IN-SERVICE

Spring Volume No. 72 May 2000

Those attending the ASCRA meeting in Independence: Left to right across the picture: Dwight Heath WØMD, Dick Wynes KA7VMA, Karen Alexander , Ernie Miles WB2UJL, Barbara Redding W5HKY, Terry Redding W6LMJ, Bob Farnham KGØII, Tom Alexander K5RY, Chuck Palmer NØONN, Doug Shaw WAØEMX, Ken Grahm K5ID, Larry Oiler NØBGG, Robin Cross WØFEN, Eldon Hart KY6U, Tom Thatcher W2TFT, Jeff Winship NØOXK, Fred Troeh NØELM, Michael Hahn KGØXU, Dick Smith WAØNBY, Mark Fagan KBØQPI, Steve Fagan KGØTQ, Gene Chadwick KØBKZ, Kelly Robinson, Dave Atkins WØDZX, Fran Atkins, Kim Robinson, Hale Collins W6RWH, Muirl Robinson W8QK. Picture taken by Barbara Lee Collins W6RWE.

ASCRA General Meeting

Hams and family members met in Independence the first Saturday of World Conference 2000 for the biennial ASCRA meeting. About 29 individuals participated. After introductions by the group, Bob Farnham gave a fine talk on the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence which we can participate in with our home computers. (See February IN-SERVICE on the ASCRA web page).

A picture was taken of the group and good fellowship was enjoyed. ASCRA President Ernie Miles was recovering from back surgery and was wearing a neck brace as seen in the picture above.

Want an Up-To-Date ASCRA Roster?

Request a roster from Hale Collins W6RWH Route 1 Box 228 Lamoni IA 50140. One US$ for printing and mailing would be appreciated. (Or visit the ASCRA WEB site for your copy of the roster)

ASCRA Election Results

Michael Hahn, past Secretary, announced the results of the election of Directors. Reelected were:

Jeff Winship NØOXK

Terry Redding W6LMJ

Larry Oiler NØBGG

Hale Collins W6RWH

Newly elected were:

Steve Fagan KGØTQ

Gene Chadwick KØBKZ

(Gene has served extensively in past years)

Members of the Board continuing for one more year:

Ernie Miles WB2UJL

Robin Cross WØFEN

Bob Farnham KGØII

Dwight Heath WØMO

Muirl Robinson W8QK

Doug Shaw WAØEMX

Lamoni Ham Gathering

Bob Farnham KGØII

Members of the Lamoni Amateur Radio Association (LARA) met for breakfast with hams from around south-central Iowa and northern Missouri on February 19, 2000. The Sunday evening LARA net on Lamoni's WØSHQ repeater attracts a number of hams from around the region. Regular check-ins to the net range as far south as Trenton, Missouri and as far north as Creston, Iowa. It was the occasion of one of these nets that our friends from Creston suggested a cafe where we could all get together for breakfast. It turned out to be an excellent suggestion.

Fourteen amateurs (several with YL's joining them) gathered at the Small Corral cafe in Mt Ayr, Iowa. It was good to meet some of the folks who regularly check in to our Sunday evening net. Hams attending were: WØOXY (Del & wife Pat, from Creston), WBØZRQ (Rich & wife Bobbi, from Kent), KD5BFE (Jim, a Graceland student from Oklahoma City), WUØE (Joe & wife Judy, from Afton), NØDTS (Mike, from Prescott), WØZUZ (Joe, from Prescott), KAØTYP (Eileen, from Prescott), WBØZRO and NØSXN (Marv and Pat, from Grant City), and KCØDIQ (Jeff, from Hatfield). Additional hams attending who are also LARA members were AAØOS (Jon), NØBGG (Larry), KBØQWB (Fred, with wife Lisa and new baby Chase, from Leon), and KGØII (Bob). Even without radios, the communication and the breakfast food was terrific. We committed to putting together a fox hunt in early summer, and possibly other common activities as well. In addition to the social value of joining with others sharing a mutual hobby, this group also represents the core of individuals who could respond in the event of a national emergency or other situation.

