[amsat-bb] Election results

Tue Sep 29 00:34:46 UTC 2020

There's a lot of misconceptions out there that AMSAT is somehow
"standing still" or "behind the times." This is all just completely
wrong. I would encourage everyone to attend/view the AMSAT Virtual
Symposium on October 17th. We're going to have a lot of interesting
presentations on all the exciting and cutting edge things that we're
working on: GOLF, ARISS/AREx, the CubeSat Simulator, LTM, etc.

AMSAT members should also check out the July/August 2020 edition of
The AMSAT Journal at launch.amsat.org. Jerry's Engineering Update
gives good background on GOLF and an update on GOLF-TEE's progress.

73,

Paul, N8HM

On Mon, Sep 28, 2020 at 8:24 PM Michael Tondee via AMSAT-BB
<amsat-bb at amsat.org> wrote:
>
>
> The membership has spoken. I don't agree with their decision but that's
> life. I wish the organization the best. I was ready to move on and
> pursue some other things and was about to unsubscribe from the list but
> seeing a post like this where someone of Bob's stature in the hobby
> expresses his opinion gives me hope all is not lost and makes me want to
> not be so hasty and quick to judge. I may hang around awhile longer and
> see what direction the organization takes.
>
> 73,
>
> Michael, W4HIJ
>
> >
> >
> >
> > ------------------------------
> >
> > Message: 9
> > Date: Mon, 28 Sep 2020 17:21:31 -0400
> > From: Robert Bruninga <bruninga at usna.edu>
> > To: amsat bb <amsat-bb at amsat.org>
> > Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] Election Results (diasppointing)
> > Message-ID:
> >       <CALdCfNL_iX7yHvR=20vJMfhjGtO4rk90WtVYDW6yVKEUOXiGwA at mail.gmail.com>
> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="UTF-8"
> >
> > I am disappointed to learn of these results. I thought the new progressive
> > group was headed in the right direction.
> >
> > Satellite research takes money and there is lots of it out there!   I just
> > retired from a "university" where I found it fun to try to build amateur
> > satellites with available project funding.  But My fun was building them,
> > not trying to figure out how to pay for them.  I was getting by on maybe  a
> > $10k per year  budget.
> >
> > But then more academic faculty came on board.  They spent their time
> > looking for grants and money and writing proposals and we were swimming in
> > so much money we did not have the resources to spend it!  For a guy who
> > likes to build a cubesat on a table top,, I could not possibly spend even a
> > fraction of it.  BUT THEY WERE leading in the right direction.  They showed
> > how there is so much money out there that if you just direct your interests
> > and proposals correctly there is plenty to go around and to cover the
> > amateur interests as well.
> >
> > I learned the lesson that academics is all about making proposals and
> > getting BIG bucks to do things that meet your mutual interests.  That is
> > the only way AMSAT can survive is to have those people on the leading edge
> > and making proposals where AMSAT and other interests overlap.
> >
> > I really ignored all the AMSAT BB arguing going on, because I thought it
> > was obvious that the progressives were on the right track and the status
> > quo was just holding us back.  I am shocked to see the progressives lost.
> >
> > Bob, WB4APR
> >
> > On Mon, Sep 28, 2020 at 5:02 PM john--- via AMSAT-BB <amsat-bb at amsat.org>
> > wrote:
> >
> >> It was unfortunate that the election results were not released in a
> >> separate message on the amsat-bb.  The mistake was explained by Mark
> >> Johns, K0JM, and is totally understandable.  Putting out a weekly or
> >> monthly newsletter is a lot of work and those who have done it here or
> >> elsewhere know how much effort it takes.  So hats off to those who do
> >> this for AMSAT.
> >>
> >> There has been little discussion about the meaning of the election
> >> results themselves and that is what really matters.  About 57% of the
> >> votes were for the three candidates who campaigned on staying the
> >> course.  43% of the votes wanted a change of some sort.  So the
> >> organization is divided, but how serious  the divide remains to be seen.
> >>
> >>
> >> Although they were not on the ballot, In some ways the election was a
> >> referendum on Patrick and Michelle who have made their positions known
> >> to the membership that has been paying attention.  Now that they did not
> >> pick up any support from the election, will they continue to serve?  And
> >> if they choose not to serve, will the alternates (who wanted change
> >> also) feel that they would be able to contribute in a meaningful way?
> >> As Kenny Rogers once said, "You've got to know when to hold 'em, know
> >> when to fold 'em, know when to walk away, know when to run."  Some
> >> members have already announced their intentions not to serve in various
> >> ways and for various reasons.  Others may follow.
> >>
> >> The Symposium and associated Board Meeting coming up soon may provide
> >> some answers as to the future direction of AMSAT.  We will wait and see
> >> how it all turns out.
> >>
> >> 73, John K8YSE
> >> _______________________________________________
> >>
> >
> >
> _______________________________________________
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