Issue No. 28 - 1st July 2009

I repeat my comment in my newsletter of 1st May when I said that I was hoping to give a positive report on activity brought about by the May Anniversary Activity. Sadly whilst the number of cards received is up on last year, and last month, they are not all for Members meeting for the first time, with many being courtesy cards. We must also thank Dennis GW4XKE for putting on stations GB65BTF and GB2ADU for seven days at the start of June. These stations generated many cards from members but not so many, to date, as received from Dennis - a hint. I hope that the writer's cramp is cured ready for next batches being produced as the result of your activity during July Dennis. We must also of course pay tribute to Peter GØRGB, Daniel GØOZU and Ian G8OFZ plus any other members helping with these two stations of whom I am unaware - on behalf of all members (especially us Award chasers) Dennis, many thanks.

I have been finding it difficult of late to add interesting QSL cards to my Newsletter for (a) most received have already been displayed and (b) Dick G3NVK gets first sight of SES cards from Dennis and beats me to it
I have asked in previous Newsletters for sight of any interesting cards, with maybe an interesting history for display and maybe discussion among Members. (I nearly said readers?) Kit GM4EMX having recently joined the Bureau (whilst under my tenure I hastily add) has very kindly risen to the challenge. No stories of intrigue or mystery with them but I just wonder if any Members have originals of these cards in their shoeboxes, and importantly any interesting stories to match the card about the actual QSO? Cards attached are:
2S4EMX - DA2CL - DA2WN - G4EMX/P - MP4TCR
Other interesting cards will be very welcome from Members for future use, especially with interesting tales (tails) attached.

A reminder that the list of Members using the Bureau as at 1st July is available on this RSARS website to check 24/7 as is the full membership list. I sent seven (7) cards back to one Member this month which would not have happened had he checked on the Bureau users' list before sending - one of them was for a station with an Affiliated number. It may come as a surprise that a Royal Signals Affiliated Station would not use the Bureau but this one doesn't, so please check before sending. No problem for me as I just put it back into your folder and send it back to you but a bit of a waste of your time and maybe a couple of stamps?

On the subject of the QSL Bureau Users' list - what is not shown is the fact that of those listed, twenty nine (29) have actually dropped into a 'NIL stamps in Bureau' situation. Had I reduced these Members' accounts to nil on the PC they would have automatically dropped off the Bureau list As far as I am concerned these Members are or have been actively exchanging cards so I anticipate (read hope) that stamps will be forthcoming in due course. In view of this I have pencil notes on my copy of the Bureau Users' list "The Management Sheet" with "NS" (meaning no stamps) against them. "NS" will remain for three full months during which I hope to rub out "NS" against each Member, but if I don't it is then, in this case 1st October 2009, that they will be removed from the Bureau. Any cards that have been received for those Members in the meantime will be returned to sender. It would make life a lot easier at this end if Members could maintain a minimum of one stamp in the Bureau. The cost is the same, it just means that with one (1) stamp in the Bureau on receiving five (5) stamps your total remains at five (5). If your account is showing nil when your five (5) stamps are received it balances as four (4). Clear as mud? As I say it does make life a little simpler for the Bureau Manager?

	CARDS RECEIVED	CARDS SENT
June 2005	1773	1858
June 2006	883	890
June 2007	919	1264
June 2008	700	295
June 2009	498	782

It will be obvious that in June more cards were despatched than were received - the answer is simple - the bureau is empty. apart from seven (7) cards for our members in VK/ZL which are sent to Ron VK6RV QSL Manager VK/ZL that is. Many of our colleagues in Australia meet up on the last Sunday each month where they no doubt pass around the latest news. It is at these meetings that Ron passes round the QSL cards so cards for him will depart later. The fact that there are seven cards shows that some Members are getting Down Under - but I sadly I don't include MØOIC in that

So apart from the odd spider running around and seven cards there is a bit of an echo, and more importantly, plenty of space for more cards. Our more recently joining Members are being worked on Nets. During the last week in June I called in to the 40m Net to find that I could copy the majority of Members participating at the time so maybe time to switch on the rig and listen for those new ones - I need the work

As always - good hunting, especially with our members Overseas.