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[RAC-Bulletin] Maurice-André Vigneault,VE3VIG and Doug Leach, VE3XK appointed to Canadian Amateur Radio Hall of Fame

The Board of Trustees of the Canadian Amateur Radio Hall of Fame is pleased to announce that Maurice-André Vigneault, VE3VIG and Doug Leach, VE3XK (SK), have been named to the Hall of Fame.

Radio Amateurs of Canada recognizes deserving Amateurs by appointments to the Canadian Amateur Radio Hall of Fame. The Constitution for the Hall specifies that the appointment as Member of the Hall is made for “outstanding achievement and excellence of the highest degree, for serious and sustained service to Amateur Radio in Canada, or to Amateur Radio at large”.

The Trustees of the Hall have interpreted the Constitution to mean that the person has performed significant service over many years to enhance the well-being of Amateur Radio.

Maurice-André Vigneault, VE3VIG

Radio Amateurs of Canada and the Board of Trustees of CARHOF sincerely congratulate Maurice-André Vigneault, VE3VIG, on his appointment to the Hall of Fame.

Maurice-André Vigneault, VE3VIG, obtained his Amateur Radio certification in 1990 following a 38-year career in the Canadian Armed Forces where he specialized in radio, radar and in teaching electronics. Subsequently, he went on to serve the Amateur Radio community internationally as Canadian delegate to AMSAT and to the ARISS Working Group and as a member of the ARISS School Selection Committee for Canada and Latin America.

Nationally, he fostered the art and science of Amateur Radio through authorship of over 200 published articles and he managed the Amateur Radio Station VE3JW at the Canada Museum of Science and Technology for 18 years from 1996 to 2014.

Locally, he was recognized by his peers with club life membership and Amateur of the Year awards for his untiring devotion: inspiring school children to consider STEM careers by facilitating contacts with astronauts; educating the general public on the many aspects and social benefits of Amateur Radio at VE3JW during Field Days, Lighthouse Lightship Weekends and during multiple activations; mentoring new Amateurs, teaching a course on satellite Amateur Radio and facilitating for physically-handicapped Amateurs the enjoyment of the hobby; and deploying as a volunteer radio operator during the North American ice storm of 1998.

A summary of Maurice-André’s contributions to Amateur Radio will be published in an  upcoming issue of The Canadian Amateur magazine.

Doug Leach, VE3XK (SK)

Radio Amateurs of Canada and the Board of Trustees of CARHOF are pleased to appoint Doug Leach, VE3XK, to the Hall of Fame. Sadly, Doug became a Silent Key on January 15, 2020.

The contributions that Doug Leach, VE3XK (SK), has made to Amateur Radio in Canada have been many and long lasting.

As one of the driving forces behind the creation of Radio Amateurs of/du Canada, he served as the RAC First Vice-President in 1997-98 and was the RAC Director for the Ontario North Region from 2001 to 2004. He also served as Acting President for three months.

Doug successfully initiated numerous programs that have served to define the organization, including: the RAC Affiliated Club Program; the RAC Foundation; the RAC Audio-Visual Program; the RAC Liability Insurance Program; and the RAC alias email forwarding programs.

In addition to serving on the RAC Board and Executive, Doug was the  author and editor of several RAC publications and reports including: the RAC Operating Manual; the RAC Emergency Coordinator’s Manual; the RAC Official Observer’s Guide; the RAC Administration Manual; and the RAC Manual for Directors.

Doug was a member of Radio Amateurs of Canada, the American Radio Relay League, the Quarter Century Wireless Association,  the Straight Key Century Club, the PODXS 070 Club, the Ottawa Amateur Radio Club and the West Carleton Amateur Radio Club.

A summary of Doug’s contributions to Amateur Radio will be published in an  upcoming issue of The Canadian Amateur magazine.

For more information on the Canadian Amateur Radio Hall of Fame please visit: https://wp.rac.ca/carhof/

Prepared by Frank Davis, VO1HP
Chair, Board of Trustees
Canadian Amateur Radio Hall of Fame

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US FCC Waiver For Use of Pactor 4 Ends Soon- check the dates !

ARRL sought the waiver for amateur radio licensees directly involved with hurricane and wildfire relief via HF using PACTOR 4 modems for communication within the US and its territories, relative to several impending hurricane situations and wildfires in the western US. ARRL’s petition noted that Section 97.307(f) of the amateur rules prevents the use of PACTOR 4, a data protocol that permits relatively high-speed data transmission. ARRL also noted that past FCC temporary waivers have allowed this protocol during similar events. The waiver is limited to 60 days and is for use by amateurs involved in communications in support of US western wildfire relief and hurricane recovery.