Visitors are welcome

The meeting commenced at 1935 with the President, Neil VK6NE in the chair

Present:
Neil            VK6NE      President/VK6 QSL Manager/Zone 29 Award Manager
Malcolm    VK6LC       Vice President/    Federal Awards Manager
*Roy          VK6XV       Secretary/Helpline
Christine    VK6ZLZ     Membership/Website
Eddie          VK6ZSE     WESTAC
*Bruce       VK6OO      Treasurer
Trevor       VK6HTW    Federal Councillor
Neil            VK6BDO    Education
Dennis       VK6KAD    Broadcast
Tony          VK6TS        Salvage
Cliff           VK6LZ        Minute Secretary

The Division is governed by a Council consisting of President, Vice President, and seven other Councillors, plus *not more than five* Ex-officio Councillors.

Apologies     Nil
Visitors:
David     VK4OF        Federal Director
Bob        VK6TRA

(1)    MINUTES:

The minutes of the October meeting, were read by Neil VK6NE.

Business arising:

1.1    Training Video (1.1), Neil VK6BDO reported that he has now received information from USA, but is awaiting costing.
ACTION VK6BDO

1.2    Divisional Officers’ possible liability insurance cover (1.4), Cliff VK6LZ has approached our insurance broker for information /quote (29.1.03) and is awaiting the receipt of forms to be completed prior to quotation.
ACTION VK6LZ

1.3    The Minutes, subject to correction (8.1 Bruce VK6OO should read Trevor VK6HTW) were accepted by VK6BDO/VK6KAD)

1.4     Federal Report(6)    The Federal Councillor, Trevor VK6HTW, reported that he has still not received the official minutes of the Federal special meeting held in Parramatta to discuss the WIA response to the ACA discussion paper.     He also queried the decision to recommend two grades of licence in the submission, when it appears that the majority of amateurs would prefer three grades.

1.5     NCRG Exams (5.3)    There are no more exams planned for this year.

1.6    Peel Group late arrival of exam papers (5.2b)   This had caused postponement of exam, David VK4OF (Federal Director) will look into this but requires more information.

VK6ZLZ to email VK6NE with Peel Group contact address so that he can find out when order for exam was placed with Federal Office.
ACTION VK6ZLZ, VK6NE.

1.7 Membership Certificates (8.5)    Christine VK6ZLZ is to complete new design.
ACTION VK6ZLZ

1.8 Federal Awards (8.6)    Malcolm VK6LC reported that he has had permission from the Federal President to put awards information on the VK6 web site when it is ready (shortly). A link from the Federal Web site will then be arranged.
ACTION VK6LC/VK6ZLZ

1.9. WIA Logo/Letterhead (8.8)    The Secretary reported that he has had correspondence with the member in question who has notified the ACA that his submission is not VK6 Divisional correspondence. However the matter has not yet been resolved to the satisfaction of council.

Malcolm VK6LC pointed out that council have not authorised anyone outside of the divisional council to use the official Logo.
ACTION VK6NE/VK6XV to further communicate with the divisional member.

(2a)    CORRESPONDENCE    IN    Secretary:- Roy VK6XV

2.1        Member’s letter re 1.7 above.

2.2        Member’s letter referring to lack of receipt for membership fees.

Enquiries reveal that the Federal Office does not normally send out Tax Invoice Receipts for membership subscriptions. However one can be supplied if the member requests one for tax purposes.

It was pointed out that although Federal Office is registered with an ABN number for GST, the Division is not.
ACTION VK6XV to request Federal Office to forward a receipt to the member.

2.3        Telstra Junk Mail

(2b).    CORRESPONDENCE    OUT:

2.4    Order for 30 copies of the 2004 Call book .
        (Price to Members $22.00 plus postage Non Members $25 plus postage.)

(3)    TREASURER'S REPORT - Bruce VK6OO

The treasurer requested authorisation for the following disbursement:

P.49    CWA    November Meeting Room         $33.00

Proposed VK6HTW/KAD Carried

Bruce commented that he his still waiting for a reply from Federal office concerning what two invoices are for. Has also emailed the Federal President who will investigate when time allows.
Meanwhile payment is still outstanding.

(4)    BROADCAST OFFICERS REPORT - Dennis VK6KAD

4.1.    The problem with the loading of the Newswest broadcast to the internet has been solved.

4.2.    The 02.11.03 edition of Newswest was put to air from the NCRG Hamfest.

4.3.    Dennis reported that there was a lot of interest and feedback concerning the proposals for an Entry Level Foundation licence from CB operators and SWLs at the Hamfest, and also at the recent Radio Interest BBQ at Wireless Hill.

4.4.    There were also several enquiries concerning the divisional training courses.

4.5.    Dennis said that after discussions, two CB clubs are proposing to carry the Newswest newscast over CB repeaters UHF Channel 8, and also on 11 metre HF channel 25 LSB

(5)    MEMBERSHIP REPORT - Christine VK6ZLZ

5.1    Applications for Membership -

VK6WS          Michael O’Rourke    Full
VK6CG          Robert Crowe             Full
VK6MJ          Martin Diggens         X grade
VK6WW         Marvin Feldman       X grade
VK6JIPZBP    Wesley Beck            X grade

Proposed VK6ZLZ/VK6ZSE- Carried

The above members were warmly welcomed.

(6)    EDUCATION REPORT - Neil VK6BDO  /  Trevor VK6HTW

6.1.    Neil reported that he has had 18 enquiries for next years Novice Theory and Regulations courses, (12 came from the Wireless Hill BBQ).

