The Radio Amateurs of Canada is governed by seven regional Directors, which comprise the Board. The term of office is two years, with a three term limit, and elections are staggered so that about half the board remains during any potential transition of office. The deadline for nominations for Ontario-South Director for the upcoming 2018-2020 term has passed and RAC has announced that there will be an election in the coming weeks.
I was elected to the Board of Directors in the middle of the 2016-2018 term, and have found the experience to be very rewarding. Amateur Radio is my passion, and RAC is the organization tasked with representing the interests of Amateur Radio with our regulator, so I have a vested interest in its success. I am running for another term, and hope to once again be selected by my peers to continue to advance our interests and represent the members of Ontario-South on the Board of Directors.
Below is the bio that has been released by RAC in the Notice of Election:
“Amateur Radio has been my passion for more than half of my life. First licensed in 1994, I currently hold my Advanced + Morse Code Operator Certificate. I have been a supporter of RAC since shortly after joining my first Amateur Radio club in 1995, and am currently a Maple Leaf Member. Previous to being elected to the RAC Board of Directors, I have served as both Emergency Coordinator and Assistant Section Manager in the RAC Field Organization.
The past two years have been very eventful for me. Aside from my responsibilities as a Board member, I was the licensee and sole Canadian member of the 2016 CY9C St. Paul Island DXPedition which garnered 64,000+ QSOs. I also had the honour and privilege to operate the commemorative TM100VIMY station at the Canadian National Vimy Memorial in Vimy, France this past April. Emergency and Disaster Communications remain one of my primary focuses in Amateur Radio – I am a RAC Certified Emergency Coordinator, and an active member of the Canadian Forces Affiliate Radio System. Locally, I’m an active member of the Guelph Amateur Radio Club, and I host the VE3YAP APRS Digipeater, and Layer-2 Ontario APRS I-Gate and Server.
During my first term as Ontario-South Director, I have spent as much time as possible meeting and getting to know the Amateurs in my constituent area, and have worked to solve whatever problems that have been brought to me by the membership. Additionally, I have brought my 17+ years of business experience to the RAC Audit and Finance Committee, where I help to manage the finances of the organization and ensure continued stability and viability. Finally, I have worked with my counterpart in Ontario North-East to ensure that Amateur Radio operators in Ontario retain the ability to operate mobile under Ontario’s Distracted Driving regulations. At time of writing, we have had a very enlightening and productive meeting with the Ontario Ministry of Transportation and are anticipating a positive and permanent resolution on this matter.
I look forward to being able to continue the important work that RAC does for the Canadian Amateur Radio community and represent the RAC members in Ontario-South.”
If any of the voting members have questions or concerns they’d like to bring my way, please feel free to contact me, and I’ll respond as quickly as I can. With your help, I hope to be able to continue what I’ve started.
73 de VA3QR.
I have had the pleasure of working with Phil McBride, VA3QR as Assistant Director for the past two years. He has worked hard for the betterment of amateurs in Ontario South while maintaining a professional life, raising a family and remaining active in ham radio. I fully support his reelection.
Stan Leschinsky, VE3TW