810 to almost $860.  That works out to $8.41 per year, per dues-paying member, with 25% of dues income now going to Wild Apricot.

For several years, the Board of Directors has been shopping around for a replacement service that can do most of the same stuff at a better price.  So far, we keep coming up empty-handed.  Wild Apricot has saved us many hours of administrative work over the years compared to the paper-and-pencil methods it replaced.  But it's getting harder and harder to justify the ever-increasing price tag, and it's becoming clearer that we're going to need to roll out our own solutions.

It's going to be a lot of work to migrate away from Wild Apricot.  This week's change to our web hosting is us ripping off the bandage and getting the process started.

There are two main pieces that need to be addressed:  our web content, and our membership management.  With the web piece mostly completed, the club can turn its attention over the next few months to developing new processes and systems for managing our member roster and electronically collecting annual dues.

Wild Apricot is still with us on the back end for now, handling new member applications, existing member renewals and profile updates, event registrations, email blasts, as well as a few web features like this News feed and our photo galleries that we haven't yet set up a replacement for.  And we may end up extending our Wild Apricot service on a month-to-month basis a bit past August, but we definitely want out.

Our popular DMR Codeplug Project was the first to move into new digs, now at https://codeplugs.rats.net/.  The Frostfest website was also updated along with RATS.net.  Internal websites were also launched to better support the Board of Directors and our various committees and workgroups, with https://intranet.rats.net/ as common web space for our Google Workspace users.

Please bear with us over the next few days while any missing links or quirky content issues are addressed.  If you have feedback about the new website, or suggestions for our membership management needs, contact info@rats.net.

At its January 1 meeting, the RATS Board of Directors granted the special status of Life Membership to three long-time members of RATS who have made numerous valuable contributions to the organization through the years.

Rob Marshall KI4MCW is being recognized for his many years of service on the club's Board of Directors and Frostfest Committee, his past involvement in our technical committee and other projects, his informative and educational presentations, and his ongoing dedication to making RATS a better club.  Rob currently serves as a Director on the RATS Board.

Robert Orndorff W4BNO also spent many years on the RATS Board of Directors and Frostfest Committee.  Mr. Orndorff is currently enjoying a retirement from the daily goings-on at RATS but we will forever be thankful for his past service which helped grow RATS into what we are today.

Brewer Pedin W4MGA has been around for a while, too, and currently serves as our RF technical expert on the Technical Committee.  Brewer supports the club with his knowledgeable advice on matters primarily pertaining to repeater system performance, and he occasionally makes his equipment and skills available to the club for diagnostic purposes.  His advice helps guide the Technical Committee and the RATS Board, and we thank him for being a valuable part of our little club.

To all three recipients of this special status:  THANK YOU!

Life Membership was previously granted to all founding members who were active as of November 17, 1989.  In subsequent years, the RATS Board has extended this status to a limited number of individuals who have gone above and beyond to serve the club.  Life Memberships extend all of the rights and privileges of a regular Individual Membership, without payment of dues.  These memberships cannot be purchased -- they can only be earned.

The total number of Life Members is now 11, which includes 5 founding members and 6 Board grants.

Congratulations!  Take a look at our Quick Setup Guide and contact us if you need any help.

DMR users will find prebuilt codeplugs here.

The following area systems will be in use by amateurs providing communications in support of the Allianz Partners Richmond Marathon all morning and most of the afternoon on Saturday, November 16:

• W4RAT 442.550 MHz repeater (FM)
• W4RAT 146.880 MHz repeater (FM)
• KG4MRA 145.430 MHz repeater (FM)
• DMR Richmond Metro talkgroup

While these area repeaters are in use, please consider the following alternatives:

• KA4CBB 147.36 (input PL 127.3) in Chester
• KA4CBB 442.15 (input PL 162.2) in Chester
  
• WA4FC 147.39 (PL 74.4) in Petersburg
• N8ELS 145.11 (PL 74.4) in Hanover

C4FM/WIRES-X users:

• WIRES-X services will be disabled on 146.88 during the marathon, and the repeater will be configured to repeat C4FM traffic in FM mode (as the 442.55 already does).
  

DMR users:

• Please keep clear of TS1 talkgroups on the RATS 443.5875 repeater (DMRVA "RIC" zone) during this event.  This includes Richmond Metro, TAC A & B, the Virginia regional talkgroups, and "private" radio-to-radio calls.  Virginia Statewide and HEARS on TS2 may be used as normal without interference to marathon operations.
  
  
• Please keep clear of RVA Metro (27500/31511) on all repeaters and hotspots.
  
  
• If you wish to utilize one of the TAC channels or regional talkgroups, please use one of these other DMRVA network repeaters serving our area:  Beaverdam (BEA), Goochland (GCH), New Kent (NKC), or Powhatan (POW).  Note that you will be be competing against TS1 activity on Richmond Metro;  VA Statewide is recommended.
  

Event radio traffic can be monitored online at the links below:

• W4RAT 442.550 MHz repeater (Broadcastify)
• W4RAT 146.880 MHz repeater (Broadcastify)
• KG4MRA 145.430 MHz repeater (Broadcastify)
• DMR Richmond Metro TG (Brandmeister Hoseline)

Amateur radio support for this event is being coordinated by the RATS Public Service Committee.  For information contact Jim Rubin W4PKR.

Our presentation this month will be given by David Elkins KN4LQN. Don't miss the chance to learn about ATV (Amateur Television). Join us tomorrow (Friday 18 Oct).

CQ ATV! Presenting an overview of the analog and digital modes of Amateur Television, fast-scan TV, and the equipment and results of local experimentation.

Dues for the 2024-2025 RATS membership year are due by September 30.  Members who do not renew by EOD 9/30 will transition to a lapsed status on 10/1.  Lapsed members lose their voice in club affairs and no longer count as a voting member for quorum purposes.  Members have until December 30 to reinstate their lapsed membership by payment of past-due dues.  After that date, a new membership application and vote-in will be required.

Click here to view the official results

If you hold a Full Membership in the RATS club, one of the privileges you have is a say in who sits on the Board of Directors and its officers. To exercise this right, cast your votes now. Voting will close at the start of the membership meeting this Friday Aug 16th. If you didn't receive your ballot, or need assistance, contact the election committee at election@rats.net

Received from the Williamsburg Area Amateur Radio Club:

A free, weekly, live, Amateur Radio Technician Class Licensing course on Zoom will begin on Thursday, Sept 5, and will run through Thursday, October 17 (7 sessions). The three-hour sessions will start at 6:30 PM Eastern Time. These are the classes that we have been holding for years sponsored by the National Electronics Museum. Please publicize this with anyone you know that you think would be interested. Those wishing to sign up should email me at roland.anders@comcast.net.

Our Nominating Committee met Friday, July 26 to review and approve the biographies, ballots, and distribution for the annual Board of Directors election.  Club members should refer to their email for a message from the club Secretary regarding this election which is now underway.  Separately, ballots will be distributed from Election Runner at 8 AM Saturday, July 27.  Any active RATS member who has not received a ballot by end-of-day Saturday, July 27 should contact election@rats.net for assistance.

All voting is being conducted online.  Ballots must be submitted by 7:40 PM Friday, August 16.  Ballots will be counted and winners will be announced at the August 16 Membership Meeting.