There is an old Chinese curse that goes “may you live in interesting times”. I have no doubt the present economic situation will be of great interest to historians: we have to live through it.
The recession has affected us; this year we have an operating deficit of about two hundred pounds. This can be put down to the lower (practically nothing) interest rates we have received on our capital reserves and a change in the character of junk sales. In better years income from these sources has supported the subscription income. There has also been an increase in the cost of accommodation. These days it is difficult to find a venue that is both affordable and comfortable. However, because of sound financial management in the past we have reserves we can draw on and therefore can continue to operate as normal for the next year or so. We are well aware that our membership is also suffering from the present economic “brown out”. Some will be quite severely affected, others not so. It is strongly felt that we must continue without requesting an increase in the subscription, at least until the present economic situation is stabilised. What I will ask is that those of us who feel able might make an additional, voluntary, contribution when they renew their subscription. Another five Pounds each in addition to the modest “tenner” for the annual sub’ would more that cover the shortfall from last year and go a long way to helping us maintain our high standards in 2009/10.
A club is nothing without its membership. I am very pleased to welcome a number of new members this year. It is a real pleasure to greet new faces at our monthly meetings and to know that there is still a growing, active, interest in radio and electronics. At this point I have to emphasise that I have no memory for names and faces in the short and medium term, I just know that you are a welcome sight.
Gordon Sweet has undertaken to be our initial point of contact for enquirers in addition to his normal publicity duties. He has introduced several new members to the club, bringing them along to meetings. A clearly defined ‘point of contact’ has improved the situation and Gordon continues to be our ‘anchor’ in the stormy world of ‘cyberspace’. Well done.
Our club library is up and running, the library list is in the ‘Vital Spark’. It is a lot shorter than I would like because of the club finances. Again, suitable donations of books would help, though I will point out that we prefer quality rather than quantity, as I have yet to ascertain the available shelf space. Phil Parkman, our new Vice-Chairman, has kindly undertaken to run the service.
Now, a word about Phil; he is a very busy man indeed. Personally I feel that it is an honour that he has agreed to take on this position given the strength of his other commitments. He brings his considerable enthusiasm to the job; this complements his dedication to the educational side of club activities. It does seem that being our Vice-Chairman helps.
With the coming of the Novice-Intermediate-Advanced route to a full and proper Amateur License education has assumed prime importance as we have a commitment to continue and refresh the hobby. The efforts of Phil, G3MGQ, Steve, M0SSR and Mike, M0EDU [G8OGO in disguise] and Tony G4KLF, result in a consistent high standard of recruit to the hobby. They make a considerable personal sacrifice of time and effort to maintain the standard and keep up the numbers of new recruits. The Club library is an outgrowth of this as we feel that education is more than the passing of exams; it is the acquisition of knowledge that relates to, and is used in, the real world for personal satisfaction and the benefit of the wider community.
Well, at least tea and circuses thanks to our new catering officer, Peter G0FUU.
Thanks to the hard work of a number of people (not me!) we have had some splendid monthly meetings. Ron, G4VBK and Terry, G4FET gave us an evening of WW1 radio that was a feast for the eyes and a delight to the ears to hear two real experts who are in love with their subject illustrate and explain. I think one only has one treat like that in a lifetime.
Watching Leon, G1HSM, make a printed circuit board “before our very eyes” kept us all interested. He made it all look so, so, easy as he handled the chemicals with facility.
Phil, G3MGQ, is a very good lecturer. He managed to cover the subject of circuit simulation, using the QUCS program on a computer, in such a manner as to be comprehensible to the novice and interesting to the expert.
The Club barbecue at the Picnic site at Fairlight was good, the weather might have been a bit warmer, but we all had the traditional “good time”.
One point I will make is that it is worth just having a Social Evening. All of us like a good ‘natter’ and for some a lecture, however well presented, is an inconvenience as it interrupts the flow of conversation. Gatherings that are less formal, such as ‘Bring Your Thing’, ‘Mystery Objects’ and Construction Evenings’ allow us to blend talking with our love of seeing ‘kit’ with the covers off.
The Club Junk Sale is slowly recovering from the change of venue. With the rise of Ebay circumstances have changed, not necessarily to our advantage. The April sale turned a modest profit and the July auction showed a slight improvement on this. One thing I can say is that on both occasions the mood of the gathering was very good. It seemed to please both buyers and sellers; some had bargains and some had a better price than they had expected.
Without the efforts of Thelma, G8SBJ, as Editor and Ron, G4VBK, who attends to the layout and printing, plus tending the team of ‘proof readers’ (to whom many thanks), we would be lost.
Be that as it may; without our many contributors we would have nothing.
To all of you who contribute to this club and make it what it is might I say the most profound ‘Thank You’.
William, G8CMK.