The Maritime Amateur

RAC Bulletin 2012-004E - WRC-2012
2012-01-23

Blog Post - WRC2012

The World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC 2012) gets underway today and runs until February 17 2012. What does the WRC +have to do with Amateur Radio? Its just one way that the Radio Amateurs of Canada are active in the rules governing not only our hobby, but radio as a whole. This year, the delegation from Canada is composed of Industry Canada Staff along with Bryan Rawlings VE3QN - our RAC representative.

Bryan is only part of the RAC team that deals with regulatory type matters. George Gorsline VE3YV acts at the International Affairs Officer. Norm Rashleigh VE3LC is the Industrial Liasion Officer. Bill Gade VE4WO is the Regulatory Affairs Officer with a good amount of help from Richard Ferch, who provides support for Regulatory Affairs.

Look forward to more details on WRC 2012 in a future TCA - and as always - remember that everyone at RAC is here not only to promote the hobby but to provide support to you, our members. Get in touch if we can be of assistance!

Bill Gade VE4WO
Regulatory Affairs Officer

If you are a member of the Radio Amateurs of Canada you can now read The Canadian Amateur online. Go to the RAC website, log in and then click on The Canadian Amateur January 2012. You may have to navigate a few pages but take your time and you will get there.

Jim  VE1JBL

The January-February 2012 edition of the Canadian Amateur is out and here is the list of the latest Maritime Amateurs who have joined the Radio Amateurs of Canada.

Ron Bickle VE1BIC Amherst NS, Lorenzo Caterini VE1LVC Halifax NS, Penny Driscoll-Raithby VE9PEN Willow Grove NB, Randy Elliott VE1ADV Advocate Harbour NS, Bruno Hachey VE9BRU Sainte - Rosette NB, David Jones VE9DWJ Amherst NS, Brian MacDonald VE1BSD Amherst NS and Paul Whitman VE1PEW Musquodoboit Harbour NS. 

RAC Bulletin 2012-002E - Treasurer
2012-01-15

The Radio Amateurs of Canada (RAC) is looking for a Treasurer who is a Chartered Accountant, Certified General Accountant or Certified Management Accountant. A certification in amateur radio is optional. As RAC's financial advisor, we need someone to provide direction on the accounts and act as liaison with the external auditors. Experience with QuickBooks would be an asset.

Please speak with your friends, there must be a RAC member who either qualifies or can approach someone for this volunteer position. Interested parties please contact the RAC Corporate Secretary at vo1prb@rac.ca

Paul Burggraaf
RAC Corporate Secretary

2011-12-20

RAC Bulletin 2011-046E - New Membership rates 2011-12-20

IMPORTANT NOTICE REGARDNG MEMBERSHIPS

It has been many years but the Radio Amateurs of Canada have finally raised the membership rates.

Rates had previously been raised for United States and International Members to take into account the increased mailing costs for non-Canadian residents.

Canadian membership rates are among the lowest in the world and will remain so. A membership in the Radio Amateurs of Canada will continue to be less than a tank of gas and the increase is less than a cup of coffee for most memberships.

These price changes are now reflected on the RAC website.

Membership: Full Regular $52.00, Full Family $25.00, Full Blind $25.00, Full Maple Leaf Operator $100.00
Associate Regular $52.00, Associate Family $25.00, Associate Blind $25.00, Associate Corporate $150.00, Associate U.S. $90, Associate International $130

The above Membership Dues are subject to GST and/or HST from your province of residence.
5% - AB, MB, NT, NU, MB, PE, QC, SK, YT
12% - BC
13% - NB, NL, ON
15% - NS

Frank Greene
Office Manager - Radio Amateurs of Canada

Every month RAC sends out renewal notices to members whose membership is to expire in a month. Every two months the TCA magazine is mailed.
However members move and do not send a change of address notice to headquarters or do not update their information online @ rac.ca, including phone numbers and email addresses.
Canada Post charges us for returned mail and members do not get their renewal notices or their TCA magazine.
This is a reminder to please send a change of address notice to headquarters or update your information online @ rac.ca, including phone number and email address.
If you know a ham that has moved in the last year remind them to make these changes.
We are looking for new addresses for:

• VE1AIP, VE1JIM, VE1LT
• VA2AX, VA2RC, VE2RG, VA2RJC, VE2GMJ, VE2HCH, VE2LAM, VE2TAW, VE2VW
• VA3COX, VA3DRV, VA3GAX, VA3MEW, VA3NV, VA3QR, VE3BZF, VE3DDD, VE3DXZ, VE3FGV, VE3GBD, VE3GNM, VE3ICQ, VE3HMG, VE3LUJ, VE3NY, VE3RBO, VE3RTB, VE3YT
• VE4AT, VE4JP,VE4ZD
• VE5LQ, VE5VL, VE5VT
• VE6BBE, VE6CUT, VE6FS, VE6KY, VE6LEN, VE6OOO, VE6SAR
• VA7LNX,VA7SND, VE7ABV, VE7BWW, VE7CDL, VE7CJZ, VE7ECW, VE7HLO, VE3HTC, VE7JCR, VE7MLT, VE7PW, VE7WQ
• VE9OA, VE9JEF
• VY1WWW

If you know these members please have then send their new address to racgm@rac.ca (Frank Greene)

Frank Greene
Office Manager - Radio Amateurs of Canada

RAC Bulletin 2011-039E - Radio Amateurs of Canada Executive for 2012-2013 2011-11-30

It gives me great pleasure to announce your incoming Radio Amateurs of Canada Executive members for 2012-2013.

