Graham, VE3BYT, noted that there were only seven present other than the Council executive, notwithstanding that the meeting was organized for the day of the annual fleamarket in Smiths Falls to make it convenient for people to attend, and that many of the amateurs who might have joined the Council meeting had been at the fleamarket in the morning.   Other than the Exec., there was one person at the meeting from the Ottawa/Gatineau, Cornwall or Kingston areas, and nobody from New York State.  The volunteers on the Council do hope that there will be better support and participation at the next meeting.

Election:  Jack, VE2CV, indicated that after so many years, he would like to step down from his role as Treasurer.  Pierre, VE3FLO, volunteered to take over this responsibility.  At this point, Tim, VE3UO, and Graham, VE3BYT, indicated as well that they would step down if others were willing to step in to their roles as Chairman and Secretary respectively.  Mike, VE3UIL, generously offered to take on the Secretary position.  Pierre and Mike were elected by acclamation with thunderous applause.  Tim and will continue as Chairman for the present.  Luc, VE3JGL, will continue as Frequency Coordinator.  The Amateur Radio community owes considerable thanks to those who have dedicated their time and efforts to the work of the Council.  Special thanks to Jack, VE2CV, for his many years on the Council executive.

New Business and Current Issues:  

There was considerable discussion of the SLVRC website and Information Gateway Services.  The Council website was set up at IGS originally.  When the Radio Amateurs of Canada web left IGS, the Council website found itself away from IGS as well, as it was on the same server.  Recently RAC has suggested that it would prefer not to have other organizations occupying their server.  The SLVRC will investigate other ISPs with the object of moving away from the RAC server.  Tim will look into ISPs in the Belleville and Kingston areas before we investigate others.

Luc reported that there are no coordination requests outstanding except a simplex frequency in Campbell's Bay, to be linked to the VE2REH complex.  At the urgent request of the OARDG (Ottawa Amateur Radio Digital Group) he has allocated frequencies for DStar digital repeaters in the Ottawa area.  These will be on 145.530 -, 433.050 +, and 1282 (-12) MHz.

It was noted that FULL Technical information Reports were due from each coordinated system by the Fall of 2006, last year.  It is not known at present how many have in fact submitted their reports.  Those who have not filed reports will be asked to do so, and these systems will be dealt with as usual in accordance with the published policy of the SLVRC.

Annual dues  

There was discussion of membership and annual dues.  The Council intends (sometime soon) to publish for each coordinated system the contact persons and the year in which the systems last paid dues to support the coordination work.  It is to be noted that a relatively small number of those who have received assistance from the SLVRC have actually paid annual dues regularly or at all.  Some have faithfully paid every year.  

In view of the funds currently on hand and the fact that there are now fewer expenses than in past years (little need for paper and stamps), it was MOVED by Pierre VE3FLO, and seconded by Mike, VE3UIL, that collection of annual dues be suspended until future when it may again be necessary to top up the bank account.  CARRIED.

System Reports:

VE3QAR on 444.475 and 146.985 are status quo, although there is some interference and they may need to move (Dave, VE3UGT).

Next General Meeting:  The next meeting is planned as usual for early November, probably at Carleton University in Ottawa.

Graham, VE3BYT - Secretary.

Please advise me of any errors or omissions in these minutes.  <graham@igs.net>