RAFARS Monthly Newsletter

MEMBERSHIP NEWS.

RAFARS welcomes the following new and re-joining members: None this month

SILENT KEYS: 2206 Joe G3NHF

CALL-SIGN CHANGES: None notified

RAFARS CONTEST MANAGER
With the sad news that the Roger Hyde G3ZDW has become silent key, there is currently no replacement for him as Contest Manager. Any email sent to Contests@rafars.org will be forwarded to the RAFARS Webmaster who will do his best to answer any questions and process any actions. Please note that the Webmaster is not a member of the contest team, so please consider this before asking any questions that might be answered via a Google search. If any member is interested in taking over as Contest Manager, please contact the RAFARS Secretary by email at Secretary@rafar.org

G3LMO NEVILLE NO LONGER ON HF BANDS
Due to old age Neville has moved into a Senior Citizen Estate (cottages) and will no longer be able to use any radios (no antennas allowed). Neville was one of the regulars on the HF bands and RAFARS Nets and we will miss him. However he still has access to the Internet so he will be on Teamviewer, skype and echolink when the nurses allow. He is also going to try and get DMR in due course.

AIR DEFENCE RADAR MUSEUM, RAF NEATISHEAD GB2RAF RAFARS PERMANENT S.E.S FROM HOME OF G4PSH TFN
The Museum will be closed till April 2021. However GB2RAF will still be operating from the QTH of G4PSH as per Ofcom Licence 1-68D2038 until such times it is hoped the Museum re-opens in April 2021.
DeBrief. Due to poor conditions on 40 and 80m GB2RAF was not Fully Operational last month due to very heavy noise levels.

RAFARS CONTESTS, RALLIES WITH RAFARS STANDS AND OTHER SPECIAL EVENTS IN 2021
Owing to The Coronavirus. Events may be cancelled, check before you attend or take part.

All Contest Volunteers/Queries and Contest log sheets to Contests@rafarg.org Contest Rules can be found in your RAFARS QRV Journal, QRZ Call Book or on the RAFARS Website: https://www.rafars.org/contests/

RAFARS QRV JOURNAL
Please send your news and items for inclusion in the QRV Journal to QRV@rafars.org Do not forget RAFARS QRV JOURNAL requires content from you, the Members.
Without your submissions QRV will not have enough content to keep it interesting. Why not pen an article? The membership would no doubt enjoy reading about your experiences in Amateur Radio; illustrated by your photos that would that would be an excellent bonus. Please continue to send your stories, articles, events, pictures, personal profiles, your shack and letters.
Digital jpg photos should be sent as attachment to Word documents. Please do not import them into the text. Send to the QRV Editor at QRV@rafars.org
If News Desk receives any correspondence/pictures/stories that are not relevant to the News Letter they will be forwarded to the editor to be considered for the QRV Journal.
Talking QRV is available in the Members Area of the RAFARS Website https://www.rafars.org/tqrv/

COUNCIL MEETINGS 2021

• 9 February
• 6 April
• 14 June (Monday, following Cosford Airshow)
• 7 September
• 16 October (Not a council meeting, AGM & Dinner)
• 16 November

Until further notice, the RAFARS council meetings will be conducted via video conference at mutually agreed dates and times that may or may not correspond with the dates previously published. Members who wish to attend a virtual Zoom council meeting should contact G0DNI by email at webmaster@rafars.org at least 24 hours prior to the meeting to confirm the time and to provide an email address for joining instructions. Please note that RAFARS is unable to offer technical advice on the installation and use of the Zoom video Conferencing software. Further details for Zoom can be found at https://zoom.us

RAFAC (ROYAL AIR FORCE AIR CADETS)
Any information relating to the RAFAC or if you are interested in joining as a member of staff contact Terry at RAFARS News Desk who is a Squadron Radio Officer and HF National Net Controller with the RAFAC. Also see https://www.raf.mod.uk/aircadets If you are interested in joining the RAF Halton RS, please contact Malcolm G7VRT QTHr, or the Chairman, Derf G8ZGK, QTHr in RAFARS Call Book and on qrz.com. The E-mail address is RAFHaltonRS@outlook.com or look up G1RAF on qrz.com.

RAFARS QSL BUREAU
As of 23/12/2020 outstanding QSL Cards await SAEs- NIL THIS MONTH.
Send 2nd Class Stamped SAE to Andrew 2E0NDZ RAFARS QSL Bureau Manager, at 44, Bishops Close, Stratford upon Avon, Warwickshire. CV37 9ED. alternatively, contact Andrew by Letter or E-mail to inform him of what you wish him to do with your cards.
If nothing is heard your QSL Card/s will be destroyed 6 months after arrival and your call sign removed from the NLs List. Cards will not be forwarded to the RSGB Bureau after the 6 months.

NEW MEMBERS ROYAL AIR FORCE AMATEUR RADIO SOCIETY
All Radio Amateurs, no need to be Ex RAF, are invited to apply for RAFARS Membership providing that you have an interest in the RAF, Military aviation and are prepared to help the society achieve its published aims and objectives.
Categories of membership are listed on our website. Check your eligibility for membership by logging onto www.rafars.org/join. Print the application form, fill it in, enclose the appropriate fee* and then post it to the General Secretary for approval and processing.

*To transfer funds by telephone/on-line banking, RAFARS bank details are available from our Treasurer, Michael M0MJG by email to Treasurer@rafars.org or telephone 01305-816362.
If you require more information, please contact: The General Secretary G4DQP, RAFARS HQ, DCAE Cosford, Wolverhampton, WV7 3EX. Tel: 01902-372722 (Answerphone only) or e-mail Vince at Secretary@rafars.org also on www.qrz.com HQ will be checked at least twice weekly by G0TBI for mail & messages. Emails are handled daily at home.

RAFARS NEWS DESK
Send your RAFARS EVENTS at LEAST one month in advance for the Monthly RAFARS News Letter. The cut off date is the 23rd of the previous month or send a News Flash to Terry G4PSH, RAFARS 306, e-mail address Newsdesk@rafars.org or by letter see QTHr, International Call Books or see www.qrz.com.
A News Flash has to be authorised by a RAFARS Council Member.

• Newsletter is produced by Terry G4PSH RAFARS News Desk.
• Editor- Gary G0DNI.
• E-mailed Bcc as a PDF Attachment & e-mailed direct to 83 Members by News Desk (at your request). If you require the NL by Royal Mail send 2nd Class Stamps to News Desk.
• Uploaded on to RAFARS Website by Gary G0DNI Webmaster@rafars.org under News Letters.
• First Sunday of the Month by News Desk G4PSH at 1900hrs (local) on RAFARS Net 3.710Mhz. Due to conditions The Dec News NL272 was not transmitted on Sun 6 Dec 2020.