Minutes of The Antique Wireless Association AGM
09 November 2024
1. ATTENDANCE
A total of 22 people attended including the people who joined by streaming on Teams
2. APOLOGIES:
Chris ZS6GM
Dave ZS6AZP
Paul ZS1S
Mike ZS6MNG
Louis ZS6SK
Rex ZS6REX
Music Point Radio Group from NZ says” I probably won’t be joining in the AGM, but please make mention of our thanks over here in ZL for the newsletters which we ‘post’ on our branch newsletter server. This makes them accessible to our members and many others interested in AM and vintage radio.” Martyn ZL3CK
- Opening by JACQUES ZS6JPS, President.
Welcome from Jacques to all present and to those who were streaming live.
It has been a busy year with work activities as well as the nets being busy as well.
- MEMBERSHIP FIGURES
Membership has grown to 436. There have been a few SK’s and then quite a few redundant email addresses have been removed thus not a true reflection of growth.
5. FINANCES
Finances remain steady with a good positive balance.
Expenses have remained the same for the year only the additional purchase of Cloud Space for the storage of the Saturday morning net. As well as the subscription for the
website. These will be an annual expense.
The website license fee has been changed to an annual subscription.
- DONATIONS
Several donations were made to the AWA during the year by people purchasing valves and excess equipment donated to the AWA and Fleamarket sales.
This is our main source of income and has provided well for the year.
The FT101 that was donated for sale was from Anton ZS6WG.
- FEEDBACK ON QSO PARTIES
The QSO parties in May and October were fairly well attended.
AM Is still not a favourite mode for most and was not well attended this year.
This has been removed from the SARL calendar and only the SSB QSO party will be twice per year.
Helge ZS6HB achieved the highest points in the CW activity day in February.
Ludwig ZS5CN achieved the highest points in May and October, using all valve AM equipment.
Ludwig ZS5CN achieved the highest points in the May SSB QSO
party and Nico ZS4N in the October SSB QSO.
- NETS
Conditions play a big role in the net relays.
Local noise is also playing a big role with solar systems.being one of the main causes.
E/L has played a big part in getting out to stations where propagation or distance are a problem.
Internet related problems have also played a role often causing delays or loss of connections, but for the majority our system has proved to work well
Relays on 20m and 30m by Chris and Andy have also proved to be quite successful with the prevailing band conditions.
- MUSEUM
The SAIEE has a big problem with volunteers to help with the Museum.
Ollie suggested that we try to involve the SAIEE Historical section more with our monthly open days.
The links on the QR codes need to be repaired.
The shack should be utilized more, which has been happening with the open days and QSL should be looked at from the station.
Louis ZS6SK has been involved in the cleaning and maintenance of some of the exhibits, he sent us this report:
The Hendrik van der Bijl exhibit - text cards and photos needed to be repaired and/or replaced. Photos were removed and cleaned and then laminated. Text cards were retyped and also laminated and returned with the original photo’s.
Trevor Wadley Exhibit – only required a general cleaning of the glass shelving and inner surfaces of the glass doors. The items in the display were dusted off and the display card was retyped.
Radar Exhibit – The photos and cards have all loosened over time and the display is busy being revamped.
Main Foyer Exhibits – were all cleaned and dusted at the end of October. Most of the display cards are bent and will be retyped and replaced.
Bool Collection – books published by the SAIEE are on display in the Heritage room It is somewhat difficult to keep them in a fixed position as the pages tend to sag down with time. The possibility of mounting them in frames to prevent this from happening will be investigated.
- JEFF WRIGHT SK CW FLOATING TROPHY
The CW trophy this year is awarded to Helge ZS6HB, who achieved the highest points in the CW QSO Party and has been promoting CW on the bands during the year.
- NEW APPOINTMENTS – VOTING
The position of President is to pass to Chris ZS6GM at the end of the year as Chris was voted in as Vice President at last year’s AGM. His term will be 2 years.
The next Vice president will be voted in at the next AGM.
Open voting for the rest of the committee. Nominations were made and the following proposed and accepted:
Sec/PRO – Andy ZS6ADY
Historian – Louis ZS6SK
Technical/Net Control – Rad ZS6RAD
Members – Wally ZS6WLY/ Renato ZS6REN
- OPEN DISCUSSION – FURTHER ITEMS
Suggestion to look at relaying the Saturday net on AM.
Publish the upcoming AM nets in the Newsletter
Finding out how many people from where listen to the net audio on the website.
Encourage people to say what rigs they are using when they call in on the nets.
Pre-net from 08h00 to allow call in with antique/valve wireless to take advantage of band conditions. Relay on E/L from 08h00. Alternate AM/SSB per week.
QRZ page (for both ZS0AWA and ZS6IEE):
- Bruce ZS6BK and Kobie ZS6KVZ to update pages with photo and link to AWA website, and also capture log from the museum shack
Someone to liaise with SAIEE regarding QR codes in museum pointing to obsolete/dead website links. Links are old and have changed – will have to be redone.
A nice-to-have for the museum:
- FT-897D needs a control cable for the Yaesu FC-30 bolt-on automatic antenna tuner
- JPS will advertise on PARC periodically
13.THANKS
Once again, our thanks to the SAIEE for the ongoing support in the Museum and for the use of the auditorium to hold this AGM.
Jacques thanked those involved and all attendees.
- CLOSING:
A successful AGM and with all the business concluded, the group moved to the carports for a braai and eyeball QSO.
Andy ZS6ADY
PRO/SEC
ATTENDANCE REGISTER
Andy ZS6ADY
Jacques ZS6JPS
Renato ZS6REN
Gilles ZR6GDC
Rad ZS6RAD
Kobie ZS6KVZ
Wally ZS6WLY
Helge ZS6HB
Bruce ZS6BK
Cliff ZS6BOX
Don ZS5DR
Oliver ZS6OG
Via Teams
Henry ZS6MC
Richard F4WCD
Heather ZS5YH
Dimitri ZR6GND
Rod ZS6RHZ
Craig ZS5CD
Chris ZS6GM
Berridge ZS6BHL
Mike ZS6MNG
Stewart ZR1WT