Issue No. 25 - 1st April 2009

The Bureau activity, or should I say lack of it, has continued from February but was slightly better on the incoming total - in the main thanks to V8FHX being activated. Sam is responding to cards received and it is with pleasure we note cards passing across the Bureau tray to and from Ormesby. However he has still a few to come so if you are wondering what you are missing, examples of the two cards from member numbers 1939 and F275 are attached. If you require a card from Sam he will immediately respond, but as with other members he is finding that many cards being sent out are used for claims but without the decency of his card being reciprocated.

It was good to receive cards from Alan VK6PG and Jeff VK6AJ this month - all destined for Ormesby of course. Alan G4BXQ reports that VK and ZL stations are in evidence on 40m early morning (whatever that is) so we live in hope for a few more cards travelling to and from our Overseas members soon.

Nick (G3RWF when at home) continues his activities from Uganda and it was nice to say 'Hello' to him on 14.056MHz at 1618Z on 24th March. He sounded a bit lonely as far as RSARS members were concerned so even if we have worked him before and he's getting no callers I am sure a quick chat would be appreciated.

GD3SIG - F005

Continuing with our travelling members, and a plug for the G3SIG Award
any member needing GD3SIG should note that Roger G3YBO has very kindly volunteered to visit the Isle of Man and will be there for one week 27th April until 4th May 2009. So with this area for the G3SIG Award rather scarce make sure that the aerials are all sorted in good time, for it is not known when your next opportunity will arise. We no longer have an active member on the island so we are reliant on selfless members visiting at their own expense for the benefit of other members - Mike M1CCF did this in September 2007, if I remember rightly, and there has been nothing since. If you are aware of an RSARS member who does not read this Newsletter - probably 98% of members (hi!) please pass it on. Roger will be able to work 80 to 10m, depending on band conditions of course. When working on 20m please bear in mind it will be for the benefit of our members outside of the UK so if you have already worked him on 80 or 40m priority to Overseas members please - you will only get one card from Sam so working Roger on all bands does not produce any bonus points? UK members should manage to work him on 40 or 80m and I make mention of this as Mike MD1CCF (GD3SIG) was accosted by UK members on 20m when searching for our Overseas members in 2007 so please let our Overseas members have a chance? So listen out for GD3SIG F005 operator Roger G3YBO. If successful, as usual, no cards required for GD3SIG but you will receive one direct from the G3SIG AWARD MANAGER (Sam G4OHX).

For our more recent members please visit the G3SIG AWARD section on this website and all will be revealed. Also while there have a read about the May Activity which I am sure will also be enjoyed. (Especially by me as it normally produces Bureau work).

New members

As the month ended it was nice to receive emails from MemSec to advise me of three new members, one of whom is a YL so it will be a pleasure one day to hear another voice from the fairer sex to keep Linda 2E1SIS, Jacqueline 2EØVRG and Mandy 2E1GWO company, hopefully on a Tuesday afternoon net (selfish devil!) And talking about Tuesday afternoon we were joined by member 1233 Geoff G4DQB on 24th March and he managed twelve exchanges so - award-chasing members, they are about! Our new member 4092 David GI4FUM has already been with us on 80m and 160m prior to receiving his membership so well worth listening out for?

Who is our new YL member? -------- Stephanie G4XKH 4094 and we look forward to meeting her and our other new members soon. For those who may not yet have met Mandy 2E1GWO she graced us with her presence during the South Derbyshire VHF net on Friday 27th March putting smiles on the faces of a a few members. Having worked Mandy in the past I called in as G3CIO giving her, Terry MØRIA, Bev GØVNE and Russ GØOKD a G3CIO/F043 point. The things I do to produce QSL cards for the Bureau? Four cards were received 30 minutes after the net closed and are included in the statistics below.

QSL Card movement - postage goes up 6th April 2009

I am sure most of us are aware that the cost of postage is going up on 6th April by 3p per stamp so if it looks likely that I will be sending a stamp reminder to you with your next batch of cards - maybe already en route - you can save yourself 36p on each book of 12 if purchased by 5th April. As for our Overseas members the cost of International postage is also going up and I will include the relevant Royal Mail page with your next batch and a report on how we stand for the future. Please don't send me any extra money yet, for nothing is that urgent. Similarly with UK members second class stamps held on your behalf are still valid so no action required - not sure about the penny blacks and twopenny blues though - maybe those members need to work a few new ones.

Talking about stamps I make no apologies for again mentioning the May Activity. If you are not a Bureau user and work members during the Contest please, please, please advise them of this fact for there is nothing worse in my view in having to send cards back to senders. I never liked receiving them from Bureau Managers before me but now doing the job I fully understand why this was so.

Statistics

So to the statistics which again show that propagation reports from Barry G3YEU are telling the facts - bands ain't very good, which has an effect on our nets and overseas contacts. It would be nice if there were some openings during May.

¤ Please ignore total for March 2007 as this is the month that we sadly lost Peter G3YOB (SK) with some 501 cards being logged during April when I took over the running of the Bureau. (Two years ago. Is that all it is?)

Don't forget in addition to being a talker (by voice and by email - oh you've noticed ) I am also a listener so if you would like me to include anything of interest in my Newsletter that you would like QSL information or similar passed on to members, you know where I can be found and it will be my pleasure.