SBARC Notable Member

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Did you know that ARRL CEO Tom Gallagher, NY2RF, is a member of SBARC?

tomgallagherTom Gallagher, NY2RF, of West Palm Beach, Florida, succeeded David Sumner, K1ZZ, as the chief executive officer of ARRL on April 18, 2016 . He oversees all activities at ARRL Headquarters in Newington, Connecticut.

Licensed in Pennsylvania in 1966 as WA3GRF (and later N4GRF in North Carolina), Gallagher is a member of the West Palm Beach Amateur Radio Group (and the Santa Barbara Amateur Radio Club). He describes himself as “an incurable HF DXer and inveterate tinkerer” and credits his first visit to the Franklin Institute’s Amateur Radio station W3TKQ in 1963 for inspiring his interest in ham radio.

Amateur Radio led to an early career in broadcasting. He was a cameraman and technician with WGBH-TV in Boston, the CBS Television Network, and Metromedia’s WIP Radio in Philadelphia.

He joined ARRL following 3 decades as an international investment banker and financial services executive. His career has included senior leadership positions with JP Morgan Chase & Co and CIBC Oppenheimer & Co in New York, and with Wachovia Capital Markets in Charlotte, North Carolina. He has also served as an adjunct professor at the Walsh School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University and as CEO of the Secondary School Admission Test Board in Princeton, New Jersey. Gallagher has served on boards, both public and non-profit, including two NYSE companies, the NPR affiliate in Charlotte, the Executive Board of The PENN Fund at the University of Pennsylvania, and The International Center of Photography.

Gallagher graduated magna cum laude with a BA from the University of Pennsylvania, and he holds an MBA from The Wharton School. He is a graduate of The Lawrenceville School, where he held the Nicholas Noyes scholarship.

In addition to ham radio, Gallagher enjoys saltwater fishing and sailing which, he confesses, is sometimes just an excuse to operate maritime mobile.

Editor’s note: Biography info credit ARRL website.

 

General Club Meeting – November 18, 2016

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[Darryl – KF6DI] The November 18, 2016 SBARC Club meeting will be a Triple Header. First, this will be our Sixth Annual Home Brew night. Bring whatever you have that you had a hand in — designing, building, modifying, running — all will count. Put something in writing next to your entry to let us know about what you did. You can even demonstrate it.

Second, this will be our chance to vote for those whom we want to serve SBARC on our Board of Directors for the year 2017. A slate was proposed at our October Club meeting and can be found on here. Nominations will also be accepted from the floor from those in good standing for those in good standing, should they accept the nomination, in addition to those nominated last month. Be sure to bring along your SBARC membership card so we can quickly verify your eligibility to vote.

We have two guest speakers who will honor us and inspire us with a most interesting program about Novim, the group formed at the University of California campus in Santa Barbara to create a collaborative problem-solving approach to address widespread and complicated problems, modeled after approaches at the Kavli Institute for Theoretical Physics (KITP).

michael-ditmore-1Michael Ditmore, W7HUT, who is multi-term Past President of SBARC and is the Executive Director of Novim, began his business career with IBM as a systems engineer. After receiving an MBA from Stanford in 1970, he relocated to Germany as Director of European Operations for Canberra Industries. Following the sale of his division in 1972, he returned to California, joining a startup – ROLM Corporation, where he served as regional manager for marketing and sales. The company was sold to IBM in 1979. Michael subsequently founded and sold 2 high technology medical device companies.

In 1995 Michael co-founded and served as Chairman and CEO of the Systems and Software Consortium, a non-profit association of 150 companies whose first project was the creation of the Pacific Technology Center in Goleta, the largest high tech incubator in southern California at the time. Michael currently serves on the Director’s Council of the Kavli Institute for Theoretical Physics at UCSB, and is a life member of both the USAF Academy Association of Graduates and the Stanford Alumni Association. He is a past member of the Board of Directors of Junior Achievement of California; the Executive Board of Santa Barbara Partners in Education; and the Stanford Business School Alumni Association. He also served on advisory boards for the NASA Ames Incubator and Los Alamos National Laboratory.

jim-knight-1Jim Knight, WA6RNV, also a long-time member of SBARC, Novim’s Executive Vice President, was a co-founder in the start-up of Amber Engineering, Inc. in December of 1981. Over a period of twelve years the company grew to 200 people and was acquired by Raytheon Company in 1992. He retired as Senior Vice President in 1994. Jim and three other partners subsequently started Indigo Systems Corporation in March of 1996, which grew to 230 employees before being acquired by FLIR Systems in January 2004.

