As President of a TEACHING CLUB, which is affiliated with the league, and as an instructor, I am in complete agreement with Frank Falons' position of asking long time SEASONED LICENSED AMATEUR RADIO OPERATORS to take this opportunity to not only increase or ranks, but instead of jumping all-over a new-comer's face with acid, take the different approach of being a teacher.

In Africa, when there was a shortage of reading teachers, the motto was:" EACH ONE TEACH ONE.". And as a result, literacy was spread, albeit slowly, still there was progress.

Today, with the new re-structuring of the licensing format, I would urge that this also be our motto, as this will provide unity in the ranks, and lore camaraderie, as well as make new friends. As an instructor, I have gained more than the satisfaction that I trained a person, I also gain new friends and friendships that will last a life-time.

Please remember that We started out with little knowledge of operating procedures and/or technical knowledge, too. I'm sure at one point or another, somebody took each one of US aside and pointed us in the right direction.

Now, more than ever, We need the SEASONED LICENSED AMATEUR RADIO OPERATORS to be THOSE NEEDED 'ELMER'S' that are always in short supply.

I would like to thank all the ELMER'S who helped me along the way, including Ben WA2WEY, Cal WB2OEY, Joe N2JO, Tony AE2G, Kate AE2Z, George AE2O, George WB2WKV, Harvey K2CJP, Arnold W2OEJ, Howard W2QUV, Mike WY2U, and all the rest for their taking me aside and point MY feet in the right direction. Now, as I take my place by their sides, I too, say:" WELCOME TO A WONDERFUL HOBBY."

Now on to other things:

The NASSAU COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF PARKS has levied a [$170.00] ONE-HUNDRED-SEVENTY DOLLAR FEE to conduct an EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS DRILL.

It's bad enough that the COUNTY does NOT ALLOW us to collect dues, and that our operation budget is provided by VOLUNTARY DONATIONS FROM THE MEMBERS, Our meager resources have forced us to operate in more than austere conditions.

We feel that this is an un-necessary hardship which is being imposed on the smallest club in the section, when OTHER CLUBS are not being charged by ANY level of government for their sites.

THIS IS AN EMERGENCY DRILL THAT CAN BENEFIT THE COUNTY IN TIMES OF DISASTER. LONG ISLAND IS NOT THE SAFE BASTION FROM MOTHER NATURE THAT THE PARKS DEPARTMENT THINKS IT IS. How can we show preparedness without this important drill?

Many of our members VOLUNTEERED AND PARTICIPATED in the LONG ISLAND MARATHON COMMUNICATIONS NETWORK, with our own equipment, and time, never asking to be reimbursed.

Without AMATEUR RADIO, this event could not even LANCE G. AUE / KA2EJD
President- N.A.R.C.
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