At 08:02 AM 3/7/2010, Bob- W7LRD wrote: >Hi Joel and all -This is a timely question for >me. Yesterday I organized and ran (with the >help of Wayne-W9AE) a AMSAT table at a local >hamfest. I had the opportunity to meet many >local hams both satellite ops and the >curious. I extolled the virtues of AMSAT and >the satellite community in general. A few >points I noticed as an undercurrent in some of >the conversations. We hams are generally a >frugal bunch and in some cases just plain >cheap. I had several antennas on display as >well as several pictures, one was of an >astronaut on a EVA installing one of our  >antennas on the outside of the space >station. Some of the questions went like this, >one guy asked, "do you have to belong to AMSAT >to operate satellites?", can I get this software >(Satpc32) free on line?" "are these books >available any where else?" My response to >these and similar queries was, "see this >picture?" what do you think the shipping cost >is?" "What we do, is rocket science, and >rocket science is not cheap".  How many >active satellite operators do not belong to >AMSAT? How many use pirated tracking >programs. How many do not contribute >"something" to AMSAT. Maybe some aspect of of >AMSAT ticks you off, so you cut the cord. I'm >sure some part of the government ticks you off, >you don't move to Canada. In order for AMSAT >and our efforts to succeed it takes money, and >yes probably lots of it. This event was a >learning process for me and in the future I hope >to hone my abilities and create more dues >paying and contributing members. Finally- >"this is rocket science and rocket science is >not cheap. 73 Bob W7LRD Washington State AMSAT >area coordinator ----- Original Message ----- >From: "Joel Black" <jbblac...@gmail.com> To: >"AMSAT" <amsat-bb@amsat.org> Sent: Sunday, March >7, 2010 6:40:33 AM GMT -08:00 US/Canada Pacific >Subject: [amsat-bb]  Membership Benefits >AMSAT-BB, I realize what I'm going to get by >asking this...  If you were giving a >presentation to amateur radio operators who know >little or nothing of AMSAT, what would you list >as some of the benefits of being a member of >AMSAT?  What would be the single most important >reason? 73, Joel, W4JBB >_______________________________________________ >Sent via amsat...@amsat.org. Opinions expressed >are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? >Join now to support the amateur satellite >program! Subscription settings: >http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb >_______________________________________________ >Sent via amsat...@amsat.org. Opinions expressed >are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? >Join now to support the amateur satellite >program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
Re: being a member of Amsat: That is the "minimum" we can support amateur satellites with. I am proud of my low Amsat membership# as that shows I have been a long-standing member. If I could afford more I would become a life-member, but in my retirement we will manage to come up with our annual dues. "Cheap"? I know, considering the cost of "rocket science"! I have been a field-op since about 1998. I have handed the torch off (sponsored) to four others in Alaska to become field-ops (they do a superb job). I now try to support with technical advice, if I can. I have fond memories of the early years in ham satellites (AO-6). Looking forward to more with Amsat in the future. My hat is off the volunteers that make it all possible (and to the members that support them). 73, Ed - KL7UW, WD2XSH/45 ====================================== BP40IQ 500 KHz - 10-GHz www.kl7uw.com 500-KHz/CW, 144-MHz EME, 1296-MHz EME DUBUS Magazine USA Rep dubus...@hotmail.com ====================================== _______________________________________________ Sent via amsat...@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
