Israel Ham News
by Ahron Kirschner 4X1AT and Ron Gang 4X1MK
Having
taken care of all the above, and it definitely has been done, city hall
can no longer refuse a permit foryour
antenna on the grounds of it being an eyesore.
Yet,
how is it that people who are not hams cannot see that a ham antenna is
a most beautiful aesthetic object of art?
THE
DECEMBER COUNCIL MEETING
The
last council meeting of the IARC took place on December 15 at my premises
(4X1AT) in Even Yehuda.For me it
was a real festival and great honor to be able to host that meeting.
Most
of the council members took part as well as representatives of all committees.Among
the topics that were discussed was of course, the subject close to my heart,
the style of the English ‘HaGal Newsletter’.As
already mentioned above, the looks of a newsletter give some repercussions
on the IARC.After 54 years of our
society, we are, for sure, out of our ‘Pampers’. Meaning we should have
a dignified looking newsletter.Everybody
agreed that this should be the case.
A
topic of discussion was also, as we are already in December, the yearly
dues of our members.The amount was
raised marginally.As the economic
situation in Israel is not much different as in other countries the world
over, it is of utmost importance to try and not loose part of our paying
members to keep the standard of service we will be able to extend to our
subscribers.
Talking
of services, a new data base has been developed for our club and will be
given, free of charge on a CD to all who have paid up for 2003.Seeing
it I was impressed.This new Israeli
callbook does include all Israeli licensed amateurs, some with their pictures,
regardless of being members in our society or not.The
list is in coordination with the Ministry of Communication’s licensing
department.We are grateful to Paul
Gross 4X6UU and his son Noam who made a marvelous job, for a job well done!(de
4X1AT)
IARC
COUNCIL MEETS IN HAIFA
On
January 12th, the IARC executive loaded itself into three vehicles
to hold the monthly council meeting at the Beit Miller in Haifa.It
has been a while since the executive met in Haifa, once a very strong bastion
of amateur radio.Beit Miller (Miller
House) is a community centre housing many activities for young people,
and many generations of radio amateurs have been “grown” in the premises.
The
place was packed as many hams from Haifa and the North came, and the meeting
went on to 11 PM, which is pretty late for these affairs.Special
thanks to Naftaly 4Z4RM, veteran Haifa ham and a past IARC chairman, for
organising the affair.It is hoped
that this has rekindled the spark of ham radio in the North.
APOLOGIES
AND EXPLANATIONS
Once
again I sit at my desk or rather in front of my keyboard and monitor to
write again an apology for the lateness of arrival of your bimonthly ‘HaGal’
newsletter.
What
should have been the October issue left my premises only in Mid-December!With
some luck I managed to get hold of the required amount of copies to send
to each and all of our subscribers.The
last copies were receives only two days ago.
Hopefully
this is the last time things like these will ever happen again.The
last issue you received, even though some of you requested only the English
written newsletter, was the full magazine with its Hebrew, English and
Russian language part.Yes, we have
a lot of new immigrants from what formerly the Soviet Union.Those
newly arrived hams haven’t managed to learn the Hebrew language yet.Still
they form, more or less. 15% of our population and of course do so also
in our society.They are a most welcome
addition to our ham population.Many
of them high qualified electronic engineers who would like, and do take
an active part in the matters of IARC.Thus
they write articles on matters of interest to radio amateurs, but still
in their mother tongue - Russian.
In
due course and some patience our ‘rather’ new friends will write in Hebrew
and these Russian pages will disappear – will become an interlude.
Coming
back to the English issue of HaGal, after prolonged arguments, matters
have now been taken up by 4X1YM Dany Roth deputy chairman of our society,
this I hope that a more ‘dignified English issue will come to you in the
foreseeable future.
All
said, I envisage a better future, and with our reaching the end of 2002
I would like to extend best seasonal wishes.May
2003 bring, not only to Isrsael but to the entire world a period of peace
and understanding among nations. (de 4X1AT)
NEWS SHORTS AND BRIEFS
-…-
A big
thank-you goes out to Judy 4X6SJ for her donation of $1000 for the 2003
Holyland Contest which will go for awards and the contest.
-…-
At the
last Ministry of Communications exams, two passed the Morse test, 11 the
regulations, and two the technical portion.It
is reported that there are now new callsigns on the air.
-…-
The
government has granted the IARC 50,000 sheqels from monies bequeathed to
the State.These funds may be used
only for educational and community service purposes.
-…-
A
call has gone out from Ziv 4X1UK for volunteers to run radio clubs and
teach courses for youths in any areas.A
salary will be paid (see the above item), which should be an incentive.
-…-
The
new fiscal year has begun for the IARC, and dues are to be paid.Those
paying their dues before the annual IARC Membership Assembly will get the
new IARC callbook CD ROM (still to come out) and membership card.
-…-
Shalom 4Z4BS reports
that the there was recently a meeting in Petah Tikva of 80 amateurs from
all over the country who are participating in the emergency communications
network.More hams are welcome to
join and contribute to this project.Please
contact Shalom, Moshe 4Z1PF or Amnon 4X1DF.
-…-
Joe
4X6KJ and Ruth 4X4CM reported back from the International Amateur Radio
Union conference in San Marino which they attended:A
new HF frequency with provisions for slow-speed CW and digital modes.The
IARU does not demand Morse examinations, left to the discretion of the
individual countries.Each member
society will pay dues to the IARU to the tune of 1.80 Swiss francs for
each member.The next IARU conference
will be held in 2005.