CTARC Dennis Maastricht ZS1DTM Silent Key - 30 Jul '17

It is with deep sadness we announce that the key of Dennis Maastricht / ZS1DTM became silent on Sunday 30 July at 01h00, in Somerset West, having almost reached the age of eighty-nine years.

While no longer a member of CTARC, Dennis was well known to many of us in the radio amateur community, and will be sorely missed. He was a highly intelligent, insightful and generous man.

Our condolences go to his sister Mavis and the rest of his family.

Photo by kind courtesy of Dave / ZS1DFR

CTARC ZS1CT Bulletin for 30 July '17

Please note that the SARL HQ and CTARC Bulletins will be transmitted at 08h30 B: on the 145.650 MHz on Sunday morning of 30 July 2017.

CTARC Antenna Work Party - 29 July '17

Following a decision made at the CTARC Committee Members meeting of 17 July 2017, a very necessary Antenna Work Party will be held at the CTARC clubhouse on Saturday, 29 July 2017, starting at 09h00 sharp.

We request all club members who are free that day to come and assist. We will be assembling and raising a new beam antenna for the club's station.

For those who may not have attended such a Work Party before, it's an ideal opportunity to learn all about antenna hardware, masts, wiring practise, and so on. Casual clothing is recommended.

CTARC Annual General Meeting Photos - 22 Jul '17

Here are the photos from the Cape Town Amateur Radio Centre's AGM of Saturday 22 July 2017. For the written report, click [here].

Rob / ZS1SA reads the Chairmans Report.
This was followed by Anne's Secretary's Report

Danny / ZS1BL delivered his comprehensive Treasurers Report

Davy / ZR1FR of the Rally Group

Michael / ZS1MJT awards the Sports Communications Award to
Hendrik / ZS1EEE

Rob / ZS1SA awards the Wellie Awards to Richard / ZS1RIC (in absentia)

The prestigious Club Participation Award goes jointly to
Hans-Jurgen / ZS1HJH and Wolfgang / ZR1WLH

The CTARC's top award, the Buck Taylor Trophy, is awarded to Fred / ZS1FZ
(in absentia) for his dedication, commitment and involvement in a club project
that will be announced presently

John / ZS1AGH takes on the temporary mantle of CTARC Chairmanship
while the election of Chairman and Office Bearers takes place.
Rob / ZS1SA is re-elected as chairman

After the formalities were concluded, the chairs were re-stacked and our members
had the chance to chat and be sustained by Anne's excellent chicken soups,
breadrolls and a glass of sherry

CTARC Report on CTARC AGM - 23 Jul '17

Yesterday at 14h00 we held the CTARC’s Annual General Meeting of 2017 at the clubhouse.
(Photos are here).

The meeting was well attended. We counted over 30 heads in attendance.

The meeting was opened by the CTARC Chairman, Rob / ZS1SA and apologies announced. Then formal confirmation of notice of the meeting was obtained and a quorum confirmed.  A minute's silence was held for those Silent Keys who passed away this year.

Confirmation of Minutes of the previous AGM, held on Saturday, 23 July 2016, was obtained and matters arising from these minutes was briefly discussed

Rob then delivered the Chairman’s Report, covering the events of the last year and some future plans for the clubhouse and infrastructure. Anne then delivered her short but sweet Secretary’s Report. This was followed by the Treasurer's Report,comprehensively covered by Danny / ZS1BL and illustrated with PowerPoint slides of the figures. Approval of the accounts was obtained. A necessary (but moderate) increase in membership fees is taking place. This will be detailed in Ragchew and the Blogspot.
 
Then the pleasant task of presentation of Trophies and Awards was done by our Chairman, Rob. 

The Club Participation Award was given jointly to Hans-Jurgen / ZS1HJH and Wolfgang / ZR1WLH, for their great involvement this year with the club and technical development of its antennas;

The Golden Wellie Award, for attendance of Club Meetings and events through thick and thin was awarded to Richard / ZS1RIC (in absentia);

The CTARC's most prestigious award, the Buck Taylor award, was awarded in absentia to Fred /ZS1FZ, for his enormous involvement (in time, vision and funding) for a big project of huge benefit to our club, that he initiated, steered and is busy building, that will be clarified in greater detail presently;

The Sports Award was awarded by Michael /ZS1MJT, backed up by Davey / ZR1FR, to Hendrick / ZS1EEE, for the quality and depth of his involvement in radio comms for Sports Rallies this last year.

We then proceeded with the formal election of office bearers and activity conveners. Rob stood down as John / ZS1AGH took over as temporary caretaker Chairman to call for nominations. 

