| |
UA9FBV > SAT 25.04.04 14:13l 75 Lines 3784 Bytes #999 (0) @ AMSAT
BID : ANS-116.01
Read: GUEST
Subj: April President's Letter
Path: DB0FHN<DB0FOR<DB0MRW<OK0PKL<OK0PPL<RZ6HXA<R3CR<UR6IUG<UA9FBV
Sent: 040425/1308Z @:UA9FBV.PRM.RUS.AS #:59721 [Perm] GATEWAY $:ANS-116.01
From: UA9FBV@UA9FBV.PRM.RUS.AS
To : SAT@AMSAT
AMSAT News Service Bulletin 116.01 From AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD. April 25, 2004
To All RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-116.01
Several important activities have taken place in the last few weeks, which
affect the future of the AMSAT organization and where we are going in the
future. Firstly, a meeting of the International ARISS committee at the
European Space Agency in the Netherlands gave a starting approval for two
new projects as follows:
1) Approval of the Russian Shadow project, which is an experiment to
determine the effect on RF of a Plasma Propulsion unit i.e. will RF, and
hence communications. be interrupted by the plasma field.
2) Fast Scan -TV, (Digital) This would involve one or more color cameras,
placed externally at suitable locations on the ISS, Cameras would be
capable of pan/tilt and zoom and be capable of amateur control - UK to
co-ordinate proposals for this.
These projects can now be developed and presented to the Hardware committee
for safety evaluation. While this work is proceeding we are all awaiting
for the return of the shuttle to provide additional lifting capability to
and from the ISS. The current estimate of availability of the Shuttle is
spring 2005.
The AMSAT Strategic Planning committee is working to develop a more
effective means of operating the organization, and to provide improved
communications between the Board of Directors, the Officers and the
Members. A new "Team approach" is being developed which will reduce the day
to day activities of the President, that I and my predecessors have done for
many years. I believe that this initiative will be a very positive one for
AMSAT.
By now four hundred of you will have received a membership survey, we need
you to return that survey to us for evaluation. The survey was generously
paid for by one of our members, who is anxious that AMSAT should be able to
meet the needs of our membership. This survey should define our membership
requirements. Names were taken at random and the number of 400 is
statistically very accurate to present a good picture of membership needs.
With the publication of our Annual Report we are now in a position to
present AMSAT as a charitable organization to selected Foundations based
principally on Educational aspects of AMSAT. This may reduce the time
involved in fund raising, however it is still important that our membership
be involved in providing AMSAT with funding for the Special Amateur Radio
aspects of our satellites.
Only a few weeks too Dayton, and of course we will be prominent again in
the "Ball Arena" at the usual place. I look forward to seeing you there,
and hope that you will participate in the various draws that we have for
equipment. All money received will be put toward the ECHO launch fund. You
will have the opportunity to re-new your regular membership, make your
President's Club donation, and contribute directly to the ECHO Launch Fund.
The fund is still about $40K short of it's goal and we need you to help
"Give ECHO a Lift" ECHO launch Pins will be available at the AMSAT booth for
anyone donating $20 or more to that cause. The annual Dayton AMSAT Banquet
will be held Friday, May 14th at 1800 at the Amber Rose. The cost is $25 for
the buffet which includes tax and gratuity. Payment will be made at the
door with cash, Visa or MasterCard. To make reservations contact Nancy
Makley, kc8gyw@amsat.org. Please list the name and call of each person who
will be attending. If you are a current President's Club Gold member and
attending the dinner, contact martha@amsat.org
Well enough from me for this month, - see you in Dayton
73
Robin Haighton VE3FRH
President AMSAT-NA
[ANS thanks Robin, VE3FRH for the above information]
Read previous mail | Read next mail
| |
