Hi!
The AMSAT Symposium in Orlando is two weeks away. If you need another reason to attend besides all the activities that are being planned around the event, here is something to consider. Hector Martinez CO6CBF, an active satellite ham and the first Cuban ham to obtain the ARRL's satellite VUCC award, will be at the Symposium. Hector will give a presentation during the Symposium, and is looking forward to meeting those he has worked on the satellites.
I wanted to say more about this earlier, but the process for Hector to get the proper documents from the US and Cuban governments to make the trip has not been easy. This has been in the works for at least six months, with no guarantee that Hector would receive all the necessary paperwork in time to attend the Symposium. Lots of people in the US and in Cuba have been working hard to lay the groundwork for this trip to happen. A big thank-you goes to AMSAT, for extending a formal invitation to Hector to attend and give a presentation. This invitation was the starting block for Hector to approach both governments and file applications to get the required paperwork for this trip - a Cuban passport and travel permit, along with a US visa. I will compile a list of those who have assisted in this effort and post that later.
In order for Hector to make this trip, all expenses for his trip must be guaranteed by someone outside Cuba. I have taken on that task personally on behalf of AMSAT, even signing legally-binding documents for the Cuban government to that end. With that said, if anyone would like to help me with the expenses for this trip, please contact me directly. AMSAT is not picking up the expenses related to Hector's trip, and won't be involved in collecting funds. I am not going to have a nice PayPal widget, but will go "old school" for that - send me a check or money order to my PO box in Arizona. I will keep track of any contributions toward Hector's trip, and list them on a web page which I will set up this weekend.
I know Hector has been looking forward to making this trip. Hector called me this morning after he received the call that his passport with US visa were ready to be picked up in Havana. It was easy to hear the happiness and excitement in his voice, despite the rough telephone connection. I'm looking forward to seeing him come out of Customs in the Miami airport in two weeks, and taking him up to Orlando....
73!
Patrick WD9EWK/VA7EWK http://www.wd9ewk.net/