Wow! It sure is cold in Michigan!

We have a new President. For those who didn't vote for him, like me,it's time to give him our support. He is Our
President and Commander-In-Chief.

We have a hamfest coming up. When I think about our club
members I can see why it was so successful in the past (while I was in Florida.) The problem is we're all getting older: Walter J., Walter W., Louie, Paul, Marion and all those I didn't name  need your support. If I can take tickets and work the club table I will be happy. Do what you can and we will have the same success as we have had in the past.

With all the negativity of 2008, I would like to make this
year more stress free for all of us.  Remember we're always looking for new ideas on how to make our club more
interesting so everyone will want to participate in all our
activities.

Let's think before we speak and work for the betterment of
all. Support all club activities and bring along a friend.
Pass on new and old ideas that will make our club more
enjoyable and hopefully make it grow.

If we do things wrong, let your board know after the meeting, we can all learn.  As your president for this year, I need your help and I will try to do my best for all of you.
                                                         
Jerald Longman W8FOK

The club meeting this month will be the last one at the West Lake Church. In the future we'll be using the Mason Hall across the street from the County Court House. Gary WB8USU was responsible for procuring the use of the Mason building at no cost to the club. Thanks Gary!
SMARS meeting this month will be the last one before the Swapfest and a lot of details need to be worked out. Stephanie needs a lot of help and volunteers aren't showing up to the extent needed. Every single club member should put in some time towards the clubs needs. It may be a quaint idea, but there is more to being a club member than paying dues.
Speaking of paying dues, there are quite a few people who seem to have forgotten to do so.
You'll find an article on building a two meter vertical 5/8th wave antenna in this issue. While it is labeled as a two meter antenna, you'll find no dimensions! That means that you'll need to put your thinking cap on. And when you do, you'll ask yourself about how this identical information can be used for any frequency: six meter, ten meters or ???
Too often , I've seen comments on the web complaining about the ARRL accepting the IBM BPL proposal.  Some hams think that the ARRL is against BPL -- Tain't so!  The ARRL is against those techniques that interfere with others usage and violate the FCCs own regulations.
If you use amateur radio, you're using a hobby that exists because our government as well as many other governments have given spectrum to us. They all recognize the various skills of the amateur population throughout the world. Our government states five expectations of the amateur and we need to do something more than show lip service towards each of these expectations. Dan KB6NU lists these in an article in this paper.  Of course you have a greater interest in some more than others, but do something in each.
Read in the paper about the various activities the ARRL is involved in to protect and grow our hobby. Aren't you glad that you are a ARRL member? You are, aren't you?

Stephanie tells us that the table sales are coming along a little slower than in previous years. She still needs volunteers for setting up, tearing down, working the call-in table and manning the various entrances to the school as well as ticket sellers.

Ned, WB4BKO, informs us that Joe Medsker, K8LKC, will present his spark gap program during the February SMARS meeting.