MEMBERSHIP NEWS

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

SILENT KEYS:
1375 Dale G4IPZ
1486 Madeley G8KVU

CALL-SIGN CHANGES: None notified

ACCOUNTS EXAMINER REQUIRED – CAN YOU HELP?
After 8 years of diligent service our current Accounts Examiner (Council appointed post) May Jenkins GW3OMN has decided to step down. RAFARS would like to express sincere thanks to May for fulfilling this role so professionally for such a long period of time. She will of course remain a dedicated member of the Society.

Council are therefore confirming the vacancy and are seeking applications for the position. Experience of accounting or bookkeeping plus working knowledge of Excel or similar spreadsheets is required but the work involved is checking the accuracy of the information provided rather than origination. For full details please refer to RAFARS web site in the Latest News section

GB80BOB RAFARS SPECIAL EVENT STATION SEPT 2020
RAFARS members holding a Full license can apply to operate this call from their home QTH, full details can be viewed on our web site which currently shows details of names and dates already approved. A few dates remain vacant, if you wish to apply please contact m0mjg@penalter.plus.com First come first served. See list of operators so far at https://www.rafars.org/gb80bob/

RAFARS Council would like to thank Michael M0MJG for all his work in arranging and coordinating the operation of this SES and the earlier SES GB75VED. These SES’s serve to publicise RAFARS worldwide and provide members with the opportunity to air these special callsigns.

THE RSGB ALTERNATIVE SSB FIELD DAY CONTEST
The RSGB have officially cancelled SSB Field Day. However, they have arranged an alternative contest, not operating from a field unless you are on your own but from home as a single operator, over the same weekend 5/6 September. It is still a Society and Club contest. In our case we submit it as a RAFARS entry. Here are the full RSGB Rules: https://www.rsgbcc.org/hf/rules/2020/rnfd.shtml

It would good if members can come on and contact as many stations as possible and submit a log to the RSGB, full instructions are in the rules. If you have any queries please contact me at contests@rafars.org

RAFARS AGM Saturday 17th October 2020 13:30hrs
Due to the Corvid19 situation, the RAFARS Council have decided that it may not be safe to hold a normal AGM. Therefore the Council have decided to hold a virtual Zoom AGM.

The Zoom AGM will take place on Saturday 17th October 2020 at 13.30hrs

The RAFARS Council apologises to those members who do not have internet/computer facilities and are not able to participate. Council decided that the choice was either no AGM or to have a virtual Zoom AGM.
The hotel rooms that were reserved for RAFARS members to book, have been cancelled and there will not be a Formal Dinner

The Zoom AGM meeting arrangements will operate as follows.
Within the Autumn QRV Pack there is a form for members to complete who wish to take part. This form will also be available for download from the RAFARS website as an editable PDF document. This should be preferably emailed or possibly posted back to the secretary. There is also an online email application form on the website. Those persons wishing to take part, their names, callsign and membership number will be checked and then passed on to Mr Hyde G3ZDW. He will allow the said members entrance into the Zoom AGM. A link to the Zoom meeting will be emailed to those members wishing to take part prior to the meeting.

Further information regarding the Zoom video conferencing software can be found on the Zoom website at https://zoom.us

Please note that use of the Zoom software to attend a virtual meeting is FREE and there is no need to create a Zoom account to attend a meeting. However, installation of the cross-platform Zoom software does make the use of the system easier.

Members who wish to attend the virtual AGM are recommended to make themselves familiar with the Zoom interface. An attendance application form will be included with the Spring edition of QRV.
RAFARS is unable to provide technical support with regard to the installation and use of the Zoom software.

AIR DEFENCE RADAR MUSEUM, RAF NEATISHEAD GB2RAF RAFARS PERMANENT S.E.S FROM HOME OF G4PSH
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.

VACANCY FOR RAFARS SERVING MEMBER REPRESENTATIVE
There is still a Vacancy for a RAFARS Serving Members Representative. Volunteer required to fill this post. Contact Vince G4DQP RAFARS Secretary if you are interested.

RAFARS CONTESTS, RALLIES WITH RAFARS STANDS AND OTHER SPECIAL EVENTS IN 2020
Owing to The Coronavirus. Events may be cancelled, check before you attend or take part.

All Contest Volunteers/Queries and Contest log sheets to Roger G3ZDW QTHr. 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
Members should have received the Autumn QRV 2020 Journal by now.
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 2020
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 for 2020.

Members who wish to attend a virtual Zoom council meeting should contact G3ZDW by email at g3zdw@btinternet.com 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

• 8 Sep 2020
• 17 Oct 2020 **** (Not a Council meeting, Virtual AGM, the Dinner is cancelled)
  
• 17 Nov 2020

RAFAC (ROYAL AIR FORCE AIR CADETS)
17/18 Oct 2020 Ex Blue Ham 5Mhz. See RAFARS website Click News then Ex Blue Ham for all the information on how to take part and the rules also see https://alphacharlie.org.uk/

Any information relating to the RAFAC or if you are interested in joining as a member of staff contact amateurradio@aircadets.org or 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 23/08/2020 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.

AIRSHOW EVENTS AND FLY-INS FOR 2020 WITH POST CODES
Due to the Coronavirus as number of 2020 Air Shows have been cancelled. Check On-line for up-dates.

RAFARS CORONAVIRUS RESTRICTIONS
Members should note that the current travel and gathering restrictions will affect many of the events listed in this newsletter. Where cancellations have been announced, these are shown in the newsletter. Planned events are still listed, but may not take place if restrictions are still in place.

With many of us confined to our homes, this is a good time to take advantage of radio communication to keep in touch. The FM VHF/UHF bands seem to have gone quiet over the last decade or so, but this might be the time to dust off that old handheld and give a call to see who is out there.

Although is isn’t ‘real radio’ Network Radio is very active and the Zello application can be installed on any smartphone or tablet device. The RAFARS Zello channel has met with limited success, but it is still out there if anybody wants to use it. See the RAFARS website ‘Latest News’ section for further information.

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 82 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..
• The RAFARS Website has links to Facebook, Yahoo Group, Twitter.