RAC Bulletin 2012-006E - Ontario Section restructuring Update
2012-01-05

As announced in Radio Amateurs of Canada Bulletin 2011-021E, a RAC
Ontario Section Restructuring Commission was appointed by President
Geoff Bawden on the advice of the Vice President for Field Services
and with the support of the Board, with the objective of "improving
representation to our members and to ensure that the task of our
Section Managers is realistic in terms of member access and service".
The Commission was tasked to "determine the most effective number of
Section Managers and other positions as well as any further such
regional divisions which may be required". The difficulties of
effectively managing such a large geographical area as Ontario were
well known and the need for a greater number of sections had been
discussed at various levels for some years.

Under the chairmanship of Bill Unger VE3XT (Ontario Director
North/East), the Commission commenced its proceedings on August 7,
2011. The other members of the Commission are Jeff Stewart VA3WXM
(Ontario Director South), Dave Hayes VE3JX (Algoma ARC), Vic Henderson
VE3FOX (Peel ARC), Al Boyd, VE3AJB (current Ontario Section Manager
and Pat Barrett VE3RNH (Barrie ARC). Dave, Vic, Al and Pat are active
participants in the ARES. Also included in the deliberations was Ian
Snow, VA3QT, special advisor to the Vice President of Field Services
and Doug Mercer, VO1DM Vice President of Field Services for RAC. To
the best of its ability the Commission sought input from the Ontario
clubs and individual Amateurs.

The Commission recognized that Section Managers are elected by the
membership to manage a range of RAC programs. They report on Section
operations through the Vice President Field Services, who is
accountable to the President for the overall operation of the Field
Organization, but like the Regional Director, the Section Manager
holds overall responsibility within their Section. The Commission also
recognized that Ontario is a large province, that Field Services may
have different responsibilities based on where in the Province they
are located, and that it has proven difficult for one person to
coordinate all programs across the province. It recommended that the
existing relationship between ARES Districts and EMO Sectors should
continue to be respected. Finally, the task force recognized that VPFS
has instituted an advisory Council composed of the Section Managers to
coordinate Field Organization activities nationally.

The Commission recommended that Ontario be divided into four sections:
Ontario North, Ontario East, Ontario South, and the Greater Toronto
Area. The Toronto District ARES Coordinator will retain responsibility
for the operation of the ARES station located within the Provincial
EOC. The Commission recommended that the four Ontario SM.s meet in the
form of an Ontario Council to coordinate activities at the provincial
level, selecting from amongst themselves a Chairman.

The provincial council will be responsible for the Field Organization
administrative functions that sensibly belong at the provincial level,
and will appoint appropriately qualified Amateurs to represent the
Council to provincial government authorities, non-government
organizations (NGO) and external agencies, within the authority vested
in the Field Organization.

The Commission recommended that initially the new Section Managers be
appointed by the VPFS from qualified persons recommended by the
membership. The SM terms would be staggered so that two are elected
each odd year and the other two in even years. (Each SM term of office
is two years.) The formal Commission Report is available at the RAC
website at
http://www.rac.ca/en/rac/public-serv...les/120122%20O
nt%20Restructure%20Report.pdf.

The RAC Board of Directors approved the Commission's report and
recommendations on 26 January, 2012. A consultation process with the
Ontario clubs will be initiated immediately for the purpose of
soliciting nominations for the interim Section Manager appointments.
All Ontario Amateurs are encouraged to contribute to this consultation
through their local clubs. If that is not possible, Amateurs may
forward their nomination to CFSO (VO1DTM at RAC dot CA). Please
recognize that under the Constitution of Radio Amateurs du/of Canada a
requirement for appointment/election is that the candidate be a RAC
member in good standing.

Geoff Bawden VE4BAW
President

Bill Unger VE3XT
Director Ontario North/East

Jeffery Stewart VA3WXM
Director Ontario South

Doug Mercer VO1DTM
Chief Field Services Officer

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Vernon Ikeda - VE2MBS/VE2QQ
Pointe-Claire, Québec
RAC Blog Editor/RAC E-News/Web News Bulletin Editor
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