RAC Affiliated Club Insurance Program 2021: Applications are now being processed

Radio Amateurs of Canada is pleased to announce that we are now accepting applications from Amateur Radio clubs across the country for our Liability Insurance Program for 2021.

RAC runs the RAC Affiliated Club Insurance Program each year to provide Canadian Amateur Radio clubs with liability insurance coverage – often needed by clubs in order to operate in public venues or for public events – at rates well below standard commercial coverage packages. In addition, all RAC members who are also members of participating clubs will see the liability coverage extended, automatically, and at no charge, to their own individual Amateur Radio activities.

There are no major limitations or restrictions to which clubs may apply to the program, but they must be an incorporated club within Canada and be either affiliated with RAC or be willing to affiliate as part of the application process.

Note: for a list of RAC Affiliated Clubs please visit: https://www.rac.ca/affiliated-club-listing/

More information about the RAC Affiliated Club Insurance Program – including details of coverage, fee calculations and a step-by-step description of the application process for new clubs – can be found on the RAC website at https://www.rac.ca/insurance.

Clubs that are not currently participating and are interested in more information about the costs of the program may contact the RAC office and provide information about their club for an estimate of the potential fees. The RAC Office may be reached via email at racgm@rac.ca or by calling the toll free number 1-877-273-8304. RAC Office hours are 10 am to 4 pm, Eastern Time, every weekday.

Applications are open now and RAC will continue to accept applications throughout 2021.

As a result of the global pandemic, mail delivery continues to be very slow so we strongly advise that all applications be completed online and sent digitally to the RAC Office.

Important: Please note that if your club requires official documentation by January 1, 2021, then the application should be submitted either physically or electronically to the RAC office by December 21, 2020. Applications received after this date will still be accepted but may be subject to delays in processing.

If you or a member of your club have any further questions about the insurance program, please feel free to contact the RAC Office for assistance. Thank you!

Adam MacDonell
RAC Office Coordinator

A “slight” miscommunication between the Nome Amateur Radio Club and the FAA has caused the regional amateur repeater network to go off the air. To learn more about what happened and what is being done to repair things go to

‘Miscommunication’ Between FAA and SPARC Leads to HAM Radio Network Shut Down

Earlier this month someone hacked into Florida’s emergency communication system and sent a message to the State Emergency Response Team. At this time no one is sure how the hack occurred.

https://www.tampabay.com/florida-politics/buzz/2020/11/27/floridas-emergency-communications-channel-hacked-according-to-state-officials/

 The Maritime Mobile Service Net (MMSN) on 14.300 MHz remains available to less-equipped mariners who need assistance in emergencies is the position taken by the Coast Guard. To learn more on the rationale for t his move go to

http://www.arrl.org/news/coast-guard-proposes-to-discontinue-hf-voice-watchkeeping

Island Health@VanIslandHealth

Hey Central Island, we need YOUR help! #COVID19 infection rates are rising in our communities. In the Central Island area alone, cases grew more than 600% in 10 days. We need to step up, work together & reverse this trend.

Did you receive the alert yesterday as part of the nation wide test ??? A test alert survey has now been issued. The survey may be be found at

https://peasi.com/emergency-alert-test-survey.html

The Provincial Government again extended the state of emergency as a result of the COVID situation. This time they added a kicker in that fines are included for not wearing a mask as required by Provincial Health Orders.

More information can be found at

https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2020EMBC0061-001960

On Friday Nov 27 2020 at 1:55pm there will be a test of the Alert Ready System.

Test Alerts will be issued on Television, Radio and Compatible Wireless Devices in most provinces and territories.

The Board of Trustees of the Canadian Amateur Radio Hall of Fame is pleased to announce that Maurice-André Vigneault, VE3VIG and Doug Leach, VE3XK (SK), have been named to the Hall of Fame.

Radio Amateurs of Canada recognizes deserving Amateurs by appointments to the Canadian Amateur Radio Hall of Fame. The Constitution for the Hall specifies that the appointment as Member of the Hall is made for “outstanding achievement and excellence of the highest degree, for serious and sustained service to Amateur Radio in Canada, or to Amateur Radio at large”.

The Trustees of the Hall have interpreted the Constitution to mean that the person has performed significant service over many years to enhance the well-being of Amateur Radio.

Maurice-André Vigneault, VE3VIG

Radio Amateurs of Canada and the Board of Trustees of CARHOF sincerely congratulate Maurice-André Vigneault, VE3VIG, on his appointment to the Hall of Fame.

Maurice-André Vigneault, VE3VIG, obtained his Amateur Radio certification in 1990 following a 38-year career in the Canadian Armed Forces where he specialized in radio, radar and in teaching electronics. Subsequently, he went on to serve the Amateur Radio community internationally as Canadian delegate to AMSAT and to the ARISS Working Group and as a member of the ARISS School Selection Committee for Canada and Latin America.

Nationally, he fostered the art and science of Amateur Radio through authorship of over 200 published articles and he managed the Amateur Radio Station VE3JW at the Canada Museum of Science and Technology for 18 years from 1996 to 2014.

Locally, he was recognized by his peers with club life membership and Amateur of the Year awards for his untiring devotion: inspiring school children to consider STEM careers by facilitating contacts with astronauts; educating the general public on the many aspects and social benefits of Amateur Radio at VE3JW during Field Days, Lighthouse Lightship Weekends and during multiple activations; mentoring new Amateurs, teaching a course on satellite Amateur Radio and facilitating for physically-handicapped Amateurs the enjoyment of the hobby; and deploying as a volunteer radio operator during the North American ice storm of 1998.

A summary of Maurice-André’s contributions to Amateur Radio will be published in an  upcoming issue of The Canadian Amateur magazine.

Doug Leach, VE3XK (SK)

Radio Amateurs of Canada and the Board of Trustees of CARHOF are pleased to appoint Doug Leach, VE3XK, to the Hall of Fame. Sadly, Doug became a Silent Key on January 15, 2020.

The contributions that Doug Leach, VE3XK (SK), has made to Amateur Radio in Canada have been many and long lasting.

As one of the driving forces behind the creation of Radio Amateurs of/du Canada, he served as the RAC First Vice-President in 1997-98 and was the RAC Director for the Ontario North Region from 2001 to 2004. He also served as Acting President for three months.

Doug successfully initiated numerous programs that have served to define the organization, including: the RAC Affiliated Club Program; the RAC Foundation; the RAC Audio-Visual Program; the RAC Liability Insurance Program; and the RAC alias email forwarding programs.

In addition to serving on the RAC Board and Executive, Doug was the  author and editor of several RAC publications and reports including: the RAC Operating Manual; the RAC Emergency Coordinator’s Manual; the RAC Official Observer’s Guide; the RAC Administration Manual; and the RAC Manual for Directors.

Doug was a member of Radio Amateurs of Canada, the American Radio Relay League, the Quarter Century Wireless Association,  the Straight Key Century Club, the PODXS 070 Club, the Ottawa Amateur Radio Club and the West Carleton Amateur Radio Club.

A summary of Doug’s contributions to Amateur Radio will be published in an  upcoming issue of The Canadian Amateur magazine.

For more information on the Canadian Amateur Radio Hall of Fame please visit: https://wp.rac.ca/carhof/

Prepared by Frank Davis, VO1HP
Chair, Board of Trustees
Canadian Amateur Radio Hall of Fame

The Hurricane Watch Net had to shut down due to ongoing interference from another station. The site below will provide an update on what happened.

http://www.arrl.org/news/international-broadcast-station-interference-overwhelms-hurricane-watch-net