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 Cliff VK6LZ - Meeting Opened at 1930 Hours.

Due to Tony's un-availability tonight, your net control is Cliff VK6LZ (Divisional President).
Will VK6UU will be controlling the 80 Metre gateway as usual on 3.564 Mhz."

No formal check-in called for except 80 Metres:
VK6BH Bill (Allanson) VK6BIK Chris (Toodyay) VK6KBC Basil (Leonora)
VK6KHC Herb (Kalgoorlie) VK6NQ Merv (Albany) VK6XY Aub (Albany)
VK6ZE Listening with no transmit capability

A roll call of Divisional Council produced the following check ins:
VK6HK Don Council Minute Secretary VK6LZ Cliff President VK6NE Neil Vice President
VK6OO Bruce Treasurer VK6UU Will Federal Councillor VK6XH Keith Councillor
VK6ZLZ Christine Secretary Apology from VK6TS Tony

Those participating (17) were:
VK6BH Bill Allanson VK6BIK Chris Toodyay VK6CSW Clive Perth VK6HK Don Perth
VK6JP Jim Perth VK6KBC Basil Leonora VK6KHC Herb Kalgoorlie VK6LZ Cliff Perth
VK6NE Neil Perth VK6NQ Merv Albany VK6OO Bruce Perth VK6PM Con Yarloop
VK6UU Will Perth VK6WZ Harry Perth VK6XH Keith Perth
VK6XY Aub Albany VK6ZLZ Christine Perth

VK6LZ Cliff opened the net by reading a letter
from Harry VK6WZ concerning this net:

From: Harry Atkinson - Forrestfield W.A. April 22 1999
To: Hon. Secretary - WA Division WIA
and all Councillors and/or Office Bearers.
Greetings!

"ON AIR MEETINGS"

The variable state of my health means that I'm not a regular listener
but have listened with intense interest on several occasions in the past six months.
Firstly I must say I'm disappointed in both the form of the broadcast
and the apathy of VK6 operators, notably country licensees.

When the cessation of formal meetings was first mooted I formed a mental image
of a gathering of office bearers at a central "clubhouse" or at least,
on air each from his/her own shack.

"What a good idea," I said to myself. "
A chairman or facilitator could pass the subject, question,
complaint or whatever to the appropriate Councillor.
We could get to know them by voice if by no other means.
" So what have we got? More work for the willing horse, our Broadcast Officer.

As listeners we have no idea of how many office bearers are out there paying heed.
I almost offered the following on air last Tuesday night (April 20)
but while I still have one or two friends on Council (I hope)
felt it would be kinder to put it in writing.

I earnestly recommend that each monthly on air meeting begin with a roll call of ALL office bearers,
those unable to "attend" to be required to tender an apology.
Exemptions from the roll call to apply ONLY to those whose employment requires them to work
on that meeting night or to those absent for health or bereavement reasons.

You were relieved of the need to turn up at poorly attended formal meetings because the membership,
generally, could see your point of view. Not a "night off" to play computers, internet, or scrabble!

If you want members AND non-members to give up their evening once a month
you should be prepared to at least do the same!

BROADCAST FORMAT

Further, those who do listen to the broadcast regularly must eventually
become fed up with their own voices singing the same old songs
about getting more and more from the WIA while paying less and less,
and might even (Heaven forbid) enjoy some light entertainment.

This would be the kind of entertainment the ACA couldn't possibly rule out.
Prepared subject quizzes, lecturettes suitable for non-visual presentation,
question and answer periods about almost anything under the a.r. sun
where listeners ask the questions and office- bearers solve the problems.

There could be memories of old timers coupled with some experiences of  "new timers"
so as to bridge the generation gap.

I am prepared to put my mouth where my computer is
leading me in any/most/all subjects covered by this letter if need be.

AND FINALLY!! Prizes! Yes good old cash.
What you have been quietly stashing away in the bank, Mr. Treasurer,
(money saved on clubrooms rental) could be used for modest but very acceptable prizes for:-

* the night's best contribution (a)country listeners (b)city ditto
* the first non-member to join after a certain date, as a direct result of listening to the broadcast.
* the funniest (clean) amateur radio joke.
* the greatest DX - i.e. most distant SWL member (in WA) and most distant VK6,
two sections, one for 80 Metres another for VHF/UHF, plus any others you can think of.
These and other features to be used only one per month.

None of the above is intended to replace the time devoted to input from listeners
but to augment the scope and interest to members and especially to attract an audience of NON-MEMBERS.
It may be necessary eventually to ration time on air so that more and more listeners can have their say.

