PRESIDENTS REPORT 2008

It is with pleasure that I present to the members the 2008 "Presidents Report" at this the Annual General Meeting of the club.

This year the club has held monthly General Meetings and momthly Management Committee meetings within keeping of the constitution. This year all meetings have been open to the members and the members have been allowed to have in put.

I am pleased to report that this year has been a very successful year for the club and its members. The most relevant benchmark to gauge the success of a club can be assessed from the financial report which has been presented by the Treasurer. During the course of the year the club has maintained a balanced budget and at the end of the year has achieved a banking reserve far in assess on previous years. Two very successful Field Days were held this year with both days resulting in excellent trading figures. Other sources of income include the Store which again this year has been strongly supported by the members. The store now holds a full stock entering into next year. The canteen has seen two operators during the year with both operators supplying quality economical food at the members request. Excellent hot meals were provided during the winter and lighter refreshing meals during the summer. The canteen now has a fully accountable process which makes business simple.

Due to the resourcefullness of a member for the first time applied for and was granted a "Commonwealth Grant". $3000 was awarded to the club to purchase specific equipment for the clubs use. A new refrigerator and freezer have been purchased for the Kitchen, a "First Aid Kit" was installed in the common room  greatly increasing our First Aid requirements and a large sized air conditioner has been installed in the Classroom. All of these items have helped make our clubrooms a better place to be.

The club as usual has supported the WIA QSL inward Bureau at the clubrooms this year.

Apart from offering a very professional service by our members to the WIA the club has received a well earned financial return from the WIA.

Other streams of income have been membership. This year it was determined not to increase membership fee  which reflected the memberships demand.

Membership this year has seen a steady positive increase. This increase is greater than preceding years.

The club has conducted many classes this year which has resulted in many members gaining and /or upgrading their licences. Many hours of tuition were conducted in the classroom.

Well done all.

This year has seen a steady refurbishment of the club infrastructure. Many hours have been spent by club members to make significant changes to the building. Firstly the Computer room has been totally fitted out and painted, the hallway form the common room to the classroom has been resheeted and painted and the classroom is all but completed wit ha full relining, painting and new carpet. These refurbishments were seen by the Management Committee as a necessity after many years of neglect. This year we had a severe  white ant infestation which has been eradicated. Repairs to the water supply after the theft of copper piping have been completed. Major repairs to the piering under the kitchen will commence shortly as a "contract " to commence work was signed in April.

Special notation is made to the upgrading of the computer facilities this year.

Your Management Committee supported the establishment of a integrated broadband network throughout the club rooms wit ha hub in the computer room. Fast broadband connection has been established and is operational. This has been particularly useful in the Radio Room for the logging of contacts and the recording of information during contests. The Library terminal has also been well used.

This year the club has introduced a new team within its ranks. This new team is the "Contest Team". Up to 15 members are now actively participating in the world wide and local contest scene. The "Contest Team" has secured respectable placings in contests and took out 1st place in the HF Multi operator section of the John Moyle Contest, Australia's superior contest. Significantly the Westlakes "ALARA Contest Team" was the first ALARA all lady team to contest in Australia, another first by Westlakes this year.

A very significant happening this year has been the establishment of a brand new set of Rules and Procedures fro the members of the Club. During past the years  all but a few of the original by-law's had been lost in missing documentation. The members rallied and after several discussion meetings worked and established the new "Rules and Procedures" These "Rules and Procedures" reflect the day today operation of the club and we now have a defined set of rules for 2008 and onwards.

These "Rules and Procedures" are a living document and can be altered on call. It is very pleasing to note that not once has any member been called upon to account for, by stepping out side the rules. This has been a significant advancement for the club and its members.

The most significant happening this year has been the establishment of a Draft Lease for our premises with Lake Macquarie City Council . LMCC identified our club as not having a lease and work was commenced to establish a new lease with the Council.

This lease is conditional which is to our benefit and as demanded has a running period of five years. This lease will be signed within the next months after ratification by the members.

Finally I would like totake the opportunity to thank those members who have made this year happen. In particular I would like to thank the Executive Committee and the Management Committee for their resolve to keep the club running on a sound footing. To those members of the Sub committee your efforts are recognized by the members, thank you.

Your club is handed over to the incoming committee is a sound financial position after a very exceptionally successful year .

 Russell Ashdown VK23KEG

President 2007-8  Westlakes Amateur Radio Club Inc.