The Pres Says…..
Already we are into the second month of the year. Gee the years go faster as we get older. February for the Club has a few things in store. By the time you read this, the working bee would have been run and hopefully won with the installation of the first of two air conditioners in the Club Rooms. The unit is being installed by our resident installer (aren’t we lucky we have such a diverse membership) Graeme Wheatley. It is a reverse cycle type so winter time may be a little more comfortable as well as the rest of summer. Thanks to those involved with the working bee day. Several other jobs will have been done also during the day with the highlight being a BBQ and a chat.

Australia Day saw about 20 people enjoying a BBQ and good conversation at the Club Rooms. We defied the bans and proudly displayed our Australian Flag. This looks like it will fit nicely into each year’s calendar unless we decide to go away from home somewhere. Also remember that Saturday the 17th Feb will see us at Castello’s Hotel in Pakenham. Check the notices elsewhere for more info.

A new set or Club Rules has been drawn up to reflect items that have been raised over the last couple of years. This is the first time our rules have been changed since we became incorporated therefore it is timely that we do so now. A Special Resolution will be put to the vote at the AGM so that the new Rules will become effective as of the new financial year. Please read the “Notice of Special Resolution” elsewhere in this edition of the magazine for more information.

Hopefully with this edition members will find a questionnaire regarding the members’ views on the Club. Please answer it anonymously and return it at the February meeting or mail it. It is important that we get your opinions / ideas to keep moving forward. I thank you in anticipation of a good response. See you at the February meeting.

73s Albert Vk3BQ

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Okay, here's one: how many characters in a science fiction story does it take to change a light bulb? Give up? Two. One to change the light bulb, and the other to say, "As you know, Fred, the light bulb was invented by Thomas Edison, and operates under the principle of …"
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GGREC Event Queue

Feb 17	Castello’s Pakenham 6.30
March 24th / 25th	Foundation Licence course
April 20	AGM
April 28th	Saturday Fox Hunt
July 21	GGREC Hamfest

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If we get involved in a nuclear war, would the electromagnetic pulses from exploding bombs damage my videotapes?
        - Anon
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STILL WANTED
A new editor for this Magazine. Now we have a volunteer for the rest of the year (thanks Ross) but after that somebody else will have to put up their hand. Don’t leave it till the last minute, volunteer now!!!!
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Two hydrogens are walking along a street. The first one says, "Hey! I think I lost an electron!" The second one replies, "Are you sure?" The first one then says, "Yeah, I'm POSITIVE."
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Notice of Special Resolution (1 of 2)
All GGREC Members are advised that a Special Resolution will be put to the vote at the Annual General Meeting. This Resolution refers to the changing of the Club Rules (rules of incorporation).

In accordance with our existing Rules, a Special Resolution must be advertised in the magazine for two months prior to the meeting at which it is to be voted on.

Our Rules must comply with the “Incorporation Act”. If you would like to read the “Model Rules” please go to Consumer Affairs Victoria at www.consumer.vic.gov.au. A copy of the PROPOSED new rules appears on the GGREC website and you will need to go to the following address to read them: www.ggrec.org.au/newclubrules. If you cannot access them via the internet, contact the Secretary as per the front cover and you will be mailed a copy.

Voting on a Special Resolution may be done in person at the meeting or by signed, dated, proxy vote on an official ballot paper. Proxy votes must be received by the Committee at or prior to the said meeting. You must request a Proxy Vote form from the Secretary. Contact details are on the magazine front cover. The motion will be as follows:

“ON BEHALF OF THE COMMITTEE OF THE DAY, I WISH TO MOVE A MOTION THAT THE ADVERTISED PROPOSED CHANGES TO THE CLUB RULES BE ACCEPTED IN THEIR ENTIRETY AND BECOME EFFECTIVE AS AT THE CLOSE OF BUSINESS AT THE ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING ON 20TH APRIL 2007.”

The above motion is to be moved by Albert Hubbard – President.

Please note that the contents of the proposed changes are not up for discussion, a simple YES / NO vote is all that will be asked for. If you have concerns you would vote NO.