• RAC President - Geoff Bawden, VE4BAW
• First Vice President - Ian MacFarquhar, VE9IM
• Chief Field Services Officer - Doug Mercer, VO1DM
• Chief Information and Technology Officer - James Hay, VE2VE
• International Affairs Officer - George Gorsline, VE3YV
• Regulatory Affairs Officer - Bill Gade, VE4WO
• RABC Representative Officer - Norm Rashleigh, VE3LC
• Honourary Legal Counsel - Marcel Mongeon, VA3DDD
• Corporate Secretary - Paul Burggraaf, VO1PRB

There were no candidates for Treasurer, Public Information Officer or the Member Services Officer positions. I would like to thank Nominations Committee Chairperson Ed Frazer VE7EF and the RAC Directors for their assistance in the Executive nomination and election process.

Congratulations are extended to the Executive members above and thank you for your service and willingness to step forward for the national organization.

On behalf of the Board of the Radio Amateurs of Canada, I wish to express a sincere "Thank You and Happy Retirement from the RAC" to VPIA Daniel Lamoureux, VE2KA for his many years of dedicated service in numerous roles to the RAC. Last but not least, a sincere "Thank You" to VPRA Richard Ferch, VE3KI for his three terms keeping the regulatory side on the forefront and to Treasurer Margaret Tidman, VA3WXM for taking on the financial reigns the past two years.

Paul Burggraaf VO1PRB
RAC Corporate Secretary

RAC Bulletin 2011-038E RAC - CaféPress Site.
2011-11-29

The Radio Amateurs of Canada is pleased to announce that RAC shirts, hats, bags and other RAC merchandise are now available from CaféPress http://www.cafepress.ca/rac_radio.

Be fashionable in your new RAC shirt, hat and go-bag. Advertise your RAC Affiliation at Field Day or other events with an outdoor RAC sign. Go to http://www.cafepress.ca/rac_radio and see for yourself.

Geoff Bawden, VE4BAW
President - Radio Amateurs of Canada

RAC Bulletin 2011-031E - RAC Insurance Program for 2012
2011-10-02

$10,000,000 Total Liability Coverage to continue....
Liability coverage raised to $5,000,000 from $3M/event with no increase in premium....
Equipment loss/damage to continue at no increase in rates....
Home, Car and Travel Health coverage coming !

The Radio Amateurs of Canada is pleased to announce that the highly popular RAC Insurance Program will be available again in 2012, and with increased coverages at no increase in rates. The Program provides several types of coverage including liability insurance for Club activities and its members, equipment loss/damage coverage for Affiliated Clubs and their RAC members, and new this year will be the availability of additional insurance coverage for a RAC member's house, car and travel health insurance, which will be of particular interest to Snowbirds. All of these coverage’s are the best available in Canada and are offered at an extremely competitive rates. The RAC Insurance Program is provided as a benefit of membership for RAC Affiliated Clubs and their RAC members.

Highlights of the Program for 2012 include:

• Liability Insurance for Affiliated Clubs of $10,000,000/$5,000,000 per occurence for 2012 at the lowest cost in Canada.
• Equipment loss/theft/damage coverage for only $10/$1000 of actual equipment value per year.
• RAC members of Affiliated Clubs in the program get liability coverage extended for their home stations at no charge.
• Liability coverage’s for portable operation, advertising liability and personal injury.
• Home, Car and Travel Health coverage coming soon.

Complete details of the 2012 RAC Insurance Program and how to apply for or renew coverage can be found on the RAC website at http://www.rac.ca/insurance2012.

For questions concerning policy and coverage details please contact Jerry Beneteau VE3EXT, the RAC Insurance Program Advisor, at ve3ext @ primus.ca

For questions about how to apply or renew, please contact Linda Friars VE9GLF, the RAC Insurance Program Administator at ve9glf@nbnet.nb.ca

Applications for 2012 are available on the RAC Website and must be received by the RAC Insurance Program Coordinator by November 15th for new applicants and December 1st for renewals. Please note the new address.

The applications should be sent to :
RAC Insurance Program Coordinator
PO Box 51
Saint John, NB E2L 3X1

Geoff Bawden, VE4BAW
President and Chair Radio Amateurs of Canada

RAC Bulletin 2011-022E - Industry Canada Responds Favourably to RAC request for access to 60M. Public consultation to begin shortly.
2011-08-07

Over the last year RAC has been in discussions with Industry Canada with the objective of obtaining access to 60M. This has been a policy objective of RAC since Spring of 2010.

At the last CARAB meeting between RAC and Industry Canada on May 17, 2011, two of the major items discussed were updates to Industry Canada's regulatory documents (RBR-4 and RIC-3), and the RAC request for an assignment of certain frequencies in the 60m (5 MHz) band to the amateur service in Canada. Neither of these subjects was finalized at the time of the meeting, but Industry Canada undertook to respond to RAC on both ofthem this summer.

Industry Canada has now informed RAC that at this point is sees no reason not to respond favourably to the RAC request for frequencies at 60m on a no protection, non-interference basis.

The new frequencies would be included in the schedule of amateur frequencies in the updated edition of RBR-4 to be released for public consultation in the future. Public submissions will be considered by Industry Canada in preparation for the final version of RBR-4. Any new frequencies it contains would become available to Canadian amateurs at the time of release of the updated RBR-4. Thus, if all goes well, Canadian amateurs may expect to gain access to frequencies at 60m, basically the same as those in the US, some time this fall.

The anticipated success of this initiative is the result of many months of effort from the RAC executive and volunteers, including the HF Band Planning Committee, and also from all of those amateurs who have made observations on the use of these frequencies and relayed their comments to RAC on the need for this band in Canada. We would not have been successful without all of your help and input.

Geoff Bawden, VE4BAW
President and Chair Radio Amateurs of Canada
Co-Chair of Canadian Amateur Radio Advisory Board