From: dave@ips.oz.au (Dave Horsfall)
Newsgroups: aus.radio
Subject: FOLLOW-UP TO "THE FORUM"
Date: 1 Oct 92 09:25:34 GMT
Distribution: aus
Organization: IPS Radio and Space Services.  Sydney, Australia.

From Roger Harrison, VK2ZTB. Vice-President & Federal Councillor.

Council has been busy, indeed, since The Open Forum at the end of 
last month.

In response to Council advertising The Forum, a number of people, 
members and non-members, wrote in with their views. All those who 
wrote have been sent detailed,  personal replies.  If you are one 
of those who wrote, but have not yet received a reply - be assur
ed, your letter's in the mail!

While  a  wide range and variety of issues arose from The  Forum, 
six were identified as needing priority attention.

These are:

1/ Repeater licensing matters
2/ Packet Radio operation and development
3/ Amateur Television activity and development
4/ Divisional communication with members, non-members & clubs
5/ External communication with press, radio & TV
6/ QSL bureau management

Taking first things first:  the NSW Technical Advisory Committee, 
NTAC,  has been re-constituted.  One of the committee's immediate 
and prime functions is to process repeater license applications. 

It is to be a Committee of five members,  reporting to Divisional 
Council,  and will take over the functions of what has been known 
in  the past as "The Repeater Committee".  At present  there  are 
three members: Bob Yorston VK2CAN, who is the Committee Convenor, 
Tim Mills VK2ZTM and Barry White VK2AAB.  Bob and Tim are both on 
Divisional Council. 

Council is seeking two further members to serve on NTAC and, yes, 
applications  from  country members are welcome.  Duties are  not 
expected  to be onerous,  but it is an important job to be  done. 
Applications  must be with the Divisional Office by 7th  October, 
in time to be considered by the Council meeting scheduled for 9th 
October. 

In line with WIA policy,  the Advisory Committee will investigate 
and process all repeater applications which,  when complete  will 
be  passed to Council for on-forwarding to DOTC with the required 
covering  letter.  All  repeater applications sent  in,  and  the 
Advisory Committee's activities, will be reported to Council on a 
regular  basis.  As Council meetings are held twice a  month,  we 
expect all applications to be dealt with in a timely manner.

We'll  have  more to say on repeater  application  procedures  in 
future broadcasts.

The  NTAC will also deal with beacon applications and other  mat
ters  of  a technical nature.  The full compass of  the  Advisory 
Committee's role is yet to be finalised. But that will do for the 
present!

Packet Radio Issues

The  rapidly developing interest in Packet Radio has thrown up  a 
number of issues that need addressing. To help facilitate current 
and  developing operations on the Packet scene,  the NSW Division 
is sponsoring an Open Forum for all Packet operators,  to be held 
on Sunday,  15th November,  from 2 pm to 5 pm.  Venue is  Amateur 
Radio House, 109 Wigram Street, Parramatta.

If you have any issues you feel should be aired, and questions or 
proposals to put before this forum,  please write to the Division 
so that your letter reaches us by or before October 30th.

ATV Issues

Among  a number of current ATV issues,  there was the urgent need 
to  respond to the proposal before DOTC for use of amateur  tele
vision in education, published on page 9 of this month's AR. 

As  little  time was given to respond,  the deadline  being  21st 
September,  the  Divisional Secretary,  Bob  Lloyd-Jones  VK2YEL, 
wrote  to the Assistant Secretary requesting more time to respond 
as there are many complex questions and issues to be addressed in 
this matter.

Other  issues concerning current ATV matters are being  addressed 
by Council and we will report further in future broadcasts.


QSL Bureau

Since  the  untimely death of Reg Brook in  July,  John  Robinson 
VK2XY  has  kindly taken on the administrative  tasks  previously 
handled for the Division by Reg.

But to help out here,  Council is looking for a volunteer for the 
job of QSL Bureau Database Manager.  The Bureau's database is  on 
computer,  so  we're  looking  for someone with  modest  computer 
skills - you need to know your way around a keyboard,  but  don't 
have to be a typist. The computer comes with the job. 

Interested?  Write  to the Division,  or telephone the Divisional 
Secretary  during  the  week and leave your name  and  a  contact 
number.

Divisional Communications, Advertising and PR

These issues loomed large at The Forum and Council has set  about 
identifying what tasks are necessary and what resources we have - 
and don't have. What we don't have is enough people to do what is 
required.

Communications with members,  clubs, non-members, and the broader 
community is a vitally important part of the Division's function. 
But it is impossible for one or two people to look after. 

There are at least twelve identifiable tasks involved in properly 
fulfilling the Division's requirements.  There is not enough time 
in this short item to go into it all in any detail,  but current
ly, only six of those tasks are being fulfilled.

If you believe you have something to offer,  in skills,  in time, 
in  enthusiasm  - then we'd like to hear from you  - country  and 
city. Expressions of interest by mail, phone or fax to the Divis
ional Office please, to reach us by or before October 30th.


To conclude: "you only get out of any activity as much as you put 
into it". 

There  have  been a stack of suggestions for improvement  to  the 
Institute and a lot of comment on the opportunities missed.

Council has over 45 separate functions that have to be performed. 
Look  at  the fun of building a Division that is professional  in 
its approach.
 
Amateur  radio  today is an increasingly diverse  hobby.  With  a 
little  more  input,  the Division could  certainly  amplify  its 
output.

Council looks forward to hearing from you.

-- 
Dave Horsfall (VK2KFU)         VK2KFU @ VK2RWI.NSW.AUS.OC
dave@ips.OZ.AU                  ...munnari!ips.OZ.AU!dave