The benefit broomball game between the 3rd Watch and UMaine Womens Hockey teams is coming right up.  It is next monday night (March 26).  For more info click here  ...

Benefit events for Camden, Andy (N1WTQ) and Tonya Brown.

You can read all about Camden here on his blog:

http://camdenb.blogspot.com/

The Northeast EMS office is holding a spaghetti supper for the Browns on Jan 11.  Visit here for more info:

http://northeastems.org/index.php?pr=News

Third Watch Hockey will be playing a benefit game vs the UMaine Women Hockey Team sometime in February or March, visit their website for updates:

http://www.thirdwatchhockey.com

The Pine State Amateur Radio Club met for the first time at its new home in the Bangor Daily News offices in Bangor on Monday night.  The club will be meeting in the new location henceforth.

Tha Bangor Daily News has granted the use of a dedicated room for the use of the club to set up radio equipment and meetings are being held in the lunch room.

WELCOME TO NEAR-FEST! AFTER ALL THESE YEARS, WE'RE GOING BACK TO DEERFIELD!!!
Begginning this May, we'll be heading to the Deerfield Fairgrounds for NEAR-Fest. You'll find more information at:

A MUST READ Message from the NEAR-Fest Organizing Committee!!!

There have been a LOT of rumors and discussions about the "rules" floating around and it's time to dispel them once and for all. Ignorance of these rules will be not be an acceptable excuse.

Probably the best way to do this is to make public the contract I have signed with the Deerfield Fair Association. Of particular interest is the Attachment that is unique and specific to the May NEAR-Fest event.

http://mysite.verizon.net/w1rc/Deerfield_Fair_Contract_Attachment.pdf

Please read and be advised the last clause (highlighted) clearly states that if we don't behave ourselves in May the Fair Association can and will unilaterally cancel our contract for October 12th and 13th 2007.

Many of us have hoped for almost fifteen years that one day we might have another chance to go back to the Deerfield Fairgrounds. That opportunity is May 4th. The Hosstraders said many times that they were never going back to Deerfield but since they are no longer conducting an event the new leadership took a chance and gave it a shot. Our success has been met with the highest approval and satisfaction by the amateur radio community in New England, the Northeast US and Canada. They have indicated their support and confidence in us by sending their payment for tickets and passes well in advance of the date. By doing this they are making it possible for this event to take place. I know there are many happy people eagerly looking forward to May 4th since we announced the NEAR-Fest at Deerfield would be held this Spring. We look forward to a long and happy relationship with the Fair Association thus making possible many more such events.

So, let's use our heads and conduct ourselves responsibly. Let common sense prevail. If you see anybody veering towards the edge pull him or her aside and tell them clearly in unmistakable terms that their actions may be jeopardizing the future of our event and that this is simply unacceptable to everyone else in attendance. A little bit of peer pressure goes a long way in this regard.

I and the members of the NEAR-Fest organizing team want to provide you all with a quality event that will produce fond memories that will last a lifetime. We don't want to be running around playing baby-siiter and policeman to adults who should know better. After all we're doing this because we want to enjoy the 'Fest like everybody else.

Any questions, please post them here.

http://near-fest.com/forum/index.php?topic=42.0

73, MrMike, W1RC

Regards, The The New England Amateur Radio Festival NEAR-Fest Team.

TICKET INFORMATION
Admission tickets are $10.00 and vehicular passes are $10.00. Buy as many tickets as you like. There are no sellers fees. Please consider buying a vehicular pass even if you don't plan on selling because it allows you to park inside the 'Fest and will help us meet our financial obligations even sooner.

Make checks or money orders payable to The New England Amateur Radio Festival, Inc.

Mail to:

The NEAR-Fest
PO Box 511
Hartford VT 05047-0511

Please include name, callsign and e-mail address. You will receive a receipt by e-mail.
Please note that there are no advance sales of the $5.00 admission tickets that can only be used after 3:00PM on Friday.

I just ran across this article on the website Engadget.  Engadget is a website dedicated to reviewing the most recent high tech devices such as Blackberrys, Cell Phones, MP3 players and the like.  The tone of the article and the follow-up comments from many non-hams stuck me as interesting.  Click the logo to go to the full article.

edited for website by K1CDA

On Monday Governor John Baldacci, KB1NXP, visited the Pine State Amateur Radio Club monthly meeting. As the monthly featured speaker, the Governor addressed the some 30 plus area hams who had gathered at the St Francis Center on the St Josephs Hospital Grounds in Bangor Maine.

The Governor exhibited a very relaxed demeanor with his new comrades perhaps glad to be not gathered with the usual group of political types. Governor Baldacci spoke on a number of topics and took many of the members questions relating to ham radio and other topics. The governor ranged from jovial, poking fun at himself and others in his quest to achieve his amatuer license, to very somber while relating his experiences surrounding the events of 9/11, the ice storm and his dedication to emergency preparedness.

During the meeting, the governor was asked to look into the possibility of free (or cheap) Amateur Radio Service vanity vehicle registration plates. Some also encouraged KB1NXP to bring his HT when he is on the road throughout the state and try to make contacts on simplex frequencies and work towards his "Worked all Maine" award. Many cited the desire to get his QSL card, which he does not have as of yet and was appeared not to be aware of. He committed to find a design and utilize his privilege to use the official State of Maine seal.

The governor talked a lot about hams and emergency communications citing the Ice Storm of 98, and he spoke at length about his own experiences during 9-11. After watching the planes crash into the trade center buildings, and feeling the ground shake as the jetliner bombed the Pentagon across the river, he and his fellow representatives and senators wandered around the streets of the capital with the only information coming from word of mouth, as all communications was down. All the while rumors of another hijacked plane heading towards the capital was circulating. Later they were directed to a police station. His mother was under the mistaken perception he would be safe in some kind of bunker. Later that afternoon, the congressmen gathered on the steps of the capital and sang God Bless America.

Hearing KB1NXP describe the days event, one could tell that he was emotionally impacted by these events. Governor Baldacci said that is why Homeland Security is his primary concern as governor. He told PSARC members that he did not want anything like 9-11 happen in Maine during his watch, but if it did, he wanted the state to be prepared. That is why, in spite of his hectic schedule, he worked with Rod Scribner, KA1RFD, and other hams in studying for and obtaining his ham radio license, and why he is a huge supporter of ARES and EMCOMM.

The governor also noted that he had posted remarks on W1KRP's ham radio blog, and he talked about the TV interviews he had conducted since he earned his ticket. He committed to doing what he could to promote ham radio throughout the state. There was even some talk about getting amateur radio promoted in the states public schools.

73 to all,

Phil N1EP

More photos of the Governor's Visit

Governor Baldacci is set to visit the Pine State Amateur Radio Club's March meeting.  After recently obtaining his amateur radio license, the governor is likely to address the members with topics of concern to the Amateur Radio world. 

The meeting is to be held on March 5 at the St Francis Center, on the St Joseph Hospital campus off Center Street in Bangor.  The meeting starts at 7 P.M.