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SM--Tom Ciciora KA9QPN
ASM/SRM--Ron Morgan, KB9NW
ASM/SEC--Brad Pioveson, W9FX
ASM/ASEC--Shari Harlan, N9SH
ASM for Youth--Neil Gebhardt, KB9ZGZ
ACC--Joe Serocki, N9IFG
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--OPEN, Region 3--Bob Cockream AB9EE, 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

Where was I...?
**What do you suppose that the odds are of two entirely unrelated (except in time) failures of desktop machines and a USB stick dying in the same moment? And the desktop data was recovered relatively easily. The USB stick content (with all of the web pages for which I'm responsible): not so much. In any event, I'm back in business and backing up the new USB stick regularly. Good news is that I'm finally off of WinXP and Vista at home.
**Since we last connected, we've lost several notable folks. George Hart W1NJM, father of the NTS passed away on 24 March at the ripe old age of 99. Not only did Mr. Hart develop the initial framework of the NTS, but he was also a Charter Life Member of the League. Walter Wise WA9BRQ, editor of the Egyptian RC's Podunk Hollow News, left us over the past weekend. I enjoyed corresponding with Walter over time and reading the produce of that correspondence in the News. (An earlier version of this posted on FB contained a wrong callsign.) Finally, from John Zelz W9ZE, we learn of the passing of Bill Early K9ZG. Bill was an active member of McHenry County ARES/RACES and the county EMA. My sympathies to all the immediate and extended families.
**Had a very enjoyable time with Don Whitney K9DRW and others from the Lake and Kane County ARES groups at the Tom Skilling Fermilab Severe Weather seminars on 6 April. We had ample opportunity to get the Service out in front of a nice cross-section of individuals.

Get informed...
**Along those lines, Don is soliciting photographs of weather spotters in action for use on the display that he uses in his public awareness efforts. SKYWARN type activities only, please: spotters are not storm chasers and we don't want to muddy that sharp distinction. Please send any submissions to Don at k9drw@arrl.net. In return, you will receive some of that 'undying gratitude' stuff and the satisfaction of having had a hand in getting the message of Amateur Radio to the general public.
**Both FCC Chairman Genachowski and Commissioner McDowell are stepping down from the Commission shortly. This is a rare occurrence and their replacements might have some kind of influence on the direction of the Commission. We'll have to see as to who the President might appoint.
**Several weeks ago, the Administrator of FEMA, Craig Fugate, whom I did not know was KK4INZ, visited League HQ for the nickel tour. It's nice to know that the person in charge of our nation's emergency management activities recognizes Amateur Radio's contribution to emergency management enough to be a part of it.
**The Dayton Hamvention has announced that there will be no Amateur of the Year recognition given at Dayton this year. According to a release from the organizers: "It is with the deepest regret to announce we will not be awarding an Amateur of the Year award for 2013. We have received conflicting information from credible sources regarding the accuracy of the winning nomination. The General Chairman of Hamvention this year, Charles Kaiser received these reports and followed up to verify their accuracy. Unfortunately this changes the way we score for the Amateur of the Year award and since the competition was close with other nominees the outcome would have been different."
**From the UK comes this: "I am Jeff G7TAT, secretary of the Colchester Radio Amateurs Club, located on the west coast of England, about 50 miles west of London. 2013 marks the club's 50th anniversary. As part of our program of events, we would like to try to make on-air contacts with hams in towns around the world that share our name. Please could you help put us in email contact with hams or clubs in the Colchester IL area so we can try to organise some QSO's?" If you live in or near Colchester IL (I had to go look to find that!) and want to help the folks in the UK celebrate their anniversary, please contact Jeff at his email address g7tat@live.co.uk.
**The deadline for receipt of applications for the Foundation for Amateur Radio scholarships is April 15 and fast approaching.  If you know of a student with an Amateur Radio license who is, or will be, a full time student, please forward this information to him or her.  The scholarships are awarded directly to the student and do not go through the college or university. The application deadline is April 15 for regular F.A.R. scholarships and May 15 for the Chichester and QCWA scholarships. In 2012, the F. A. R. awarded 38 scholarships ranging in amounts from $500 to $5,000. The F.A.R. website's URL is www.farweb.org/about. For information about how to apply for a scholarship, click on: www.farweb.org/2013-scholarship-application  or www.farweb.org/appreview/wp-content/uploads/2013_FAR_Scholarship_Application_v3_enabled.pdf.
 

Around the Section...
**The Fox River Radio League has reactivated their WAC-IL award. Contacting a station in each of the 102 Illinois counties is not a trivial undertaking, as the ham population in a few areas is pretty sparse and you won't get it done simply. Details on the FRRL website.
**The Kankakee ARS Key Klicks Newsletter carries news of the upcoming Wake Island DXpedition. Several of the participants are KARS members along with perennial contest stalwart Craig Thompson K9CT and others. The exercise is timed to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the passing of the "Forgotten 98", a group of civilian contractors who were assisting the Navy in building island bases. This is an especially chilling war story without a happy ending.
**The next News will be Fashionably Late, so I can include whatever I see and hear at the Dayton Hamvention on 17 through 19 May. This will be my second trip there, the first occurring in 1990 when our weekend was interrupted by the imminent appearance of my nephew. I still hold the Land Speed Record/Motor Home-Camper Division for my performance on that Saturday afternoon in getting the child's father to the hospital before the stork's arrival. This upcoming trip should be a little less stress filled.

Ye Olde Traffic Report DE KA9MZJ...
Illinois SideBand Net - Net Manager WB9QPM
Daily on 3905 at 1800 local time
QNI 279 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 252 QTC 43 Sessions 26
 
Illinois Emergency Net - Net Manager K9HEZ
Sunday on 3940 at 0800 local time
QNI 88 QTC 6 Sesions 5
 
North Central Phone Net - Net
Manager K9HEZ
M-F on 3912 at 0700 local time
QNI 267 QTC 16 Sessions 21
 
Illinois CW Net (ILN)Manager WB8SIM
Daily on 3838 at 1915 local time
QNI  102 QTC 21 Sessions 23