Updates on Club Operations
Finances
Last month, the Board approved a major investment in new audio-visual equipment for meetings and courses. This is a significant upgrade of our equipment that will improve the experience of both in-person and online participants. We expect this new equipment will be in place by the October Monthly Meeting.
Volunteers
I’m happy to report that, day by day, volunteers are coming forward to fill various roles. Below, you’ll see details of who has volunteered for what. I am immensely grateful to each and every one of you!
Below, you will also see which volunteer roles remain to be filled. Remember there are various roles, some small and short term and some longer term. More detail on all OARC volunteer roles is available on the Volunteer page.
For any of these roles, if you think you can volunteer or you know someone that I can approach, please email me directly by clicking Contact the Prez and we’ll set up a time to talk.
Workshop volunteers
Workshop leads and working groups/backups are responsible for planning, organizing, and leading hands-on workshops. Here is a list of planned workshops, their volunteers so far, and vacancies.
| Workshop | Lead | Working Group/Backup |
|---|---|---|
| Soldering skills | Wayne VE3CZO | VACANT |
| Kit building | VACANT | VACANT |
| Pico balloon | VACANT | Monique VA3NTB and Dave VA3OOC |
| Fox hunting | VACANT | VACANT |
“Monthly Meeting” volunteers
Monthly Meeting leads and working groups/backups are responsible for planning, organizing, and leading the Monthly Meetings, including Homebrew Night. Here is a list of Monthly Meeting volunteers so far, and vacancies.
| Monthly Meeting Task | Lead | Working Group/Backup |
|---|---|---|
| Organize the program (e.g., find speakers, craft the agenda) | VACANT | VACANT |
| Set up the space | VACANT | VACANT |
| Registration table | Pierre VE3ZXX and Wendy(Joanne providing training/ support) | VACANT |
| Membership table (join, pick up name tag etc.) | Claude VA3VLW, OARC Membership Coordinator | VACANT |
| Audio/Visual equipment (Set up, run, and take down) | Alastair VA3FHQ | VACANT (in particular, we need someone to manage the online portion of the meeting) |
| Refreshments (Get snacks, make the coffee, tidy up the kitchen) | Douglas VA3GY | VACANT |
| Re-set/clean up the space when the meeting ends. | VACANT | VACANT |
“Equipment Upgrades” working-group volunteers
A big thanks to all the volunteer members of our equipment-upgrades working group, which is currently focused on upgrading the VE2CRA repeater. The members of the working group are as follows:
- Bruce VA3CTZ (Secretary, West Carleton Disaster Relief)
- Chris VA3CJO
- Daniel VA3GLB (Treasurer, OARC)
- Ed VE3WGO (Director at large, OARC, and Hamfest lead)
- Harrie VE3HYS (VP and Repeater Chair, OARC), and
- Ken VA2TXZ (New Hams Net and Discord)
- Myself (Roger) VA3EGY (President, OARC)
- Tyler VA3DGN (Secretary, Lanark North Leeds Amateur Radio Emergency Service)
Rob VE3RXH (VP, OVMRC) and Lance VA3LP (ARES instructor) have asked to be kept informed. We’ve had a kick off meeting so far.
NOTE: Related to this working group, the Club is also still trying to fill the longer-term role of Equipment Coordinator, who would organize/administer all the equipment-related activities in the 2025-26 OARC Operational Plan and be part of the Club’s management team.
Working groups that are still vacant
- Exploring Club agility needs
- Exploring a possible new-ham’s equipment-lending library
Coordinator positions that are still vacant
- Education coordinator (and a back up)
- Equipment coordinator (and a back up)
- Activities Coordinator (and a back up): We may have found an Activities Coordinator (TBC), but still need a back up.
- These three positions are part of the Club’s management team
Membership
Important reminder about membership renewal
Until this year, everyone’s OARC membership expired at the same time: in September. Now, your membership is valid for 12 months from your date of payment.
New membership-renewal FAQs
As I promised in my last “The Prez Sez” column, there is new web content on membership renewal. You’ll see a new “Membership FAQs” section on both the Membership page and the FAQs page, including the following questions and answers:
- Can I pay for my OARC membership online?
- How will I know when my OARC membership is expiring?
- How can I see if I set up an automatic membership-renewal payment (auto renewal)? How can I change (e.g., update my credit card expiry date) or stop my auto renewal?
- If I have an auto renewal set and I made a donation to Zeffy when I paid for my membership previously, will that donation be included in my auto renewal?
- How do I get an OARC name tag?
OARC Name tags
- All current OARC members should now have their name tag. If your name tag was lost or damaged, order a replacement for $20 by clicking: Order an OARC name tag. This link takes you to Zeffy, our online payment system.
- Please wear your name tag at all Club activities and community events, or if you are taking an course, or participating in a workshop.
- Wearing your name tag is simple, friendly, and super helpful for building a stronger club community.
If you are not yet a member, please join now
If you enjoy our free newsletter or come to our activities, please become a member of the OARC today. Every penny of your membership fee is badly needed for the Club to deliver on maintaining and upgrading local Amateur Radio equipment and infrastructure, Radio Amateurs of Canada (RAC) insurance, OARC Monthly Meetings, IT and website needs, and more. Larger membership numbers also send an important message about the popularity of Amateur Radio as a hobby and the strength of our community.
Communications
In recent months, we have created a very basic flyer about joining the OARC for use at our public events. And we have provided input on flyers created by other organizations, such as a flyer by West Carleton Disaster Relief for use at OARC Carp Hamfest 2025.
We are now publishing one newsletter per month instead of two. We feel this will be sufficient considering how easy it is see what’s happening in the online calendar on the OARC website.
Have a happy August!
All my best and 73,
Roger Egan, VA3EGY
The Prez
Last Updated on 2025-08-08 by Eve