September 2000               sPARCGAP                PAGE 7

with hams."
West said that copies of the ARRL Public Service Communications Manual at the ARRL table were snapped up. "REACT folks were interested in how hams
handle NTS and tactical messages," West said. While a lot of REACT members already are amateurs, West said she encouraged those who were not to get ham licenses "to enhance their ability to participate in emergency
communications."
While REACT has been associated primarily with Citizens Band in the past, the organization has widened its focus to embrace amateur and other services.
Young called REACT "just another radio group that is doing the same basic job as ham radio operators" that provides emergency communications when and where needed.
"The trick is to get various groups to work together," he said.
Approximately one-quarter of the REACT conventioneers were ham operators, and one of the official events at the convention was the Amateur Breakfast,
at which West and her husband, Art, were guests. FCC Special Counsel for Amateur Radio Enforcement Riley Hollingsworth, K4ZDH, presented an FCC
seminar during the REACT convention.
REACT International has a Web site at http://www.reactintl.org/. Reprinted from ARRL News Letter

asked Industry Canada--the Canadian equivalent of the FCC--to discontinue that country's 12 WPM Morse code requirement in
favor of a 5 WPM test. During the past year, RAC says it has consulted with the Canadian Amateur community on the issue, and the RAC Board has concluded that a majority of Canadian Amateurs support dropping the 12 WPM Morse test although RAC acknowledges that many are against the change.
"A decision by Canada to drop the 12 WPM test would be in harmony with what is happening in other parts of the world and would simplify the negotiation and implementation of reciprocal operating agreements," an RAC bulletin said this week.
In a recent letter to Industry Canada, RAC President Kenneth Oelke, VE6AFO, recommended that full HF operating privileges be granted to amateurs who have passed a 5 WPM Morse test. At the same time, Oelke requested that the IC consider beefing up written tests to strengthen and expand the requirements for operator knowledge and skills in the areas of station setup and operation, on-air procedures and operating practices, and to include
more questions on modern modes of communication employed by radio amateurs.
RAC says its proposal would give Canadian radio amateurs operating privileges similar to those currently accorded to US amateurs who successfully pass a 5 WPM Morse test.--RAC

Reprinted from ARRL News Letter

ARRL AND REACT STEP TOGETHER


ARRL and REACT--Radio Emergency Associated Communications Teams--took some
first steps together this summer. The ARRL Board of Directors approved a memorandum of understanding between the two radio organizations at its July meeting.
The ARRL was on hand July 26-28 for the REACT 2000 International Convention in Kissimmee, Florida. The event included attendees from the US as well as from Canada and Trinidad and Tobago. ARRL Southern Florida Section Manager Phyllisan West, KA4FZI, coordinated activities for ARRL's representation at the event with Walt Young, convention chairman for the 25th annual REACT gathering.
"REACT folks are dedicated to public service, responding dependably to cover emergencies, marathons and other charity events," said West, who set up and staffed an ARRL exhibit table at the REACT event. "They operate mainly on GMRS and FRS to avoid problems of unlicensed CB channels, and are excited about working more closely

RAC SEEKS ELIMINATION OF 12 WPM MORSE REQUIREMENT
Radio Amateurs of Canada has