All about

Quarter Century Wireless Association

(but were afraid to ask)

• Starting from a 10M roundtable, QCWA was formed in 1947 “to promote friendship and cooperation among Amateur Radio operators who were licensed at least a quarter century ago” 1922

• The QCWA logo was adapted by Otto Eppers W2EA from 1924 QST cartoon of The Old Timer

• Today there are over 150 self-governing chapters across the United States, three in Canada, (Ottawa, Toronto and Calgary) and several more overseas

• Ottawan George Roach -VE3BNO has just retired as a QCWA Director, and Tom Atkins -VE3CDM (former Ottawan) is a current QCWA Director

QCWA Presidents

W2FX – John DiBlasi (47-64)

W2MM – Earl Thomas (65-68)

W2KW – Clarence Seid (69-71)

K7UGA – Barry Goldwater (72-73)

W2ALS – Frank Gunther (74-77)

W6ATC – Harry Gartsman (78 – 81)

W2GHK – Stuart Meyer (82-85)

W5KL – Leland Smith (86-89)

W2HD – Harry Dannals (89-94)

W1ICP – Lew McCoy (94-96)

W4ZC – John Kelleher (96-98)

K0BC – Gary Harrison (98-02)

VE3CT – Croft Taylor (02-04)

W3BE – John Johnston (05 – )

Some Former QCWA Presidents

• First QCWA President John DiBlasi – K2FX in 1947 (1947-1964)

• US Senator (retd) Barry Goldwater – K7UGA (1972-1973)

• General (USMC Ret’d) Leland Smith – W5KL (1986-1989)

More QCWA Presidents

• Lew “Mac” McCoy – W1ICP QST columnist (1994-1996)

• Croft Taylor – VE3CT (2002-2004)

• John Johnston – W3BE Worldradio columnist (2005 - present )

Chapter 70 History

• By 1973 about 30 Ottawa area amateurs had joined QCWA. Ken Scrivens -VE3LJ called a meeting for February 28, 1974 to petition QCWA to approve the formation of a chapter in the Ottawa area. At that time, ten names were needed, but the application contained 21 names

• The charter for QCWA National Capital Chapter 70 was issued by QCWA HQ on March 7, 1974

• The first Chapter 70 meeting was held on May 23, 1974 at the Eastview Hotel in Vanier.

The Chapter 70 Charter Members

VE3LJ Ken Scrivens VE3BR Hank Harley VE3BBM Ralph Cameron

VE3BYX Carl Everson VE3DH John McCalla VE3DMC George Schuthe

VE3DV Holland Shepherd

VE3GX Ed Morgan VE3HO Norm Lewrey

VE3JA Brodie Gillies VE3KF Jim Swail VE3LC Doc Haycock

VE3MA Doc Plummer VE3OJ Charles Poole VE3OZ Doug Pepper

VE3PY Vern McCourt VE3QA Hal Parsons VE3SB Bill Marsh

VE3UD Bud Punchard VE3VP Howard Poole VE3ZS Art Stark

The Chapter 70 Charter Members

• Standing (L to R) George Schuthe – VE3DMC, Art Stark VE3ZS, Carl Everson – VE3BYX, Vern McCourt VE3PY, Jim Swail – VE3KF, Howard Poole – VE3VP, Ken Scrivens – VE3LJ, Ralph Cameron – VE3BBM, Ed Morgan – VE3GX, Hank Harley – VE3BR

• Seated (L to R) Doc Haycock – VE3LC, Charles Poole – VE3OJ, Bud Punchard – VE3UD, Hal Parsons – VE3QA, ????

• Missing from this picture – Doc Plummer – VE3MA, Doug Pepper – VE3OZ, Holland Shepherd – VE3DV, Bill Marsh – VE3SB, Norm Lewrey – VE3HO, Brodie Gillies – VE3JA

Chapter 70 Activities

• Quarterly dinner meetings –third Tuesday in February, May, September and November - 18:15 at Carlingwood Family Restaurant in Carlingwood Mall. An interesting speaker for each meeting. May meeting has a Spouses’ Night program

• Weekly unofficial breakfast buffet at 9:00 at Embassy West Hotel restaurant. All are welcome.

• Weekly QCWA Chapter 70 Net VE3QCW 147.300+ at 20:00 local time Thursdays.

• Chapter 70 Web site http://ca.geocities.com/qcwa70@rogers.com/

QCWA Activities

• QCWA Journal quarterly magazine with feature articles, chapter news and QCWA developments – also available on audio cassette for the visually impaired.

• QCWA Hot Line monthly bulletin to chapters• QCWA Memorial Official Station W2MM• Annual convention – has been held twice in Ottawa,

once in Toronto and this year in Calgary – Sept 28-30, 2006. RESERVE NOW. Previous events have included conventions aboard Caribbean and Alaska cruise ships

Memorial Scholarship Fund

• This is the most satisfying QCWA program.• Scholarships are available to any licensed amateur

enrolled in at least an “associate degree” program at an accredited college or university.

• Application must be sponsored by a chapter.• Currently fifteen US$1000 - $1500 QCWA

scholarships are awarded each year• Chapter 70 sponsored a recent recipient – Andy

Webb - VE3UIY (now VE6EN)

QCWA On-Air Activities

• QCWA Weekly Phone Net Sundays 20:00 UTC on 14, 347 kHz

• QCWA Weekly CW Net Wednesdays 20:00 ET on 7,035 kHz

• QCWA Spring QSO Party – this year April 1 starting 18:00 hrs UTC for 24 hrs

• QCWA Fall QSO Party – this year Sept 16 starting 18:00 hrs UTC for 24 hrs

• Get on the air and join the fun – everybody is welcome

QCWA Member Awards

• Serial numbered Membership certificate –blue for member, gold for Life Member. Your number is yours and never re-issued unless you rejoin

• Newest membership numbers are 33200+• Member Call Sign Year Licensed Pins – for 25, 30, 35, 40,

45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75 and 80 years • Member Golden Anniversary Certificates for 50, 55, 60, 65,

and 70 years, and plaques for 75 and beyond are provided by Chapter 70 to its members

• We are proud of Chapter 70’s George Adamson – VE3XS, our first 75 Year plaque recipient.

