Committee Meeting Snippets   Page Last Updated: 16 Mar 2011

Snippets of W.A.B. Committee Meeting - 4 June 2006

In Attendance

• G0BFJ, G8XTJ, G4JZF, G4IAQ, G0REP, G0NLX, G0AKH, G4IAR, G7GJU

Apologies

• G4KSQ, Chris Gibbs

Minutes of Previous Meeting

• G7GJU confirmed that Peter Sheppard is no longer a member of the committee.
• The minutes from previous meetings have been located. G0NLX & G4IAQ tasked with making sure these are complete, following loss of the minute book a few years ago following an E.G.M. G4IAR & G4IAQ were thanked for their work on this matter.
• The new merchandise had been well received and was selling well.
• The new trophies have been purchased and had been presented at the A.G.M.
• The President's report on the first page of the website should now be moved to another page and advertising for awards be placed there instead. G0AKH to action this.
• M3WAB - Discussed, resolved not to pursue this since the group holds sufficient callsigns for its needs.
• The minutes were accepted as a true record by the meeting.

President's Report

• The president thanked everyone for their attendance.
• He had little to report since this was his first time chairing the meeting.
• The location of the next A.G.M. was still to be determined and he urged the committee to give this matter some thought, or we would be back to Blackpool by default.

S.W.L./Novice Representative's Report

• Since the A.G.M. only one enquiry from a German S.W.L. for information about W.A.B. This has resulted in him claiming four awards.
• Increased publicity in RADCOM would hopefully increase the level of interest amongst Novices and S.W.L.'s

Secretary's Report

• G0NLX reported that since the A.G.M. she had received the resignation of G4VID from the committee. She had thanked him by letter for all his previous work for the group.
• A letter also thanking the Norbreck Rally committee for their help in organising the weekend of the A.G.M. had been sent.
• Following a discussion regarding the difficulty some members had reportedly had in contacting her, the secretary resigned the position, remaining on the committee without portfolio.
• G0REP was elected to the position of Secretary.

Publicity Officer's Report

• G8XTJ reported his frustration at the inaccuracies and omissions he was encountering when dealing with the news desk at R.S.G.B. Similarly he felt that due to work commitments and the poor radio conditions prevailing, that he was unable to fulfil his duties in the way he would wish.
• He suggested members may like to contact the various magazines themselves with photographs etc., but should they have difficulty with dialogue, he would help them present it.
• He acknowledged that some opportunities for free publicity had been missed.
• He was reminded that the entry for the R.S.G.B. yearbook was pressing.
• It was suggested that he try to obtain an entry in RADCOM highlighting a different award each month.
• He was informed that G4IAR and G4IAQ had access to a computerised presentation on W.A.B., which they were prepared to deliver.
• It was suggested that in areas where speakers could be found, that clubs should be contacted to see if they were amenable. G0REP to deal with this.

Contest Manager's Report

• The 1.8Mhz phone competition had seen a 50% increase in entries this year.
• No entries for the VHF/UHF CW Data contest. The last entry in this contest had been received in 2000.
• Entries for the LF Phone were still being received. The number of entries were encouraging.
• Rule changes to mobile working appear to have improved matters, though generally some of the paperwork submitted remained unsatisfactory.
• He agreed to compile a model contest entry with correctly completed paperwork for the benefit of future entrants.
• G0AKH would make the changes to the website.

