Our President's AGM 2018 Address

Grand Reopening, September 16, 2017.                                                      Photo: C. Lippert

Dear Members, Staff, Volunteers, and Sponsors,

On behalf of the Board of Directors of the Secrets of Radar Museum I extend warm greetings to you all. It is with deep and sincere gratitude that I thank you for your ongoing commitment to keep the museum and the incredible story it tells alive. Since taking over from past president Mr. Peter Garland, I have learned a lot about the very slim margin upon which we stake our existence. I have learned that through sheer will and determination we can persevere and continue to tell our story. The going can be very tough for a small museum, but I have seen camaraderie, collaboration, cooperation, generosity, patience and understanding from all of you. For that I am grateful. We could not exist without all of those positive attributes which you have shown us in spades.

The 2017-2018 Fiscal Year saw us faced with the loss of our home and the Herculean task of moving an entire museum. Though the generous support and volunteerism of members of The 427 Wing of the Royal Canadian Airforce Association and the London Amateur Radio Club, we were able to move into our new location. We are looking forward to building on the synergy of being in an aviation district with several like-minded museums and groups. Early signs are promising as our number of visitors has increased in the first months of 2018 over last year.

Through financial support from the London Heritage Council we received funding to develop a new strategic plan. The Board of Directors put in the overtime needed throughout the longest and coldest winter in recent memory to collaborate and set a path forward that will see the museum continue to develop, modernize, focus, and become more accessible. Our hope is to find others who share in our vision who can make contributions as museum members, board members, and sponsors to help us achieve our short and long-term goals.

Together we have survived a very challenging year and it is my pleasure to continue to work with you and for you toward a brighter future.

Sincerely,

Corbin Lippert, President

Winter 2016 Volunteer of Note

At the changing of each season, after some discussion, we select one volunteer to recognise as our "Volunteer of Note".  We have chosen volunteer and member of the Board of Directors, Corbin Lippert, as our Winter 2016 VoN. 

Corbin represents the London Amateur Radio Club on our Board of Directors, but has become quite dedicated to the Secrets of Radar Museum.  Corbin not only brings technical radio knowledge to the museum, but he actively engages the LARC membership with the goings-on of the museum.  He's enthusiastic, enterprising, a bit of a handyman, and always looking for new ways to help both organisations thrive.

Thanks for everything you do, Corbin !

Corbin Lippert, December 2015.  Courtesy of the London Amateur Radio Club

A Tribute to the Women of Radar (today, and every day)

We can't tell the radar story without talking about the pivotal roles played by women, so in a sense, every day at the Museum is a Women's Day.  Women participated in radar research, made up what is very likely a majority of radar operations work, and built the equipment.  Their roles spanned science, technology, mechanics, communications, and operations.  In many cases, if not most, there was a high degree of precision and skill required to do the radar work they did, and like so often is the case, history has been pretty quiet telling their stories. 

Women working in RCAF/RAF radar during the Second World War were held to the Official Secrets Act just like the men, but unlike many of the men who returned and were encouraged to continue education in the fields of physics, engineering, radio, and electronics, women were expected to relinquish their places and return to the limited careers permitted to women, or more likely, to get married and make a home.  We don't mean to say that being a homemaker or mother isn't hard work, we know it is!  We are simply drawing attention to the fact that these women, who played such a vital role in the rapid development of radar, and more broadly speaking, the outcome of the war, were not given opportunities remotely equal to those of the returning men, but were still held to the same level of discretion and secrecy. 

So to those women, and those that followed in their footsteps, thank you for your service, your commitment, your dedication, and trailblazing.  We thank you, we are grateful, and we wouldn't be here without you.

Happy Holidays and all the best for 2016

We wish you all a happy and healthy holiday and all the best for the coming year. We look forward to seeing you soon at the museum, when we return to regular open hours on January 2nd.

View fullsize

In this full colour "Star Weekly" cover from December 11th, 1943, a RCAF WAAF is enjoying a spirited snowball fight.

Remember, you can track Santa via NORAD.  Check out their updated website and help them celebrate 60 years of sleigh-tracking!  http://www.noradsanta.org/

Autumn 2015 Volunteer of Note: Michelle Rosenblat

Michelle joined us in September through an internship program at Western University.  Very quickly she made herself at home and has become an integral part of the curatorial team.  Eager, dedicated, creative, and responsible, Michelle has continued work on an unfinished virtual exhibit initially researched and written by a previous intern. This includes editing segments of oral history from our archives, and sourcing photographs and artefacts. Her time with us has had her researching equipment necessary for the EMC Grant digitisation project, and digging through the collection for cool things to put on our Twitter.  In a pinch, she can even give a tour.  Michelle finishes with us in early December, but has promised to come back in January. 

