SMART23 Recap

S.M.A.R.T 23 Photos

Here is the link to Ron Bickle's VE1BIC Dropbox for photos from SMART23

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/2npc62clk14x4ex/AAAJZYVXh02Vsov5vJZJB3hoa?dl=0

The sixth annual Symposium for Maritime Amateur Radio Technology (S.M.A.R.T.) began on Friday evening May 5th with the first ever Meet & Greet at the Amherst Railway Station (see above). It turned out to be a success with over thirty amateurs taking part over two hours. This will probably now be an annual part of SMART.

On Saturday, a sunny morning greeted everyone for SMART23 at the Dr. Carson & Marion Murray Community Centre in Springhill NS.
The doors opened at 7am for volunteers / flea market tables with Kevin Burke VE1KEV, Frank Marks VE1FSM and Mike Masters VE1ZB looking after the set-up of tables while Mike Embree VE1MY was on the talk in frequency of 147.285 VE1WRC directing hams to the event.

As the flea market tables were being set up volunteers were busy preparing for the rush of hams expected at 8am when the doors opened. Once opened, Terry VE1AS & Susan VA1SIS Duncan were tasked at looking after the entrance fees while Mike Caissie VE9MTV, Don Anderson VE9CUB & Gordon Cotton VE9GC gave out tickets for lunch and helped the hams collect their name tags.

Hams began filing in and soon were buying raffle tickets from Steve VE1OR & Colleen VE1CEO Orr and 50/50 tickets from Al VE1ZS and his wife Mary. Thanks to Dana Rushton VE1VOX for getting the license for the draws.
While this was going on, Ron Bickle VE1BIC, Tom Hughes VE1TWH and Robert Mannette VE1CA were busy preparing the classrooms with audio and video testing.

At 8:40am Mike Johnson VE1MWJ who again this year was MC gave the opening remarks and at 9am the first classes began. Over the next three and a half hours 6 classes were held before lunch began at 12:30pm.

Members of the Springhill Teen centre prepared hamburgers and cheese burgers on the barbecue while potato salad was dished out to all. After lunch, amateurs milled around the flea market and vendor tables, others collected their QSL cards from the VE1/VE0 QSL Bureau while others checked out the automobiles registered for best amateur radio install. Other displays included the Halifax ARC promoting the club's 90th anniversary coming up later in the year, Maritime Contest Club, Old Timer's Club and the Atlantic Provinces Support Team for Amateur Radio (APSTAR).

At 2pm the afternoon classes began and after 4 more classes over the next two and half hours it was time to give out the door prizes and raffle prizes.

There was over one thousand dollars of door prizes this year including an ICOM handheld radio from Grant Saffarek VE9CXT from ICOM Canada which was won by Jon Gordon VE1JSG. Other door prizes were from Yaesu USA, Scott Davis N3FJP, Radioworld, WestCumb ARC, Moncton & Area ARC, Fredericton ARC, Halifax ARC, Kings County ARC and Greenwood ARC.
Other prizes this year were from Maritime Lady Amateurs, Limitless Designs by Robin Stone and Streetsridge Custom Designs by Ann Cutmore who designed our logo for SMART and made our mugs and shirts for sale.

As always raffle prizes were from the WestCumb ARC including 3 radios. Winners of the radios were Mike Caissie VE9MTV, Rod Bourque VE9HV and Garrett Orr VA1OR.

The 50/50 was won by Craig Seaboyer VE1DSS from Antigonish NS.

The first “best auto install” generated a lot of discussion & interest. Frank VE1FSM was very thorough with his inspection and analysis of each vehicle and their radio installation.
Winner of best radio installation went to Mike Masters VE1ZB while Brad Ross VE1ZX took second place.

The organizing committee for SMART would like to thank the following presenters who hosted the classes. Chris Pye VA1PYE, Fred Archibald VE1FA, Al Penny VO1NO, Gordon Cotton VE9GC, Brent Taylor VY2HF, William McMaster VY2WM, Robert Schoefield VE1RSM, Craig Seaboyer VE1DSS, Len Morgan VE9MY, Bill Karle VE1YY, Jason Ingraham VE1PYE and special guest Walter Rawle AC1AE.

We also want to thank organizer George Dewar VY2GF who worked very hard to find these presenters for the event.

We would also like to thank the Municipality of Cumberland for their continuing support and the staff at the Dr. Carson & Marion Murray Community Centre who set up the centre and looked after all our needs throughout the day.

Finally a big thank you to all the amateurs who attended the event and their continuing support of SMART. Without all of you this event would not take place.

Hope to see many of you next year at S.M.A.R.T.24.

Jim Langille VE1JBL
Coordinator S.M.A.R.T.

SMART23 Grand Prize Winners

Left to Right: Rod Bourque VE9HV, Garrett Orr VA1OR, Mike Caissie VE9MTV and Kevin Burke VE1KEV.