[QCWA] Are You a QCWA Deputy?

[Dave - VE3JX]

Greetings Bob Roske and all,

You mentioned the new program started by the BoD: "Are you a QCWA Deputy?"
when responding to one of my blurbs.

There are several individuals who are obviously adept at attracting or
producing members for QCWA.  You are obviously one of them.  And, John B.
Johnson is too, with his name has appearing as 'sponsor' so many times.
However, I am not adept.

That is not to say that I don't try.  I've published articles in our local
club's newsletter, and I have answered various questions at our Seniors
club, but I have had no success thus far.  I don't know why I have trouble
getting something going.  We have several individuals that certainly
qualify, and also seemed mildly interested.  But, I couldn't get any action
or commitment.  I really highlighted the coming fee increases and the
"window of opportunity" for Canadians to get a life membership for $60,
instead of the current $150.  No takers that I know of.  Maybe, it's because
there is no local chapter in Northern Ontario.  I have an idea to pursue,
that of an international chapter: possibly a "Twin-Sault International
Chapter", if you will.  We have two QCWA members on the U.S. side, and just
myself on our side.  Technically, we would only need 2 more members to get a
charter.  Something that we can work on anyway.

I also answered a request for our Canadian Director at the time (Ken Oelke
VE6AFO) to help find confirmation of 1st year licenced for a Canadian who
was enquiring how he could qualify for membership.  His original certificate
& licence were packed away somewhere (he had just moved into another
province).  He apparently obtained his 1st licence in 1976.  While QCWA HQ
has an almost complete collection of Callbooks for the U.S., they do not
have such for other countries.  Before the early 1990's, Canadian amateurs
were listed in the "DX" Callbook.  After that, the U.S. Callbook became the
"North American" Callbook, and Canada was now included in it.  Thus, the
call from HQ thru Ken for help in finding a applicable DX Callbook.

I spent some time and effort to find such a source.  First, I checked our
seniors radio club for older Callbooks.  We did have a 1976 DX Callbook.
However, a 1976 Callbook is issued late fall of the previous year, 1975.  He
obviously was not in it.  However, he was in the 1982 DX Callbook that was
there.  Therefore, I turned my attention to finding 1977-1980 DX Callbooks.
I checked with various Canadian QSL bureaux; no dice.  Then, I inquired from
a well-known DX columnist, who directed me towards the Ontario QSL bureau;
again no dice.

Then, I thought about the radio museums around.  Most prominent here is the
Hammond Radio Museum in Guelph.  After searching their archives, they
reported not finding any within my requested range.  There is a radio museum
in the Greater Vancouver area called the SPARC Museum (Society for the
Preservation of Antique Radio in Canada).  However, they did not have any of
the needed Callbooks either.

A google search turned up a new-to-me Amateur Radio Museum in Manitoba.
MARM (Manitoba Amateur Radio Museum), a museum dedicated to amateur radio
exclusively, did have the Callbooks in question.  With the help of Dave
Snydal VE4XN, the end result was that Dave found him listed in the 1978 DX
Callbook, or properly called the 1977/78 Winter DX Callbook.  (There was up
to a year's lag time before a Canadian got listed in the Callbook.  So, it
appears to concur with what the prospective member was saying about when he
got his 1st licence, i.e. 1976.)  And so, it was conclusively identified
that he had his licence by at least 1977.  (Incidently, MARM is now our
one-stop-shop resource for such Canadian information as needed in the
future.)

However, the upshot of all this work was that the individual has not yet
joined.  He is still considering his membership options and counting his
pennies.  However, he was very pleased and grateful for our efforts in his
behalf.

Lately, I have offered to help our Secretary of the chapter that I'm
affiliated with to man a QCWA table at a coming Hamfest.  We'll see how that
works out, as well.  (Actually, it will be the same hamfest location where I
was "snagged" two years ago.)

And so, am I a QCWA Deputy?  Like many other members, I'm trying to be.  I'm
not that good.  Haven't really had any "arrests".  However, any & all
suggestions for improvement, new ideas, techniques, etc. are always welcome
at this QTH.

Cheers,

Dave Hayes VE3JX
QCWA Life #33597
  OOTC #4483