Subj : Amateur Radio Newsline (B
To : All
From : Daryl Stout
Date : Sat Feb 08 2020 10:17 am
HAMS CREDITED WITH HELPING AVERT BUSHFIRE TRAGEDIES
DON/ANCHOR: Major parts of Australia remain consumed by deadly bushfires,
but authorities are acknowledging the helpful role hams have played.
Graham Kemp, VK4BB, tells us more.
GRAHAM: A dangerous mix of drought, strong winds, and high temperatures,
paired with low humidity, have fed bushfires in Australia, leaving as
much as 120,000 square kilometres burnt - a region larger than the
American state of Ohio. In this unprecedented situation, however, the
number of reported deaths did not climb as high as in previous events.
According to Julian Sortland, VK2YJS, of the WICEN State Management
Committee, officials are crediting better communications to the public,
early evacuation, and the deployment of the largest air tankers available.
Amateurs remain actively supporting firefighters and assisting with the
recovery phase, which includes getting telecommunications restored,
particularly those destroyed on the South Coast of New South Wales.
Julian said that WICEN NSW and WICEN ACT are also being assisted by
Citizens Band operators from CREST, providing the shire council, and
others with radio communications.
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Graham Kemp, VK4BB.
(JULIAN SORTLAND VK2YJS)
**
AMSAT ELECTS NEW PRESIDENT
DON/ANCHOR: Congratulations to Clayton Coleman, W5PFG, who was elected
the new president of AMSAT during a special meeting held on Wednesday,
Feb. 5 via teleconference. Clayton previously served AMSAT as its
secretary, and a member of its board of directors. Executive vice
president Paul Stoetzer, N8HM, was serving as interim president,
following the resignation in January of Joe Spier, K6WAO.
(AMSAT NEWS SERVICE)
**
NEW ZEALAND SUMMIT OUTING ACTIVATES FRIENDSHIP
DON/ANCHOR: In New Zealand, amateur radio friendship recently scaled
to new heights. Here's Jim Meachen, ZL2BHF, with those details.
JIM M: Although the excitment could be felt as SOTA activators in New
Zealand gathered for a Banks Peninsula SOTA QSO Party on February 1st,
this outing wasn't about achieving any coveted status in the awards
scheme such as Mountain Goat. Organisers Mark Sullivan, ZL3AB, and
Geoff Clark, ZL3GA, intended the day's adventure as a fun time out,
and a way to keep people active, and on the air. Mark told Newsline
in an email that every radio operator among the nine, was able to work
the others for summit-to-summit points, and there were also a few
contacts made with members of the North Island ZL1 SOTA association.
For one new activator in the group, the day provided an introduction
to the Summits on the Air scheme. Another activator found it a welcome
return to a part of the hobby he had left behind some time ago.
Mark said the weather was a little challenging, with the temperature
barely reaching 16 degrees Celsius - or 60 degrees Fahrenheit - and
there was a strong northeasterly wind. A mist wrapped most of the
peninsula, hampering visibility from the summits. Mark said the
activators were also thrilled to make QSOs with chasers in VK as well,
mainly on CW. Afterwards the hams relived the moments all over again,
retiring to a cafe on the peninsula to swap stories.
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Jim Meachen, ZL2BHF.
**
FOUNDATION FOR AMATEUR RADIO OFFERS SCHOLARSHIPS
DON/ANCHOR: If attending college is in your immediate future, here's
a chance to get some assistance through a scholarship program just
for hams. Stephen Kinford, N8WB, tells us more.
STEPHEN: If you are a college-bound amateur radio operator, or you're
a ham who's been accepted into an accredited college, university, or
technical school, you may be eligible for a scholarship administered
by the Foundation for Amateur Radio. Applications are being accepted
from hams anywhere in the world through April 30th. The scholarships
cover the academic year 2020 to 2021.
A variety of scholarships are being offered, including the Chichester
Memorial Scholarship, and the scholarship from the Quarter Century
Wireless Association. All applicants are considered for all of the
scholarships for which they may be qualified. For an application and
additional details about each scholarship's requirement, visit the
foundation website at farweb.org.
A reminder: Although the deadline is April 30th, additional amendments
may be made to applications until the 7th of May.
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Stephen Kinford, N8WB.
**
SCHOOL CLUB ROUNDUP HAPPENING FEBRUARY 10th-14th
DON/ANCHOR: Don't forget the ARRL School Club Roundup taking place on
February 10th through the 14th. Be listening on the bands for young
radio operators in all grades, from elementary school through college.
Answer their call, and, most of all, be patient and encouraging.
**
A MILITARY VET'S BIG FOOTBALL SCORE
DON/ANCHOR: Football fans who also happen to be satellite enthusiasts
were likely just as excited about the coin toss before Super Bowl
Fifty-Four as about the game itself on Sunday, February 3rd. Col.
Charles McGee, one of the original World War II Tuskegee Airmen, was
among the quartet of 100-year-old veterans participating in a Super
Bowl tradition, who'd also been part of the United States' first
squadron of African American pilots. Hams will remember Colonel McGee
from the AMSAT symposium on October 10th, 2014, where he shared his
wartime experiences as an Army Air Corps, and Air Force pilot. A number
of his comrades in this historic squadron held amateur radio licenses.
On February 3rd, McGee brought out the coin, and presented it to NFL
referee Bill Vinovich.
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