Jim served for 5 years as a member of the Board of Directors of the Santa Barbara Chamber of Commerce beginning in 1993 and later in a supporting role with the Government Relations Committee. Jim currently serves on the Director’s Council of the Kavli Institute for Theoretical Physics at UCSB, and is co- chair of the Government Relation Committee for the Goleta Chamber of Commerce. He served on the Board of Directors of UCSB’s Center for Entrepreneurship and Engineering Management and currently serves on the steering committee for the South Coast Business and Technology Awards dinner sponsored by the Scholarship Foundation of Santa Barbara.

We meet at the Goleta Union School District, 401 N. Fairview Ave. in Goleta, right across the street from the Goleta Library. Doors open at 7:00 PM and the meeting starts at 7:30 PM. Guests are welcome!

Post expires at 9:00pm on Friday November 18th, 2016 but will still be available in the archives.

SBARC Election: November 18, 2016

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part1.05000106.05020201@k6bpm.com

At the General Club Meeting on November 18, 2016, the Club membership will have the opportunity to elect the 2017 SBARC Board of Directors.  Members must be in good standing for at least 28 days prior to the election in order to be eligible to vote.

If you are unable to attend the meeting you may designate a proxy by following the proxy voting instructions (pdf).

The SBARC Nominating Committee has submitted the following slate of nominees for consideration by the membership. Additional nominations may be made from the floor by any member in good standing prior to the election at the November 18th General Club Meeting.

Nominees for the Executive Committee
These candidates are running unopposed. (i) = incumbent candidate
President and Chief Executive Officer: Brian Milburn, K6BPM (i)
Chief Financial Officer: Tom Saunders, N6YX (i)
Secretary: Dorothy Oksner, K6DSO (i)

Nominees for Director At Large
Members may vote for up to 4 directors. (i) = incumbent candidate
Director At Large: Ken Alker, KA6KEN
Director At Large: Ludovico Cavedon, K6LUD
Director At Large: Theo Howe, KK6YYZ (i)
Director At Large: Levi Maaia, K6LCM (i)
Director At Large: Bob Muller, K6CTX
Director At Large: Michael Taylor, K6RQV

The nominees were offered the opportunity to provide a 100-word (or less) statement about themselves and what they have accomplished or hope to accomplish for SBARC as a board member.  These statements can be found below.

President and CEO: Brian Milburn, K6BPM (i)
As President this past year, my primary goals have been to modernize our organization, our infrastructure, and to prepare the club to attract the next generation of hams. Encouraging participation by talented members and facilitating progress is one of my primary duties. Our team building efforts have allowed us to accomplish much in the past year including a new informative website, an exciting new mesh network, new computer systems and networks, a modernized club station, and much more. These will enable the club to offer a wider range of activities, serve more interests, and build a solid base to grow our membership ranks in the coming years. 

Chief Financial Officer: Tom Saunders, N6YX (i)
The position of Treasurer is important for an active organization.  There is a need for accurate and timely financial information and transactions.  I have performed the duties of Treasurer, bookkeeper, and Membership database in support of our club.  I maintain the highest standards of financial accounting.  I believe that an active club is a healthy club.  I promote and support club activities, such as Field Day, Hamfest, and special projects, such as Communications Systems Development, Digital Mesh Network, and Rover.  I believe in building on our successes, making each year better than the last. 

