QCWA WILD ROSE CHAPTER 151 (Luncheon Meeting Minutes - April 29, 2006)

Minutes of Chapter 151 Meeting Held On April 29, 2006
Royal Canadian Legion # 264
1910 Kensington Road, NW, Calgary, Alberta

 

The meeting was called to order at 10:30 am by president Ken Oelke, VE6AFO. There was 27 in attendance - 11 members, 6 friends and 10 guests.

Silent Keys

There was a moment of silence in memory of Norm Hutter, VE6KG.

Introduction of New Members

The President introduced new Life Member Max Farmer, VE6SL. Other new members of Chapter 151 are Gerry Linton, VE6PL, Don Wilcox, VE6CG and Friend Chris Cutrara, VA6CJC.

President's Report and Announcements

Ken Oelke, VE6AFO, announced that the Calgary Space Workers Society is building a trailer that will contain equipment for working amateur satellites. It will be parked in the Port O' Call Inn parking lot during the QCWA International Convention (September 28-30th, 2006) and will contain information demonstrating the Moon Habitat Project.

Ken Oelke, VE6AFO, introduced Earle Smith, VE6NM, the President of RAC. Earle is a Life Member of QCWA and member of Chapter 151. Earle spoke on Radio Amateurs of Canada (RAC) sponsoring the RAC Youth Education Program (e.g. Chestermere Lake Middle School and Ralph McCall School). Earle mentioned the recent contact made with the International Space Station at two Alberta schools is a good thing. He encouraged us to further talk this program up in schools.

Earle mentioned that RAC created an Ad Hoc Committee to study the possibility of a Foundation Licence in Canada, same as in Australia, Great Britain and Gibraltar. At the upcoming RAC Board of Director's meeting they will have a professional facilitator to help the Board determine why Amateurs don't join RAC. As RAC President, Earle does a lot of travelling. He will be going to an ARES (Amateur Radio Emergency Service) meeting in Manitoba and to Ottawa for a CARAB (Canadian Amateur Radio Advisory Board) meeting. Agenda items for CARAB are coordination of repeaters, changes in CW and high-speed digital frequencies.

There were questions to Earle on changes and Earle thanked us for the privilege of talking.

Chapter 151 Secretary's Report (Minutes of September 17th, 2005 Meeting)

The meeting minutes have been distributed by email and copies were available. There was no discussion and no changes. Moved by Les Card, VE6CA and seconded by Max Farmer, VE6SL, that the minutes be approved. Carried.

Chapter 151 Treasurer's Report - Financial Update and Membership Update

John Smith,VE6AI, issued the Treasurer's report to all members present (attached). At the September 17th, 2005 meeting it was pointed out that the balance sheet does not include an $800.00 account receivable (now included) from the QCWA Convention 2006 Planning Committee. The total of income over expenses was $1967.21. Under the accounting notes it should be noted that we currently have a total of 55 members of which 39 are full members and 16 are friends. Moved by John Smith, VE6AI, and seconded by Dave Watson, VE6EH, to adopt the financial and membership report as presented by the Treasurer; discussion nil. Carried.

Old Business

Ken Oelke, VE6AFO, mentioned that interest in amateur radio could be started at school age. Ken mentioned that he was ready to write the exam at age 14 though not old enough at the time as per the Canadian Radio Regulations, which stated age 15.

The station Brian Jackson, VE6JBJ set up at Chestermere Lake Middle School has stimulated interest. And when science teacher Brian Jackson, VE6JBJ, moved to the Ralph McCall School in Airdrie, a station was set up to talk on December, 2nd, 2005, to Astronaut Commander Bill McArthur, KC5ACR on the International Space Station. This led to another contact on March 21st, 2006, from the Sir James Lougheed Elementary School in Calgary.

Ongoing Business

QCWA Chapter 151 plans to continue with the RAC sponsored Youth Education Program and add more schools. The Midnapore Middle School has expressed interest.

New Business

Chapter 151 has moved it's web site to a new server as QSL.Net has been running too slow. The new web site address is http://www.obsd.com/qcwa-chapter151 courtesy of Nick Janzen, VE6OBS.

Phil Leppke, VE6NLF, has repeater VE6QCW on 147.24 + and is allowing it to be the talk in repeater for the QCWA convention. Earle Smith, VE6NM, moved that we donate $30.00 to Phil to help offset the $60.00 licensing fee for the use of his repeater, seconded by Jack Blair, VE6ARQ. Carried.

There was a discussion about the repeater. Jack Blair, VE6ARQ, indicated that he would like to see VE6QCW have it's own IRLP node.

Ken Oelke, VE6AFO introduced Andy Webb, VE6EN, who was the first radio amateur in Canada to receive a QCWA scholarship award. Andy now has a master's degree in geology. After Andy spoke to the group about his scholarship, President Ken Oelke, VE6AFO presented him with a "hat trick" certificate stating that he had made three school contacts with the International Space Station. The three schools were R Tait McKenzie, Almonte, ON, Ralph McCall School, Airdrie, AB and Sir James Lougheed Elementary School, Calgary, AB.

There will be no QCWA Chapter 151 Luncheon meeting in September because of the QCWA International Convention to be held in Calgary. The next meeting will be held in April 2007.

50/50 Ticket Draw

A total of $47.00 was collected from the sale of tickets. Jack Ambler, VE6CAQ, won $23.50 as the result of the draw.

Adjournment

Earle Smith, VE6NM, adjourned the meeting for lunch at 11:54 P.M. MDT on a motion.

Program

Ian Stephens, VE6IMS, of Calgary, presented a very interesting program on the design of amateur rockets and the attempt to achieve records for sending the rockets to high altitudes. Ian, because of his electronic experience and his amateur license, can design telemetry to achieve communication between ground and the rocket and the sending of data from the rocket (including GPS).

Ian belongs to the ATHA Aerospace Group http://www.stephensonline.ca/atha-aerospace/ who in June 2003 launched the largest, heaviest and most powerful amateur rocket in Canada (the Daughin) which reached an altitude of 50,000 feet. The objective for further flights includes the return of the rockets, 17 feet in length, all in one piece.

The return is by parachute and tracking the return requires knowledge of the location of the jet stream with high wind velocities at 40,000 - 50,000 feet. There are 280 high powered rockets in Canada, which should be 400 if compared to the population of the U.S.A. The recovery team made use of GPS in the rocket and hand held amateur radios.

The Altus 2 and the Ventus/100 projects are being designed to fly to 100,000 feet. They are 2 stage advanced HPR rockets with more telemetry requiring amateur radio technologies for tracking and communication.

Jack Ambler, VE6CAQ
Secretary QCWA Chapter 151