[PPRAANet] New member and changes

[J. M. Cornwell]

Hello to all PPRAA members. 

I met with some of the board members and organizers of the 2006 Megafest last night and was confirmed as the new 0-Beat newsletter editor and the newest member of the board. A few of you know me from VE sessions over the past year, but most of you don't. I thought a little introduction was in order.

In November 2004 I began studying for my license and made Tech 01/11/05. The following week on 01/18/05 I made Extra and a couple months later received my certification for VE through the ARRL. My background is as a writer and I have worked in computers, so all the ham radio operations, theory, and technology is new to me. I learn something new every day. I moved to Colorado Springs the middle of May 2005 and wanted to become more involved with the community and with ham radio. I can usually be seen amidst a sea of guys, old and fairly young, at VE exams in Woodland Park and here in Colorado Springs. 

In September, while helping a local ham with his antenna tower, I heard that Dennis Major N0ABC wanted to find someone to take over 0-Beat. I mentioned I was a nationally syndicated freelance journalist, writer, and editor and had worked on many trade, community, and literary newsletters and would be interested. Through the grapevine at the VE exams in Woodland Park in November, I heard the PPRAA board had discussed me taking the editor's seat and last night I received the final word. 

Putting out any kind of newsletter is a big job and nothing is ever achieved alone. With a very recent knowledge and little experience in radio, electronics, and communications, I am bringing a new and different perspective. However, I will need help from all of you in putting together an interesting and readable newsletter. In my experience as a journalist, I know that people tend to be very self conscious whether being interviewed or writing anything for publication, but if you give someone a chance and sit back and listen they will always give up pearls of wisdom and wonderful stories. That is what I want from each and every one of you -- pearls of wisdom and stories of your trials, tribulations, successes, and mistakes with communications and radio. 

For instance, how do you balance work, family and ham radio and still have a family and a job? What changes have you seen over the years? What did you like? What didn't you like? Do you have any theories about what will happen in the future? Have you ever worked on a satellite program, data gathering, or just taking your rig out into the wild or on vacation? You get the idea. 

I know there are a million stories out there and I want to hear and write about them all. Don't be shy or give in to false modesty. PPRAA's 0-Beat is your newsletter. 

You can reach me at AC0CA at arrl.net, so fill my inbox with everything and anything you can. I'll help you iron out the grammar, but the stories will always be yours. 

As always...

Jackie Cornwell
AC0CA
0-Beat editor

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