As a result of the COVID-19 global pandemic, the RAC Head Office in Ottawa has been closed temporarily and we are no longer able to send out membership renewal notices by mail and we will be sending out email notices instead.

We would appreciate it if you would please watch for these messages in your inbox and also in your junk folders – this is especially true if you have Outlook or Hotmail email addresses.

In addition, you can assist us by checking to see when your membership will expire by logging on to the RAC website and going to the “My Membership” webpage (https://www.rac.ca/my-membership/). You can also find it on the mailing label of the paper version of The Canadian Amateur magazine or by calling the RAC office as described below.

If you need to renew your membership you can do so by using one of the following options:

• Online: by completing the online renewal form (or by clicking on the “Join Radio Amateurs of Canada” logo on the top right of the RAC website). Payments must be made by credit card or by PayPal.
• By phone: by calling 877-273-8304 from 10 am to 4 pm EST/EDT, Monday through Friday (except statutory holidays). You may pay by credit card or you may send a cheque for the appropriate amount to the RAC head office.
• By mail: if you prefer to have your renewal form processed via standard mail, you can download an application for your region from the Membership Renewals webpage and mail it to the RAC Office. 

73, Glenn MacDonell, VE3XRA
RAC President

I would like to take this opportunity to remind you of just a few of the important services and benefits RAC provides to its members.

1) At the Local/Municipal Level: RAC works with municipalities on such issues as regulations governing the placement of antennas and assists Amateur Radio clubs and other organizations in Public Service and Emergency Services (ARES) functions throughout the year.

2) At the Regional/Provincial/Territorial Levels: RAC works with governments on such issues as Distracted Driving Legislation and Emergency Services.

3) At the National Level: RAC represents all Amateurs on the Canadian Amateur Radio Advisory Board (CARAB) and works with Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada on important issues such as tower legislation, RF interference and spectrum grabs by business.

4) At the International Level: RAC is a member of the International Amateur Radio Union (IARU) which works with the United Nation’s International Telecommunications Union (ITU) to preserve and expand our frequency spectrum allocations. RAC sponsors a representative at the World Radio Conferences (WRC) and their Preparatory Meetings to protect existing spectrum and open new spectrum.

All of these items are intangible benefits that RAC members enjoy but members also enjoy tangible benefits including:

• RAC’s membership journal, The Canadian Amateur (TCA) magazine – available in both print and digital (eTCA) formats – includes regular columns, features and technical articles of interest to Amateur Radio operators.
• The RAC QSL Bureau System distributes QSL cards for RAC members to countries around the world.
• The RAC Affiliated Club Program and Liability Insurance Program provides documents and other useful material to help local Amateur Radio clubs to be more efficient and also provides affordable $5 million liability insurance to their members.
• Two annual contests – the RAC Canada Day Contest and the RAC Canada Winter Contest – and the RAC Operating Awards for Radio Amateurs worldwide.
• The RAC Field Organization coordinates traffic-handling (National Traffic System) and emergency communications (ARES) across Canada.
• The RAC Scholarship and Grant Program applies member donations to provide financial support through scholarships, research and equipment grants.
• The RAC Youth Education Program provides support to teachers and schools wishing to implement an Amateur Radio program or project.

I hope this gives you a good idea of how a membership in Radio Amateurs of Canada is of direct benefit to you. Of course, what is not mentioned is that all of these services rely on the hard work of volunteers throughout Canada including those who serve on the RAC Board of Directors and Executive, as Section Managers and in Field Services, as volunteers at RAC Headquarters to name just a few.

The challenge for us is that we do not have the membership base that the American Radio Relay League has in the United States and we rely on and appreciate the support of every single member. We hope that you decide to continue to do so by renewing your membership.