QCWA WILD ROSE REPEATER

December, 2003

December is again upon us and hence another year soon comes to a close. At the rate time passes it won't be but a flashing moment when Chapter 151 will be hosts to hundreds of attendees for the 2006 QCWA National Convention.

The past quarter has been both busy and exciting for Wild Rose Chapter 151. First we had a very good turn out to the Annual General Meeting on September 20, 2003. The executive elections took place and with the approval of the members the term is now for two years. For those who have not read the minutes from that meeting the new executive are: President Ken Oelke VE6AFO, Secretary Al McNeil VA7QQ and Treasurer John Smith VE6AI. Just in case you are wondering, Secretary Al McNeil picked up a new call (VA7QQ) in addition to VE7BJA.

REPORT OF NEW MEMBERS

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

We welcome and introduce Paul Taenzer, VE6PY. Paul was licensed in New York City in 1965 as WN1DPU and later WA1DPU as a General Class. Later moving to Canada he received VE6CNZ. He is married to Judith VE6RAL and they have a son Joesph VE6PYJ and daughter April VE6PYD. Paul is a health care administrator and Psychologist at the Calgary Foothills Hospital. Check out Paul's recent article featured in November 2003 QST and learn how to exercise while doing ham radio.

Also please welcome new member by way of being a 'Friend', Darlene Middlebrook. Darlene is married to Barry, VE6TN and has yet to get her ham licence. She almost got around to writing the exam once. We can understand why she has not had the time since her workload in raising five children is very demanding! Thank you Darlene for your membership support.

And finally we wish to thank our Chapter 151 'Friends' Gerry Caoutte VE6NAP, Tom Kelly VE6TDK and Earl Grotzki VE6ERL for renewing their membership.

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 18:00 UTC. Did you participate in the second part of the 47th QCWA QSO Party on October 4, 2003? I did and had a blast! 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.

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

SPRING LUNCHEON MEETING - APRIL 17, 2004

Please mark your calendar now and plan to attend the upcoming Luncheon Meeting on April 17, 2004. As always, it would be nice if those planning to attend could let the executive know for better planning.

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 interesting. Liz was one of the students selected to visit and stay at the Johnson Space Center in Houston, TX this past July.

Since the venue has yet to be selected stay tuned to Chapter 151 website at http://www.qsl.net/ve6afo for updates.

QCWA WILD ROSE CHAPTER 151 WEBSITE

It has been brought to our attention that the service provider for QSL.NET (home of our website) is not always available. If you have tried to bring up the website and got the message "The page cannot be displayed", this is the reason why. Since Chapter 151 did make a donation to the ISP provider it is hopeful the service will be more reliable.

QCWA WILD ROSE CHAPTER 151 NET

The QCWA Wild Rose Chapter 151 Net is taking place every Monday evening on 3747 kHz at 7:00 pm MST. Yours truly has been taking the net most Mondays but found I had been talking to myself. That was until November 10 when I received 2 check-ins - Harvey Milne, VE6JV and Richard Coleman, VE6BY. Having received no feedback as to whether the day or time for the net is suitable, we will continue to call on Monday evening. You may wish to take on the task of calling the net?

CHAPTER 151 QCWA JOURNAL REPORT

Secretary Al McNeil, VA7QQ submitted a Chapter report for the October 1 deadline. Watch for it in the Winter 2003 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.

REPORT ON CALGARY FLEAMARKET - NOVEMBER 1, 2003

Another great fleamarket! There were approximately 260 who attended with some 27 tables. Even Earle Smith VE6NM, Radio Amateurs of Canada Regional Director, made the trip down from Grande Prairie. And wouldn't you know it - we almost experienced the same type of snowstorm as we had for the April 26th fleamarket. It seems Murphy has found his venue!

Below Ken Oelke VE6AFO (left) and Linda-Lou Oelke VE6LGO (right) hand out 'trick or treat' candy at the Wild Rose Chapter 151 table. The two display signs shown advertise the RAC Youth Education Program and announce the 2006 QCWA National Convention.

(Photo Courtesy Earle Smith VE6NM)

REPORT ON RAC YOUTH EDUCATION PROGRAM

Wild Rose Chapter Secretary Al McNeil, VA7QQ and President Ken Oelke, VE6AFO visited Chestermere Lake Middle School in early October surveying the building to install an antenna on the roof. The facility lends itself to easy installation of antennas. However heavy snowfall came early and the school maintenance people were not overly keen to punch a hole through the roof at this time. (Latest breaking news. A temporary antenna will be installed inside the classroom along with a shortwave receiver in order to have the students begin listening in to the world.)

We have now procured radio and antenna equipment which was donated by Wild Rose member Jack Ambler, VE6CAQ and the Calgary Communications Club (CCC). We thank both Jack and CCC for their generous donations. Incidentally anyone donating radio or other equipment to help out with school projects can receive tax receipts through the school administration.

The first semester is almost over and teacher Brian Jackson is busy trying to integrate the amateur radio project into the curriculum. Brian also is trying to find time to write the amateur radio exam so he can begin operating the ham station pronto!

Since Wild Rose Chapter 151 introduced the idea of promoting amateur radio to youth in schools and other groups, have you given thought to introducing amateur radio in your community? It is not difficult and we are finding that science teachers are very keen on the idea. 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!

REPORT ON QCWA NATIONAL CONVENTION - 2006

Although 2006 is a ways 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 charged with finding volunteers to help manage their respective area of responsibilities. If any one 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 your own back yard. Where else can you take in an elite event (you will 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.

THE POSITIVE SIDE OF LIFE

Happiness comes through doors you didn't know you left open. (If it is fitting then use it!)

THOUGHT PROVOKING - OR SHOULD THAT BE EAR BREAKING?

When dealing with sound pressure there is a reference point known as "0 dB". This is referenced at 20 micropascals and is 2.908 nano pounds per square inch (psi). This is the number of dB that corresponds to + or -1 atmosphere, or + or - 14.7 psi of peak pressure, which equates to 191.1 dB. Confused? Think sine wave and read on. So when a sound wave gets to this level, the peak pressure would be twice the atmospheric pressure (29.4 psi) and the trough pressure would be near zero. In the real world this is difficult to imagine let alone generate!

MORSE CODE IN MUSIC

Another album worth noting is Roger Waters' album "Radio Kaos". This album is filled with Morse messages. Most of the code is underlying in the haunting music and is very difficult to copy. The album's cover is littered with Morse code characters, which spell out the album's song titles!

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 holiday season.

73

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