WestCumb  Amateur  Radio Club  VE1WRC

WARC REGULAR MEETING – April 11, 2023 

The April 11, 2023 Regular Meeting was brought to order at 7:32 p.m. via Google Meet with President Kevin VE1KEV as chair. There were 24 members including Jim VE1JBL, Borden VA1CBC, Charles VA3CPI, Eric VE1JW, Frank VE1FSM, George VY2GF, Gordon VE9GC, Jon VE1JSG, J.P. VE9ADV, Kevin VE1KEV, Brad VE1ZX, Scott VE1CHL, Lorne VE1BXK, Mike VE1MY, James VE9WIN, Pravin VE9PKV, Rob VE1CA, Ron VE1BIC, Ron VE1AIC, Steve VE1OR, Terry VE1AS, Peter VE1WIN, Mike VE1ZB and Mike VE9MTV. Regrets Don VE9CUB.

The Agenda for the meeting was approved. Moved/seconded by Ron VE1BIC/Gordon VE9GC.

Minutes from the Last Meeting:

The minutes from the March 14, 2023 regular meeting were posted on the Website and circulated by email. One correction – it was Frank VE3AC who had asked a question about the call sign for the VE1XPR repeater in Springhill, and not Frank VE1FSM. It was moved/seconded by Ron VE1BIC/Peter VE1WIN  that the minutes be approved. Motion carried.

Business Arising From the Minutes:

S.M.A.R.T. 2023 was discussed, including the use of the canteen facility and the Teen Recreation Room. The lunch menu would be a hamburger with potato salad and a bottle of water for $6.50 per person. There could possibly be tea and coffee during the event. Shirts and coffee mugs would be available for sale.

New Business:

George VY2GF provided information about a Special Event planned for the following Saturday in Chicago to commemorate the 40th Anniversary of the Club Ship Abegweit, which was formerly a CN/Marine Atlantic ferry between Port Borden PEI and Cape Tormentine NB.

Jon VE1JSG noted that many new electric cars were no longer equipped with AM radios. Charles VE1CPI noted that it is difficult to shield the radios from interference from the synchronous motors. That led to a discussion of digital AM and FM transmission. Ron VE1BIC said Nautel Limited in Hackett’s Cove NS was a world leader in digital radio technology. He also noted that letting AM stations “go dark” could be an issue for maintaining the Emergency Alerting System (EAS) in the US. The general consensus was that there is “less of a need for AM.”

Treasurer's Report:

Jim VE1JBL presented the Treasurer’s Report. It was moved/seconded by Jim VE1JBL/FrankVE1FSM that the Treasurer’s Report be accepted. Motion carried

Correspondence:

Nothing to report.

Field Day:

Nothing to report.

Publicity:

Ron VE1BIC said he was still considering doing a program about Amateur Radio on CFTA 107.9 sometime possibly before or after S.M.A.R.T. Jim said he would be sending a report on S.M.A.R.T. to the RAC for The Canadian Amateur magazine.

Public Service:

Nothing to report.

Web page:

Nothing to report.

E.M.O:

Nothing to report.

N.S.A.R.A:

Nothing to report.

Nets:

Frank VE1FSM reported 43 check-ins on the previous Monday night. Mike VE1MY said they were averaging 60 for the Wake Up Net. Jim VE1JBL said he would change the meeting agenda and the webpage to show Frank as the Net Coordinator,

Repeaters:

Brad VE1ZX reported no issues, and said he and Lorne VE1BXK would be doing some maintenance in the next two weeks.

Hints & Kinks:

Nothing to report.

Technical & Operating Information:

Nothing to report.

Social:

The next brunch will be held at Breakfast At Brittney’s in Amherst on April 22 beginning at 10:30 am. The Brunch in May will be on the 20th at The Harborview in Parrsboro.

Next Meeting

Next club meeting will be Tuesday May 09 at 7:30 via Google Meet.

Adjournment: 8:24 pm.                 Ron Bickle VE1BIC Secretary