VK6 Minutes of Council Meeting Septembert 7th 2004

WIRELESS INSTITUTE OF AUSTRALIA
Western Australian Division

Minutes of Council Meeting 7th September 2004
Held at CWA House, Hay Street West Perth
Visitors are welcome

Present:
Neil Penfold           VK6NE       President
Cliff Bastin                           VK6LZ       Vice President/Minute Secretary
Roy Watkins            VK6XV Secretary
Neil Husk                             VK6BDO     Education
Kathi Suminer                      VK6HKR    Membership Secretary
Trevor Ward                        VK6HTW     Ex Federal Councillor
Dennis Muldownie       VK6KAD   Broadcast Officer
Will McGhie           VK6UU       AR Correspondent
Christine Bastin           VK6ZLZ    Web Master
*Bruce Hedland-Thomas     VK6OO    Treasurer
Visitors:
Anthony Benbow                  VK6AXB
Claude Endersby                  VK6NCE
Bob Daines                           VK6TRA
Apologies:
*Wally Howse           VK6KZ      National/VK6 Agreement Co-ordinator
*Robyn Edwards           VK6XRE    National/VK6 Agreement Co-ordinator

The Division is governed by a Council consisting of President. Vice President, and seven Councillors, also in attendance *one Ex-officio Councillors.

The President welcomed the visitors and opened the meeting at 1945 hours

(1)    MINUTES:
The Minutes of the 27th July part of the July Council meeting were assumed to have been read, and were accepted by VK6XV/KAD     There were no Matters arising:

(2)    CORRESPONDENCE- (Roy VK6XV)
None

(3)    BROADCAST OFFICER'S REPORT (Dennis VK6KAD)
3.1    The 4th.August morning Broadcast was delayed due to difficulty putting the news recording to air using the usual broadcast transceiver. After 20 minutes Neil VK6BDO was able to download the National News from the Internet and put it to air from his QTH, this was followed by Dennis live with local news from his QTH and then Roy with the Help Line from his QTH. Neil was able to put the evening broadcast to air as normal. Dennis finally traced the fault to a switch which was repaired in time for the OTN Monday broadcast..
3.2     Since more states, including VK6 are feeding local news to National it is more balanced, the broadcast is perceived to have improved to the extent that it would not warrant editing although some relay stations are still not happy.
3.3    The National News is downloaded from an MP3 file.

(4)    MEMBERSHIP (Kathi VK6HKR)
Nothing to report

(5)    TREASURER'S REPORT - (Bruce VK6OO)
Bruce asked that the following accounts be passed for payment:
P46    CWA for Special General Meeting                66 - 00
P47    Part Catering for Special General Meeting       28 - 90
P48    CWA main catering for Special General Meeting         286 - 00
P49    CWA for September Council Meeting            33 - 00
Proposed that payments be approved VK6KAD/XV - carried

(6)    EDUCATION (Neil VK6BDO)
6.1    The new AOCP course is underway with six students.
6.2    Three candidates sat the last AOCP exam with one pass.
6.3    WARG is holding an examination envelope for 60 days on behalf of a Rolf Neilsen who had requested an examination but due to work commitments had not yet been able to confirm a date when he would be in Perth, it was intended that WARG contact him by telephone.
6.4    The president commented that National had perceived a problem with appointing Cliff VK6LZ as an Examination Marker whilst his wife Christine VK6ZLZ was an invigilator. This was solved by cancelling Christine's appointment as an invigilator, and appointing her as an Examination Marker.
ACTION The Secretary to inform the WIA exam service.

(7)    GENERAL BUSINESS
7.1    Christine VK6ZLZ asked if it had been confirmed that Councillors were all current members, the President confirmed that all Councillors were current members of the Division.

7.2    Dennis VK6KAD mentioned that there would be an event held at Wireless Hill on the 16th. October commencing 0900 hours with a BBQ for Amateurs and CBers to mark the 25th Anniversary of the Wireless Hill Museum. The Call sign VI6VIP had been taken out to mark the event. It was also the first day of the Scout Jamboree.

7.3    Anthony VK6AXB expressed his willingness (as one of those who had voted to retain the Division as a Club) to assist with mail out etc if required in conjunction with the change of constitution.

7.4    `The President read from a document (see attached) submitted by Wally VK6KZ which proposed the way forward subsequent to the instructions from the Special General Meeting of Members. This will require the Division to rewrite the Constitution, change it's name, and call another special General Meeting to accept the New Constitution. Wally proposed that at that meeting it should again be attempted to gain a 75% vote to wind up the division, and if that failed, then to accept the revised Constitution (which would again require a 75% majority). It would then be necessary to renegotiate the agreement with National.
Whilst changing the Constitution something will have be done in the light of experience gained to change the handling of proxies and if possible obtain permission for a postal vote to accept wind up or new constitution.

7.5    The current financial position of the Division was discussed in order to fulfil the instructions of the special general meeting to dispose of excess funds. It was decided that the investments should be liquidated immediately, and distributed, although this will incur a penalty of more than $500 in lost interest by premature closing of a term deposit due to mature in December.
ACTION The Treasurer to:
(a)    Close the Term Account with Bankwest and transfer proceeds to the current account.
(b)    Close the at call account with the Bendigo bank and transfer proceeds to the current account
(c)    Pay out beneficiaries with funds exceeding the $5000 which was to be retained.
It was pointed out that the next mailout and the costs concerning the next Special General meeting which will be significant, will have to come out of the $5000.

7.6    It was noted that the donation of $10,000 to the National WIA has already been paid.

7.7    It was decided to accept Wally's offer to redraft the Constitution with assistance from Robyn, which would then be discussed at the next Council meeting on the 5th October..

7.8    Correspondence from Michael Owen VK3KI asking for agreement to changes was discussed.
(a)     Agree that 8.4 of the Transition Agreement had not been satisfied (Wind up of the Division) and that accordingly the WIA was not under further obligation to the Division.
(b)    Re confirm that subsequent to the receipt of the donation of $10,000 that the WIA would (subject to conditions) for not less than 3 years cover the Personal Accident and Public Liability Insurance Premiums for Members and Clubs as currently covered.
(c)    Subject to continuing as a club.
Items no longer applicable were: Financial support for certain Repeater Licenses, International Beacon, Educational Costs, Zone 29 award, Jim Rumble Amateur of the year award, and support for local Broadcast and Web site.

Motion
Moved by VK6KAD/XV "That Council agree to sign the new agreement. Carried
For the Motion VK6NE, VK6XV, VK6KAD, VK6HTW, VK6BDO, VK6LZ. Against VK6ZLZ

7.9    Next meeting will have to decide what membership fee to charge if Division is to continue as a club, how many Councillors to form the Committee, how often should the Committee meet, and what will it do.
Anthony VK6AXB reminded the Council that it was the Division that mobilized the very good attendance at the ACA Road show recently.

7.10    The President noted that the 10 Metre beacon had been switched on again by request, and that it was licensed until 31.12.04. He proposed that the Licence and equipment be transferred to the NCRG and this was agreed.

7.11    The Equipment list value was currently $293-90

(7)    NEXT MEETING    5th. October 2004

(8)    The meeting closed at 2200 hours

VK6NE President             VK6LZ Minute Secretary
E & OE