QCWA Awards (cont’d)

• QCWA Century Club Certificate is issued to members whose age plus years of QCWA membership equals 100 or more

• 50 Year Continuous Licensing Gold Certificate• Worked Sixty Chapters Certificate• Worked 100 Members Certificate• Worked 500 Members Certificate• Worked QCWA Member in 50 States certificate

QCWA Honor Awards

• QCWA Hall of Fame Award – “may be given to any person who, in the opinion of the Board, has made a substantial and/or continuing contribution of an outstanding nature to QCWA, to amateur radio, or in communication techniques affecting the general public. The contribution may be a single event or series of events which has earned the recipient recognition at the National or International level.”

Current Recipient Roger Volk – K0GOB

QCWA Honor Awards (cont’d)

• Roll of Honor Award – “may be given to any QCWA member who, in the opinion of the Board,on a long term basis has made a substantial and documented contribution to QCWA, amateur radio and/or the field of communications and/or the public.” Current recipient Bev Stoner – K8ZJU

• John DiBlasi Award – “is given to a QCWA member who, over an extended period of time, has made outstanding contributions to the honor and preservation of QCWA.” Current recipient Croft Taylor – VE3CT

QCWA Honor Awards (cont’d)

• Distinguished Service Plaque – “is awarded to an individual member of QCWA by the Board, in recognition of outstanding personal service.”Current recipient – George Hart – W1NJM

• Meritorious Service Award – “is issued by the General Manager on request of a Chapter to recognize outstanding service of a Chapter member. No more than one Meritorious Service Award will be issued to a Chapter in one year.” Current Chapter 70 recipients – Ed and Doreen Morgan – VE3GX, VE3CGO.

QCWA Honor Awards (cont’d)

• QCWA Member of the Year Award – “may be given to a member who, in the opinion of the Board, has made the greatest contribution to QCWA and/or amateur radio during the preceding year. The recipient may qualify by a single noteworthy act of service to QCWA or to amateur radio in general. Qualifications may also be based on sustained service during the year, service known to and recognized by fellow QCWA members, by other amateurs or the general public. Nominations may be made by any QCWA member or by the officials of any Chapter.”

QCWA Member Supplies

• Official QCWA QSL Cards• QCWA Golf Shirt• QCWA Baseball Cap• QCWA Name/Callsign Badge• QCWA Correspondence Stickers• QCWA Decal• QCWA Embroidered Logo• Order form in all issues of QCWA Journal

Leland Smith’s “Why Join QCWA”

• QCWA is not for everyone eligible to join.• Some are loners and a few care little if amateur

radio will be available to future generations• QCWA appeals to amateurs who want to associate

with some of the best known, respected and dedicated amateurs on the continent.

• It also appeals to altruistic amateurs who wish to support the QCWA Scholarship Fund.

• Others just want to enjoy QCWA on-air and social activities while supporting the QCWA good work

Membership Fees - QCWA

• Initiation (one-time) US$3.00

Memberships without Subscription (Canada)• Life Membership US$60 - Family US$40 ***• Three Year Membership US$25 - Family US$12

Optional Subscription – (Canada)• Three Year Journal Subscription US$25

Membership Fees – Chapter 70

• C$15 per year (includes all pins and certificates)• Membership in QCWA is a prerequisite to

membership in Chapter 70 but membership in one or more chapters is optional to QCWA members.

• Chapter 70 is unlike other local amateur radio clubs. Its activities are complementary, not conflicting with other local amateur radio clubs.

• QCWA invites all local club members, licensed before 1981, to join us in QCWA and Chapter 70.

Inviting New Members - 1

• The ongoing health of QCWA and Chapter 70 requires a flow of new members.

• If you are enjoying the fellowship, wouldn’t some of your non-member friends enjoy QCWA too?

• If they were licensed in 1981, they are eligible. Just ask them, if you aren’t sure.

• Then all it takes is for you to invite them. Let them decide if they want to join.

Inviting New Members - 2

• On your way out, pick up one of each of these three QCWA forms:

• 1 - the tri-fold pamphlet on “why join QCWA”. Give that out with the other two

• 2 – the Chapter 70 application form

• 3 – the QCWA application form, marked as follows:

Inviting New Members - 3

• On the bottom line of the QCWA application form after “Proposed by” print your name, Callsign, and your QCWA Membership #. Sec’y has the list.

• Draw a line through the previous three lines relating to ordering pins. (All Chapter 70 members are provided year pins by the chapter, at no additional cost.)

• Explain that the best deal is the “Life Member w/o Publications” for US$60 (US$40 Family). The 3 year Journal subscription is optional at US$25.

Inviting New Members - 4

• When you invite someone to join, take a minute to go over the QCWA material on the back of the applications. They are being asked to pay dues, so take a moment to explain what they will be getting for their money.

• Also mention our local net and breakfast buffet which is open to non-members so they can meet some of the group.

• If you are at a QCWA meeting or breakfast buffet, take time to welcome all newcomers. They may be deciding whether or not to join, based on that “welcome”.

QCWA and Chapter 70

• And finally ……

Thank You for your attention,

es

73+25

Doug Leach – VE3XK