On November 8,2018 TG0CND in Guatemala was activated. Another step in improved emergency communication. Thank you to all involved.
All posts by va7mpg
Canadian,US Hams and the Maritime Mobile Service Network Assist With Medical Issue Nov 2018
An Alberta Ham and several other members of the Maritime Mobile Service Network combined forces with rescue agencies to assist a man with chest pain. The vessel was several hundred miles of the US East Coast. To read the whole story go to
Amateur Radio and the California Fires
For an update on amateur radio activity in relation to the California fires go to
http://www.arrl.org/news/view/amateur-radio-volunteers-at-the-ready-for-california-fire-duty
Oregon Holds Simulated Emergency Test with a Twist Nov 8 2018
Oregon held a statewide simulated emergency test. Amateur radio was involved and part way through the exercise a “freak” event occurred that really tested the amateurs. To learn more go to
[RAC-Bulletin] RAC Corporate Secretary Sukwan Widajat, VA3WID SK
Radio Amateurs of Canada has received the sad news that RAC Corporate Secretary Sukwan Widajat, VA3WID, has become a Silent Key while in Indonesia.
Sukwan became RAC’s Corporate Secretary in June 2015 and he made a significant contribution to our operations for the past three and a half years. I worked closely with him throughout this period and always appreciated his enthusiasm, helpful recommendations and eagerness to help make our organization the best it can be.
We are all volunteers and know that people have other responsibilities and he was an example of balancing these. In addition to his volunteer work with RAC, Sukwan served as the Vice-President of Finance and Chief Financial Officer of Pak2000 Inc in Boston.
Sukwan was originally from Indonesia and he moved to Canada in 2011. He started his career at the Arthur Andersen Jakarta office of Coopers & Lybrand and later at Price Waterhouse also in Jakarta, Indonesia. He worked as a Vice-President of Finance and Corporate Secretary and was also a non-Executive Director of a paper product distribution company in Brampton, Ontario.
He obtained his first Amateur Radio licence in 1998 in Indonesia and he received his Basic with Honours certificate in November 2013 in Canada. He became a member of RAC and the Mississauga Amateur Radio Club in early 2014. He was a DXer and an Amateur Radio Teletype (RTTY) and satellite enthusiast. He also held three call signs: YB0SWI, VA3WID and AB1XM.
Sukwan was well known and much appreciated by the members of RAC’s Board and Executive, past and present, who have benefited from being able to work with him for these past several years. We are all shocked and saddened and extend our sincere condolences to Sukwan’s family and friends.
Please stay tuned to the RAC website for additional information.
Glenn MacDonell, VE3XRA
President
Radio Amateurs of Canada
New Winlink Gateway HI8COE
The Winlink Gateway in the Dominican Republic is now active. Further installations are underway in Central America. These gateways serve to enhance Winlink especially in the area of emergency communications
W1AW Winter Schedule Announced.
The following has been received from the ARRL
California ARES Group Expands With Repeaters
The local community and amateur radio operators come together to increase response capabilities . To learn more go to
DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME ENDS NOV 4 2018
Daylight Saving Times ends at 0200 Nov 4 2018. Don’t forget to turn the clocks back AND
CHECK THE BATTERIES IN THE SMOKE DETECTOR.
[RAC-Bulletin] RAC Welcomes Directors for 2019.
Each year, the terms of office of roughly half of our Directors end – four in even numbered years and three in odd numbered years.
We have now completed the nominations and election process for Directors in the Atlantic, Ontario North/East, Midwest, and British Columbia and Yukon Regions.
I am happy to announce that Dave Goodwin, VE9CB (Atlantic), Allan Boyd, VE3AJB (Ontario North/East) and Bj Madsen, VE5FX (Midwest) have been reelected as Directors for their Regions.
Keith Witney, VE7KW, has been elected Director for the British Columbia and Yukon Region and will take office on January 1, 2019.
Allan Munnik, VA7MP, the current Director will become Deputy Director BC and Yukon when Keith becomes the Director.
Many of you will be very familiar with Keith as he is a very active BC Amateur and is the co-recipient of the RAC Amateur of the Year Award for 2017.
Keith is based in the Vancouver area and Allan is now in the Okanagan so we will have a strong team in British Columbia and the Yukon.
Glenn MacDonell, VE3XRA
RAC President and Chair