QCWA

QCWA WILD ROSE REPEATER

April, 2004

Spring has sprung and it is now time to prioritize spring activities as in getting that antenna work done you missed addressing last fall and of course tune up the lawn mower, in that order of course.

Your editor has just finished reading the April 2004 issue of QST. In one of the pages there is mention of ARRL's formation date. Is it a coincidence that QCWA Wild Rose Chapter 151 charter came about exactly 70 years later right to the month and day? For those not in the know - the date ARRL formed is May 18, 1914 and the QCWA Wild Rose Chapter 151 charter date is May 18, 1984.

A CHAPTER 151 NEWS FLASH!

Yes folks - he really is one of our very own! Wild Rose Chapter 151 member Tim Ellam VE6SH will be the new International Amateur Radio Union (IARU) Vice President effective May 9, 2004. For further information visit the IARU website at http://www.iaru.org/rel040318.html

Congratulations Tim on your appointment to the IARU Executive. We are proud to have you on our team representing amateur radio world wide. We know we are in good hands!


(Photo Courtesy ARRL Website)

REPORT ON QCWA NATIONAL CONVENTION - 2006

Just in case you missed reading about it in the last newsletter - Chapter 151 is hosting the 2006 QCWA National Convention to be held in Calgary. The exact date is yet to be determined.

Not to sound like a broken record (I probably will by the time 2006 arrives) on this subject however, please bare with me on this. I can not emphasize enough the importance of supporting this upcoming event. This could very well be the first and only opportunity your Chapter will be hosts to a proud moment in QCWA's history. Please read on to refresh your memory on this event and then ask yourself - how can I contribute.

Although 2006 is still a way off things need to be thought out now in order to host a 'class act' convention. The first order of business will be to select a convention committee. This committee will be responsible for organizing all aspects of the convention. The executive envision 6 to 8 active people will be required depending on how many tasks each committee member is willing to take on. Each committee member will then be responsible for finding volunteers to help manage their respective area or areas of responsibility. If any of you wish to get involved at the committee level or possibly volunteer under a committee member, please let us know now. Otherwise the executive will have to call you and you wouldn't want that now, would you?

As well we need to think about launching a logo design contest for the convention. This requires early thought in order to procure letterhead, lapel pins and other items for early advertising of the convention. In this regard if you do have some ideas for a logo please contact your executive for guidelines. The executive felt an acceptable design should be eligible to receive a one year free membership in Chapter 151. So brush off the graphic editor and put "mouse to screen"! As well maybe some thought should be given to having a specific theme for this western styled convention? If you have some ideas on this let us know.

Above all - please, please, and one more please, mark your calendars now (likely mid October 2006) for this event. Don't have a 2006 calendar? No problem for we can steer you to one on the web upon request. One other thing; it has been found that attendance of local Amateurs is usually 10 percent of the total attendance. This is very sad considering the event is being hosted in our own back yard. Where else can you take in an elite event (you would be amazed the number of famous Amateurs that attend these conventions) without spending a great deal of money travelling across the United States or for that matter across Canada? Incidentally next years 2004 convention is hosted by the National Capitol Region (Chapter 70) bunch in Ottawa, ON. This is still a fair ways to travel but not entirely prohibitive.

REPORT OF NEW MEMBERS

Treasurer John Smith, VE6AI brings us this report of new and renewing members and friends since the last newsletter.

Hello folks. I would like to welcome new members in this quarter but none has crossed my desk as I write this. Maybe you have not yet asked some of your friends if they would like to come aboard? There are many who just want to be asked. And for the aspiring member, the new "One Step Membership" is ideal that makes it very easy to sign them up now! The membership form can be found on our website at http://www.qsl.net/ve6afo.

And while I have your attention I would like to remind everyone to check your membership expiry date on the Chapter membership list and renew sooner than later. Thank you!

48th ANNUAL QCWA QSO PARTY - APRIL 3, 2004

The first half of the 48th annual QCWA QSO Party will soon be upon us. Mark your calendar now for April 3, 2004 beginning at 19:00 UTC.