Yours in amateur radio (as they say) R.H. (Harry) Atkinson.

Participants were asked for comment - the Treasurer said he was willing.

This was followed by a reading of a Notice of Motion from the Old Timers Club.

The President Wireless Institute of Australia W.A. Division
Notice of Motion
We the undersigned VK6 Members of the W.I.A.
and the Radio Amateur Old Timers Club of Australia
wish to put forward the following motion ...

That the W.I.A. approach the A.C.A. and / or other bodies responsible,
to request a licence fee reduction of 50 per cent
of the fees payable for Seniors and old age pensioners ..

To: The Secretary W. I. A. P.O. Box 10 West Perth W.A. 6872

Further Details Concerning RAOTC Submission
Re. Reduction of Licence Fees
The RAOTC (W.A.) submission to press for a 50% reduction in Amateur Radio licence fees
for pensioners is based on the fact that Amateur Radio is not a commercial or profit making enterprise
and is purely a hobby or leisure-time activity.

The majority of RAOTC members are retired and are either pensioners or self-funded retirees.
The majority of RAOTC members are also members of the W.I.A.
The Radio Amateur Old Timers Club membership is comprised of radio amateurs
who have held or have been entitled to hold a licence for 25 years or more.

In other words, those amateurs who have paid their full licence fee for at least 25 years
and now feel that as pensioners, some consideration should be given to their reduced financial status.

Pensioners have already been acknowledged by
the Federal Government and State Government
as deserving of special entitlements and discounts
and it is felt that the same should apply to Amateur Radio licence fees.

Pensioners are eligible for special telephone entitlements.
They are also eligible for free holiday travel, once a year,
eligible for discounts from the Water Corporation, Western Power,
council rates, reduced fares on trains and buses and free driving licences.

A reduction of licence fees for pensioner amateur radio operators
is seen by us as a natural extension to the above list
and would encourage qualified amateur radio operators to continue
with this very rewarding and useful leisure-time activity
even with the financial restraints which are part of becoming a pensioner.

Sincerely, Signed Ray Peterson VK6PW MWIA.
RAOTC Member # 346 Bicton W.A. 6157 May 12th 1999.

Seniors License fee discount

- Approaching ACA not thought appropriate - they only administer policy not set it
- Should be targeting the state Office of seniors, the Minister, the shadow minister, Department of Seniors.
- Possibly our patron Michael Jeffery the Governor of WA could be involved if asked.
- Must involve other states.
Participants were then invited to raise points of interest for discussion.

*Subject: Recent increase in administration fee charged by ACA on five year licences
VK6XH Keith reported that when he went to renew his licence last week
for five years he was asked for $214 not $167 representing an increase of $47.

Apparently this is made up from multiple year admin charges over the five years paid for.
This increase does not apply to one year renewals which are still charged at $50.
Will VK6UU to take the matter up with federal.

Attracting New members to the hobby

- Telstra have just kicked out a lot of 40 - 50 - 60 year olds,
we should be targeting the redundant and retirees - but how ?
- Should be inserting editorial comment in retirees publications such as the Age Pension News etc.,
also the community broadcast stations.
- Stirling Council recently ran a "Seniors Interests Expo" at a local library.
- Need volunteers to form a sub committee to work on Retirees press and community radio aspects.
- Quote from recent packet bulletin We should not be trying to "give the hobby away
- we should be selling it as a challenge"
- To attract the younger set perhaps concentrate on the digital side
- My daughters are not interested in AR they prefer the chat groups on the internet
- No licence/No exams
- AR is seen as too isolationist not a social hobby
- Internet has no limitations - you can say whatever you like - either in private one on one or in a group.
- Astrological society has same problems, at a recent meeting only four were under 30
and they expected to follow it as a profession rest were in 60 - 70 - 80s
- Cost of license and exams seen as stumbling block to attracting young.
- Another felt that cost was not an issue if they were keen enough.
- If we had not made the effort over recent years to attract new blood perhaps the numbers would be even less.
- An Amateur in each state should sponsor an interested young person, possibly paying for exams and licence fee.

RFDS frequencies used for chat groups

Reported that RFDS frequencies in 2.3 - 4 - 6.8 - 7.9 Mhz
were being used in the Collie area for Chat groups both base and mobile.
It was thought that the ACA was "concerned " about the practice.

There being no further comments or questions forthcomming the Net closed at 2028 hours.
Notes prepared by VK6LZ apologies for Errors and Omissions if any
(it is difficult to take notes and also run the net)

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