by Robin (Rob) Webb VE3UIX, President, Almonte Amateur Radio Club inc.
The Almonte Amateur radio club held its third annual banquet at the Almonte Branch of Royal Canadian Legion last Saturday January 12th. Forty people attended comprising club members and other “hams” from the local area. Robin Webb, club president said, ‘this was the best banquet we have had up to now. We changed the format a bit this year and started the evening off with hors d’oeuvres while attendees socialized before dinner”.
A highlight of the evening was a presentation by Ed Carew and Doug Wilger of the Mississippi Radio Control Club who brought along a number of model aircraft and described the technology on how the models operated and are flown. The culmination of the presentation was the flying of two small helicopters in the banquet room.
A number of organizations sponsored the event by supplying door prizes and thanks go to Icom Canada for providing one of their latest amateur radio products; the Almonte Riverside Boutique for a free night and breakfast; Home Hardware for a wine opening kit and other items and E N H Electric Ltd of Nepean for a LED spotlight.
Special thanks to the Ladies Auxiliary of the Almonte Royal Canadian Legion for catering the event.
Apart from being involved in the hobby amateur radio the volunteers of the club provide supplementary communications in the Lanark County area in the event of an emergency that may affect the usual communication infrastructure such as the local telephone system and cell phones. In addition the club provides communication services for local community events. Club information may be found at www.almontarclub.ca.
