QUARTER CENTURY WIRELESS

ASSOCIATION

A Presentation For

Calgary Communications Club

Calgary, AB

April 19, 2006

QCWA MISSION• Promote Friendship Amongst All Radio Amateurs.

• Encourage Cooperation With All Radio Amateurs.

• Provide A Relationship With Dedicated & Proficient Radio Amateurs World-Wide.

• Preserve Amateur Radio Traditions That Could Affect Our Future.

QCWA MISSION

• Sponsor Scholarship Awards

THEFOUNDATION for AMATEUR RADIO

• Through QCWA and FARS

QCWA HISTORY• Began With 6 Amateurs During A Round

Table Discussion On 10 Metres In 1942.

• On December 5, 1942 - 34 Young Men Licensed 25 Years Or More Held A Meeting In New York City.

• Five Years Later in 1947 - 20 More Names Were Added To the List. This Made 54 Chartered Members Of The New Association.

QCWA HISTORY• These 54 Amateurs Had Several Things

In Common.

• All Were Licensed 25 Years Or More - Going Back To 1922.

• All Were Proficient Spark Operators.

• All Operated On 200 Metres & Above.

• After WWII - They Purchased & Discussed Converting War Surplus Equipment.

QCWA HISTORYWhat’s In A Name?

• Frank Lester, W2AMJ (W4AMJ) Suggested The Name “Quarter Century Wireless Association”.

• This Represented 25 Years or a “Quarter Century”.

• And “Wireless Association” - To Indicate Amateurs Who Pioneered Amateur Radio In The Early Days Of Wireless Transmission.

QCWA MEETINGS

• Meetings Were Held Twice A Year With 100 In Attendance.

• There Were Varied Guest Speakers of Pioneer Fame - Paul Godley, Hugo Gernsback, etc.

• From 1947 to 1971 All Meetings Were Held In New York City.

• First Meeting Held Outside Of New York City Was In 1972 In Washington, DC.

QCWA CHAPTERS• It Was Difficult For Members To Attend

Meetings Because of The Distance.

• The Idea Of Forming Chapters Around The World Was Decided Upon.

• This Enabled Members To Attend Their Local Chapters & Become Involved At The Local Level.

• Before Joining A Chapter However, One Would Need to Be A Member Of QCWA.

QCWA CHAPTERS

• Canadians Become Part of The QCWA Chapter Movement In The Early ‘70s.

• Chapter 70 (National Capital) Was The First In Canada To Charter on March 7, 1974.

QCWA CHAPTERS

• This Followed With Chapter 73 (Southern Ontario) on May 17, 1974.

• In 2000 Chapter 73 Changed It’s Name To The “Fred Hammond Chapter 73” To Honour Fred Hammond, VE3HC (SK) - A Past QCWA Director.

QCWA CHAPTERS

• This Sparked Further Canadian Interest In QCWA.

• British Columbia Dogwood Chapter 98 (Now Inactive) Was Formed In 1976.

• Alberta Wild Rose Chapter 151 Was Formed May 14, 1984.

• QCWA International Now Has Over 200 + Chapters World Wide.

CHAPTER ACTIVITIES

• Chapter 151 Decided To Sponsor Schools In The RAC Youth Education Program.

• This Lead To Sponsoring Two Separate Schools For An ISS Contact With The Kids.

• Chapter 73 Decided To Offer Scholarships To Those Seeking Post Secondary Education.

• In The Second Year Of The Scholarship Program, Calgarian Liz Ferguson, VA6LIZ Qualified For A $500.00 Scholarship.

FORMING A CHAPTER

• A QCWA Chapter May Be Formed By 5 QCWA Members In Good Standing.

• These 5 Members Then Elect A Chapter Executive. The Minimum Requirement Is - President, Secretary and Treasurer.

FORMING A CHAPTER

• Send Application To QCWA Headquarters For QCWA Board Approval.

• Once Approved - The Chapter is Assigned A Number Which Is Permanently Assigned To The Chapter.

QCWA MEMBERSHIP• Membership Is Available To All Licensed

Amateurs Licensed 25 Years Or More.

• Once Joining QCWA International A Member Is Assigned A Membership Number And Membership Certificate.

• Membership Number Is Permanent - Even After Becoming A Silent Key.

• A Member May Join As Many Chapters As They Wish.

CONVENTIONS

• QCWA Has Annual Conventions Hosted By Different Chapters Around The World.

• Chapters May Make Application To QCWA And Be Granted Permission To Host An Annual Convention.

• Conventions Usually Take Place in Late September To Mid October Of Each Year.

CONVENTIONS• QCWA Has Had Two Cruise Conventions - A

Caribbean Cruise In 2001 And An Alaska Cruise In 2005.

• An Annual General Meeting Of The Members Is Held At The Convention.

• The QCWA Also Hold Their Annual Board of Directors Meeting In Conjunction With The Convention.

CONVENTIONS

Speaking of Conventions, Chapter 151 Is Hosting An International Convention!

WHEN and WHERE?

CONVENTIONS

CALGARY, ALBERTA

SEPTEMBER 28 - 30, 2006

PLEASE JOIN US!

QCWA

QUESTIONS??

Chapter 151 Web Site: www.obsd.com/qcwa-chapter151