Thanks for all you do, Michelle!

Summer Volunteer of Note: Sunny Kim

Congratulations to Sunny Kim, our Summer 2015 Volunteer of note!

Sunny has been a dedicated member of the museum's collections management team, tirelessly pursuing our catalogue backlog.  Aside from her attention to detail and diligence, Sunny brings cheer and humour to her work.  Thank you, Sunny, for all your hard work!

Thank you Volunteers and Staff!

On August 29th, we celebrated our marvellous Volunteers and Staff and were astounded by the amazing turn-out.  Sometimes we forget how many of us are invested in the life of this museum and it's important to recognise everyone who makes an impact.

Many thanks to the incomparable Brenna Ardiel, our phenomenal summer Museum Assistant and Interpreter, for planning and organising our first Volunteer and Staff Appreciation Luncheon. Thank you to everyone who helped out with the barbecues (Corbin and Don) and side dishes, to Kathy for assisting with the decorations, and to everyone who came out. Brenna's experience with us was made possible by Canada Summer Jobs in Heritage.

Many thanks to Evelyn Hayes, our Summer Experience Program student, who has worked on creating a new vision for our old exhibits. Next time you're in, check out her Teletype Machine display and activity.

We're delighted to announce our Summer Volunteer of Note is Sunny Kim, who has put in an enormous amount of time and effort into digging into the collection backlog.

Below are some photos from the event, courtesy of Kathy Kozell.

Spring Volunteer of Note: Bethany Hayward

Bethany helping out on Canada Day, 2014, in Harris Park, London, ON

Bethany has been with SORM for two years as our volunteer Collections Manager. With few exceptions, she devotes one day a week to the museum in which she puts order to chaos, inputs artefact and archival data into the collection database, and oversees the work of multiple young cataloguing assistants. You can often find her working the SORM booth at community events such as Canada Day in Harris Park, DoorsOpen London, and Remembrance Day.  Her background in archaeology and museum management make her a great asset to any museum and we felt strongly that her efforts should be rewarded with our inaugural Volunteer of Note award. 

Thank you, Bethany, for everything you do!

In Memorium: Roy Taylor, 1920-2015

View fullsize

RoyTaylor (2013) stands in front of his 1940 enlistment group photo.

It is with a deep sadness that I post about the passing of yet another beloved veteran from the SoRM family.  Roy Taylor, in his 96th year, passed away last week as a result of a brief, but serious infection.  We last had Roy out to the museum for the LARC club station opening on May 18th and he was in fine form, smiling, looking good, and delighted to enjoy the museum, amateur radio, sunshine and barbecue. 

Roy has been an integral part of SORM since its beginnings and his presence is felt throughout the museum.  Although he hasn't volunteered with us since November 2013, his contribution continues to be felt.  Many of the stories we share as part of our regular tours come from his memoir, and they will live on a while longer in the travelling exhibition I'm currently developing.  With his passing, we have come to the end of an era.  Roy was the last local WW2 radar veteran to be involved with us, and while it's sad, it's also not really surprising. 

It was a great privilege to get to know Roy, his story, his gentlemanly character, and his smile.

~ Maya

Per Ardua Ad Astra ("Through Adversity To The  Stars": RCAF motto)

From Peter Garland, SoRM Past President and NORAD radar veteran:

“Roy was a gentleman, who brought the beginnings of radar to life for so many children and adults. Our museum was a big part of his life, and he served it well, preserving the story. We are all so lucky to have known him and to have witnessed his fascinating living history, the story of SORM.

”Track faded”, as the radar operators parlance has it.

To the Stars, Roy.”

A celebration of Roy's life will be held on Wednesday, August 5, 2015 at 2:00 p.m. at Westview Baptist Church, 1000 Wonderland Road South, London.  As an expression of sympathy, the family has asked that donations may be made to The Secrets of Radar Museum, P.O. Box 24033, London, ON N6H 5C4 or Canadian Diabetes Association, 442 Adelaide Street N., London, ON N6B 3H8. 

Click here for Roy's official obituary.

Happy Holidays

Thank you to our visitors, donors, and supporters!  All the best for the coming year.