Welcome to the December issue of the Newsletter. Following on from the success of our website (http://www.bylara.net) several members have suggested that we have an email contact facility. I have been looking at two methods of doing this and I would like people’s opinions before we proceed. 

The first method we could use is the Yahoo Groups system where by members post messages to the list and they are then forwarded on to individual members computers. Members who are worried that they may get too much email can opt to read it on line or alternatively have a weekly bulletin. Yahoo allows groups to store documents and photos on line which could become a useful resource.

The second system is to set up a Forum on which members can post messages and they can be sorted into threads for easier reading. Unlike the Yahoo group you will need to log on to look at your messages online, they are not emailed to you. Both systems cost nothing to use and only require a minimum of personal information to sign up to their services.

The other main thing I would like to know is do we restrict membership to BYLARA members only or do we allow anyone to log in?

If you are interested in either of the above methods please can you let me know by the middle of February and I will set the most popular choice up.

We are still fairly short of articles so please send me something, someone suggested a crossword so if there is anyone prepared to set one or maybe a word search please send them in.

Wishing all our members and readers a Happy Christmas and a prosperous New Year

73 Daphne (G7ENA)

The Dutch YL Committee organises this HF-contest every year in the second full weekend of January.

The contest time is as following:

CW – Saturday 14 January - 14.00-20.00 UTC and SSB - Sunday 15 January - 08.00-14.00 UTC.

Bands: 80, 40, 20, 15, and 10-metres (no crossband). To make your calls in SSB please use the following frequency segments:

3.600-3.650, 7.080-7.090, 14.270-14.300, 21.270-21.300, 28.470-28.500 MHz. This is useful so you will soon meet other contest stations instead of scanning the entire contest segment for YL's. Only single stations and single operators can participate in this contest. There are 5 categories in which you can participate: YL SSB, YL CW, OM SSB, OM CW, SWL.

Procedure: SSB YL's call 'CQ midwintercontest', and OM's call 'CQ YL's'.

CW pse use 'CQ OMS' or 'CQ YLS', to avoid any mixups with OM and YL countries.

Exchange: Call, RS(T) and sequence number. OM's start with 001 and YL's start with 2001. Both SSB and CW part should start with 001/2001.

Points:

Every QSO with a YL=5 points Every QSO with an OM=3 points QSOs from OM to OM do not count for points or multipliers! QSO with PI4YLC counts for 15 points, the club station will be active on both days on several bands. A station can be worked once on every band. QSO from OM to OM = 0 points!

For example: PA3YLC may be worked on Saturday in CW on 80, 40 and 20 metres and on Sunday in SSB on 80, 20, 15 and 10 metres. For the CW part this will count for 3x5=15 points and for the SSB part 4x5=20 points.

Multiplier:

Every worked DXCC-country counts as multiplier (that is the total number of countries on all bands for CW or SSB, not per band). For example: If you work I, DL and F on 20 metres and DL, OH and G on 15 metres, that would make 5 multipliers (not six).

Total score: points of all bands together times multipliers.

SWLs: Every heard YL counts for 5 points, PI4YLC counts for 15 points, multipliers as above.

The log should also contain the qso partner.

Log:

For CW and SSB separate logs and separate points!

The log should also contain: time, band, date and YL or OM..

Logs that are not filled in correctly, or are unclear or unreadable can be ignored by the manager and if so do not compete as a contest log.

In every category, places 1,2 and 3 will be rewarded with a certificate.

Logs should be sent before the end of February 2006 (date postmark) to the following address:

PA3GQG - Contestmanager Midwintercontest

Keulenheide 1

6373 AP Landgraaf

jckoekkoek@home.nl

Good luck, 73 de Chantal-PA3GQG

Message from the Chairman

Hello to all our Members and readers,

As you can see above, we have come to a final decision as to the design of the Bylara Stationary and Advertising extra. I have taken into account all comments that where received from those members that filled in the Forms, and I would like to say thank you to them for their time and trouble.

When you received your magazine you will see Bylara Face of the quarter. The above will be Decembers picture, I your Chairman, will be March Magazine Cover and Jackie has volunteered to be June. So how do you all fancy being a Cover Girl for the quarter. As you can see, we do not publish your call sign or name. Inside the magazine you will find a write up by the lady herself. So there is no reason to worry about having a go, it would also introduce ourselves to each other as well.

We are trying to generate a Bylara Meeting next year, at one of the Big Rallies, probably, Derby, but this is depending on where is the most central place for all members to reach. Anyone without transport would be picked up by others on the way if possible. It would be a weekend affair, so can we have your opinions on this please.

I would also like to split the Country into Operational Areas, with an Operations Leader in each area/county, depending on the amount of operators in that particular area. This is in the process of being worked out, so that in the March Magazine I will set out the area/county that is to be covered and ask for a volunteer from that area/county. I can hear you saying, that is going to be a lot of work, well, rest assured it is not. It will mean inter area/county contact with other operators in your area, a knowledge of what Clubs (other than ours) are doing. This information is then passed to me and I distribute it to all the other Operation Leaders in their area/counties and they pass it on to their area/county. It means we keep up to date with all that is going on in our areas as well as what is going on all over the country. Thereby, it will be possible to attend Rallies and any other event that might be going on in a particular area at the time. It will also mean being able to have mini meet ups along the way, also if a member is on holiday somewhere they will be able to contact the Operational Leader of that area and arrange a meet or attend a Club in that locality. All the Operations Leader has to do is keep all their members of that area informed by email, telephone or post. Each Operations Leader will pass onto me and their own group their lists of events, club activities etc, each month, so we will be up to date with all that is going on in the whole of the country.

Any expenses, within reason, will be reimbursed to you. We will supply all the kit you will need, including Advertising Posters, Letter Headed Paper etc. When you require more, you shall be supplied. You will also be supplied with Postage Stamps for posting purposes, of your area/county information sheet.

If you want to you can organise a Monthly/Two Monthly meet of your area, and get to know each other on a more personal basis, and if a member from another county is in your region they can meet up with you all. Watch out for March issue of Bylara, and please volunteer for an area/county if you possibly can.

May I say many thanks for all the Committee’s support over the last year, Jackie for all her hard work and she does work hard on behalf of Bylara, and for all those of you that respond to suggestions that are put before you. We will move on and up, we will gain new members if we stick together and get ourselves advertised out there in the whole Country and put the above in to operation. Please contact me direct if you are interested in this project, or have any comments whatsoever, as it is you that this has got to work for. I will leave the ball in your court, as the saying goes.

73 & 88 de Carol 2E1RBH Chairman Bylara.

MAY I WISH YOU ALL A VERY HAPPY CHRISTMAS,

A HAPPY AND MERRY NEW YEAR