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President's Message
Well, this is my first input to the President's Column and the first thing that comes to my mind is "how did it come to this? ". About five years ago I saw a blurb in the Middlesex News announcing that some radio club in Framingham was going to demonstrate amateur radio at Field Day on Bowditch Field. Although licensed, I had been mostly inactive since, well, let's just say a very long time. Anyway, I dragged my daughter to Bowditch field, saw what appeared to be a bunch of radio enthusiasts running around seemingly having a pretty good time and eating. I suppose that was enough to get me back into this hobby, because here I am, writing this column even though it's not exactly what I had in mind at that time. My only regret is that I didn't visit a Field Day sooner.
Elections at the June meeting of FARA produced a new slate of officers - President, Jim Weckback, W1EQW; Vice-president, Pete Simpson, KA1AXY; Treasurer, Martin Bayes, AA1ON; and Secretary, George Foster, N1XAN. On behalf of all the officers, we thank you for your support and trust, but most of all for the camaraderie FARA so generously offers. It's interesting to note that two of the new officers, AA1ON and KA1AXY are previous FARA presidents. That in itself says a lot about this club.
"New" officers leaves an implication that there must have been "old" officers. Many, many thanks to those who have just left office - Bev Lees, N1LOO, President (Bev does answer now to the title "Madam X"); Dennis Brothers, KE6DPL, Treasurer; and Anne Bacchiocchi, N1ECI, Secretary along with her chief helper Paul Bacchiocchi N1DGT. I will not miss them however -- they still come around. Actually, they are just as busy now with FARA activities as they were when they were officers. These people helped make my last two years as Vice-president a most enjoyable (actually hilarious at times) and rewarding experience.
Enough for this months column. By the time this newsletter is mailed and read, Field Day 1997 will be history. I'm sure there will be plenty to say about that in next months column. 73
Jim, W1EQW
Danny T93M coming to Framingham!
by Sharon KC1YR & Lee KA1USL
As many of you know, Danny T93M of Sarajevo has been an honorary member of FARA for some time -- a recognition the board voted him and colleague Samir T99S for their outstanding wartime work keeping lines of communications open between their besieged city and friends in America. For several years, ham radio was literally the only way people could get news in and out of the Bosnian capital, when telephone lines were cut and postal mail strangled by besieging forces early in 1992.
Soon, honorary member T93M will become a full-fledged local member of our club! Danny recently received permission to emigrate to the United States, and he is arrived in Framingham with wife Elvira and 4-year-old son Jan in late June.
Danny will be an invaluable addition to the FARA team. He designed and installed antennas during unimaginably difficult wartime conditions. He also turned in impressive contest results -- even winning Europe single-band low-
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