Columnists VA3EGY

2026-05-09 The Prez Sez – May 2026

2026-05-09
Roger VA3EGY

In this issue: Amateur Radio news; Updates on Club operations; Urgent need for Carp Hamfest 2026 volunteers and long-term Hamfest co-lead; Filling long-term Coordinator positions; OARC AGM June 10; and Latest news on Club goals.

Amateur Radio news from the community 

A special event Amateur Radio call sign for 2026 World Cup

In support of Toronto as a host city for the 2026 World Cup, a special-event Amateur Radio call sign has been assigned to the Toronto Host City Radio Team – VC3F and will be active June 11th through July 19th.  This unique call sign will create considerable interest in the Amateur Radio community worldwide because of the unique VC prefix and 2×1 call. Special QSL cards and participant certificates will be produced by all host cities for the event. Activity is anticipated on all HF bands and modes (propagation permitting). 
 
Operators within Ontario can help activate the VC3F call sign throughout this exciting international soccer tournament. To register, visit  https://wc2026ses.org and click on VOLUNTEER at the top to register and help build the operating plan. Any questions, contact Hiroshi T – VA7LET ses@radioroom.ca 

New Diefenbunker Museum video produced for World Amateur Radio Day 

Click here to watch the video (on YouTube) produced by the Diefenbunker Museum for World Amateur Radio Day (WARD) April 18, 2026. The video covers their ham radio station, VE3CWM, which operates deep underground using both modern and Cold War–era radio technology. 

Two other short videos from WARD 2026 posted by On The Air with VA3EWV (YouTube): 

4-18-2026 – World Amateur Radio Day at Diefenbunker-1
4-18-2026 – World Amateur Radio Day at Diefenbunker-2

Myles Bird received John Curry Memorial Youth of the Year Award 

On behalf of the OARC Board and members, I offer my heartiest congratulations to Myles Bird, VA3MYZ, for receiving the 2026 John Curry Memorial Youth of the Year Award. Each year, this award goes to a young person who exemplifies leadership, inspires their peers and has made a significant contribution to the community through volunteer service.  

Myles is an OARC member, new ham in 2025, and a grade 11 student at South Carleton High School. He is being recognized as an outstanding young leader whose volunteer service, technical skill, and integrity have made a meaningful impact in Stittsville. He has been involved in 1st Stittsville Scouting since 2014 and now serves as a Youth Scouter with Maple Colony and President of his Venturer Company. Myles also volunteers with the Scouts Canada Museum, supports Jamboree on the Air, and contributes to emergency preparedness communications as a licensed amateur radio operator. Read more in the newsletter of Glen Gower, City Councillor for Stittsville.

Updates on Club operations 

There are some changes happening in the ranks of our Club officers. I would like to start off by saying change is good!  One of the things that keeps people from volunteering is a fear that they will get stuck in a role forever but this next section will show you that you can volunteer for a year or two and when you are ready to “pass the baton”, we work hard to find a replacement quickly so that we can continue to deliver on our operational plan. 

Recent and upcoming changes on the OARC Board 

  • Please join me in thanking Harrie Jones VE3HYS for serving in the role of OARC Vice President for the last year and half.  Harrie’s contributions to the Board and the running of the Club have been very much appreciated. And this was in addition to everything he does for the Club, for Scouts and for Amateur Radio. Thank goodness, Harrie will still be involved with our Repeater Modernization Project!
  • I am excited to announce that the Board has appointed Craig Delmage VE3OP to join the Board as Vice President effective immediately. Many of you know Craig as having formerly been the North and East Director for Radio Amateurs of Canada and during his tenure there he was instrumental in expanding and reimagining RAC headquarters at 720 Belfast Road, which now includes a world-class radio station.  Craig also has a long history with the OARC and the Ottawa Amateur Radio community more broadly. Craig has more energy than the Energizer Bunny and has already brought a number of good ideas to the table.  Craig will be presenting at our May meeting where we plan to update the format a little to be more engaging.
  • Please join me in thanking Daniel Boulet, VA3GLB, for serving in the role of Treasurer for the past year and a half. His term will end on June 10th at our AGM.  Daniel has substantially matured the role and brought in Zoho Books as our Financial system, which provides much better functionality and reporting than what we were using before.  Thank you to Daniel for a job well done.
  • Happily, Ryan Klomp, VA3WSO, has agreed to move from the role Secretary to take on the Treasurer role also effective June 10th at our AGM. 

We have a candidate to replace Ryan as Secretary, and you will hear more about the recommended slate at the AGM on June 10th.

Progress on filling volunteer positions 

OARC Carp Hamfest 

Currently, there is an urgent need for Carp Hamfest 2026 volunteers. Click here to to learn more about Carp Hamfest, including volunteer roles and shifts, and to register as a volunteer or to reserve a table. Carp Hamfest also badly needs a co-lead, who can shadow Ed and learn how it all comes together. Could this be you? Please click Contact the Prez to set up a chat with me – no obligation, just a discussion. 

Progress on filling long-term Coordinator positions 

  • Education (Bert de Bruijn, VA3PXE)
  • Equipment (still vacant) – A long-term volunteer for this role is needed to provide administrative support / coordination to Equipment goal, which includes the Repeater, the Beacon, the Youth Equipment Program and technical advice. 
  • Activities (still vacant) – A long-term volunteer for this role is needed to provide administrative support / coordination to the Active Involvement goal, which includes OARC Monthly Meetings, Homebrew Night, Field Day, Hamfest, and Radio in the Park.
  • Partnerships (Me, for now, in addition to my role as OARC President)
  • Membership (Claude Hamel VA3LND) – Welcome Claude! Claude is a new ham and will focus on answering membership questions and ensuring the OARC membership list is accurate. He is also fluently bilingual, which is so important for a club in the National Capital Region!
  • Communications (Joanne, with Webmaster Eve, VA5EVE)

Visit the OARC volunteer page for more details on the Club’s vacant volunteer roles and be sure to read Craig’s QRM for May, which is an inspiring column on why volunteering for the Club is so important and some of the surprise benefits you might not expect. 

Annual General Meeting on June 10 

In anticipation of the OARC Annual General Meeting on June 10, please click here to register and read more about what to expect, including the agenda and voting eligibility. In preparation, click here to read the OARC Annual Report 2025 and learn more about all the Club accomplished last year. 

Latest news about Goal 1: Education 

  • The winter 2026 soldering skills workshop was a great success and you can read the report here and see some photos. 
  • Welcome Paul Burggraaf, VE3PRB. the new Auxiliary Communications Service (ACS) Coordinator for the Capital District, reporting to Lance Peterson VA3LP, ACS Coordinator for RAC Ontario East Section. 

Latest news about Goal 2: Active Involvement 

Aside from the OARC Monthly Meetings in May and June (which is also the OARC AGM), the Club has a number of important activities coming up. These all offer you an opportunity to become more actively involved. Click the links below to learn more: 

Looking back at recent activities, the OARC Monthly Meeting on Apr 8 was Homebrew Night. Click here to read the OARC Homebrew Night 2026 report.

I look forward to seeing everyone at our two final monthly meetings of the season and at many of those other key activities. 

All my best and 73,   
Roger Egan, VA3EGY  
The Prez 

Last Updated on 2026-05-10 by Joannadanna