Thank you -- Albert Hubbard – President.
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“Evening at the Pub”
We are having one of our “evening at the Pub” nights on Saturday the 17th Feb. at Castello’s which is on the LHS coming from Melbourne on the corner of Princes Hwy and Toomuc Valley Road. See the “H” on the Map. Starting time is around 6.30pm as usual. I expect that we will meet in the Bistro.

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Happy Birthday to you……..
Andrew Clinkaberry turned 50 in January if anybody is interested. Oh and Dave Campbell turned 50 too just recently, or so a little birdie told me anyway!!!

NOBODY ELSE!!!!! Well at least not on the database.

Not listed? We don’t know then, please tell us!!! Let the Treasurer know…...
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CTCSS FOR IRLP IS NOW 123Hz
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From the WIA Website (www.wia.org.au)
New Format For Reporting BPL Interference To ACMA

The WIA has developed a new downloadable form for use when lodging a formal BPL interference complaint to ACMA, ensuring that all relevant information is presented in the correct format.

Amateur radio terminology is often different to that used professionally. For instance, ACMA staff expect to see received signal strength readings in dBuV (decibels above or below one microvolt), not S-units. Although reporting signal strength in S-units is the accepted practice in amateur radio it is not used by any other radio communications service and it is notoriously inaccurate.

The new form, which has been developed by Peter Young VK3MV, attempts to overcome such difficulties and should be used in conjunction with the WIA's BPL Interference Advisory Service

The Commonwealth Contest 2007 - the Australian team needs you!
This year, the Radio Society of Great Britain’s Commonwealth Contest 2007, which takes place on 10/11 March, has a new team section. The format of this team contest will follow loosely that of the 2007 Cricket World Cup, which is being held around the same time, with teams from the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Canada and the Indian sub-continent.

Full rules for the Commonwealth Contest 2007 can be found at: http://www.contesting.co.uk/hfcc/rules/rberu.shtml

The 14-person Australian squad to take part in the 2007 team section consists of VK4BUI, VK2NU, VK4EMM, VK8AV, VK2BJ, VK6HD, VK4XA, VK6LW, VK2BAA, VK4XY, VK2IA, VK6HG, VK6BN and VK6VZ

In order to make the best possible score, it is important for each member of the Australian squad to work as many "bonus stations" as possible. Each Australian state counts as a separate call area for the contest on each band, and the first three contacts we make with each Australian state other than our own on each band each earns us a vital twenty bonus points.

On this basis, if as many Australian amateurs as possible can get on in the Commonwealth Contest and help the team out by working them on as many of the HF bands as possible, that would help us to beat the Poms, Kiwis and Canucks, etc. 

Please help us to win the Commonwealth Team Contest. You might also have a lot of fun too!
Steve Ireland VK6VZ
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Why not to the WIA news each week on the VK3RML repeater. It is on Sunday nights at 8pm and Wednesday 11am
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GGREC Microprocessor Training
(That’s you being trained not the microprocessor!!!!)

Have you dabbled with electronics (transistors, diodes, relays etc.) but been too frightened to take the plunge beyond the silicon ceiling? Would you like to construct your project with a microprocessor where most of the problems can be solved with software?

From the beginning of March, GGREC will commence training sessions to help people to design and modify their own projects using the versatile AVR micro family.

As a result of the immense interest shown in the topic at the January meeting, we will be staging the training in the Guide Hall at Cranbourne on Thursday Nights over Eight Sessions at Two Week intervals. The first session will be on March 01 and will run for about 2 hours from 7:30pm Sharp. It will be coordinated by Ian Jackson, VK3BUF.

The course will take serious project builders through the basic steps of microprocessor circuits, programming language and structure. A course fee of $135 will apply. This would include course notes, coffee, a commercially built AVR USB programmer (valued at over $160 by Farnell Components), and a GGREC Micro Development Kit that the candidates will assemble and use on their software. (you will need a computer at home with a USB port to do this) Each session will include some homework to help fortify the new knowledge.

The cost of the course has been kept to a minimum, but it had increased to $135 cover hall rental fees during the eight week period. There are no student/pensioner discounts because the prices are already set close to what it will cost the Club to finance this.

If You Want To Participate In This Course Payment In Full Is Required At The General Meeting Night In February. Fees Must Be Directed To Mike, Vk3kto, Our Treasurer.