Secretary: Dorothy Oksner, K6DSO (i)
As secretary of the SBARC for the past three years, I spend 4 hours a month preparing the Agendas and attending every 2-hour monthly board meeting. For over 20 years I was an escrow officer with several banks and title companies in Santa Barbara and was an Assistant Manager at Key Bank of Maine, Bath office, for 3 years when I lived in Maine in the 1990s. I presently work part-time as a Certified Notary Signing Agent. I have been a licensed Ham for 3 years upgrading to General Class 2 years ago. I am a proponent of a balanced annual budget.

Director At Large: Ken Alker, KA6KEN
[candidate did not provide a statement]

Director At Large: Ludovico Cavedon, K6LUD
I have recently joined the ham radio community and the Club, but I come with a strong background in computer engineering. I have been active with the Club in the AREDN mesh network, documenting and advancing the setup of our RLC controller, the setup of an Allstar node, the revival of the APRS gateway and digipeater at La Vigia. I was asked if I would be available and interested in a position in the Board, and I am happy to offer my availability. I am planning on helping maintaining and advancing the Club infrastructure.

Director At Large: Theo Howe, KK6YYZ (i)
[candidate did not provide a statement]

Director At Large: Levi Maaia, K6LCM (i)
I lead research and development at a telecommunications company, I’m a former high school teacher and a PhD candidate at UCSB. I’ve served two terms on the Board (2014 & 2016).  My primary goal as a member of this year’s Nominating Committee, as co-webmaster of the new SBARC website, chair of the Membership Committee and as co-chair of the Telecommunications Services Committee has been to engage new hams and lapsed members in Club activities. Through my leadership efforts, many hams have not only joined/re-joined SBARC but now actively participate in projects and leadership roles advancing SBARC’s outreach and educational missions.

Director At Large: Bob Muller, K6CTX
I recently fulfilled a lifelong desire to enter the realm of amateur radio with my Technician license in 2014, followed by General and Extra licenses in 2015 and 2016.  A year ago I volunteered to maintain the Club Rover and have been learning its intricacies.  I am creating a Rover Operating Manual so that future users can easily operate and maintain the vehicle and its equipment.  I would like to see the Rover used more fully by SBARC for both enjoyment (nets, etc.) and preparation for emergency communications (events).

Director At Large: Michael Taylor, K6RQV
I am running for a Director-at-Large position on the Santa Barbara Amateur Radio Club Board of Directors. I have previous experience as SBARC Board Secretary. And after many years as my HOA Board Secretary I am conversant with Board procedures that translate well to serving on the SBARC Board. My personal philosophy is to tithe time, talent, money, or a combination to support activities I’m involved in. I attend monthly meetings, provide event Net Control services, and participate most Saturdays at the club station. I bring a level headed voting position to the Board, commitment and a positive attitude.

Submitted to the membership by this duly appointed Nominating Committee in accordance with the SBARC Bylaws:
Levi C. Maaia, K6LCM
Bill Talanian, W1UUQ
Michael Taylor, K6RQV

Post expires at 11:59pm on Friday November 18th, 2016 but will still be available in the archives.

Important Announcement for Anyone Taking the License Exam 11/12/16

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The VE Session for tomorrow, Saturday, November 12 will be held at the Santa Barbara Red Cross. 
The Red Cross is located at 2707 State.  It is on the southeast corner of State and Alamar.

To get there from 101 north (west) of Santa Barbara, exit Las Positas.  Follow Las Positas and turn right onto State Street.
About ¾ mile on State, turn right onto Alamar.  Turn left into the first driveway.

To get there from 101 south (east) of Santa Barbara, exit Mission.  Follow Mission and turn left onto State Street.  About ½ mile on State, turn left onto Alamar.  Turn left into the first driveway.

The test will be on the second floor of the Red Cross.

Post expires at 10:00am on Saturday November 12th, 2016 but will still be available in the archives.

Local Frequency Sheet

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Bob – K6CTX, SBARC’s Rovermaster has assembled a list of local go-to frequencies to consider scanning, especially during special events, emergencies or disasters. This is intended to be a starting point for the most active local frequencies of interest and not necessarily a comprehensive list of all possible public safety channels.

