December 13, 2003 -- CAARLA Assists with "Santa Claus at the Mall" Special Event Station

The Wabash Valley Amateur Radio Association, in cooperation with FM radio station WMGI (MIX-FM), operated a special event station to allow children to talk to Santa Claus from an amateur radio station set up in Honey Creek Mall. "Santa Claus" used the special event call sign W9S (Whiskers-Nine-Santa) while the station set up at the mall used the WVARA club call, W9UUU, except when the station was operated by CAARLA President, Debbie Shorter, KC9AOR. Debbie used the CAARLA club call sign, K9CAT, while she was operating the mall station from 3:00 to 4:00 in the afternoon.

December 13, 2003 -- 2004 Officers Elected

At the regular monthly meeting, the officers for 2004 were elected. Debbie Shorter, KC9AOR, was elected President, Suzie Reedy, KB9BLH, was elected Vice-President, and Kay Brentlinger, KB9HYH, was elected Secretary-Treasurer. Pat Wheeler, KA9ALI, was elected to serve as Parliamentarian. Ray Andrews, K9DUR, was appointed by the President to serve as Trustee for 2004.

A motion was passed to have the CAARLA dues run concurrently with the YLRL dues. This means that dues will be due by March 31st of each year.

November 15, 2003 -- Natalie Andrews, K9CAT (SK), Named Indiana Amateur-of-the-Year.

At an awards ceremony held at the Fort Wayne Hamfest on Saturday, November 15, 2003, former CAARLA President, Natalie Andrews (K9CAT) and her OM, Ray (K9DUR) were jointly presented the 2003 Indiana Outstanding Amateur-of-the-Year Award by the Indiana Radio Club Council.

Ray is shown above with the Chairman of the IRCC, Vicki Rudicel (KB9OME), after she had presented the award to Ray.

In the 55-year history of the award, this was the 3rd time that it was presented to a husband-wife team, and Natalie is only the 6th YL to receive the award.

November 12, 2003 -- CAARLA Establishes E-Mail Mailing List for Distributing Club News.

CAARLA has placed into operation an e-mail mailing list service hosted by QTH.net. The purpose of this list is to provide a forum for YL's and other interested amateurs to discuss amateur radio topics and for the club officers to distribute club news and meeting notices to the membership.

To subscribe to the list, visit http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/caarla for more information.

September 23, 2003 -- CAARLA Issued K9CAT as Club Call Sign.

The FCC issued the call sign K9CAT to CAARLA for the club station effective September 23, 2003, replacing the previous club call, KC9DID.

September 18, 2003 -- CAARLA 2-Meter Net Inaugrated.

The 1st session of the CAARLA weekly 2-meter net was held this evening on the 146.685 MHz repeater. CAARLA Vice-President, Suzie Reedy, KB9BLH, acted as Net Control. 8 YL's and 1 OM checked in.

September 13, 2003 -- CAARLA Membership Drive Big Success.

At the regular monthly meeting, CAARLA's membership nearly doubled. After mailing a letter of invitation to every YL in an 8-county area, 9 YL's and several guests were in attendance at the meeting. 6 new full members and 1 new associate member joined. Several other YL's responded to the letter saying that they had other commitments and could not attend this month, but to keep them informed of when the next meeting would be held.

July 24, 2003 -- Natalie Andrews, K9CAT, Silent Key

CAARLA President and founding member, Natalie Andrews, K9CAT, became a silent key after a long battle with colon cancer. The poem below was written to Natalie by her daughter the day after Natalie's passing:

WHEN I SAW YOU LAST

I gave you a kiss when I saw you last,
not knowing you would go so fast.

You knew what was going down,
you never even wore a frown.

As always till the very end,
you cared more about your family and friend.

Sending us away so you could rest,
always doing what you thought was best.

You were the best Mother and friend,
always on you we all could depend.

You're watching over us even now,
I know this in my heart somehow.

We love you so,
it is so hard to let you go.

Written by Niki Carty on July 25, 2003 to her mother, Natalie Andrews, who passed away on July 24, 2003.

May 17, 2003 -- CAARLA Officers Meet YLRL International President

Left-to-Right: Debbie Shorter, KC9AOR (CAARLA Vice-President); Kay Eyman, WA0WOF (YLRL International President), & Natalie Andrews, K9CAT (CAARLA President) at the YLRL Booth at the Dayton Hamvention.

Kay had just notified Natalie & Debbie that CAARLA's affiliation with YLRL had been approved by the YLRL Board of Directors.

March 22, 2003 -- CAARLA President Receives 2003 Brentlinger Award

At an awards dinner on Saturday, March 22, 2003, CAARLA President, Natalie Andrews (K9CAT) and her OM, Ray (K9DUR) were jointly presented the 2003 Brentlinger Award for "Outstanding Service and Dedication to the Public and Fellow Radio Amateurs".

The Brentlinger Award is presented annually to an outstanding local amateur or amateurs by the Wabash Valley Amateur Radio Association.

In its 56-year history, Natalie is the 1st YL to receive this prestigious award.

Also in the picture are their daughter, Sarah Sotak, and her OM, Jay (AB9CG).

February 8, 2003 -- Constitution Adopted & Officers Elected

At the 2nd monthly meeting, the proposed Constitution was adopted unanimously.

This was immediately followed by the election of the 1st slate of officers: Natalie Andrews, K9CAT, was elected President, Debbie Shorter, KC9AOR, was elected Vice-President, and Kay Brentlinger, KB9HYH, was elected Secretary-Treasurer.

Annual dues for both full and associate members was established at $5.00.

January 11, 2003 -- 1st Meeting Held

The organizational meeting was held at the Comfort Food Co. YL's attending included Natalie Andrews (K9CAT), Debbie Shorter (KC9AOR), Kay Brentlinger (KB9HYH), Pat Cox (KB9TJW), and Diane Brentlinger (KB9PAV).