IDEAS
A large amount of space this month is spent on a document occurring on the Michigan PRB1 bulletin board.  Please read and take action as suggested in the article.
Many of our local hams are directly affected by the lack of PRB-1 legislation in Michigan. At least two of our nearby townships have tower limitations severely limiting
antenna heights, Pennfield and Leroy. Some amateurs lucked in with grandfather clauses, but the newer amateurs don't have that privilege. At least one of our local hams wants to erect a tower of moderate size but is unable to because of this restriction.

Known limitations present a 35 foot height as a maximum as well as requiring in one case of clearance of absurd distances from the tower.  The generally accepted height by states that have adopted a variation of the FCC's PRB seems to be 75 feet .

Another concern amateurs have is the recent widely spread laws enacted by legislative bodies on the use of cell phones while driving. Included this month is an article on how a ham handled this problem. His defense might be useable according to how the law is written in the locality where a problem occurs.

Its getting close to the time for SMARS members to choose new officers for the new year. It's also time to start taking care of dues as they all expire on the last day of December. Dues of $10 bucks a year are a bargain that few clubs can offer.

ARES AT 75
       
AR ES® is celebrating its 75th anniversary from September through  December 2010. ARRL's ARES program has provided emergency  communications for agencies such as the American Red Cross,  Salvation Army, countless Emergency Operations Centers and others in the worst of times. In events from ice storms to Hurricane Katrina,  when normal communications systems were down or overloaded, the  Amateur Radio operators of the ARES programs responded to requests  for communications aid.
      Over the years the equipment has changed, but the decentralized communications nets that ARES can create to blanket regions without  the need for other infrastructure remain critical in emergency planning. Recognition of this capability has led to renewed formal agreements with DHS, FEMA, NOAA and other federal agencies. With over 20,000 of the country's 680,000+ Amateur Radio operators             involved in ARES--all of them truly "amateur" and providing their time, services, knowledge and equipment totally uncompensated--they are more than worthy of recognition for their 75 years of community services in the worst of times.
 
           You can find more information about ARES at:
            http://www.arrl.org/public-service
            Information about the anniversary is at:
            http://www.arrl.org/ares-anniversary
           Click for more information on celebration plans and 
            resources.

GREAT TRUTHS THAT
LITTLE CHILDREN HAVE LEARNED:

1)  No matter how hard you try, you can't baptize cats..
2) When your Mom is mad at your Dad,
       don't let her brush your  hair.
3) If your sister hits you, don't hit her back.
     They always catch the second person.
4) Never ask your 3-year old brother to hold a tomato.
5) You can't trust dogs to watch your food.. 
6) Don't sneeze when someone is cutting your hair..
7) Never hold a Dust-Buster and a cat at the same time.
8) You can't hide a piece of broccoli in a glass of milk.
9) Don't wear polka-dot underwear under white shorts.
10) The best place to be when you're sad
        is Grandma's lap.