President Ron Ackerman, N8KBG |
Ron earned his first Ham ticket, a
Novice Class with callsign WN8WWR, in 1967 while in high
school. He upgraded a year later to Technician Class with callsign
WB8CEZ. Not long after getting the Tech ticket, other interests in life
took precedence (cars, girls) so he sold all his ham gear
except for a Heathkit Sixer HW29A he built. Fast forward to 1988 while living in the Cleveland, Ohio area. Ron's interest in ham radio was rekindled by a visit to the nearby Amateur Radio Supply store. He bought a couple of license manuals and Morse code practice tapes. After a couple of weeks of study, Ron earned a General Class ticket and became N8KBG. In 1990 he upgraded to Advanced. In November 2008 he upgraded to Extra Class. His Ham radio interests revolve around operating CW QRP, and Digital Modes. And yes Ron still owns and uses the Heathkit Sixer from 1969. Email Ron, N8KBG |
1st
VP Matt Adrian, KD8ZB |
Matt was first
licensed in 1965 as a Novice, upgraded to Technician and then Advanced.
He's operated many bands and many modes but has never been a very
active operator. He's more of a technical experimenter. Matt has been
continuously licensed for over 43 years, and is a member of the ARRL
and BARA.
Matt became interested in radio at the age of eight as the result of a crystal radio kit given to him by his father. Many hours were spent building antennas and listening to that crystal set. Matt remembers the evening he finished building the kit. His father strung a wire out the second story widow of their home and attached it to a post across the street. They connected the ground wire to the hot water radiator. The first radio station they heard that night was KDKA. Matt's third and current call sign is KD8ZB. He has a very modest station consisting of an IC-706MKIIG transceiver for HF and an ID-800H transceiver for VHF and UHF. He's currently experimenting with digital modulation. Matt also operates VHF/UHF FM mobile and has equipment for APRS. Matt believes amateur radio is a great hobby for many reasons, including the people involved. He appreciates the people he knows and has meet through BARA. Email Matt, KD8ZB |
2nd
VP Dan Utroske, KF8Z |
First licensed
in 2003, Dan spent a year
playing around on 2 meters and trying to learn CW.
In 2004
he bought a Ten-Tec Triton to listen to the HF activity and get
motivated...it worked. In 2005 Dan upgraded to General and
then
Extra. He picked up a bencher paddle and keyer and started
making
CW contacts for a few weeks. Then he picked up a mic and CW
got
neglected for a couple of years. Dan also discovered the
world of
DX and the world of contesting. In 2007 he achieved DXCC on
20
Meters. Email Dan, KF8Z |
3rd
VP & Newsletter Chuck Davis, KC8YTA |
Retired in 1999,
Chuck was looking for something to do besides what was on his honeydo
list. He joined Red Cross where he met Char and Dean, KC8TSE and N8RCQ
respectively, and, at the tender age of 66, Chuck got my "ticket" and
joined BARA (to get out of the house). In late 2004 Chuck offered
to help Bill, W8JBA, with the club newsletter. In March of 2005 he took
over the job full-time giving Bill a well deserved rest after
nearly a decade as editor. Chuck felt comfortable as editor having
spent his 40 working years doing "prepress" layout and design after
getting his BS from Carnegie Tech, now Carnegie Mellon University, in
Printing Management in 1959. In 2006 the BARA newsletter, the
Rusty Key, was awarded "First Place" in the ARRL Michigan Section. Although
in 2007 Chuck got his General Class license, he often counts
on others who are more hamsavy to provide material for the newsletter. Feel free
to submit your experiences, thoughts and homebrew ideas and pictures. 73. Email Chuck, KC8YTA |
Secretary Annie Kaeding, W8ALK |
In 2006 with the right timing and encouragement from her husband, Randy (K8TMK), Annie decided to take the classes offered by BARA. By November 2008, she advanced from Technician to Extra Class. Annie’s first call sign was KD8CZO which she changed to the vanity call sign W8ALK. Annie hopes to get the WAS Award (Work All States). Annie was named 2008 BARA Ham of the Year. Annie worked at Heath Company for 21 years. In 1993, she became a Security Receptionist at Whirlpool and retired this year. |
Treasurer Gary Wallis, KB8VIM |
Becoming licensed first in 1994 to join his late father-in-law in one of his
interests, Gary has added this facet of electronics to his list of many spare time
hobbies. Within the past year, he's taken the opportunity to upgrade his license
class with the help of our gracious BARA 'teachers', and he enjoys immensely the
fellowship of BARA members. In November of 2008 Gary upgraded to Extra Class. Email Gary, KB8VIM |
Public
Information Officer Matt Severin, N8MS |
Matt
has been a ham since 1999. He was first licensed in Fredericskburg, Virginia
with the call sign KG4EDK. He upgraded to General in 2000;
and he changed his call sign to his current call,
N8MS, after upgrading to Amateur Extra during the summer of
2006. Matt enjoys all aspects of ham radio. He is especially interested in helping kids get involved with ham radio. Email Matt, N8MS |
Trustee Bill Wheeler, W8JBA |
Bill got his
first license as a Novice
and Technician: WN0TCF and W0TCF (he got both at the same
time)
in March of 1954. The Tech (W0TCF) was endorsed to General Class in
August of 1954. When Bill moved to Michigan in 1967, he was
issued his present call, W8JBA. Bill upgrade to Advanced
in January
1969 while on a business trip to New York, and he got his Extra Class
license in April 2000. He enjoys helping new people get into ham radio, and he has taught more classes than he can count. Bill also enjoys rag-chewing. In fact, he was an official member of The Rag Chewers' Club back in 1954 or 55. Email Bill, W8JBA |