[SMCARA] SMCARA annual membership support dues are now being collected... please help us out!

[Peter Butt]

Folks,

  The St. Mary's County Amateur Radio Association (SMCARA) has just begun
its new 2006-2007 fiscal year on July 1st and I am once again writing to you
to ask for your continued personal and financial support of our
organization.  The SMCARA is the oldest continually operating amateur radio
support group in the southern Maryland area and we are currently celebrating
our 50th Anniversary this year with a number of scheduled activities.  For
those of you that have already sent in your membership renewals, I thank you
very much!  If you haven't yet rejoined for the new fiscal year, would you
please consider taking a few moments to do so?  There is a clickable link
near the bottom of our club web page [ www.qsl.net/smcara ] to view a
membership renewal form that you can fill out on your computer, print out,
and mail to us very easily along with your membership dues.

  I know that you receive many requests throughout the year from a variety
of organizations soliciting funds and it can be overwhelming.  Please
understand that the funding requested for our club membership goes ENTIRELY
to club programs with not one cent spent on administrative expenses.  We
have taken extra-ordinary steps to ensure that our monthly expenses have
been reduced to the absolute minimum so that all available funding is
applied directly to supporting activities that benefit YOU.  For example, we
just received the new repeater controller system that we've been discussing
at recent meetings and that unit will be installed on the club-owned 2-meter
repeater (K3HKI 146.64 MHz repeater) in the next few weeks.  We also just
completed a very successful annual FIELD DAY operation at the end of June;
we procured a new 3,000 watt electrical generator for use during Field Day
and for support of emergency activities; and we have installed an
outstanding amateur radio display at the Naval Air Museum here in Lexington
Park.  Our dues help defray the expenses of these important activities that
directly benefit the amateur radio hobby in southern Maryland.

  As your President, I am once again asking for your continued support of
the amateur radio hobby in our community.  We would be delighted if you can
help with a financial contribution as a member (it's still only $20).
Again, you can either pay our club treasurer (Garner Hayden, W3SI) in person
at one of the monthly meetings (4th Thursday of each month at 7:30 PM at the
Naval Air Museum in Lexington Park) or fill in a form on the web site and
mail it to him directly with your check.

  I hope that we have been operating the club in a manner that you approve
of.  Your leadership team (Pete, Tom and Garner) have tried to sponsor as
many interesting events as we can, whether it be an operating event or a
swap meet.  In that vein, how are we doing?  Please take a few moments to
give us some feedback on how you perceive the club is doing.  What other
events and activities would you like to see us do?  Would you like to help
us with running the various club activities?  Are you interested in speaking
at one of the club meetings about one of your projects you may be working
on?  This club can only succeed if you participate as much as you can.  I
hope that we will hear back from many of you... please send an e-mail to me
(WA3UMY) at petebutt at ameritel.net or call me at 301-862-2214 in the evenings
and let's talk a little.  Your input is extremely valuable to us!

  Thanks again for supporting the SMCARA and we hope to have you back this
year to continue helping us put ham radio activity back on the map.

  See you at the meetings!

  Respectfully,

  Pete Butt (WA3UMY)
  President, SMCARA