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British Columbia Frequency Modulation Communications Association
About Us
On September 30, 1970, the British Columbia Frequency Modulation Communications Association (BCFMCA for short) was incorporated under the Societies Act in the Province of British Columbia. However, our real roots go back a few years before that!
BCFMCA became a registered charity in 2006. Donations over $25.00 are eligible for a tax receipt upon written request. Donations over $100.00 are also eligible for acknowledgement on our Donors, Sponsors and Contributors page.
The BCFMCA is an organization of radio amateurs, or hams, dealing primarily with FM communications in the VHF, UHF, and microwave bands. Currently, we have about 100 members in our organization. Most of our members live in the Vancouver area, however, we also have members from the Okanagan, Vancouver Island, Alberta, Yukon, and Washington.
The BCFMCA owns, operates, and maintains a large network of voice and packet repeaters with wide-area coverage of Southwestern British Columbia and Northwestern Washington. We owe our wide-area coverage to the excellent location of our main tower and repeater on Mount Seymour in North Vancouver. We also have repeaters located on top of a commercial highrise building in Burnaby (Metrotown), on a commercial tower on the Burnaby/Vancouver border near Central Park, and on Iron Mountain high above the City of Merritt in the Nicola Valley.
Our repeater site on Mount Seymour is provided courtesy of Mount Seymour Resorts and BC Parks.
The BCFMCA is run by a volunteer Board of Directors who are elected by the members at our Annual General Meeting, usually held in January or February each year. The Board of Directors is made up of the President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, and three Directors, and run by following a Constitution and Bylaws.
The BCFMCA does not have regular general meetings for the members. Instead, we host the Rainbow Country Net, which operates a DAILY net at 0900 Pacific Time. The RCN operates on the BCFMCA's AllStarLink Hub, AllStar Node 435450, IRLP Node 1694, and is broadcast on all connected nodes (primarily VE7RPT-VHF and VE7RPT-UHF). The RCN is open to all amateur radio operators, and is a forum to update everyone on Amateur Radio-related news, upcoming events, to share ideas, and to meet friends.
Our Mission
Guidelines for the Radio Amateur
The thoughtful Radio Amateur is:
Responsible -
using courteous operating practice, complying with regulations and accepted technical standards;
Progressive -
striving to develop and improve operating and technical skills;
Helpful -
offering assistance, support and encouragement to other Amateurs, especially beginners; and
Public Spirited -
offering use of station, knowledge and skills as a public service whenever possible.
W. Wilson - VE3NR 1997
(from The RAC Operating Manual, 1998)