Rob / ZS1SA was unanimously nominated and elected as the CTARC Chairman for the period 2017 / 2018. This was followed by the election of a new Working Committee and Bank Signatory Mandates.

The CTARC Committee remains (more or less) as before, with the following portfolios:

Anne is CTARC Secretary & Ragchew Editor;
Noel / ZS1FW is CTARC Vice-Chairman, Clubhouse Manager & Convenor of the weekly ZS1CT Net; 

Danny / ZS1BL is CTARC Treasurer;

Tony / ZS1TK is the new Bulletins Coordinator;

Paul / ZS1S is Western Cape Repeater Working Group representative (he's currently the Vice-Chairman of that organisation). He is also responsible for Clubhouse Security;

Paul / ZS1PXK is Meetings Logistics Coordinator;

Barry / ZS1FJ is QSL Manager - Cards;

Charles / ZS1CJO is QSL Manager - Digital;

Peter /  ZS1PGC is Club Assets Manager;
;
Nick / ZS1ZD is Website / Blogspot Manager & Club Photographer.

The following Committee Members stepped down:
Shaun / ZS1RA (former CTARC Public Relations Officer) has relocated from Cape Town;
Tony / ZS1TM (former Bulletins Coordinator);
and Hylton / ZR1HPC (former QSL Manager).
 
Appointment of Honorary Auditor:
As Barry / ZS1FJ has now joined the CTARC Committee, we require the services of a new honorary auditor. This non-onerous responsibility involves casting a proprietorial eye over the accounting figures of the CTARC's  finances.

With the office bearers duly elected, other business was attended to briefly and the Rob offered a votes of thanks to the committee members, new & outgoing. With that, the meeting was formally ended and refreshments were then served. CTARC Members and visitors had the chance to chat over tubs of delicious soup and the occasional glass of sherry.

Our Club's thanks are due to a number of folk:

• Rob, for his leadership and vision through the past years of chairmanship;
• Rob and Anne for organizing the logistics of the AGM event;
• Special thanks to Anne and Elsabe for feeding us with scrumptious chicken soup, beef consomme and sherry and rolls on the cold winter afternoon; and also to Tony /ZS1TK, who made glasses of red wine available for a nominal contribution;
• Thank-you to the CTARC Committee, for their work, insights and contributions throughout the year. Everyone has a role to play and it’s a great team;
• Lastly, but certainly not leastly, thanks to all the CTARC members, for their attendance, support and contributions that make the CTARC the convivial fellowship that it is.

Things wound up at about 16h30. The following meeting at the CTARC will be the Antenna Work Party on Saturday, 29 July.

Photos of the event are [here].

CTARC Bulletins Frequency Change - 23 July '17

Owing to the temporarily limited local coverage of the Tygerberg Repeater antenna on 145.750 MHz, the CTARC Sunday morning bulletins (the ZS6SRL SARL HQ Bulletin and the ZS1CT Club Bulletin) that start at 08h30 S.A.S.T. will transmit instead via the 145.600 MHz repeater on Hanskop at Sir Lowry's Pass. This frequency change is effective from Sunday 23 July 2017.

That repeater may well be linked to other Cape Peninsula-area repeaters if possible.

The bulletin will also be transmitted via Echolink and, if relay stations are available, on 7086 kHz and 3700 kHz, both Lower Sideband.

CTARC AGM 2017 - Proxy Form

Extracted below is the Proxy Form for absentee members wishing to nominate a visiting member to vote for them at the CTARC AGM on 22 July 2017.

Download the PDF file [here].

CTARC AGM 2017 - Minutes of 2016

Extracted below are the Minutes of the 2016 July AGM at the Cape Town Amateur Radio Centre.

Download the PDF [here].

CTARC AGM 2017 - Agenda

Extracted below is the agenda of the CTARC's forthcoming AGM on 22 July at 14h00 at the CTARC clubhouse.

Download the PDF [here].

CTARC Forthcoming AGM - 22 Jul '17

The Cape Town Amateur Radio Centre's July meeting will be our Annual General Meeting.
It will take place, as always, at the CTARC clubhouse at 14h00 on Saturday 22 July 2017.

All members are encouraged to attend this important club meeting for the election of CTARC office bearers and committee, reading of club financial statements, reception of club awards and a good get-together in general.

Soup and sherry (served in separate vessels!) will be available for the delectation of the members.

We look forward to seeing you there.

Further details will be announced here, on the bulletins and in Ragchew.

Last year's AGM in 2016

CTARC Ragchew July 2017

The July 2017 edition of the Cape Town Amateur Radio Centre's bi-monthly newsletter "Ragchew" is now published. Grateful thanks once again to Anne for another fine edition!

Download the PDF file [here].

Ragchew is also on our Newsletters page