VK2WI Weekly News, 16th May 1993
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[ These snippets were gleaned from the packet radio network; they appear
  to be the only machine-readable record of the VK2WI Broadcast now. ]

Two Kenwood rigs won in WIA membership campaign.

The Prizes for the WIA NSW Divion's membership recruitment and retention
campaign were drawn by Mr Joshua Mui of Kenwood at the Division's annual
general meeting on Sunday 9th May.

Second prize of a Kenwood TH-28A two mwtre handheld treansceiver was won
by Mr N.F. Black VK2TNB of Blakehurst.

First prize of a TM-732A dual-band two metre/70 cm rig was won by
Mr J.H. Willmott VK2AJX, from Bowral.

The promotion campaign achieved it's purpose. The goal was to boost
membership by recruiting new members and retaining existing members
where, in recent years, membership has been falling. The target was
a net gain of 100 members.

By the end of the promotion, conducted over December last year through
February this year, membership had risen by a total of 102 members above
forecast. The NSW Division now has the highest membership of all Divisions,
standing at 1714 as at the end of March.

 Space News.

The French Arsene satellite was successfully launched from the Korou
space centre in French Guiana on Wednesday, May 12.

However, disappointingly, it seems to have suffered a serious failure,
according to a report dated May 13.

Jean Gruau. F8ZS, President of the Radio Amateur Club de L'espace, said:
"a signal is coming from Arsene, but it is extremely weak and not
serviceable."

It was speculated the problem could be improper antenna orientation
or a power system failure.

Astra, the commercial satellite that was launced with Arsene, is
functioning normally.


Amateur radio publicity dispells the myths.

A story on page 15 of the Sydney Morning Herald for Saturday 15 May
should go a long way towards correcting public perceptions of radio
amateurs as cranks who listen to crackly transmissions on shortwave
between bouts of eavesdropping on salacious royal phone calls.

The article explains how John Simon VK2XGJ was awaiting news of the
launch of the latest packet radio satellite, Arsene.

Written by Herald staff journalist, Richard Macey, the article is
accompanied by a picture of John in his "shack".  A keyboard and
computer monitor are in prominent view among the transceivers, but
there's not a microphone in sight!

Macey clearly explains packet radio in laymen's terms, after telling
readers that "amateur radio enthusiasts have come a long way since
the days of huddling over crackling wirelesses..."


International News

The US government plans to auction two large segments of the radio
spectrum between 1.8 and 2.2 Gigahertz (GHz).

The auction scheme is apparently part of a plan to cut the
government's budget deficit.

The auctions have been approved by a committee of the congress,
while companion plans are passing through the US senate.

President Clinton approves the auctions shceme, which practically
guarantees they will be passed, according to reports.

The auctions are forecast to return some seven billion dollars
U.S. to the American government.


New Divisional Council elected.

Elections for the 1993-94 Council of the WIA NSW Division saw
the following candidates elected:

Sandy Brucesmith     VK2AD

Roger Harrison       VK2ZTB

Roger Henley         VK2ZIG

Julie Kentwell       VK2XBR

Bob Lloyd-Jones      VK2YEL

Tim Mills            VK2ZTM

Erich Reimann        VK2WH

John Robinson        VK2XY

and

Terry Ryeland        VK2UX

[ Written by R.Harrison VK2ZTB, posted to packet by J.Robinson VK2XY ]