Click here to view the SBARC Repeater-Scanner Frequencies Sheet in Google Sheets format. From there you may copy/paste or download the file for local manipulation.

The King and I

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Submitted by Bill – W1UUQ – Seldom in ones lifetime do we get very close to royalty. Outside of a small group of like professionals I try to avoid any political event or pomp with any head of state. That is until I served in the upper NE corner of Thailand on the Laotian border in the mid 1960’s. On a few occasions the King of Thailand, Bhumibol Adulyadej, made visits to NE Thailand for official ceremonies. As part of the Military Advisory Group (MAGTHAI) I would have access to official Thai events and invited to attend as a foreigner (falang) with the military. The King was granted HS1A in 1989 but as far back as the mid 1960’s we knew the HS1A call sign was always reserved for the King. During the mid-sixties ham radio was out of bounds within the local population except for a small number government officials and ex-pats, mostly Americans. As Fred Laun, K3ZO, points out in the ARRL release the King would get on 2 meters only. I operated as HS3WT (my initials) along with a handful that kept ham radio going even though it was not recognized by the ARRL. The war in SE Asia was in full swing as the US built up the Thai regional forces supporting US Forces in Vietnam and the so called secret-war in Laos. Radio was always viewed with great suspicion by local officials regardless of affiliation so it was best to have close contact with local military officials. But as Americans if you had an official US military or government connection it made the process much easier. There was no reciprocity with the US during this period.

The King and I were both about the same age and both of us were born in Massachusetts. If I ever had the opportunity to speak with the King there was plenty to talk about. Usually I would team up with Don Riebhoff, K7ZZ/HS3DR, (now deceased). Typically a local ceremony in this region was void of any press or foreigners although a US Embassy official would be represented. These events were strictly for the Thai people and it was best to simply remain unseen in the background and stay quiet. The King in military uniform and his wife Queen Sirikit would usually arrive in his Avro twin at the UdonThani Royal Thai Air Base then helicopter to the local event. Udon RTAFB was a joint operation of US military and the CIA supported Air America group. I never got to meet the King personally but was granted close access to get some rather interesting pictures. King Bhumibol was a most revered King and loved by the people while ruling a Constitutional Monarchy. Thailand emerged out of the Vietnam War unscathed thanks to the US presence under the Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) and the handful of special ops teams at MAGTHAI. Today, after 40 years, the Thai military can hold its own along with a regional commitment by the US. However, periodically Thailand erupts into chaos be it the military or civilian leadership over control. King Bhumibol was always able to settle issues. It is now problematic if Thailand will remain stable as internal forces within the royal family and challenges by the political and military leadership will realign itself and shape the future.

Enclosed are just a few of the many pictures I took during visits by King Bhumibol of Thailand. Note how the people must be at a kneel and solemnly quiet. All this appears like a storybook setting of pomp or a movie production.

Sawadee

Bill Talanian, HS3WT

Click here king-bhumibol for photo album

King of Thailand Bhumibol Adulyadej, HS1A (SK)

Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej (Rama IX), HS1A, died on October 13,
after a long period of declining health. Born in Cambridge,
Massachusetts, while his physician father was at Harvard University,
the king, whose name translated as “strength of the land,
incomparable power,” was 88.

According to noted DXer Fred Laun, K3ZO/HS0ZAR, the king “was never
very active on the air, and, to my knowledge, the only QSOs he ever
made were from a handheld on 2 meter FM.” He said HS1A was often
“pictured using a handheld.” He also was pictured with a camera, as
photography was one of his passions, and he was a jazz enthusiast,
who played the saxophone.

The Radio Amateur Society of Thailand (RAST), the country’s IARU
member society, said on its website that the king was “presented the
call sign HS1A by the Ministry of Communications at Chitrlada
Palace” in 1989 in a ceremony witnessed by RAST officers. He was the
ninth monarch of the Chakri Dynasty, having ascended to the throne
in June of 1946, and was the world’s longest-reigning monarch.