This month's Feedback contains several antennas that might be useful if a person would want to get involved with fox-hunting. They also would be valuable finding the source of unwanted interference. Of course this is in response to the excellent presentation by the Branch County Amateur Radio Club. If you missed their program, you missed a good one.

As we were wrapping up this issue, the ARRL issued a bulletin informing us that a bill had been introduced into the Senate that parallels HR 2150. For many amateurs, these bills are very important by giving relief from restrictive rules in housing developments. Have you written to your U. S. Representative in support of HR2160? SB 1755 has been introduced with support of both parties. A letter to your Senators in support of these bills would help get them through the various steps necessary.

We are getting close to the end of the year and the collection of is starting but we also need to chose officers.
We've had our President and Vice-President resign as a result of medical and change of residence. Both have been very effective in their roles, Jerry by his leadership and Ned by finding sources of entertainment. Give some serious thought to who shall lead SMARS for the next year.

Within SMARS there are many people with talents that should be shared with others. One of the disappointments of being editor for Feedback is the lack of support by the membership. Let the editor edit articles submitted by members, not write those articles.  You write, we'll take care of spelling, grammar and acting the role of your English teacher.

Every issue of Feedback contains some humor of some sort. You'll find a rather long  story that I came across quite a while ago and have been wanting to share with you. It doesn't have a thing to do with amateur radio. So what?  It's funny!

It's getting close to that time of year again. Since our membership year runs from Jan 1 to Dec 31, the book keeping becomes much simpler if dues are paid prior to the end of the year. While most members pay a single year at a time, there are a few who pay several years at a time. In the upper corner of the address label on the snail mail copy of "Feedback" the number 09 appears with some of several different letters, your dues will be due by the 31st of Dec.

The member dues are $10, If more than one live in the same household then each additional member would cost $1. As an example, in my home with three hams the total package is $12.  Where else can you become a member of anything for that little?

Don't forget to support HR 2160 -- The Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Enhancement Act of 2009 -- the ARRL is asking its membership to contact their members of the US House of Representatives with a request to become co-sponsors of this significant piece of legislation.

    Back on Wednesday, April 29, 2009 Representative Sheila Jackson-Lee (D-TX) introduced HR 2160, the Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Enhancement Act of 2009, in the US House of Representatives. This bill, if passed, would promote and encourage the valuable public service, disaster relief, and emergency communications provided on a volunteer basis by licensees of the Federal Communications Commission in the Amateur Radio Service, by undertaking a study of the uses of Amateur Radio for emergency and disaster relief communications, by identifying unnecessary or unreasonable impediments to the deployment of Amateur Radio emergency and disaster relief communications, and by making recommendations for relief of such unreasonable restrictions so as to expand the uses of Amateur Radio communications in Homeland Security planning and response.

Don-W8RVT is building a TOAD direction finder.  He expects to bring it to the club meeting for show and tell.  Does anyone else have something to show off?  Bring it!