When I sit in my chair and look outside I think antenna. It's been a long winter.
It's time to start thinking about our trailers and Field Day. Bob, Steffanie, Don, John and all who made our hamfest a success, I thank you!
It will take the same kind of support for Field Day. I think Dave and his crew have the HF trailer well under way, but we still need to check out antennas for emergency use.  The VHF trailer needs the same type of rebuild so we have quick and easy setup.
I'd like to test an antenna for the HF trailer and if we like it, I can do the same for the VHF trailer. I'll get together with Dave and John to put a plan together.
Remember, try to bring a friend to club meetings.  The BLB can always use our support and don't forget Dave, KC8COT. He also always welcomes your support.

Jerald W8FOK

As a teacher, I found one of the problems that needed a watchful eye was the using others work and claiming it as your own. That might be copying someone elses homework or using the material in an encyclopedia for a term paper. The fancy name is plagiarism and the simple is theft. Please note that the editor of this tome is probably guilty of this sin as the result of running out    of inspiration. 

There are many rites of Spring - melting snow, the return of Sandhill Cranes from their winter haven, and most importantly for us amateur radio enthusiasts, the Marshall Crossroads Hamfest! In spite of the abbreviated late Friday night setup due to the MHSAA District Basketball game at Marshall High School, the many SMARS volunteers, sponsoring Marshall High School teachers and a select group of MHS students did a bang-up job of setting up for Saturday's event. All told, there were just over 1,200 tickets sold to our event, a pretty decent turnout especially considering the current economic conditions in our State. We were saddened to learn of the impending close of  Elmer's Ham Shack, and very pleased to have some brand-new vendors from the East Coast at our event.

Many thanks go out to the hard-working SMARS volunteers who gave up some sleep Friday night to help with setup, Marshall High School Industrial Arts department, and the lone Scout from Battle Creek Troop 325 who all helped make the 2009 Crossroads Hamfest a success. I'd also like to personally recognize Bob Kingsbury KC8PRL, Don Larkin W8RVT, and John Davidson KC8WMM for the extra
assistance they provided to me as I returned to school this fall and began new employment. Preparations are now underway for the 2010 Hamfest, still in Marshall but at a new, more easily accessible location - the Marshall Activities Center.

Stephanie W8AEZ

The Masonic building across the street from the court house is our new meeting place.  The movement was made so as to avoid conflicting meetings at our previous meeting place. We need to thank the Masons for their gracious offer to use their facility.