* * * *

At the ASCRA meeting Bob Farnham gives his interesting talk on the search for extraterrestrial intelligence.

President Ernie Miles calls for those present to introduce themselves.

President's Column

Another ASCRA General Membership Meeting was held April 1. Approximately 29 attended and enjoyed greeting each other. Many of the faces were a little older than last time and some new faces appeared. We had some fun.

We introduced ourselves and made comments as we felt necessary. Some were humorous and some serious.

Following this we sang a song I suggested: "We're All Together Again, We're Here, We're Here". Then we enjoyed a presentation by Bob Farnham, KGØII, on the subject of SETI. Bob was the author of an article in the last In-Service on this subject. He had only a few days to prepare and it was fabulous with great visual aids and some imaginative remarks that we all enjoyed. In-depth questions on SETI were answered and an interest in participation was evident. Go back to the last In-Service and re-read Bob's article if you missed it. His longer article is on ASCRA Web Pages if you want to reach it on the internet.

The internet was also discussed and improvements have been made on the ASCRA Web Site. You can now link to the

ASCRA Pages from the Church Web Site. Select: Resources -> Directory -> Related Institutions ->Association of Saints Church Radio Amateurs.

Tom Thatcher, W2TFT, travels around the country and enjoys his visits with ASCRA members. His pictures of members were displayed on a table for all to see and are a treasure we should preserve. Many of these hams had not been able to attend any of the ASCRA meetings in the past and this was our first look at who they are other than a name in the ASCRA membership roster. A new ASCRA SCRAPBOOK PAGE on the ASCRA Pages is being planned. Please send a picture of you at your station or not so we can post your picture on the internet even if you don't have internet capability. Send your picture in either GIF or JPG format to farnham@graceland.edu if you are on-line. If you aren't on the internet please send your picture to:

Bob Farnham RR 2, Box 23, Lamoni, IA 50140

Saturday afternoon the 12 great directors you elected were all in attendance at the ASCRA business meeting. They cared for ASCRA business and passed a new budget. Again, donations are requested to finance the budget as dues are not a requirement for membership.

We had some fun.

73's Ernie WB2UJL

6 Frederick Dr.

Apalachin NY 13732

e-mail: erniemiles@aol.com

This edition of the IN-SERVICE (printing and mailing) cost over $130. Please send your contribution for this year to: ASCRA box 73 Independence Mo. 64051

Board Actions

The newly elected Board of Directors met Saturday afternoon April 1, 2000 to elect officers and conduct other ASCRA business. Officers elected were:

Ernie Miles, President

Doug Shaw, Secretary

Jeff Winship, Treasurer

The President appointed:

Larry Oiler, Executive Director

Hale Collins IN-SERVICE editor

Michael Hahn was commended for his excellent service as Secretary and as the former editor of the IN-SERVICE. Michael did not accept nomination for the Board of Directors this time.

Jeff submitted the Treasurers report. Total income was $956 while expenses were $364, making up for the deficit of last year.

Gene Chadwick KØBKZ and Steve Fagan KGØTQ newly elected to the board of directors.

A motion was approved to add a membership category of "Friend" for interested individuals who are not licensed hams. This category of member would have voting rights but could not serve on the board of directors.

The Board also voted to abandon plans for an Independence-Lamoni link. Equipment to be supplied by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has not been made available. We will endeavor to recoup funds spent so far by ASCRA for this project.

Appreciation was expressed for the fine service of Michael Hahn and Dick Smith who have resigned from the Board of Directors.

Nice copy in UK

Just a quick note to say that I have just finished monitoring the ASCRA net this evening, and was really pleased to be able to hear Fred (VK3AQN) in Australia [don't often get to hear Fred from here in the UK]. Terry was, as usual, a cracking signal from West Palm Beach.

Sounds like the decision regarding the church name has stirred up quite a bit of interest - I for one am glad that we have the hope of something more 'user friendly' as a title, rather than something which constantly requires explanation/defence!! Will watch with interest to see what happens!

Yours in Christ,

Mark (M1BOP) Ipswich UK

Packet address: M1BOP@GB7MXM.#36.GBR.EU

e-mail: M.Riley@BTinternet.com