Wireless Institute of Australia - Western Australian Division

Western Australian Minutes - AGM 2003
Minutes of Annual General  Meeting 19th April, 2003
Held at CWA House, Hay St., West Perth.

The meeting commenced at 1045, with President Neil Penfold, VK6NE in the chair.

PRESENT:
Councillors: VK6's HK, HTW, LC, LZ, NE, OO, TS, ZLZ.
Apologies: 6BDO, 6UU, 6XV, 6ZSE. 

Members: A total of 14.
Apologies:  VK6's PO, SMH, ZCK.

MINUTES:
The minutes of the 2002 meeting were read and accepted on the motion of 
Poppy 6YF and Terry 6ZLT. 

Business Arising:
Clive 6CSW enquired if the problem about delay in the forwarding of fees from Federal had been examined. Neil 6NE confirmed that the position had improved.

ANNUAL REPORTS:

Treasurer:
Bruce 6OO tabled the audited balance sheet for 2002, with the following comments:

* The Profit and loss account highlighted the erratic return of subscriptions 
from Federal with large differences between funds received in 2001 and 2002.

* The position of funds return had improved, but there was still a routine delay of about 2-3 months in receiving the Divisional component of subscriptions paid direct to federal Office.

* There had been a windfall income of $11500 in 2003 from the Minilink equipment recovery and sale project. This would show up as an unusual amount in the 2003 year's balance sheet but had already supplemented the current and investment accounts.

* Bruce pointed out that despite the apparently favorable position that the Division was in fact "living beyond its means". Comments from the floor were as follows:-

* Neil 6NE: It was considered better to subsidize fee rises than to accumulate funds at present.

* Clive 6CSW: It is believed that the ASC can investigate a non profit incorporated organization that accumulates funds excessive to its operations.

* Tony 6TS: Unless there is a capital intensive programme in mind, funds should be used as a buffer to contain subs increases.

* Mal 6LC: Funds could be used to assist the formation and operation of more small Clubs, or for long term lease of premises and transmission sites.

* Christine 6ZLZ: A warning had been received from the Insurance Broker that premiums would cost more next year. Donations to Clubs had not prevented some from winding up.

In conclusion Bruce proposed a vote of thanks for the assistance of the auditors, 
Cliff 6LZ and Clive 6CSW. (6OO/6HTW).

Broadcast:
Dennis 6KAD reported that:

* Callback figures were steady and similar to last year, averaging about 100 per Sunday. The night relay on CB Channel 7  had until recently accounted for 27% of the days response. At a recent radio gathering at Wireless Hill, several CB operators had 
expressed interest in the Broadcast relay.

* Echolink had been set up for NewsWest and had been used to provide a relay link for rebroadcast in Albany.

* Replacement relay operators were needed for 160mx and 20mx (East).

* The new Minidisk equipment was giving good service after a familiarization period.

Membership:
Christine 6ZLZ reported that:

* 23 new members had joined this year.

* There had been zero response from the Amateur Radio magazine advertisement 
aimed at recruiting new members from Newstand buyers.

* There were still "about 400" members.

* There appeared to be a problem with setting up new members on the Federal Office database. Some new members appeared as "unfinancial" in the initial monthly return.

President:
The report of Neil 6NE included the following:

* The Foundation Licence had been discussed with the RSGB president during his recent visit to VK6.

* Radio Amateurs had been sought for Volunteer Bush Fire Brigade radio operators.

* There had been no more talk about amalgamation of Divisions.

* An expression of thanks to Mal VK6LC for his work in updating the Federal Awards system.

* Advice that Trevor Ward VK6HTW had agreed to be appointed as Alternate Federal Councillor.

WICEN:
Jim 6JP reported that:-

* WICEN had participated in one community event and a number of Motor Sport events during the year. The latter had used commercial equipment and frequencies operated by WICEN personnel. 

* For motor sport events CAMS had issued their own licences to radio operators.

* OXFAM were staging a walking event in the Busselton area in November 2003. 
The event is to be held over 2-3 days and about 9 operators were required. 
There may be some problems with finding enough people over the longer period 
due to working commitments by many.

* The WICEN AGM is to be held on 12th May 2003.

Federal:
In the absence of Will 6UU, Trevor 6HTW reported on the Federal AGM:-

* The meeting agreed to allow visitors to attend with several VK5 members availing themselves of the opportunity.

