The
"PREZ SEZ"
by Paul Cassel ve3sy@kwarc.org

We are almost half way through our 1998/1999 fiscal year and it is time for us to seek a slate of nominees for the Directors who will lead KWARC into the next millennium.

In the minutes of the Executive Committee that can be found elsewhere in this issue, you can read in more detail the discussion held by your Directors.  I have asked each Director who is unable to continue on the board to seek out a nominee so that we will have a full slate to present at the nomination meeting in May.

I for one will be unable to continue for another term.  This will be my second two year term, the first being 1973-74.  I was also bulletin editor for several terms in the early 80’s so I feel I have more than paid my dues and will be looking for several able bodied individuals to take over these tasks.

KWARC is in need of new ideas to assist us in managing the change that Amateur Radio is going through which will become more dramatic over the next 5 years. If the current trend of licensing continues, we will see the Advanced Amateur with 12 WPM and the previous grandfathered Advanced amateurs forming a  smaller percentage of the Amateur landscape.  Some long term licenced amateurs look at this as a negative thing while I look at it as reality of the changing interest of those drawn into the hobby.  With these interest changes it will require a board of directors who are sensitive to this and willing to accept the change.

So, when one of the current directors tap you on the shoulder at an upcoming meeting asking you to let your name stand, please take the time to discuss this opportunity to serve the membership.

Campbell Island ZL9CI
For those who chase DX, ZL9CI was active between January the 7^th and January the 25^th. As of this writing the crew have made over 86,000 contacts with 3 days still to go. This compares to 80,600 contacts that the Heard Island crew made in 1997.

Included in the ZL9CI log is Harold VE3DWH, John VE3AMZ, Don VE3ESE and yours truly VE3SY. While the crew where on board ship between New Zealand and Campbell Island I was also to have a nice chat with one of the operators Brian Bigging VE3XA (formerly VE3BIE) of Gormly. Brian is the ham who has the huge antenna farm at the S.W. corner of the 404 and the Gormly Road. Brian has been active for many years each night on 3762.5 kHz, The Sanderson Hour. At the end of each day the crew upload their logs via PACTOR to New Zealand where it is uploaded to the internet log which allows those hams who made contact to confirm the QSO. Here is the confirmation of my QSO on 15 metres.

The same ham who made the video of the Heard Island Expedition is on this trip and I have asked Brian to attend a future KWARC meeting to share with us this exciting trip. I have printed a news release (click here) that was filed by PACTOR by Lee Jennings ZL2AL formerly VE3LJ of Toronto.

I look forward to meeting everyone at the meeting Monday night

73 de Paul Cassel VE3SY,
president@kwarc.org