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. --- SBBSecho 3.10-Win32 * Origin: The Thunderbolt BBS - tbolt.synchro.net (801:1/2) þ Synchronet þ Temple of Doom BBS - tod.eothnet.com .