As 2013 comes to a close I would like to wish you and your family all the best in 2014. May all your wishes come true, and the propagation switch work whenever you need it

HAPPY NEW YEAR

73  Paul

Just a reminder for those of you with emergency kits.  The water and appropriate food items should be rotated every six months.  Now may be a good time to do that,  what with all the shopping and celebrations ongoing at this time of year. There should be ample “presents”  to give to your emergency kit.

Being Prepared is part of the Solution….,

The site below will take you to an interesting article on amateur radio and emergency communications in Wales.  They too seem to be short of members and are looking for more. They have some interesting qualifications and procedures too. To read the article go to

http://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/news/10904198.Gwent_radio_hams_ready_to_help_in_emergency/?ref=rss

The Nanaimo Amateur Radio Association will be holding a basic course in February 2014. For more information go to  http://www.ve7na.ca/cms/

I ran across a very well said comment for the Christmas Season made by N4DLT, David Westphalen of Cherryville North Carolina.  I hope you take the time to read his Christmas Greeting at  http://www.qsl.net/n4dlt/

Snow is coming to Vancouver Island and the Greater Vancouver area  Thursday night and Friday.  For all the weather statements go to

http://weather.gc.ca/warnings/index_e.html

To all of our Members and our Amateur Radio Friends across the World:

I bring you seasonal greetings from Canada’s national radio
association; the Radio Amateurs of Canada. As we enter this holiday
season I want to wish each and every one of you a fabulous holiday
season as well as a healthy and prosperous 2014. I am sure that you
will be taking time to be with your friends and family. Being with
those closest to you makes this the finest part of the year.

I hope to hear you on the airwaves 0000 UTC to 2359 UTC on December
28th for the RAC Winter Day Contest. It is part of RAC’s way to
celebrate the season.

I look forward to seeing many of you in person when the RAC Annual
General Meeting comes to British Columbia in July.

Merry Christmas and Happy New year!
Take care.

Geoff Bawden VE4BAW President and Chair RAC
on behalf of the RAC Board and Executive

**—–**

A positive media article from Vernon has been picked up on the east coast of the US and republished in the US. Nice to read some positive material in the media. For the original article go to

http://www.vernonmorningstar.com/lifestyles/235810981.html

Bill Smith, W7GHT, one of the founders of the RN7 Net, when the NTS was just getting started is now a silent key.  For more information go to

http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/idahostatesman/obituary.aspx?n=william-smith&pid=168436492&fhid=6415

The RN7 Net is a regional NTS traffic net of which British Columbia and the Yukon are a part. This is an active net using both SSB and Morse Code. Between the two modes several hundred NTS messages are passed each month.

The McGregor region in Northeast BC is the only region left with a weather warning. All other regions have had their warnings dropped. For an update go to

http://weather.gc.ca/warnings/?prov=bc