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SM--Tom Ciciora KA9QPN
ASM/SRM--Ron Morgan, KB9NW
ASM/SEC--Brad Pioveson, W9FX
ASM/ASEC--Shari Harlan, N9SH
ACC--Scott DeSantis KB9VRW
SGL--Charles Richey, K9DUE
STM--Roy Eades, KA9MZJ
PIC--Fritz Bock, WD9FMB
TC--John Dinella, WA9IL
OOC--Tim Childers, KB9FBI
ASEC--Curtis Williams, W5DTR
ASEC--Kelly Robertson, KC9FVK
ASEC--Pat Ryan, KC6VVT
ASEC--Pat Stowell, N9PN
ASEC/Digital Ops--Danny Pease NG9R
DEC: Region 2--Lloyd Sherman KB9APW, Region 3--Dale Marzano N9JH, Region 4--Neil Ormos N9NL, Region 6--Gary Shanks KA9FAJ, Region 7--OPEN, Region 9--John Van Sandt N9YRX, Region 8--Curtis Williams W5DTR, Region 11--Bruce Talley WA9APQ

From the top...
**Communications from the FCC are best answered rather than ignored. K3VR in Pennsylvania found that out on the 13th, when the FCC issued a Forfeiture Order for the sum of $11,500. This for the gentleman's part in the 14.313 circus. One of his cohorts, KZ8O, is apparently ignoring a similar notice, and stands to get tagged for $22,000. That is a lot of money to come up with because someone chooses to act the fool. The only issue that I have with this is that the FCC moves like a glacier, and it was nearly six months from Notice of Apparent Liability to Forfeiture Order.
**Seems to me that some of this particularly egregious stuff is best rectified the way that the Enforcement Bureau handled reprobate CBers back in the late 70s. Federal marshals and equipment seizure made the point eloquently: you are finished here. Of course, that type of enforcement wasn't sustained, and the FCC pretty much abandoned ship there. But, it's nice to daydream.
**Still no word on the replacement for HR-4969. Stay tuned.
 

Get informed...
**Spring is coming. Honest. And, with that comes spring storms and the need for refresher training if you are or want to be involved in SKYWARN activities. At this moment, the NWS spotter training schedule has not yet been posted on their website. However, a basic spotter class is always available on the COMET MetEd website. There are a bunch of other courses available if weather is your interest. A registration is required. It's also a good time, if you are so inclined, to reach out to your local ARES group and/or local EMA/ESDA. Nobody wants to meet for the first time during an incident.
**Registration is open to support the American Diabetes Association's Tour de Cure bike ride on 14 June. It starts in Aurora and ranges generally westward. Communicators are needed for various roles during the event. I worked this one last year, and it was a long but rewarding day.
 

Around the Section...
**I'll be at one of the first hamfests of the year on Sunday the 18th: the Wheaton Community RA Mid-Winter Hamfest. I also must point out that there are some excellent forums scheduled: Introductions to Broadband Hamnet and High-Altitude Ballooning along with thoughts on tower safety. Hope to see you there.
**If you're on the other end of the Section, there's Winterfest on 24 January. It's sponsored by the St. Louis and Suburban RC. Really: there's no reason to be cabin fevered.
**From the McHenry County Wireless Association's newsletter,  the editor (Jerry Heien N9AVY) turns the question "What's wrong with Amateur Radio" around to ask "What's right with Amateur radio?" He suggests trying something different to shake up your normal operating habits. I have to agree with him. We have something to suit just about every taste.  I personally replaced my TS-140 which was past getting long in the tooth with an FT-450. This got me scurrying off to make a few HF contacts on both phone and PSK31. First I had to dig the Signalink out of the go-bag that contains my portable QRP station...hey, I haven't played with that in a while, either. Last night, it was tuning around the weak signal portion of 222 and wishing that I had loops up for 6 and 432 as well...have to wait for the thaw, but let's pencil that in as a plan. What? Fast Scan ATV is digital now? Maybe I should catch up. You see how this works now. Plus, a lot of it can be done with what you have. QRP? Wind the power down on the rig. Weak signal VHF-UHF? Probably just a setting on the rig that has gone unused up until now. Digital? You have a soundcard in the computer, right? A lot of this sampling exercise doesn't require an expense. Instead, you just have to get out of your personal rut and think differently about the equipment that you have. Nothing to lose. Everything to gain. Give it a whirl.

Ye Olde Traffic Report DE KA9MZJ...
 

Illinois Side Band Net - Net Manager WB9QPM
Daily on 3905 at 1800 local time
QNI 278 QTC 63 Sessions 31
 
Illinois Phone Net - Net Manager K9GYI
M-F on 3857 at 1645 local time
Sunday on 3940 at 0810 local time - right after the Illinois Emergency Net
QNI 299 QTC 27 Sessions 27
 
Illinois Emergency Net - Net Manager K9HEZ
Sunday on 3940 at 0800 local time
QNI 74 QTC 7 Sessions 4
 
North Central Phone Net – Net Manager K9HEZ
M-F on 3912 at 0700 local time
QNI 363 QTC 6 Sessions 23
 
Illinois CW Net (ILN)   Net Manager WB8SIM
Daily on 3838 at 1915 local time   
QNI  XX QTC X Sessions XX
KF9ME reporting