CECA

For a press release on how amateur radio is participating in the the efforts to locate the missing Mayalsia Airlines jet go to

http://www.southgatearc.org/news/2014/march/missing_flight_search_involves_amateur_radio_emcomm.htm#.Ux7-t_ldXBd

While not directly radio related the actions of these students should remind us all of the effects of a major earthquake, the need for planning, and the mess it will cause.

My congratulations to all involved in this project and a special thank you to the students who came to Canada to participate.  GREAT JOB ALL OF YOU

http://www.vancitybuzz.com/2014/03/japanese-students-volunteer-clean-canadas-shores/

Nice to see that the capabilities of amateur radio are recognized in certain jurisdictions. Congratulations to those amateurs who made this happen.

http://capegazette.villagesoup.com/p/state-police-announce-partnership-with-amateur-radio-group/1110733

We have noted and had reports of a some typos or transcription errors
in the Industry Canada exam questions. It is not that unusual that a
few such errors can creep into the long document (more than 6000
questions and 24000 answers considering the English and French
versions of the two exam banks). Fortunately the new system IC has
developed makes it easy and quick to correct such errors.

RAC will assist in conveying the information.Anyone wishing to report
errors are invited to send these reports by email to RAC at
hq.communications@rac.ca

Vincent Charron, VA3GX/VE2HHH
Director of Communications and Fundraising – Radio Amateurs of Canada

Daylight Saving Time starts Sunday March 9th at 2am.  TURN YOUR CLOCKS AHEAD ON SATURDAY NIGHT.   Now is also a good time to check the batteries in the smoke detectors, check the inspection date on the fire extingusher(s) and have a general safety inspection around the house.   On Saturday night  sleep fast !

OnThursday March 6th 2014 Industry Canada rolled out the new question bank for Amateur Radio examination. For all the information go to

https://www.rac.ca/en/news/stories/2014/2014.03.06a   for the press release

http://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/025.nsf/eng/h_00040.html   for the Industry Canada site

Radio Amateurs of Canada (RAC) and RFinder are excited to announce a
new business partnership agreement effective March 1st. RAC endorses
RFinder as the official Worldwide Repeater Directory for all Canadian
amateur radio operators.

The RFinder is a steadily growing Read the rest of this entry »

Paul Peters, VE7BZ, will be presenting in Seattle at the Conference  For Volunteer Emergency Communicators on Saturday March 22,2014.  Paul’s presentation will cover the cross border exercise held in early January 2014.  This simulated emergency exercise was of the largest if not the largest amateur radio exercise held on the west coast of North America.   For more information on the conference go to

http://commacademy.org/

The Radio Amateurs of Canada (RAC) notes that the International
Amateur Radio Union (IARU), of which RAC is a member society, has
advised that Timothy S. Ellam, VE6SH/G4HUA and Ole Garpstead, LA2RR,
have been nominated for president and vice-president, respectively,
for 2014-2019. They are currently serving a five year term in those
positions.

Their nomination is supported by the board of directors of the Radio
Amateurs of Canada and at the February 20th, 2014 board meeting the
board directed the president to vote by written ballot supporting the
reelection of these individuals. The new term begins May 9, 2014.

An international consultation produced no additional nominations for
these positions.

The IARU is the international association representing amateur radio
interests.

Geoff Bawden, VE4BAW
President and Chair RAC

ARES members need to be able to respond. In addition to our radio equipment most of us will use our vehicles to get where we need to go.  Is your vehicle winter ready? Here are some hints

http://tranbc.ca/2012/12/18/an-emergency-kit-show-and-tell-to-help-shift-into-winter/#101013

Just a thank you to section members who participate in the DRN7/2 Net.  Amateurs from BC, Washington, Idaho,Montana and Oregon take part in nets twice a day to move NTS traffic. Traffic enters and leaves the NTS system through this net.  In January 2014 over 350 pieces of traffic were moved.Thanks to all those involved for your time and effort.

Earlier today IC released a consultation
documenthttp://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/smt-gst.nsf/eng/sf10786.htmlproposing
changes to CPC-2-0-03, the Antenna Siting Protocol to address the
Industry Minister’s policy statement of 5 February 2014 removing the
15m exemption for “cell towers”.

The RAC Bulletin of 6 February had commented on the Minister’s policy
statement and urged that the drafting of the regulatory changes should
follow closely the Minister’s statement. It provided several reasons
why the exemption should not be removed for radio amateurs.

The consultation document released today proposes exactly the type of
change to the height exemption RAC favoured.The 15m exemption would
remain but not apply to “broadcasting undertakings and
telecommunications carriers”.

The consultation document proposes a number of other small changes to
CPC-2-0-03 and RAC will look closely at these before completing its
comments on the proposed changes. Industry Canada will receive
comments from the public on these changes by 31 March 2014 and
finalize the changes shortly thereafter.

Some radio amateurs had expressed concern that there might be a
blanket removal of the 15m exemption, forcing those wanting to install
any antenna into cumbersome notification and consultation processes.
This now seems unlikely but we need to follow through on the
consultation process to make sure this is the final result.

RAC will respond on behalf of all Canadian amateur radio operators.

Glenn MacDonell, VE3XRA
RAC Vice-President Regulatory Affairs

**—–**

Environment Canada has issued several weather alerts and statements for the BC coast for the weekend of Feb 28, Mar 1 &2 2014. As always check your local forecast.

To see all the information go to http://weather.gc.ca/warnings/index_e.html?prov=bc

A new idea in Oregon has helped locate a missing senior citizen. Between law enforcement and local hams it didn’t take long. For all the info go to

http://www.arrl.org/news/rdf-bracelet-helps-oregon-hams-to-locate-missing-man

One of the new directors has managed the latest changes to RAC policy  with respect to minutes of meetings. A move toward  transparency.

http://www.crrl.ca/news/2014/2/21/transparency