A PROCESS TO TRANSFORM RAC

Presented to HARC byK. Scott Wood, VE1QD

Assistant Director of RAC for the Halifax Region

15 September 2010

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

A FEW KEY FACTS

What are the key facts we need to know?Size of ham population in CanadaDistribution of hams across CanadaRAC membershipGeneral status of RACFinancial Organizational HARC support for RAC

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

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.

2.14%NL 3.80%

NS 2.71%NB

0.51%PEI

26.32%Que

31.09%Ont

2.82%MB

2.18%SK

8.39%AB

19.68%BC

0.36%YT,NT,NU

2008 Distribution of Amateur Radio Licencees

NL

NS

NB

PE

QC

ON

MB

SK

AB

BC

YT

NT

NU

RAC MEMBERSHIPas of 1 July 2010

TOTAL RAC MEMBERSHIP 4826 Full members 4085Life Members 410Family Members 106Associate Members 146Club & Institutional 22Other 57

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

HARC SUPPORT FOR RAC

HARC membership in July 2010 was 135At the same time there were 57 HARC

members who are also RAC membersThus 42.2% of HARC members belong to RACThis may be good for Clubs in CanadaHowever, there are still 79 non-RAC members

that make up a majority of 57.8%How can we improve on our RAC support?

BACKGROUND FOR ACTION

An update of recent developments at RACRole of John Bartlett, VE1OZ/HK3OZ Documents about John’s approach to

strategic planning for RACA Process to Transform RAC launched at MDFClubs across the country are holding meetings

like this to discuss RAC’s futureOctober planning meeting of RAC

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 RACEngage members at the grassroots Start by imagining (dreaming) about your ideal RACGiven a dream, identify the steps need to get there. Identify actions & priorities needed to move ahead Formulate and implement as an Action Plan

THE PROCESS: A SUMMARY (2)

Progress to dateThe first two steps have been takenThe second two steps were are initiating tonightPlan formulation to begin in OctoberThe last two steps will require active RAC leadership Consultations with membersReview and ratification of any Action PlanLet’s open the floor for discussion

HARC: NEXT STEPS IN THE PROCESSOur discussion tonight is a beginningContinue the dialogue with yourself and your

own comfortable groupFeed back ideas to me, using a questionnaireI will formulate a summary of the ideas to

forward RAC for their October meetingPlease engage non-HARC and/or non-RAC

individuals

THANKS FOR THE INTEREST IN THE FUTURE OF RAC AND FOR THE GREAT DISCUSSION.

MAY OUR EFFORT CONTINUE!