[LeArc] FW: Dayton

[Jay Hainline]

I received this message from Scott KI5DR and thought I would pass it on =
to
the reflector.

73 Jay

Jay Hainline  KA9CFD  EN40om
Colchester, IL
ka9cfd@arrl.net
http://www.qsl.net/learc=20

-----Original Message-----
From: Spederson [mailto:spederson@yahoo.com]=20
Sent: Tuesday, May 20, 2003 04:17
To: ka9cfd@winco.net
Subject: Re: Dayton


Hi Jay!

Certainly, the surprise and excitement was felt from me too.  I had a =
good
time at Dayton this year.  It's been 14 years since my last trip.  The =
year
was 1989 and myself and Dave Patton (NT1N) drove from Macomb to Dayton =
in my
Mom's car.  We didn't think Dave's Trans Am, Blue van, or my little
Mitsubishi would make it there and back!!  I had a great time this =
weekend,
and am planning on getting the photos posted to the web soon.

I plan on adding a note to the LEARC guest book shortly.  However, =
here's a
short note for the LEARC club, and I would be pleased if you could =
present
it to the group at the next meeting....

The year was 1986.  As a new ham (N9FZO), I was coming to WIU as a =
transfer
student from Elmhurst College in Chicago.  Little did I realize how much
influence a group of ham operators could have on my life.

For all of the current members of LEARC, I was a wet-behind-the-ears new
technician (and student) with no real operating experience.  I wanted to
recognize the following folks who were my elmers into Ham Radio -

 - Stan N9FWK
 - Jay KA9CFD
 - Bud KT9Z
 - Don KA9SQB
 - John KD9ZE
 - George N9FDB
 - Chuck W9SSP
 - Bill KB9AKD
 - Scott NC9S

These folks (there were certainly more) helped me learn and grow in Ham
Radio.  They were Elmers in the truest sense of the word.  Even today I =
look
back and remember the lessons learned from each of you.  A hearty THANK =
YOU!
for all of your support and encouragement.  You helped me upgrade, =
taught me
operating skills, emergency communications skills, and lasting =
friendships
that bring back warm memories for many, many years after I've left =
Macomb.
This is a type of education that no university at ANY price could have =
given
me.

Today, I still tell great tales of an on-campus radar system and
storm-spotting, I still remember Bill Hedeen telling the story of a =
bunch of
deputies in rubber suits rescuing sheep from a rising river!  I remember
working with Stan at Radio Shack on the Square.  I remember Don Johnson =
and
all the work he did writing for the newspaper.  Bud KT9Z and others
administered my exams for upgrading from Tech to Advanced.  George and =
his
wife had me over several times (poor starving college student) - and =
their
daughter was still a little girl (I hear she just graduated...WOW!)  I =
still
remember trips up to Monmouth to visit John KD9ZE by the pond, and how =
he
built me my first J-Pole antenna (I've built MANY more since then..).
Remember when we added the FIRST packet digipeater to the tower on =
145.01? I
remember Wednesdays eating lunch in the deli in the basement of the =
Union
building.

I am honored to have been affiliated with LEARC.  You all are truly the
best, most caring folks I could ever know.  Congratulations to Bill and =
his
retirement!  I hope to hear y'all on the bands soon!

Very best 73,

Scott Pederson
WIU Grad
KI5DR (ex. KE9NB, N9FZO)
http://www.ki5dr.com

PS -
BTW, I worked Josh on 2m on the 147.060 repeater on my last trip to =
Chicago.
I'm not sure if he remembers but I sent him an e-QSL for the contact.