Call Sign VK6WIA 146.750 MHz Lesmurdie Repeater
and 80 Metre Gateway on 3.564 Mhz controlled by Will VK6UU
 Net Control Tony VK6TS - Meeting Opened at 1930 Hours

Check in:
VK6AFA John (Binningup) VK6AI Brian (Geraldton) VK6BH Bill (Allanson) VK6CF Chuck Perth
VK6CSW Clive Perth VK6ER Doug Perth VK6ET Ray (Clackline) VK6HGB VK6JS Jack Wattleup
VK6KRC Bob Perth VK6LZ Cliff Perth VK6NWD Bill Yarloop VK6OE Cyril Perth
VK6PM Con Toodyay VK6PO Bob Perth VK6RF Ron Perth VK6RO Grahame Perth
VK6UU Will Perth VK6XH Keith Perth VK6ZKO Phill Perth VK6ZLZ Christine Perth

Cost of Producing Amateur Radio Magazine

VK6AI Brian -Was discussed at the Geraldton club meeting
 If not for AR most would not continue membership
 80% ( of how many not known) were in favour of keeping current format.
VK6CF Chuck- Essential to keep Magazine Going
 used to have a lot of interesting Advertisers in years past but not now,
where have they all gone?
VK6PO Bob -Yet another thing (service) to go?
VK6CSW Clive -To keep the magazine going is essential
without it the Institute would fall apart.
It is probably time to revamp the organisation (WIA).
VK6BH Bill -Why I am a Member (of the WIA):
1 - QSL Bureau
2 - AR Magazine (should be kept purely Amateur Radio)
3 - Respects the work the WIA does for VK amateurs
would be prepared to pay another 10% on membership fees
if it meant keeping AR. (Is semi-retired)
VK6PM Con -Believes every amateur should be a member of their National Body.
No longer QSLs (after 42 years)
Need to Keep Amateur Radio Magazine (only contact with Institute)

Possibility of Exam Free Licence

VK6CF Chuck -Does not agree with this -
There are CB bands for unqualified operators.
eg. Doctors have to study and qualify for increased levels of competency.
Strictly against (concept).
However in favour of Fee free licence as in USA (10 years licence for free).
VK6PM Con -Agree that (Amateur) Exam should be retained.
VK6NWD Bill -(Amateur License) should be free of cost after initial Exam, or not more than $10
VK6ET Ray- (AR) Mag is going down hill, won't be renewing subscription,
prefers Radio & Communications, (AR) should combine with a commercial mag
and would then be available on the News stands.
Exam Free license - NO.
It was a mistake to give 2 metres to Novices, it should have been 70 centimetres
which would have raised the occupancy and protected the band against sell off.
Fees are a fact of life.
VK6PM Con -Can't agree with 6ET - (Licence) fees are a government Rip-off
- CB is free (of licence fee).
VK6CF Chuck -I agree (with the above)
VK6CSW Clive -Against Fee free licence,
feels that our technical abilities would be taken away
- no repeater network building, No home brew etc.
Need representation therefore pay fee.
VK6AFA John -If mag has to go it has to go!
Advertisers follow circulation Federal representation is important
No Mag (available) would impact (level) of membership
Perhaps Exam free licence above 70 Centimetres could be possible.
VK6CF Chuck -Feels that AR should not combine with other Mag.
Federal Representatives should be more aggressive (with ACA).
Go out and fight for more bands (privileges) - more power ie, 1 KWatt
Exam prices are too high - should be free.
VK6AI Brian Fees - Think they are too high both Licence and exam.
Exam free License - Does not agree, without input no value.
Should be CW free.
AR should widen input.
ACA is not monitoring bands (against pirates).
VK6CF Chuck -Has kept copies of AR for 50 years)

Anything else

VK6JS Jack -VK6 needs a hall of fame,
suggest a group of 3 nominate amateurs for an award - certificate given.
VK6AI Brian -Disagrees - too many awards already
VK6PM Con- Ditto on above. Amateur Radio mag should be retained as-is.
VK6RO Grahame -AR is "My Journal".
There is total spectrum anarchy on 7 and 28 MHz from the north west (Asia).
VK6AI Brian- It was a backward step to cancel (General) meetings.
VK6KRC Bob -It has been entertaining to hear others views,
we should prioritise what we are here for -
Weeties paket licence on the one hand and intruders on the other.
Free sale of (Amateur) equipment to anyone (encourages pirates).
We need to retain a journal (AR).
VK6PM Con -Perhaps we should try WIA meetings on a Sunday say at 12 noon?
VK6ET Ray -In agreement with on-air meeting - could not travel to a meeting.
VK6ZLZ Christine -Without AR we will not retain members,
does not want too many adverts else no space for interesting content.
Commented on lack of attendance at General Meetings being below a quorum.
Decisions made at meetings could have been called illegal.
Not sure about Social gatherings,
for example there is a lack of interest for the coming xmas dinner.
VK6LZ Cliff -Thanked those on net for a most interesting discussion.
Is not convinced that cost of AR cannot be reduced (whilst maintaining quality).
Possibly become bi-monthly?
Loss of advertisers - some owed money for advertising and then went bust.
Possibly consider non-AR types of advertising.
Exam free license - only for very limited band segment on 70 cm.
with limited low power - but must also be used by qualified amateurs
so as to get interaction and encouragement to upgrade.
Invited WillVK6UU to comment on original proposal.
Meetings were being attended by only 6-7 members other than council members.
Tried to make it a social occasion after business meeting but limited success.
Institute still holds monthly council business meetings
which are open to members as visitors.
Novices on 2 metres - helped to populate the band.
VK6UU Will- Exam Free - At Council of clubs meeting 30 people were
in favour of looking at subject in depth and how it could work.
Next ACA Liaison meeting is in December (not had one for 2 years)
VK6 Council have discussed proposals and Will
(in his capacity as VK6 Federal Councillor)
has spent 10 to 20 hours already on preparing a submission
from the VK6 council to the ACA liaison committee.
Historical data - there has been considerable discussion at council
on the history of VK Amateur Radio and possible sources of information.
Does VK6CF have all copies of AR going back 50 years ?
Will outlined the problems with a small number of officials
trying to do everything within limited time.
There is a case for the General Membership to get on
their word processors and put submissions to Council.
VK6ET Ray- Pointed out that he was not against Novices on 2 metres but
thought that it would have been better to give them access to 70 Cm instead
as this would have stopped for example the use of 70 cm by the 2000 Olympics.
VK6CF Chuck -In reply to Will's question:
Does not have all copies of AR (some got wet)
but they go back a long way - will endeavour to sort them out.
VK6XH Keith -Apology for being late for net due to work commitments.
VK6AI Brian -In favour of a free cost exam - CB used to be a good recruiting ground for AR.
VK6PM Con- Should ask the ACA for return of 27MHz band to AR
shared with CB as a point of contact.
VK6CF Chuck -Dosen't think Con has listened to 27MHz recently - stay away.
Thinks Novices on 2 metres a good idea to help populate band.
More advertising in AR is required - likes technical articles and adverts.
VK6PM Con -If Magazine goes, he feels he will get nothing from WIA.

80 Metre conditions had been good throughout with most stations 5x9+
however the approaching electrical storm was beginning to be heard.

Meeting closed at 2054 hours.
Notes prepared by VK6LZ apologies for Errors and Omissions if any.

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