The purpose of the Net is to overcome the lack of member contact
since General Meetings of the VK6 division were discontinued.
As with the General Meetings of the past, visitors (non-members) are welcome to attend.

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.

No formal check-in called for except 80 Metres.
VK6BH Bill (Allanson) VK6KBC Basil (Leonora) Sitting on side VK6MOT Tom (Geraldton) Sitting on side

Those participating (20) were:
VK6AF Barry Perth VK6AX Geoff Perth VK6BH Bill Allanson VK6BSW Harry Perth Visitor
VK6CF Chuck Perth VK6CSW Clive Perth VK6HAO Peter Perth Visitor
VK6IW Dave Perth VK6 Councillor & Membership VK6KZ Wally Perth VK6 Councillor & Federal Director
VK6LZ Cliff Perth VK6 Councillor & VK6 President VK6NE Neil Perth VK6 Councillor & Federal Director
VK6PO Rob Perth VK6RF Ron Perth VK6RO Graham Perth VK6SO Phil Perth
VK6TS Tony Perth VK6 Councillor & Broadcast VK6UT Don Perth
VK6UU Will Perth VK6 Councillor & Federal Councillor VK6YN Sam Perth
VK6ZLZ Christine Perth VK6 Councillor & Secretary

VK6TS Tony opened the net summing up the points covered last month
and inviting participants to raise points of interest for discussion.

All Licensed Amateurs should be members of the W.I.A.

Several of the participants were quite emphatic that without the W.I.A. representing the Amateur case
to the A.C.A, it would not be long before we lost all privileges to commercial interests.
With the constant decrease in the number of members the W.I.A.
will soon be unable to retain it's credibility as the spokesman for VK amateur radio.
Considerable discussion revolved around the hypothesis that it should be mandatory
for all licensees to be members of the WIA.
"Who will represent AR if/when the WIA fails and the ACA auctions off the VHF/UHF bands ?"
"ACA should ensure that licensees pay WIA membership"
"Easier to attract members if the issuing of licenses was devolved to the WIA."
"If you (WIA) give out licences, who is going to do the work?"
"If WIA were to be given the job of administering licenses, how would this be done
ie At Federal level or by the Divisions?"
"Ham radio to be controlled (regulated?) and directed by Hams"
"Divisions should be allowed to issue licences - this used to be done by one part-time clerk in the department."
"The comments like "have to belong" make me cringe
- in the long term not worth the effort - too much bad feeling would be created" (VK6UU)
"Do not agree with forced membership" (VK6LZ)
"The discussion so far does not reflect a knowledge of International spectrum control,
it is also Pie in the sky to expect a government department to collect club fees." (VK6KZ)
Also feels that there are more important issues than administration,
such as the question of the 80 Metre DX window" (VK6KZ)
(see separate heading below)
If the WIA delivers the goods it will survive, if not it will go.

The WIA - Is it Fading Away
(Article Page 8 AR April 98)

The article by John Bennett VK3ZA/VK2SIG was discussed,
most felt that it was a good article and was recommended reading.
AR was applauded for publishing what could be seen as an article critical of the WIA.
"Satisfied with WIA at present - complaints are mainly petty not concrete"
"Controversies are mainly interstate VK6 appears to be unique"
"WIA does a good job under difficult circumstances, but probably needs re- structuring"
"Given the author's credentials, although a lot of what he says has merit,
I feel that perhaps he is playing the devil's advocate in some of his conclusions"
The VK6 council has over the past couple of years discussed
various options for changing to a truly Federal organisation,
however the problem always comes up as to what to do with divisional assets,
especially in the eastern states where real estate is involved.
Do the divisions become purely clubs?
Will members be prepared to join both bodies?
If yes what has changed ?
"If you want to change things; first join the WIA,
then nominate for Council
(there is currently (April 99) a vacancy)"

80 Metre DX window

The WIA/ACA Liaison Committee have recently been discusing extra 80 metre privileges with the ACA.
The ACA have come up with three options, namely:
1 - Status Quo
ie. Secondary user status 3.794 to 3.800 Mhz (possible future loss)
2 - As above but raise status to Primary user
3 - Re-farming: Add 18Khz to DX window, force existing fixed/domestic to move at some cost.

There are currently 44 licensees. mainly large government networks
The ACA has already rejected the proposal to time share.
Wally VK6KZ asked what were members views on the options ?
(non-members to look after their own interests)
Three participants thought that option 2 had best chance of acceptance by ACA. One preferred option three.

Concessional membership application form was discussed.

A complaint was raised that the Institute should not be asking applicants
means test type questions when applying for concessional membership.
one participant thought that a pension number should suffice.
The membership secretary Dave VK6IW stated that
the form which had been used for over twenty years,
was accompanied by a letter giving an invitation in case of difficulty
 to obtain more information by ringing him.
All information was confidential to the membership secretary
and council relied on his discretion when granting concessional membership.
VK6KZ pointed out that the number of concessional members last year
was 25% this year it is 26% of total membership.
We are an aging population, we need strong membership for strong representation to the ACA.

Band openings and Pirates

There was a short discussion on the increased pirate activity on 28/29 Mhz
now that the bands are opening up also on other bands.
"Government should make representation"
"We should populate the bands more"

VK6 Divisional AGM and Conference of Clubs

The AGM will be held next Saturday the 24th April 1999,
at 0900 hours in the RSL Hall, Fred Bell Parade East Victoria Park
This was formerly part of Ramsden Ave running between HILLVIEW TERRACE and Playfield St
(Nearest Main Intersections are BERWICK ST to the east and JARRAH ROAD to the west)
This will be followed at about 1000 hours by the second Conference of Clubs.
VK6ZLZ Christine expressed concern that a quorum of 25 members
might not be forthcoming for the AGM at 9am.
It is essential therefore that a show of support for the division be made.
A grab bag of goodies would be available to the first 25 members to register before 9 am.

Discussion point for Next Net (May) raised by VK6LZ
Should the WIA do away with the Divisions, or something inbetween, and what are the ramifications ?

Net closed at 2134 hours.
Notes prepared by VK6LZ apologies for Errors and Omissions if any.

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