On Saturday, 26 July 2014 at 14h00, the Cape Town Amateur Radio Centre held its Annual General Meeting for 2014. Despite the rather wintery weather, the meeting was gratifying well attended.
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| The winter weather didn't keep folk away from the AGM |
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| Noel / ZS1FW addresses the CTARC |
Noel / ZS1FW was first to address the meeting. He gave us a review of the past year’s activities and events, the prospects for the future of our Club and for the hobby as a whole. While the advances in communications technology now available to all have removed radio hams’ exclusivity in “being able to talk to the world”, there are still many fascinating and attractive aspects to our hobby.
We then held a poignant moment of silence in memory of those hams whose keys went silent in in the past year.
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| Anne reads out the minutes |
Our tireless Secretary and publisher of our Ragchew newsletter, Anne, then read us the minutes. which were duly accepted.
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Danny / ZS1BL casts an avuncular eye over the CTARC financial statements which were projected on-screen
during his financial report. Despite his concerned expression, our club is financially solvent! |
Danny / ZS1BL read us the financial statements for 2014 and it was good to see that our club is in a reasonably healthy financial condition (in spite of the less-than-desirable economic climes). It was also gratifying to note that the CTARC maintains a strength of around 70 members, but we must continue to encourage new members to join up. Grateful acknowledgement was made in absentia to Peter / ZS1PMH, former treasurer to the CTARC, who set up the financial templates in so competent a manner.
Various awards were handed out to CTARC Members:
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| Paul / ZS1S accepts Paul / ZS1GE's award of CTARC Lifetime Membership for him |
Paul / ZS1GE was awarded Life Membership of the CTARC, in recognition of his many years of work for the CTARC. The award was accepted in absentia by Paul / ZS1S.
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| Tom / ZS1TA receives the CTARC Sports Trophy (note the vehicle!) for his work in motor rallies this year |
Tom / ZS1TA received the Sports Trophy for his involvement in motor rally communications.
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| Nick / ZS1ZD receives a certificate for involvement in CTARC's activities |
Nick / ZS1ZD received a certificate for involvement in club activities.
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Mike / ZS1FP accepts the coveted Golden Wellie Award. Through wind, rain, fog, mist, sandstorms
and bitter cold, Mike attended every meeting |
Mike / ZS1FP received the Golden Wellie Award for regular attendance of CTARC meetings throughout the year. This is not the first time Mike has received this award, and the Committee is currently considering ways of permanently adhering it to the person of Mike with epoxy or superglue!
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| Fred / ZS1FK receives the Buck Taylor Award for his diligent work on maintaining our clubhouse |
Fred / ZS1FK received the Buck Taylor Award for his sterling efforts – he came all the way down from St Helena Bay on his 35-year-old 200cc Honda motorbike, day after day, to fix the CTARC clubhouse ceiling and give it a fresh coat of paint. Quite a bit of effort was expended by Fred and our clubhouse now shines because of his involvement.
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| Rob / ZS1SA, the CTARC's new chairman |
We then proceeded to the formal matter of election of the CTARC Chairman and Committee. Paul / ZS1S took over temporary chairmanship as the existing chairman stepped down. (This function is one that for many years had been done by Alan / ZS1AAX, who has now relocated to Natal.) Noel had indicated his willingness to hand over the chairmanship of the CTARC Committee to another, and Rob / ZS1SA has kindly stepped forward to take on that responsibility. Noel will still serve on the committee as Vice-Chairman. Dirkie / ZS1X, who has provided us with his comprehensive DX News reports in the past, has had to step down from the Committee owing to family and salt-mine commitments. Taking the various departures of former members and arrival of new ones to the CTARC Committee, the situation is as follows:
CTARC Committee 2014 / 2015:
Chairman:
Rob / ZS1SA
Vice-Chair:
Noel / ZS1FW
Secretary & Newsletter Editor:
Anne Bareham
Treasurer:
Danny / ZS1BL
Public Relations:
Sean / ZS1RA
Bulletins:
Tony / ZS1TM
Meetings Logistics & WCRWG Representative:
Paul / ZS1PXK
WCRWG Representative:
Paul / ZS1S
QSL Manager & Clubhouse Security:
Deon / ZS1ZL
Photographer & Blogspot:
Nick / ZS1ZD
There will still be some adjustments to the above list and responsibilities w.r.t. Clubhouse Maintenance, Management of Field Days and other matters, but we will keep you posted.
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| Paul / ZS1S shows us a print of former CTARC members |
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Paul hands over to Dennis / ZS1AU his DXCC Honour Roll Award. This kind of award is a typically
once-in-a-lifetime achievent for those few radio amateurs skilled and dedicated enough to earn it.
Dennis definitely fits the profile! |
It’s a good strategy in meetings to leave the best item till last. Paul / ZS1S showed us a photo of former club members and friends, reminding us of the long tradition of friendship that this club has enjoyed. This was a precursor to what happened next. Paul then handed over the highly prestigious
Number One DXCC Plaque to Dennis / ZS1AU, in fond recognition of his spectacular achievement. Dennis has obtained this top award award for having worked
ALL 340 DX entities. Full house. Top honour! We are all awestruck by what Dennis has achieved
We will post a special article on Dennis’s award presently.
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Anne and Rob kindly provided the soup and rolls. A note to prospective club members:
Anne's chicken soup is not to be missed! Second helpings were hungrily requested and graciously ladled out |
The meeting ended off with a feast of scrumptious chicken & veg soup and rolls, kindly provided by Anne & Rob. Members had the opportunity to chat with each other for the rest of the afternoon. So ended another successful AGM.
We look forward to our next CTARC event, which will be participation in the International Lighthouse / Lightship weekend on
16 / 17 August, where a field station will be set up at the Mouille Point Lighthouse.
