[amsat-bb] Re: On Easter, regarding negativity and renewal...

[w7lrd@comcast.net]

Well said! ditto
73 Bob W7LRD

--
"if this were easy, everyone would be doing it"

-------------- Original message -------------- 
From: Mark Vandewettering <mvandewettering at gmail.com> 

> Hi all... 
> 
> As I awoke on this Easter Sunday, I was scanning my email (I subscribe 
> to lots of groups 
> and get lots of daily summaries) and once again found myself reading 
> amsat-bb. Amidst the 
> normal, pleasurable messages, I was again (as it seems to happen 
> weekly) faced with a 
> message of disappointment in AMSAT, this time by Brian Beckius. It 
> seems that whatever 
> he was searching for, he didn't find it in AMSAT, and thus proclaimed 
> to all that he wouldn't 
> be renewing his membership. 
> 
> He's not alone of course. Lots of people aren't very satisfied with 
> the current state of 
> AMSAT-NA or amateur satellites. It's not very hard to understand why: 
> launching satellites 
> actually _is_ rocket science. It's difficult, and even more difficult 
> with limited funds 
> and relying solely on the efforts of volunteers. But the simple fact 
> that it can be done 
> at _all_ should give everyone in amateur radio a sense of justified 
> pride. 
> 
> I'm a total newbie when it comes to satellites. I've worked mostly 
> the FM birds for less 
> than six months. I don't have L or S band equipment. I've never 
> worked AO-40 or any of the 
> RS birds. I am still trying to perfect my setup to work the linear 
> birds. But I have had 
> fun, and I've tried to pass on that spirit of fun to others, to let 
> them know just how much 
> enjoyment you can get, even with modest equipment, even by just 
> listening to what goes on. 
> 
> If you can't find a reason to renew your membership, don't. We are 
> all free to take our 
> dollars elsewhere, and to spend them how we see fit. If that $40 
> makes you happier when 
> spent elsewhere, then I think you should spend it elsewhere. If that 
> donation of $100 or 
> whatever to a different organization makes you feel a greater sense of 
> altruism or 
> achievement, then by all means, send your money there. 
> 
> Me? I'm happy to be a member. I'm getting way more out my membership 
> than I put in, even 
> when the organization itself doesn't exactly meet my own personal 
> expectations of what they 
> can and should be doing. I'd like to see firm plans about where 
> AMSAT-NA is going, and 
> when launches will happen just like everyone else, but in the mean 
> time, I'll be happy doing 
> what I'm doing, and stretching what I can do with new projects as time 
> and money in my 
> rather hectic life allows. And I'll be looking to help new satellite 
> projects with donations 
> when I can. 
> 
> Maybe you aren't so happy. Maybe the loss of AO-40 and the slow 
> progress toward another 
> Phase 3 or Phase 4 makes you grumpy. Maybe you see the money spent on 
> a single channel 
> FM bird as a complete waste of time. There are lots of you out 
> there. I hear you on this 
> mailing list every few days. But here's the thing: no amount of 
> growsing about the state 
> of the amateur satellite service gets any hardware even a foot closer 
> to orbit. It doesn't 
> make even one more person smile. It doesn't help get even $1 donated 
> to the creation of 
> new amateur satellites. 
> 
> It's Easter. It's a time of renewal and rebirth. Cast aside some of 
> your bitter skepticism, 
> and rededicate yourself to trying to actually help make amateur 
> satellites a fun and rewarding 
> endeavor for all. 
> 
> Catch you on the birds... 
> 
> Mark KF6KYI 
> 
> _______________________________________________ 
> Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. 
> Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! 
> Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb