[ETS/PARC List] [Fwd: NN3SI station]

[Drew Moore]

Victor,
Thanks for that rich history,
73 Drew

-------- Original Message --------
Subject: 	NN3SI station
Date: 	Tue, 22 Jul 2008 18:19:36 -0800
From: 	vpennetta at pennetta.com
To: 	drumor at optonline.net



Drew,

Below is just someone's view as they see it. Perhaps we will never know 
the real reason the station will be dismantled. Hopefully something in 
the near future can be worked out.

73,
Victor  KC2NBC



The NN3SI station at the Smithsonian was slated to be dismantled last 
year as
part of an overall renovation of the displays there.

It's probably a good thing too.  NN3SI was set up in what appeared to 
be a
small coat room. The bottom half of the door had a small shelf with 
ham radio
brochures, but the interior was poorly lit.

Perhaps most importantly, the station did not match the historic 
nature of the
technology display that it led to.  The Smithsonian has several nice 
examples
of vintage, tube-type technology, but the current station trustee is 
the
onetime AM-hater, Johnny Johnston, the former K3BNS.

He more recently has headed the QCWA, and expressed his willingness to 
allow
the group's national newsletter to include an article on AM, suitably 
addressed
to his membership of licensees who've been in the hobby more than 25 
years.

But according to an AM-er who had approached him to re-work the 
station along
lines that would be compatible with the rest of the Smithsonian's 
display, he
refused to allow the older, functioning equipment to be brought out of 
storage
and placed back in service.  His agenda was like the League's, to show 
modern
ham radio.

Few visitors stopped by during several trips I made there to observe, 
and the
visitor's logbook had only a handful across months of time reviewed.

People who discussed whether it's appropriate to have Johnston as the 
station
trustee, have also been in talks with the new leadership at the 
Smithsonian.
Although kicking him out would be a fresh start, and would time nicely 
with
developing a place for NN3SI in the newly designed display, there's a 
small
problem --

FInding someone to replace him and to staff the station.

SO, the matter is stalled for now.

--Paul/VJB