6.2.    Results from the WARG exams on 06.10.03 were:
2 passes in 10 wpm morse sending
1 pass and 1 fail in 5 wpm morse receiving
1 pass in 5 wpm morse sending

6.3.    A WARG exam was held on 24.10.03 :
2 candidates sat for Novice Theory
1 candidate sat for 5 wpm morse sending and receiving.

An exam for 10 wpm morse could not be carried out due to lack of exam material from Federal Office - The candidate walked out in disgust and is unlikely to return.

6.4     Neil reported that there is still an interest in 10 wpm morse with 6 candidates currently studying.    (It was noted that 5 wpm is still regarded as a ‘K’ call but with full privileges)

6.5.    A discussion followed on the shortcomings of the Federal Office service at present.

Roy VK6XV reported that in discussions with the Federal Office concerning slowness of exam results, June said “why don’t you mark them yourselves”. Apparently VK2 and VK5 are already marking exams.

Trevor VK6HTW did not think that June had the authority to suggest this.

Neil VK6NE said that he had already compiled a list of four volunteers who are prepared to mark exams (using the Template) before the papers are sent to the Federal office. These volunteers must not be Exam Invigilators, and must be physically separated from the exam (could be sitting in their cars).

The council assumes that it is now OK to locally mark examination papers in future.

ACTION VK6NE to arrange for local procedure to obtain necessary Template for given exam, and carry out marking.

6.6.    It was noted that the WIA contract to hold examinations is due to expire in February next, and will probably continue until the ACA calls for new tenders.
It should not be assumed that the WIA would get the contract renewed.

(7)    FEDERAL REPORT - Trevor VK6HTW

7.1.    Emails are currently circulating on several subjects.

7.2.    It is proposed that three delegates representing VK attend the region three meeting in Taipai.

7.3.    The Federal response to the ACA discussion paper was very good and well presented but was based on two tier licences (see above).

7.4.    VK6LC pointed out that whatever is submitted is now in the public domain, and will be available on the ACA web site.

(8)    GENERAL BUSINESS

8.1.    VK6ZLZ     When booking the room for next year, we were told that the council meeting room was not available on the first Tuesday in March 2004, as it had already been booked, so the council meeting will be held on the 2nd Tuesday in March. Note: The first Tuesday in all other Months.

8.2.    VK6NE    New members need to be informed of what the Division actually does, and to this end Neil proposes that a single page description of each activity be given to them.   Neil suggested that drafts be prepared by Council members ASAP and be E-mailed to him for co-ordination.

Suggested topics were;
VK6LC       Malcolm     Awards
VK6KAD    Dennis        Newswest
VK6ZLZ     Christine     Membership /Website
VK6ZLZ     Christine     Clubs
VK6NE       Neil             Current Structure of WIA
VK6BDO    Neil            Training
VK6ZSE     Eddie           Band Plans (Abbreviated)
VK6OO      Bruce          Synopsis of what the Council does
                                        with invitation to Council Meetings

8..3.    VK6HTW    The NCRG is still at Carine until the end of the year, however does have a foot in the door for Whiteman Park.  Acceptance by the WP board is subject to no interference to the Maritime GPS beacon site and also no interference to the Telstra site.    Progress is slow, particularly with Canberra at present.

Hamfest 2003 went well.

8.4.    VK6ZLZ
What about Amateur of the Year award, do we have any candidates?
Do we want a Christmas meeting/lunch/Conference of Clubs in December?

It was decided to advertise for nominations for Amateur of the year on Newswest.
ACTION VK6KAD (09.11.03)

It was decided to hold a Christmas meeting /get together (at which the Amateur of the year award could be presented) as follows;
Location:  Country Womens Association House, 1178 Hay St. West Perth
Date:        Saturday, 6th December 2003
Time:        1100 hours start (for 1200 lunch) to 1400 hours

ACTION VK6KAD to publicise on next Newswest broadcast and ask call-backs for commitment. Council needs to know numbers for catering requirements.
Members are urged to attend in order to keep up to date on the many current issues facing the WIA and the Amateur Service.
Country members should arrange for their clubs to send a representative. 

8.5.    VK6ZLZ
Possibility of acquiring a domain name for the internet - a “.org.au” No Decision.

8.6.    VK6NE 

Neil led a discussion on the Future Direction of the WIA, possibly by folding the current Divisions into one NEW federal body.

There are many E-mails circulating between divisions at present canvassing support for a “ONE WIA”.

“ONE WIA” discussion (via E-mails) is being led by Chris Jones VK2ZDD.

Brian Clarke VK2CGE has produced a paper on the Future direction of the WIA which Neil will E-mail to Councillors.

David VK4OF was collecting support for the proposal at the NCRG Hamfest.

Basically the current proposal is for the structure of the WIA to change

From:
A Federal Company owned only by the individual Divisions.
(Note Members belong to Divisions not the Federal Body)

To:
A single Organisation to which all WIA members belong, thus doing away with the current Divisions.

New South Wales Division own property in Parramatta (Divisional Office) and Dural (Broadcast station), they are proposing to sell Parramatta and use the proceeds to build office accommodation at Dural which they are prepared to make available to the (New) Federal body.

With only one WIA body it is expected to employ sufficient paid full time staff to run the Institute in a professional manner.

“Membership of the Institute has been dropping for years whilst assets appreciate - what is the point of assets if there are no members?

The only divisions known to have property are VK2 and VK3 others have varying levels of assets.

It is believed that several WIA Divisional Councils (VK1, VK2, VK4, VK5, VK6) are in **“in-principle”** in agreement with this proposal but the financial and local considerations are yet to be worked out.

See Whats New for Updates on this subject

(9)  
Meeting Closed at 22.20


VK6NE (President) .................... VK6LZ (Min Sec) ....................

Visitors Since 12th October 2003