WICEN News

We  trust that all WICEN members are writing letters to the vari-
ous politicians, objecting to the proposed massive fee  increase.
It  is  a good idea to write to the politicians' opposite numbers
as well; a full list  is  circulating  on  packet  radio  and  on
Usenet.  Don't bother signing any petitions, as they are general-
ly regarded as a joke; a personal letter is far  more  effective,
and  in  the  eyes  of  the politician it can represent a hundred
votes.  By the same token, don't send in any "form  letters",  as
they  are  quickly recognised for what they are.  In your letter,
you might like to point out how CB operators, who are allowed  to
conduct  business on their bands, have had their fees eliminated,
yet the specially-trained Amateurs who make up WICEN  and  cannot
transact business are facing an almost doubling of their fees.

There are no events this month, but two new events for the calen-
dar are the Bathurst Car Rally on the weekend of  25-26th  Febru-
ary,  and  the  Eugowra  Car Rally on 8th April; the organiser is
Alan VK2YYJ, and please note that both events are  merely  tenta-
tive  at  this  stage.   Alan  advises  that a major event is the
Oberon Car Rally on 29th April, and many people are required;  he
can  be  contacted  on  packet radio as VK2YYJ at VK2CZR.  In the
meantime, regular events for March include the RTA Car Rally over
the  week  of  4-11th, and the annual Bungonia Cave Rescue on the
weekend of 18-19th.

Those regions wishing to have their activities publicised on this
broadcast are requested to get the details to the Publicity Offi-
cer, Dave VK2KFU, by Thursday night at the latest;  packet  radio
is the preferred medium, to VK2AAB, VK2OP, or VK2GJB.

WICEN is always looking for members to provide the community with
communications assistance.  Write to WICEN (NSW) Inc, PO Box 123,
St  Leonards  2065  for further information, or come up on one of
the WICEN nets: Blue Mountains on the first Monday of each  month
at  8.30pm  on  channel  7175  simplex,  Hunter each Wednesday at
7.30pm on channel 6900, Northern Rivers  each  Wednesday  at  8pm
around 3610 kHz, Central Coast each Thursday at 8.30pm on channel
7125, and Sydney each Thursday at 9.30pm on  channels  7150/8275.
If  there are any other regular nets then we'd like to hear about
them.

-- Dave VK2KFU, WICEN (NSW) Inc. Publicity Officer