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Upcoming Events

COME JOIN US FOR LUNCH
The Board of the Friends of CRC invites all Friends, spouse or partner, and friends to the Friends' Luncheon:
When: Thursday, 17 April, 2003
Where: Britannia Yacht Club, 2777 Cassels Street
What: Bar opens at 11:30 a.m. Buffet Luncheon 12:00 p.m. Soup, Sandwiches, Salad, Dessert, Coffee & Tea
Video: "Antarctica" ~ 1:30 p.m. by Doris Jelly
Cost: $12.00 per person (includes gratuity); cash bar

Action: Please complete the form below and mail your cheque payable to Friends of CRC Association to:

Friends of CRC
3701 Carling Avenue
P.O. Box 11490, Station H
Ottawa, Ontario
K2H 8S2

We look forward to seeing you again!

For more information call: Jim Sawtell at 836-5798 or Don Ross at 592-2539
RSVP by 11 April 2003

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Please enclose this portion with your cheque.
I will join the Friends of CRC on 17 April, 2003.
Here is my cheque for ______________ for _____________ people ($12.00 each).
Names: ______________________________________________________________
Telephone number:________________________
E-mail: _______________________________________________

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From the March 2003 Newsletter:

Friends,
Thanks to those who gave me information about persons I have not been able to get addresses for. I use Canada411, Telus, and Sasktel on the Internet to find addresses and phone numbers in Canada but it has some short comings and I have had the wrong address for some members. When there is more than one person with the same name, which one do you choose? I made a mistake on the printed version of the newsletter last month, L.A. Maynard and Bob Bowen are not lost. The persons I am looking for are Maynard Walker and Herb Bown. Sorry, Larry and Bob. Bob Warburton gave me Herb's e-mail, thanks Bob.

Projects:

Update on SMARTScope as of March 12, 2003

Since the last report we have made progress on equipment installation, testing and calibration. The progress has been slowed a bit by the usual amount of cloudy winter weather that we get, and also by the extreme cold weather that we have had this winter. An assortment of issues are in progress:
- Precise polar alignment of the telescope mount is nearly complete, and some other calibration steps will follow shortly. Some problems with slewing in extreme cold were also found and corrected.
- Some minor problems with dome control have been worked on.
- The weather station has not been reporting data properly, and this is just about solved.
- It was discovered that the seals on the CCD camera were leaking and as a result frost was forming in the CCD chamber. The camera had to go back to the manufacturer for repair, and has just returned.
- Bad cables to the electric focuser were fixed and autofocus under computer control is now working.
- A GPS based unit to deliver precise time information to the computers has been built and is operational.
- A web accessible video camera is now operational in the dome to provide remote verification of equipment status independent of the computer.
- A pair of filter wheels have been recently delivered (the last major equipment item to come) and will be installed shortly.
Once all of the above equipment items are fully integrated and operational we will then move on to integration and testing of the software that will allow remote control of the full system. It is too soon to make any firm forecasts as to that date, but probably a few more months should do it.
Cheers -
Al Seaman

Correspondence:

February 17, 2003

Dear Friends,

In view of the fact that Plant Engineering at CRC is currently undergoing major organizational changes, I feel that it is appropriate to relate some of its history. My appointment in August 1959 as site engineer was a career change following military service and ten years in the heavy construction and engineering industry. At the outset I expected to be less involved in construction but this assumption proved to be wrong.
At the time I arrived both DRTE and DRCL were constructing additions; and it soon became evident that additional development was expected. Our major concern was the condition of the site utilities which were becoming overloaded. Over the next few years the utilities, including water, sewer, power, heating and cooling, were expanded to handle the growth.
Construction was more or less continuous in the 60s and 70s, and Defence Construction Ltd.(DCL) maintained a site office to oversee the work. We established good communications with Frank Underwood who was the engineer in charge. This arrangement enabled us to keep construction on schedule. At the same time CEMS was employed constructing field laboratories and antenna systems for the research staff. Many were located at one of the test sites in the Shirley Bay area, but a number were located in the far north at remote locations such as Resolute Bay and Churchill. We also became involved in technical development which affected the function and nature of research in the laboratories. They required major renovations to accommodate computers and clean labs. The work was challenging and often rewarding for the plant engineering staff who believed that their first priority was to provide support for the researchers.
Thank you for your work for the Friends. There are many stories that should be told about the earlier days.

Sincerely,

Herb Pragnell

Future Events:

Hugh Reekie has arranged to show some Course Video Tapes on Sub 100nm CMOS Technology in the CRC Auditorium on April 3, April 4, May 1 and May 8 at 1:00 pm each day.

On Tuesday, May 6, 2003 Jack Winters will discuss "Smart Antennas" also in the CRC Auditorium at 1:00pm. Friends of CRC and CRC Staff are invited.

Don't forget the Annual Luncheon on April 17, 2003. See the enclosed notice for details and the form to be returned. Doris Jelly will show a video after lunch of her January trip to Antarctica.
Note: not for people who don't like penguins!

Thursday, April 24, 2003 "Genealogy" by John Reid in the CRC Auditorium at 1:00 pm to be followed by the Annual General Meeting.

Spouses/Partners are invited to these events also. Some of our members purchase lunch at the Cafeteria at noon for a get-together before the talk. Please join us.

Jim Sawtell sawtell@igs.net
Your Newsletter Editor

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Friends,

We have been having problems for the past number of years finding a person to be President of the Executive Board of Friends of CRC. During this period a few of the Executive have accepted this position on a rotating basis so that we would have someone to prepare an agenda and Chair our monthly meetings plus a few other duties. Ross Fines has volunteered several times and has been our President for over a year as well as looking after Communications. Don Ross has taken over as President as of January 1, 2003 and he has also done this before. He is helping with Membership as well. At our next Annual General Meeting would someone please accept this position even if it is only for one term. Think about it.

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Website:

Thet membership list on the website has been updated and we hope to keep it current by adding or deleting names on a regular basis. Check it out and if you know employees of DRTE or CRC that worked with you who are not on the list please let us know. If you know their address or where they live that would be very helpful. While you are at it, look at the rest of the site.

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