CTARC Committee Meeting - 19 April '21

CTARC Committee members are reminded of the committee meeting to be held online at 19h00 on Monday, 19 April 2021.

Please do make an effort to attend the online meeting.

(If you can't be there, please remember to send in your reports and apologies to Rob or Anne.). 

CTARC April Meeting - 24 Apr '21

We are looking forward to having a members' meeting at the clubhouse on Saturday, 24th April 2021.

At the forthcoming CTARC committee meeting the 19 April online committee meeting, the possibility and format of this meeting will be discussed. We will announce further details presently.

CTARC Report on Flea Market of 27 March '21

On Saturday, 27 March 2021, the long-awaited ham boot sale / flea market took place at the CTARC Clubhouse.

At first the weather threatened rain, and indeed there was a small shower early on, but it cleared up sufficiently for the flea market to go ahead without further disruption.

Committee members pitched up early to set up the event, barrier-tape the perimeter to ensure compliance with Covid-19 requirements. Other folk started arriving and by 10h30, the official start of the flea market, browsers were champing at the bit.

All people at the meeting had to wear a mask, maintain social distancing and sanitise their hands appropriately. They also were required to sign a Covid declaration form, which process was capably managed by our indispensable club secretary, Anne. She also sold fine embroidered CTARC face masks, setting new standards for sartorial elegance at our club meetings. While we all are getting tired of face masks by now, at least where we do need to wear them we can represent our Club with pride!

We're glad to report that everyone cooperated with the Covid safety requirements, which gives us hope for the possibility of further clubhouse meetings, subject to the official lockdown re-assessments.

In contrast with previous flea markets, catering and liquid refreshments were not provided this year, but members brought their own food and flasks of coffee.

While current circumstances reduced the number of vendors and attendees compared to previous years, the event was most successful. Tony ZS1TK counted fifty-two visitors in all. Around fifteen people were selling items. A number of happy campers walked away with nice bits and pieces, components, rigs and antennas. There were, as always, some great bargains to be had.

At around 14h30 the fleamarket started winding down and was done by about 15h00.

Most grateful thanks to Rob and Anne for managing the event work so well, and to all committee members for their contributions. And to all the buyers and sellers who were there too!

A more comprehensive report (with photos) is included in the April Ragchew here.

CTARC Ragchew - April '21

The April 2021 edition of the Cape Town Amateur Radio Centre's bi-monthly newsletter "Ragchew"is now published. Grateful thanks to the editor, Anne, for another fine edition.

Remember please, Anne is always needs articles to publish in Ragchew! This is especially the case during the lock-down. Thank you to those numerous contributors in this March edition!

You can advertise ham-related items - for sale, swop or wanted-to-buy - in Ragchew, including colour photos, details and prices. To do so, please contact the editor [here].

Download the April 2021 Newsletter as a PDF file [here];

Ragchew is also on our Newsletters Page

CTARC March Meeting - 27 Mar '21

Yeah! We can finally do something fun together!

Your committee has agreed that we should hold a flea market where we can stock up on new toys and dispose of those which we are no longer using in exchange for some necessary cash to buy new ones. It will also give us a chance to meet up with old friends and make new ones.

A bit of caution though. Although the president has loosened up on the COVID restrictions for whatever purpose, it is still far from safe out there and your committee does not want to be responsible for someone's unnecessary suffering or worse.

There will be many changes from our usual "Bumper" annual flea market which was a very gala event. Due to health concerns this will be a much more toned down event.

No bar and braai nor draw prizes this year. I hear groans and shouts of dismay but this is far better than not getting together at all or someone becoming ill from an unknown carrier attending the event.
 
As per our End of Year function in November which went superbly well, everybody will be required to sign in and complete a Covid 19 questionnaire.

You must also agree to keep at least 1.5 metres away from others and to wear your mask properly over both your mouth and nose during your entire stay. Please do not be offended if a committee member reminds you to mask up properly. We are there for your protection too.

Remember this is not to protect you but to protect your fellow members. Show that you care and mask up properly. It is also the law. A face shield is not a replacement for a mask. The club house will remain locked as it is not large enough to practice social distancing inside.
 
Sellers must provide hand sanitizer on their table for the buyers to use before and after handling any goods or cash.

If you do not agree to these simple rules then please do not attend. The health and lives of our members are of paramount importance to your committee.
 
Now we have got over all the ugly things, here are the details. The event will begin on the lawn in front of our clubhouse off Laidlaw Road, at 10h30 on Saturday morning 27 March 2021 for sign in and parking of seller's vehicles. We should be finished by mid day or early afternoon at the latest.

Looking forward to seeing you there.

Rob Bareham ZS1SA
Chairman CTARC.