Club Members Witness Award Presentation

Photos taken by Jean Cikas (KB9PCD) Article composed by Joann Howe (KB9VAT)

Club members, Al (KA9GDL) and Jean (KB9PCD) Cikas, were present at the Huntsville, Alabama Hamfest for the award presentation of Newsline Young Ham of the Year to Christopher Arthur, KT4XA.  The 2000 Newsline Young Ham of the Year Award was presented on Saturday afternoon, August 19th, 2000. The award ceremony was co-hosted by Bill Pasternak (WA6ITF) of Newsline and "Young Ham of the Year" Award Committee Chairman, Larry Zettwoch (KR4IF). Also participating will be representatives of corporate underwriters Yaesu USA and CQ Communications, Inc.

There’s AL (KA9GDL)

In photo: (ARRL V.P. Kay Craigie, CQ Editor, Bill Pasternak, and Christopher Arthur)

The following is taken from an article on www.arnewsline.org.

Christopher Arthur (KT4XA), a 17 year old from Russellville, Alabama, involved in every aspect of Amateur Radio, has been named "Newsline Young Ham of the Year" for 2000.

Christopher Arthur is the son of Amanda Turnock and Wallace Arthur and is about to enter his senior year in Russellville High School. He holds an Amateur Extra Class license (the highest offered by the Federal Communications Commission), and has been a Ham Operator for the past four years. Christopher Arthur's numerous Ham Radio achievements include founding the League of Young Radio Amateurs and the International Youth Communications Council. Both of these organizations are coordinated using both the Internet and actual on the air communications. Both are dedicated to the advancement of youth in Amateur Radio. He also created the Young Amateur Radio Operators Webring so that young hams can share their web sites with others. He also serves as the webmaster for the Franklin County Amateur Radio Club and previously served as its secretary. (See http://www.qsl.net/kt4xa)

Christopher Arthur is a member of the American Radio Relay League, was Assistant Section Manager of Youth Services from 1998 to 1999, is a member of the Ten-Ten International Net (#68980), the 10-X Chesapeake Bay Chapter #677, the Six Club #272, and the Southeastern Liaison for the Six Club. He also served as network control operator of the Alabama Traffic Net M, which is the state's the largest on-air net. He also started the Franklin County Ten Meter Net. In 1999 and 2000 Christopher managed the annual Alabama Heart of Dixie QSO Party, which is Alabama's only statewide on-air ham radio contest.

The "Newsline Young Ham of the Year" award program, (formerly the "Westlink Report Young Ham of the Year" now in its 16th consecutive year. The award is presented to a licensed Radio Amateur (Ham) 18 years of age or younger who has provided outstanding service to the nation and/or his community for the betterment of the state of the art in communications through the Amateur Radio hobby/service.