1. A PROCESS TO TRANSFORM RAC Presented to HARC by K. Scott Wood, VE1QD Assistant Director of RAC for the Halifax Region 15 September 2010

2. INTRODUCTION  RAC obviously needs to be reformed  We all know the litany of problems Declining membership Poor service Secretive control and concentration of power Poor management and weak finances  It’s a relief to note a healthy change in RAC  Our topic tonight is about transforming RAC

3. A FEW KEY FACTS  What are the key facts we need to know?  Size of ham population in Canada  Distribution of hams across Canada  RAC membership  General status of RAC Financial Organizational  HARC support for RAC

4. NUMBER OF AMATEUR RADIO OPERATORS IN CANADA IN 2010  The exact number of Canadian ham operators is not easy to specify  Problems with Industry Canada’s data base  Canada population is 11.2% of the USA  The USA has 670,000 hams  Thus Canada might have 75,000 hams  This is certainly an overestimate  The number is probably 50 - 60,000

5. This is the likely provincial distribution of amateur radio operators based on an estimate of 50,000 operators in Canada in 2008. The number of calls issued by IC is greater, due to the number of people who hold more than one call sign.

6. RAC MEMBERSHIP as of 1 July 2010 TOTAL RAC MEMBERSHIP4826 Full members 4085 Life Members 410 Family Members 106 Associate Members 146 Club & Institutional 22 Other 57

7. RAC’s CURRENT STATUS  RAC membership is 8 – 9.5% of Canadian amateur radio operators  RAC has a very small office and a mainly volunteer staff  RAC has been running a deficit for several years  The largest expenses are the TCA, office expenses and professional fees

8. HARC SUPPORT FOR RAC  HARC membership in July 2010 was 135  At the same time there were 57 HARC members who are also RAC members  Thus 42.2% of HARC members belong to RAC  This may be good for Clubs in Canada  However, there are still 79 non-RAC members that make up a majority of 57.8%  How can we improve on our RAC support?

9. BACKGROUND FOR ACTION  An update of recent developments at RAC  Role of John Bartlett, VE1OZ/HK3OZ  Documents about John’s approach to strategic planning for RAC  A Process to Transform RAC launched at MDF  Clubs across the country are holding meetings like this to discuss RAC’s future  October planning meeting of RAC

10. THE PROCESS: A SUMMARY (1)  The Process of Transformation is a variant of the organization tool of strategic planning  The essential steps include: Acknowledge the failures and current status of RAC Engage members at the grassroots Start by imagining (dreaming) about your ideal RAC Given a dream, identify the steps need to get there. Identify actions & priorities needed to move ahead Formulate and implement as an Action Plan

11. THE PROCESS: A SUMMARY (2)  Progress to date The first two steps have been taken The second two steps were are initiating tonight  Plan formulation to begin in October The last two steps will require active RAC leadership Consultations with members Review and ratification of any Action Plan  Let’s open the floor for discussion

12. HARC: NEXT STEPS IN THE PROCESS  Our discussion tonight is a beginning  Continue the dialogue with yourself and your own comfortable group  Feed back ideas to me, using a questionnaire  I will formulate a summary of the ideas to forward RAC for their October meeting  Please engage non-HARC and/or non-RAC individuals

13. THANKS FOR THE INTEREST IN THE FUTURE OF RAC AND FOR THE GREAT DISCUSSION. MAY OUR EFFORT CONTINUE!