After almost 10 years of serving as RAC Operating Awards Manager, John Scott, VE1JS, has decided to retire effective January 1, 2023.
John has been very active both on the air and as a volunteer since becoming an Amateur in 1974.
“I became an Amateur partly because of my uncle, Dave Williams, VE3BGL (SK) and because I wanted to talk to the world. This was aided by an encounter I had while working at a camp on Lake Temagami. In the late 1950s or early 1960s there were no landlines up the lake and if you wanted to talk to someone, you had to go to the nearest pay phone at Bear Island nearly 18 miles by boat. The local charter airline company provided a WWII surplus ATR-5 transceiver: 30 watts of AM on 5536.5 kHz to a dipole at about 20 feet run by a vibrator power supply so we could talk to them when we needed a plane to ferry guests to and from the camp. One day I called and called and called and got no reply from Temagami, VXX30. But I did get a response from using the call sign ‘Ottawa Radio’. My first DX!
I got my Amateur Radio license in 1974 by some self-study, aided by some classes at the Ontario Science Centre taught by Phil Gebhardt, VE3ACK, with CW taught by Frank, VE3JT (SK) whose surname I don’t recall. I took classes for the Advanced licence at the Metro Radio Club. As soon as I got my Advanced in 1975, Norm Dennis, VE3ZH (SK) persuaded me to take over teaching of the first licence. I did this for a few years. What goes around, comes around! The examination for my Advanced ticket was done by a Department of Communications (DOC) team headed by none other than Hugh Clark, VE3WM (SK) then and later, in New Brunswick, VE9HC! I held the calls VE3EZU until 1994, VA3PI until 1998. VE1YDX in Nova Scotia until 1994, then VE1JS. I still hold VE1YDX.
I’m still active on the air almost every day. I have tried just about every mode available, with the exception of moonbounce. I have progressed through six radios in my nearly 50 years. I started with a Heathkit HW-101, self-built, a Yaesu FT-102, a Kenwood TS something, a Yaesu FT-1000MP, an Elecraft K3 and now a Yaesu FT-DX101D.
I have the following awards: DXCC (1979), 5BDXCC (2020), DXCC #1 Honour Roll (2011), WAS (twice, once with two-letter calls on 75m), WPX Mixed and IOTA 600.
Along with Metro Radio Club teaching I was Secretary/Treasurer for the Canadian DX Association in the 1980s and 90s until it folded. After retiring and moving to Nova Scotia in 1998, I became Secretary-Treasurer of the Fundy Amateur Radio Club in Digby. I am still active in that capacity.
In addition I have been active in the local Anglican Church here in Sandy Cove and also in the Digby Curling Club and the Digby Pines Golf Club. I became a DXCC Card Checker for the ARRL as soon as it was allowed and I am still doing that.
I became the RAC Representative to the DX Advisory Committee about 2001 and I’m still doing that too. I became the RAC Operating Awards Manager in 2013 at the request of Ian MacFarquhar, VE9IM, who was the RAC Vice-President.” – 73, John Scott, VE1JS
Thank you John for your dedicated service to Amateurs in Canada and internationally!
RAC Awards Manager
The RAC Operating Awards Manager is appointed by the President and reports directly to the Vice-President and is a member of the RAC Contests and Awards Committee (RAC-CAC).
Currently, there are four operating awards sponsored by Radio Amateurs of Canada:
- Canadaward
- 5 Band Canadaward
- Trans-Canada Award
- Worked All RAC Award
The rules for each award emphasize a different aspect of operation and are available on the RAC website at the link provided below.
Duties:
- Review applications and verify the information on the applicant’s supporting documents is accurate and in keeping with the rules of each award
- Prepare certificates and plaques and send to applicants
- Administer the Operating Awards rules and make any proposals for changes
The volunteer should expect to devote 10 hours per month to these duties.
Please visit our Volunteer webpage for information on how to join our team.