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IRTS RADIO NEWS BULLETIN Sunday April 26th 1998


IRTS Dinner and Rally

Last weekends IRTS annual dinner and AGM hosted by Cork Radio club was once again a great success and everybody present had a very enjoyable weekend.

Events kicked off with the dinner on Saturday night and members and guests attended from all over the country. The guests present included Minister of State at the Department of Environment Mr.Dan Wallace T.D., Jerry Mulvin and his wife Elizabeth from the Department of the Marine and John Breen from the Office of the Director of Telecommunications Regulation.

The Minister in his address paid tribute to the great work being done by the various Amateur Radio Emergency Groups around the country and he urged even greater participation by EI experimenters.

John Breen outlined the role of the Office of the Director of Telecommunications Regulation, known as OTDR, which is now responsible for all radio licencing in the country.

He complimented the Society on their ongoing positive relations with his office and particularly praised the recent submission on the future of cable television where the Society put the amateurs case for consideration in any new regulations.

However, all in the garden is not rosy and John explained the pressure on spectrum allocation from many commercial sources. He reported on a study of the use of some amateur bands, particularly in the Dublin area where it was found that occupancy was less than 10 per cent on nearly all the most popular 2 metre channels. The higher amateur bands of course are almost unused. He did say that in the future it would be very difficult to justify holding on to valuable spectrum that was not being utilised. His expression was use it or lose it.

Following the formalities, which included addresses from Fr. Finbarr EI1CS, Chairman of Cork Radio Club and Paul EI5DI the Society President, all present had a very enjoyable evening with nice music, dancing and chat.

Cork Radio club members were out and about at dawn on Sunday morning putting up signs around the city for the rally. The venue, the main ballroom in the hotel, was ideal with lots of space for both traders and punters to enjoy.

As well as the usual traders, the Irish Armys display of their communications equipment attracted huge interest and Astronomy Ireland showed a range of telescopes as well as a computer display.

The availability of refreshments in the rally hall was much appreciated and as usual in Cork, there was plenty of manpower available to help traders get their gear set up and more importantly get it packed up again in the evening.

Six students sat their morse tests which were conducted by Jim EI3DP and Mick EI6GF.


IRTS Annual General Meeting

A special general meeting was held before the AGM and changes to the Society rules as proposed by the Committee were carried unanimously.

The 66th Annual General Meeting, chaired by the President Paul O'Kane EI5DI, was attended by over sixty members who began the meeting by standing for a minutes silence for silent keys. The minutes of the 65th AGM were read by Joe Ryan and adopted.

The committees annual report covered all aspects of the societys operations and will be published in full in the Newsletter.

The Treasurers report was presented by Sean Donelan EI4GK and showed a very healthy cash reserve. Some members felt that more money should be spent on promoting the hobby and the incoming committee were asked to look at that area.

Paul O'Kane, in his presidential address paid tribute to all the volunteers whose work, week in week out, keeps the services of the society ticking over. He outlined the present position on outstanding issues under discussion with the regulator and stated that the whole issue of power definition and levels has been agreed and is going through the legislative process and should be implemented before the next AGM.

Honorary membership was awarded to Dave Moore EI4BZ in recognition of his work over many years, particularly with the Newsletter, the Radio News and the Book Sales.

The election of Officers and Committee resulted in Paul EI5DI being elected president, Dave EI4BZ vice president and the following were elected to the committee -Mike EI3IG, Declan EI6FR, Peter EI4HX, Peter MI0BME, Noel EI6HW, Joe EI7GY, John EI2FOB, Sean EI4GK, Dermot EI4ESB, Jim GI8TST and Danny EI6GS.

The next Committee meeting will be held in Dublin on Sunday May 10th and clubs are reminded that they may send representatives. We will carry further news on the AGM next week.


Upcoming events

Fingal Radio Club will host their Spring Radio and Electronics Exhibition in Jurys Hotel in Ballsbridge on Sunday week next May the 10th. The event will run from 11.00am to 4.00pm.

Tipperary Amateur Radio Group will mount an amateur radio demonstration on Sunday May 17th in Clonmel rugby club, running from 10.00am until 5.00pm. The Cork Radio Club Rally will hold their annual rally in Blarney on Sunday September the 20th.


Items for inclusion in both the Radio News and Newsletter can be faxed to 021-632730 or passed on the telephone to Dave EI4BZ at 021- 632444 during the day and at 021-883555 in the evening.

Mail can also be sent on packet to EI4BZ and EI7DNB on cluster or at the EI7DKB BBS. The Radio News Editor John EI7DNB can be contacted at 021-353277 after 1830. All input to either the Radio News or the Newsletter can be sent by e-mail to news@irts.ie

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