As Bob put it, "If you don't want to get interested in ham radio, don't stop at the ham shack in MOSI. But if you do, it might be the beginning of something!" (Bob is now an ARRL volunteer examiner.)
By the way, there's another tale behind how the museum got its ham station. When making a delivery to the museum, Clark Evans, WA4DLL, spotted a car with Amateur Radio plates, and discovered Ed Artest, AD2K, worked at MOSI. The two talked and decided the museum needed a ham station. They asked former Sen Barry Goldwater, K7UGA, to write a letter to the museum, and that, says Clark, "opened the door." Yaesu and local hams donated the needed equipment and antennas for HF, packet, satellite and weatherfax. The MOSI station recently got the call sign, KE4ZRS, and volunteers now teach licensing classes on site.--Rosalie White, WA1STO
Harry M. Neben, W9QB, of Palm Harbor, Florida, died March 29, 1996. He was 77. Originally licensed during the 1930s as W9YVZ, Neben joined the Office of Strategic Services (OSS) during World War II, in part as a result of his ham radio experience. During the war, he set up radio stations throughout Europe and carried a little suitcase HF radio, state of the art for its day. Later, as an electrical engineer, he worked for Tucker Motor Cars (dramatically chronicled in the film, Tucker) as well as for Amphenol Corporation and Sunbeam Corporation. A life member of the ARRL, he authored several QST articles on SSB developments, test equipment and antennas. Neben also was active with the Quarter Century Wireless Association.
Jerry Freeman, W4JJ, of Virginia Beach, Virginia, died May 18. He was 63. Very well known in the Amateur Radio community, Jerry worked for the FCC for 35 years, many of them as engineer in charge of the FCC's Norfolk, Virginia, Field Office. He retired in August, 1995. Among those who knew Jerry as a friend was Dennis Terribile, WR4I, formerly of Norfolk. He called him "a great ham radio advocate."
In Brief . . .
- Al Breiner, W3TI, of Tamaqua, Pennsylvania, became the Eastern Pennsylvania section manager on April 1. You can reach Al at 717-668-3098.
- The ARRL's Regulatory Information Bureau reminds hams who have changed their mailing addresses to make sure they let the FCC know right away so they can modify your license. The consequences of not taking that simple step could be serious indeed. As the FCC regulations state: "Revocation of the station license or suspension of the operator license may result when correspondence from the FCC is returned as undeliverable because the person failed to provide the correct mailing address." While you're at it, also let us know here at ARRL HQ, so your QST, QEX or ARRL Letter subscription goes to the right place. And send a new sase to your incoming QSL bureau, too.
- The summer of 1997 might seem a long way off, but planning already is under way for the National Boy Scout Jamboree, July 30 to August 6, 1997. Licensed amateur staff members who are also Scouts or Scouters 16 years and older are needed to fill 40 positions. For more information, write Ray Moyer, WD8JKV, BSA National Headquarters, 1325 West Walnut Hill Ln, PO Box 152079, Irving, TX 75015-2079.
- Registration for the 1997-1998 edition of the ARRL Net Directory is open until September 16, 1996. Registration forms (FSD-85, available from HQ) should be sent to ARRL Headquarters, 225 Main St, Newington, CT 06111. For more information, call Steve Ewald, WV1X, 860-594-0265, e-mail sewald@arrl.org.
- No Change to Mount Athos DXCC Status. The ARRL Membership Services Committee (MSC, a standing committee of the Board of Directors), has received a 9 to 7 recommendation from the DX Advisory Committee (DXAC) to make no change in the status of Mount Athos (SV/A) on the ARRL DXCC Countries List. The Awards Committee reported a unanimous vote to MSC in support of the DXAC to make no change at this time. Since the DXAC and the Awards Committee are in agreement, the matter is decided.
The ARRL Letter is published by the American Radio Relay League, 225 Main St, Newington, CT 06111; tel 860-594-0200; fax 860-594-0259. Rodney J. Stafford, KB6ZV, President; David Sumner, K1ZZ, Executive Vice President.
Electronic edition circulation, Kathy Capodicasa, N1GZO, e-mail kcapodicasa@arrl.org.
Editorial, Rick Lindquist, KX4V, e-mail rlindquist@arrl.org.
The purpose of The ARRL Letter is to provide the essential news of interest to active, organizationally minded radio amateurs faster than it can be disseminated by our official journal, QST. We strive to be fast, accurate and readable in our reporting.
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