* Most of the meeting was devoted to the establishment of a WIA policy on an Entry Level Licence. After much discussion it was agreed unanimously that 
" The WIA should seek the establishment of an Entry Level Licence 
with privileges including all Modes, Low power and the Majority of Bands. "
All other existing licence grades should be amalgamated to an Unrestricted Grade".  Two people had been tasked with preparing a suggested syllabus for the two grades of examination.

* The sale of AR magazine through newsagents had returned a profit.

* The Federal finances were running at a loss. Federal fees were expected to rise in 2004.

* Federal office part time staff are obviously overworked and inefficiencies are occurring as a result. More help is needed to fix the problem.

* Retiring Director Brenda Edmonds VK3KT, received Life Membership of the VK3 Division. 

* David Jones VK4OF was appointed Director. Other members of the executive 
including the Federal President Ernest Hocking VK1LK were returned.

* There is a vacancy for Federal Contest Manager.

* Divisional reports indicated that there were common problems, particularly to 
do with difficulty with mast and tower approvals in a number of Divisions.

Mal 6LC enquired about the possibility of preparing an action list to monitor the execution of resolutions made at Federal AGM's. 
He enquired about progress made since last year on producing a "Thankyou" certificate for volunteers. Trevor indicated that this had been passed again this year.

Examinations:
Trevor 6HTW reported that:-
* There had been persistent delays in cashing cheques forwarded to Federal for examination services.
* Problems had occurred with delay in obtaining examination materials.

QSL Manager:
Neil 6NE reported:-
The VK6 Bureau was functioning efficiently. The question of the 7.5c per card fee raised at the last AGM had been examined but found to be the best solution at this stage. 

To keep costs down most cards were despatched via the VK2 Bureau to improve speed of turn-around at the best postage rate. Cards for high volume countries were still despatched direct.

A short break for a light lunch.

ELECTION of OFFICERS:
There being just sufficient nominations for the positions of a President, Vice President and Seven other Councillors, a ballot was not required and the following were declared elected:

     President: Neil Penfold VK6NE
     Vice President: Mal Johnson VK6LC
     Councillor: Neil Husk VK6BDO
     Councillor: Trevor Ward VK6HTW
     Councillor: Denis Muldownie VK6KAD
     Councillor: Cliff Bastin VK6LZ
     Councillor: Tony Savory VK6TS
     Councillor: Christine Bastin VK6ZLZ
     Councillor: Eddie Saunders VK6ZSE

Bruce Hedland-Thomas VK6OO 
indicated that he would continue as Treasurer and ex-officio member of Council.

Roy Watkins VK6XV continues as Secretary and ex-officio Councillor.

Will McGhie VK6UU had not renominated for VK6 Divisional Council but remains as Federal Councillor and ex officio Councillor.

Neil 6NE indicated that Don 6HK was not renominating as Councillor and Minute Secretary. Bruce 6OO proposed, seconded by Trevor 6HTW that Don be awarded a Volunteer Certificate of appreciation for past services rendered.

GENERAL BUSINESS:

(1) Christine 6ZLZ advised that the old VK6 Division collection of videotapes had been lodged with the Federal Videotape Library. An additional tape had been located entitled "World at Their Fingertips" which had been made at the former TV studios of Mt Lawley TAFE, featuring Jill VK6YL, Dave VK6WT and Jim VK6RU. It was proposed that the tape be copied by a commercial service to a digital format from which further copies could be made as required. Moved Bruce 6OO, seconded Trevor 6HTW and carried.

(2) The matter of the VK3 initiated survey about the new Entry Level Licence was discussed. As a guide to assess trends, the questions in the survey were put to the meeting.

Voting trends are summarized as follows:

(1) Power level: 10w
(2) Not able to access all bands
(3) HF bands favored were 3.5, 21 and 28 MHz.
(4) No access to the 80mx DX window
(5) Which HF bands should be partly available?: Not assessed
(6) Which VHF/SHF bands available?: Evenly agreed from 50-5760 MHz
(7) Which VHF/SHF bands should be partly available?: Not assessed
(8) Why should part of VHF/SHF bands not be available?
    * Tended to agree that access to the full band was not appropriate for Entry level. 
    * Voice Repeaters should be available.

No consensus was reached about access to weak signal and DX portions of the bands. 

It is stressed that this exercise was to observe trends in thinking only. 

The meeting closed at 1330.

.........................                          ........................ 
President                                     Minute Secretary 

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