QCWA Alberta Wild Rose Chapter 151 Quarterly Report

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Terry Finn, VA6TF prepared the following learning experience as part of his involvement with Morse code instruction at the Military Museums in Calgary. On Tuesday, February 8, 2011, the temperature outside was minus 17 degrees C. However, inside the new training facility at The Military Museums, the coffee was hot and the doughnuts were enticing. In attendance were several well-known, Calgary area, amateur radio operators who were learning how to utilize the state of the art, really impressive, SMART boards for teaching students various old concepts and skills with new equipment and methods. For those technically savvy enough to imagine, just think of a giant iPad that works with a wall-sized touch screen. No more white chalk on your hands or screeching fingernails across the old blackboard. What a unique experience for all in the class, who by the way, were all there to learn how to enhance their presentations when teaching Morse code to students who visit The Military Museums as part of their field trip education. Morse code training is not the only training class available. Most of the hams expressed an interest in taking the secret code deciphering program, which trains participants to figure out or break a communications code that was used during actual military conflicts.

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Ms. Lydia Lees, the Education Assistant Manager for The Military Museums, was the instructor for this unique equipment training. She could very well become a new ham sometime this year with her ability to comprehend code and electronic knowledge. The Education Manager, Ms. Lorna Gutsche, and one of the hosts from the Founders Gallery, Ms. Marvel Miller, were also taking part in the exciting classroom discussions regarding the new teaching equipment. The Calgary area hams who took part in the classroom activities and provide the teaching expertise on a voluntary basis for the code training were: VE6EH, Dave Watson; VE6KC, Larry Chapple; VE6DA, Walt Davis; VE6AFO, Ken Oelke; and VE6APE, Terry Finn. VE6LGO, Linda-Lou Oelke was unable to attend this class, but will learn the SMART board systems soon, with a little help from the other hams.
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The MFJ code oscillators used in this particular program were purchased with grant money provided by the Calgary Communications Club and the Wild Rose Chapter 151 of the Quarter Century Wireless Association. A big thank you to those organizations for their continued support. On that note, please be aware that the above mentioned code instructors represent almost all of the active radio clubs in the Calgary area, including the Calgary Amateur Radio Association.

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We really appreciate the efforts of these hams and the local radio clubs in supporting the educational activities of The Military Museums. So, should you speak with, or see, any of the radio operators mentioned in this article, please thank them for their enthusiastic service.

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If you or your organization have not yet toured the combined Military Museums, please take the time to plan a visit. We think that you will be rather impressed with the exhibits, training and facilities. Check out: <a href="http://www.themilitarymuseums.ca"> for further information on The Military Museums.

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Respectfully submitted,<br>
Mitch Goodjohn (VE6SM) Secretary