QCWA WILD ROSE REPEATER

May 25, 2002

GREETINGS!

This is a brief newsletter to inform everyone of QCWA Chapter 151 status at this time. We have had a number of memberships rolling in over the past few weeks. Others have indicated they will be sending in their membership application in the very near future. Many memberships received thus far have included a substantial donation to Chapter 151.

Chapter 151 would like to acknowledge and thank Earle Smith VE6NM, Ken Yeatheard VE6KY, Allan Johnston VE6WJ and Les Card VE6CA for their generous donations. Hopefully no one has been missed and if so, please accept our apologies. We will include you in the next newsletter.

Since the President's letter of March 28th, 2002, the following has taken place. In keeping with the past tradition of former Secretary Bruce Collisson, VE6BAC, the name of our newsletter will remain as "QCWA Wild Rose Repeater". The name "QCWA Wild Rose Repeater" has an excellent ring for our newsletter and we thank Bruce for this and his past contributions to the Chapter! Maybe we could get some of Bruce's past electronic files to add to the website?

QCWA WILD ROSE CHAPTER 151 WEBSITE

A QCWA Chapter 151 Website has now been designed and can be found at:

QCWA Wild Rose Chapter 151 - Alberta

The website will always be a 'work in progress' and anyone who wishes to contribute and or assist, will be most welcomed! My expertise and tools for HTML programming is next to nil! While I am on the subject of website designing, I want to thank Christine Othitis (Bud Bennett, VE6BUD's girl friend) for starting me off in laying out the original art work for the website. Her impetus has given me many ideas.

It is our plan to have as much information as possible on the website pertaining to the history and future of Chapter 151. This will include past meeting minutes, going back to May 18, 1984 which was the beginning of Chapter 151, past newsletters written by our previous Secretaries (in fact, if any of this info is still available in electronic form it will sure cut down on the retyping!), and maybe some old pictures that can be scanned in for the website. As well, the QCWA Chapter 151 history book, as started by Bill Savage, VE6EO, would also be an excellent addition to the website. In addition to this, I would also like to possibly include a bio and picture of each NEW member who joins QCWA Chapter 151.

This is your website and newsletter to further contribute to, so let us hear from you! We want to hear and learn about your activities such as, new DX worked, your experiences using PSK31 or other modes or, how about those exciting Sporadic "E" openings on 6 and 2 metres? And above all, please forward the new website address to your friends who might be interested in learning about and joining QCWA and Chapter 151.

CHAPTER 151 REPORT

Secretary Les Card, VE6CA has sent a QCWA Chapter 151 report (along with picture) to hopefully appear in the next edition of the QCWA Journal.

CHAPTER 151 AT RAC 2nd NATIONAL CONVENTION

QCWA Chapter 151 will have a display/membership table at the upcoming RAC 2nd National Convention in Vernon, BC this July 26 - 28, 2002. We have ordered a package from QCWA Headquarters which will include decals, patches, etc. available for purchasing. I hope to see many of you there and if so, it would be appreciative if you could maybe put in an hour or two at the table.

For your information, QCWA National Vice President Croft Taylor, VE3CT will also be in attendance. I might add, it is almost a given that Croft will be the next QCWA National President effective September 1, 2002. This will be a first in the history of QCWA where a Canadian Amateur will be the QCWA National President.

MEMBERSHIP RENEWALS

It has been decided that in order to streamline our membership renewal dates, ALL memberships will become due and payable on September 1st of each year. Of course there should be a grace period of 1 or 2 months, yet to be decided by the members at a general meeting. In this regard it has been decided to give everyone who joined at this time until September 1, 2003, before your membership expires. Since most of you who recently joined did so using the maximum 3 years and therefore your renewal date will be September 1, 2005.

MILESTONE AWARDS

Many members of QCWA Wild Rose Chapter 151 are celebrating significant milestones in their amateur radio career. I am pleased to announce the following for which I have received certificates from QCWA National. Congratulations to all of you and we hope you can make it to our annual dinner meeting for the presentation of your "Distinguished Member" award. If you can not attend, the certificates will be mailed out to you.

Donald Stewart - VE6DS - 65 Years of Service

Ken Yeatheard - VE6KY - 65 Years of Service

Lester Card - VE6CA - 60 Years of Service

Grant Heimbecker - VE6GH - 55 Years of Service

Earle Smith - VE6NM - 50 Years of Service

and...Dah, Dah!! - A very prestigious award goes to Bruce Collisson, VE6BAC for his untiring work over the many years in Chapter 151. This coveted award is the "Meritorious Award" and will be presented to Bruce at the upcoming annual dinner meeting. If Bruce is unable to attend, this award will be mailed to him.

QCWA REFLECTOR

If any of you are interested in what is happening around the world with other QCWA folks, try out the QCWA Reflector. If is free. To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit:

QCWA National Reflector

or, send an e-mail with the subject title being 'help' or type 'help' in the body of your e-mail to;

qcwa-request@mailman.qth.net

Another way to meet the group is on 20 Metres (14.347 MHz) every Sunday at 20:00 UTC. Listen first and you will soon pick up on the check-in routine.

ANNUAL DINNER MEETING

And last but not least, it is our hope to get ALL of you together in fellowship at the upcoming annual dinner meeting and program this fall. STAY TUNED for more info!!

This dinner meeting will also be deemed as our annual general meeting for the year 2002. This meeting is essential in order to meet our requirements with QCWA National.

On behalf of QCWA Chapter 151 Executive,

73,

Ken Oelke, VE6AFO - President

Les Card, VE6CA - Secretary/Treasurer <