During the last few months of this year, 2003, important changes have taken place which affect the amateur microwaver living in the United Kingdom.

The Board of the Radio Society of Great Britain (RSGB)has abolished its spectrum committees (HF, VHF and Microwave) and is replacing them with a loose knit "umbrella" committee called the Spectrum Forum. This change means that UK microwavers will no longer have representation through the dozen or more RSGB Microwave Committee members who have voluntarily worked on their behalf, for several decades, in the areas of spectrum management, IARU, technical development, helping out at microwave meetings and "roundtables", organising the popular programme of microwave contests and producing achievement awards and trophies. The Microwave Committee has also been the route through which microwave beacon applications have been channelled and has, of course, since the early 1980s, produced the highly regarded Microwave Newsletter, which is sent to all corners of the globe.

Unfortunately the RSGB Board's decision was not at all well received, possibly because the first that Microwave Committee members heard about it was when a "Dear John" letter from RSGB HQ fell through each member's letterbox! The decision came as a "bolt from the blue"! However, the decison has been made and UK microwavers must move on from this point.

A few years ago, at the Martlesham Microwave Round Table, the UK Microwave Group was formed. Originally aimed at providing a self-help organisation for microwavers (component supplies, quarterly technical newsletter, website, etc) it had to stay in the shadow of the RSGB Microwave Committee when it came to many of the roles that committee had already taken on board. While several members of the UK Microwave Group were also members of the RSGB Microwave Committee, it was the latter that had the greatest influence in the UK microwave scene.

The abolition of the RSGB Microwave Committee (as of 31 December 2003)now means that the UK Microwave Group has been thrust into the forefront as the only remaining organisation that can effectively represent the interests of UK microwavers.

By the time you read this, negotiations will have already begun between the committee of the UK Microwave Group and the RSGB Board. The Group aims to assume the organisation and running of the former Microwave Committee Contests, the production and dissemination of the Microwave Newsletter and other microwave literature, technical developments, production of information packs for beginners, administration of various microwave awards and trophies and representation for the UK microwaver through close liason with the new RSGB Spectrum Forum.

The Group's Committee believes that we must work with the new Forum, not against it, yet retain independence from RSGB. Ultimately the Group would like to become an Affiliated Group to RSGB (rather like the British Amateur Television Club, BATC)and support the work of the one microwave representative on the new Spectrum Forum. This rep is most likely gto be Mike Dixon, G3PFR,who has worked tirelessly for UK microwavers as Microwave Manager of the RSGB Microwave Committee. Mike is going to need all the suppport and backup he can get!

If you live in the UK and are interested in amateur microwaves then you should really become a member of the UK Microwave Group!

The UK Microwave group needs your support. It was given the unanimous backing of the hundred or so microwavers who attended the Martlesham Microwave Round Table in early November this year (2003). To join the group please email Martyn Kinder, G0CZD at:

martyn@czd.org.uk

He will provide further details.

Because of the impending changes to the Group's responsibilities, the subscription to the Group has been suspended for a short time until the future of the Microwave newsletter is clarified. Once the newsletter has become the official organ of the UK Microwave Group, the subscription required will reflect that change and rise to a suitable figure. Meanwhile you can still become a member! Just email Martyn, G0CZD at the above address.

THE FUTURE OF THE MICROWAVE NEWSLETTER ....

Existing subscribers to the RSGB Microwave Newsletter need not worry about receiving their monthly editions by post. This will carry on, ideally uninterrupted, even if the newsletter production moves over to the UK Microwave Group. Plans are being made to make the transition, if it occurs, to be as smooth as possible. The Newsletter Editor would appreciate all present readers to continue suppporting the publication. If it does became the newsletter of the UK Microwave Group it will look very much the same or even better! The Group has several ideas for it and all these are to the benefit of the readers.

If, as an overseas newsletter reader, you continue to support the newsletter after the possible changeover, you will automatically become a member of the UK Microwave group, even if you live in the USA, South Africa, Australia or any other part of the world!

SUPPORT THE UK MICROWAVE GROUP

- JOIN NOW!

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