Treasurer's Report

• G4IAR reported that the financial position of the group was still unclear in relation to the legacy, as we had not received the first income from it.
• The balance sheet showed a deficit of £153, but that was not unusual at this time of the year, (bills for trophies etc).
• Book sales steady.
• The group holds a stock of 300 full book sets and a further 100 less booklists. This should last the group for a good number of years unless something un-foreseen happens.
• The first payment of interest from the investment is due next month. There followed a discussion on the cost of books, CD's and awards. The matter of books and CD's were deferred but it was resolved to reduce the price of awards to reflect the cost. Unfortunately it was thought impracticable to reduce the price of overseas awards due to the fact the smallest euro note was 5 Euro and therefore for logistical purposes when applying, it would be impracticable to reduce the cost of these.
• Free membership was discussed and dismissed as being un-constitutional.
• Payment by paypal for membership, awards etc. had been investigated: due to cost this was rejected.
• Charity donations were discussed, it was recognised that a change to the constitution would be required if the group were to donate monies to charities that were non-radio related.
• Grants made to individuals was discussed, but rejected.

Internet Co-ordinator's Report

• G0AKH had little to report.
• The website was functioning satisfactorily.
• W.A.B. Spots page had been created and was under test. He explained the need for this was because the reflector was subject to delay, the spot page was instantaneous.
• After discussion it was resolved that the Spots page would be under trial and a decision taken on its future at the next meeting.

Boundary Changes Co-ordinator's Report

• G0AKH had nothing to report.

Membership Secretary's Report

• G4JZF reported that since the A.G.M. 80 books had been sold, made up of 16 books, 20 CD's and 45 book numbers.

Award Manager's Report

• G4IAQ reported that since the A.G.M. she had issued 80 awards.
• It was suggested that the rules for some awards were quite complex and in general the membership appear to prefer to support the short sharp activity awards on offer. It was resolved that proposed changes to the Winter Activity award rules would be accepted and these would be shown on the web site.
• Requirements for the Yorkshire and 3 Counties Award to be reduced from 100 points currently, to 50 points in the future.
• A new award for working special event stations during the summer months to be known as the Summer award was proposed and accepted. This would run from May to October and would start 2007. Rules will be placed on the web site when finalised.
• A Portable only award had been proposed by a member. This was discussed, and as it was felt there was confusion as to what definition of a 'Portable' area was to be applied, it was voted on, and rejected at this stage.
• Annual Activity Award qualification levels were agreed as:-
  HF 100 areas heard/worked
  VHF and activated - 50 Areas worked/heard.

News Letter Editor's Report

• G7GJU reported positively on the latest issue.
• Numbers of subscribers were down, but that was in part due to the numbers of renewals due in this quarter.
• The OV story had been well received, the next instalment eagerly awaited.
• After a discussion it was resolved that the newsletter would be made available on the website, with hard copy available for those members who wished it that way. This will be implemented at a later stage.

Rallies Co-ordinator's Report

• G7GJU reported that although the movement of "Rally Packs" still presented a problem, in general terms, thanks to a loyal few the rally scene was doing quite well. He expressed his thanks to all those who helped.

N.A.T.S.

• It was resolved that the W.A.B. Awards Group would, from the 1 July 2006, take over the full administration of this award. This was following the license grant from UKHO allowing us to do that.
• Acknowledgement of the major part played by G4WSB in the institution of this award would continue to be on every certificate issued.

A.G.M. 2007

• It was agreed that every endeavour should be made to find a venue in the Midlands for this event.
• Suggestions from the membership should be solicited, but it was recognised that if no suitable venue was identified then it may again be back at Blackpool.
• Various venues were discussed and some rejected. It was recognised that this was becoming a matter of some urgency.

A.O.B.

• The incompatibility issue of WAB-IT and Windows XP was raised following a letter from a member. G7GJU to reply. G0AKH will update the programme when he has the time, but re-iterated that the programme was a personal project not linked to his position on the committee.
• G4YSS had been thanked via email for providing the tape of his OV expedition.
• A mobile only contest had been suggested by a member, this was already felt to exist as part of every contest.
• A question of why the committee had been re-elected in its entirety at the A.G.M. had been raised. Since the committee were all prepared to stand and there were more vacancies on the committee than there were people prepared to stand, this was acceptable practice and within the constitution.

Date of Next Meeting

• 6 August 2006, 1200hrs, Heanor, Derbyshire

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