As we have a 6-week lead time on the purchase of the programmer unit, we will be ordering exact numbers of them straight after the meeting. They will be ready on or before the 3rd class session on March 29. The Development Kits will be available from the 2nd class session on March 15. Candidates will assemble these at home, but assistance will be available for anyone having problems in putting it together. (yes, there are lots of small bits that are unsuitable for children to eat!!)

If you are not able to attend the course, but would like to purchase the programmer and Development kit, Club Members may do this for $105, also payable on or before the Feb meeting night. (cheques payable to GGREC inc.) There will be no opportunity for late orders.

The development board will show how to use software to scan a keypad, measure voltages, drive relays, generate audio tones, control the speed of small motors and transfer digital information between the board and a standard PC serial port. The software to support these tasks will be developed and provided as the course progresses.

A GGREC Certificate of Completion will be issued to all candidates who finish the course. Apart from being a financial Club member, there are no formal prerequisites. However, having a fundamental understanding of electronics to the level of ‘Standard’ amateur license (Old novice theory level) would be an advantage, and candidates will need to be a financial members of the Club.

This course WILL be hard work and is bound to forge new pathways within the brain. (and I don’t mean by flying resistor pigtails from the circuit board assembly)

Candidates will need a pen, a folder for handouts. (a scientific calculator that can work in hex and binary will probably be useful.) It is impossible to complete a full and comprehensive training of AVR microprocessors in just 8 short sessions, however, we aim to keep the math and heavy theory to the minimum required to get people up and going with some simple microprocessor designs. Good Luck!

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General Meeting Minutes
Date: 19th January 2007
Start time: 08:05 PM.
Location: Guide Hall Cranbourne.
Chairperson: Albert Hubbard VK3BQO
Minute Taker: Phil Pavey VK3YB

Present: As per attendance sheet.
Visitors and Guests: Nil
Apologies: Patricia Pavey VK3OZ, Dorothy Inhoven, Bobbie Bishop, Geoff Williams VK3ZGW, Henry Vandeligt VK3FHTV and Maria Vandeligt VK3FSAT, Marianna Stubbs

Correspondence Received:
EMDRC Monthly Magazine. WANSARC mag (e-mail), Eric N4HGZ regarding visiting VK3 (e-mail)

Correspondence Sent:
Nil

Treasurer’s Report:
Income : $xxxx Expenditure : $xxxx Balance : xxxx
Read by: Mike Ide, VK3KTO Moved by: Mike Ide VK3KTO Seconded by: Helmut Inhoven VK3DHI Carried: Yes
New Call signs – nil
Previous Minutes: As printed in the November 2006 GATEWAY magazine.

Read by: magazine Moved by: Steve Harding VK3EGD Seconded by: Phil Pavey VK3YB Carried: Yes

Business Arising from Previous Minutes:
Christmas BBQ great success
DTMF mic – up to 10 people interested
Australia Day BBQ will be at clubrooms on Friday 26th Jan – 10am start at rooms.
Foundation course 24/25 March, and Wednesday 21st

New Business:

Working Bee on February 4th – look for update in magazine
VK3KTO moved motion “ the committee be given permission to spend up to $900 to purchase reverse cycle a/c unit for club rooms”. Seconded by Steve Harding VK3EGD. Carried
Labour Day long weekend. Possible trip away. To be discussed later
Mike has car stickers - $1 each
Pub Night 17th Feb. Costello’s in Pakenham 6:30pm
Albert asked who had club trestle tables. No response.
AGM is only a few months away – start think about nominating.
Magazine Editor needed after AGM
Club rules to be discussed in next few months
Icom Open Day 10th Feb at G&C Communications
Moorabin Club would like to do ATV hookup (Friday night) no interest shown
Special thanks to Reg and Jenny for fundraising over $1800 in past few years.

Next Meeting will be St John talk.

Meeting Closed at around 20:39
Next Prac Night: Friday 2nd March 2007.
Next General Meeting: Friday 16th Feb 2007
Next Committee Meeting: Monday 26th Feb 2007, at the Club Rooms starting at 8:00pm
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Still getting your club magazine in the post?? Do you have an email address?? If so let us know and you can get the full colour version and save the club some $$$$$$. See Mike KTO with detail.
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