RAC Commissions Study to Assure Future Election Autonomy The RAC Board of Directors has commissioned Robert Kirkpatrick, VE9VAR, to review and recommend ways and means of ensuring RAC's autonomy in its relations with affiliated organizations and to establish clear directives for the role of its officials during RAC elections. The lack of formal policies during the recent process to elect the Director for Ontario South prompted the Board to address the issues that cause difficulty in maintaining its political integrity and autonomy. The Board seeks to bring about an effective measure of control with respect to the actions of RAC officials and that of officials of other Amateur Radio organizations. Bob, a Transport Canada retiree, has served community service institutions and public service organizations with distinction during his career. In his professional life as Regional VP for the Union of Canadian Transport Employees, he was deeply involved in contract negotiations with the federal Transport Ministry and was later elected as 1st National VP. He has been active in the Lions Club for more than 30 years, serving in several elected positions. He was twice District Governor and recently completed a three-year term as the elected Director for New Brunswick in Lions Foundation of Canada. These experiences have involved policy judgements, constitutional formulation and interpretation, election processes, and intricate working relationships with other organizations. Bob is an active Amateur on CW and SSB and a regular on several local nets. He is active in local clubs and is Treasurer of the Moncton Area ARC and a Past President of the Moncton Seniors ARC. He has publicly declared his non-interest in any elected position in RAC. In carrying out this study as RAC Electoral Procedures Commissioner, VE9VAR, will consult with Radio Amateurs and others on this important matter. His work is restricted to formulating recommendations which will require consideration and approval by the RAC Board of Directors before adoption. RAC and IC Break Off Talks four years of negotiations at an impasse On Friday, November 28th, Industry Canada convened a meeting of the Amateur Delegation Working Group (ADWG) and informed RAC that after four years of joint Industry Canada - RAC collaboration on the Delegation of the Administration of the Amateur Radio Service, Industry Canada had decided to terminate the Delegation initiative and to retain the administration of the Amateur Service in house. No reason was given for the termination. Industry Canada further advised that they were going to have a Commercial firm poll a cross-country sample of Canadian radio amateurs to obtain views on amateur radio licensing and certification to assist in Industry Canada's decision making and management. RAC has now been advised that the poll began on Monday, 1 December. RAC is attempting to obtain the details of the poll and will provide them if they are made available. RAC deeply regrets Industry Canada's unilateral decision to terminate the Delegation project which RAC considers would have significantly benefited amateur radio in Canada. RAC will be meeting further with Industry Canada concerning the termination and will provide further information to Canadian radio amateurs when available. See the results of the KWARC Poll Click here for the RAC searchable Fleamarket and Hamfest database BACK TO MAIN MENU For more information email info@kwarc.org [ TOP ] © 1997 Kitchener-Waterloo Amateur Radio Club Inc. Comments and bugs reports to webmaster@kwarc.org