If you are looking for some fun with a laid back style of operating then the QCWA QSO Party is for you! For more details and log sheet - refer to the QCWA Journal or visit the QCWA National Website at http://www.qcwa.org

QCWA is planning to change the Fall QSO Party to the third weekend of September. This in order to get around the very busy and active California QSO Party which takes place on the same weekend in October. In 2004 this puts the Fall QSO Party on September 18th.

SPRING LUNCHEON MEETING - May 8, 2004

Please mark your calendar now and plan to attend the upcoming Luncheon Meeting on May 8, 2004. The venue is at the Royal Canadian Legion #264 located on 1910 Kensington Road NW, Calgary. This is the same place we held our last meeting in September 2003.

And don't forget - Spouses are most welcome and encouraged to join us for lunch. Our program (Rubbing Shoulders With Famous Astronauts) will be presented by Liz Ferguson, VA6LIZ and promises to be very interesting. Liz was one of the students selected to visit and stay at the Johnson Space Center in Houston, TX this past July.

Tickets are now on sale (we need a firm commitment by May 5th) for $12.00 which includes a nice roast beef dinner with salad, tea/coffe, desert and includes GST & gratutity. Visit our website at http://www.qsl.net/ve6afo for more details.

QCWA WILD ROSE CHAPTER 151 WEBSITE

The website is always being updated with new items. This is a good place to stop and visit to learn of new happenings. I am still looking for help in retyping archived items to be added to the website. Any takers?

QCWA WILD ROSE CHAPTER 151 NET

The QCWA Wild Rose Chapter 151 Net is NOT happening every Monday evening on 3747 kHz at 7:00 pm MST. Yours truly was taking the net most Mondays but found I had been talking to myself. The net therefor will be suspended until further notice unless someone feels it has merit and wishes to take an active role in building it back up. Any ideas or takers for this are most welcome!

CHAPTER 151 QCWA JOURNAL REPORT

Secretary Al McNeil, VA7QQ submitted a Chapter 151 report for the January 1 and April 1, 2004 deadline. Watch for these in the National QCWA Journal.

If you have something you wish to see published in the QCWA National Journal please feel free to submit your views and or pictures to your Chapter Executive for future submission. Submission deadlines are January 1, April 1, July 1, and October 1 of each year.

UPCOMING CALGARY FLEAMARKET - May 15, 2004

For those wishing to purchase or sell your wares keep this date in mind. The venue is the same place as last year, East Side City Church, 1320 Abbeydale Drive SE. Doors are open from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM.

REPORT ON CHAPTER 151 SPONSORSHIP IN THE RAC YOUTH EDUCATION PROGRAM

The antenna is up and the radio's donated by Chapter 151 member Jack Ambler VE6CAQ are in the class room. The kids are just loving it! Brian Jackson VE6JBJ has been demonstrating amateur radio to his grade 6 science and computer class over the past month. They have talked to other schools involved in the RAC Youth Education Program as well as visited other countries using the IRLP network. From all indications there now are a couple of students interested in getting their amateur radio licence. We look forward to help make this happen.

We congratulate Brian, the school administration and his class in getting through the first stages of the RAC Youth Education Program. Brian is now studying Morse code to enable his class room full access to the world of amateur radio.

What have you done recently in your area to further amateur radio? It really is not all that difficult. You really would be surprised at the renewed interested from schools today - especially the science classes. There are plenty of resources around to learn how to do all this just for the asking. Chapter 151 can assist with whatever you may need in order to introduce amateur radio to young folks. Just ask!

MORSE CODE IN MUSIC

The rock band RUSH has a song title "YYZ" on their album "Moving Pictures". This songs starts out with heavy percussion belting out "YYZ" followed by bass and guitar blaring out the same. Well, the characters YYZ are the beacon identifier for the Toronto International Airport. The inspiration for the song came from Alex Lifeson, the guitarist for the band, who holds a private pilots license.

Stay tuned for other 'Morse code in music' which will be featured in future issues of the QCWA Repeater.

Until next time...on behalf of the QCWA Chapter 151 Executive have a safe and wonderful summer.

73

Ken Oelke, VE6AFO - President
Al McNeil, VA7QQ - Secretary
John Smith, VE6AI - Treasurer