Hi Bruce & AMSAT,

I won't attempt to comment on ducks and such, but will report that all is OK at W5ACM. I will be ready for the Houston AMSAT Net tomorrow evening, but with a rather diminished 2M antenna. Prior to the arrival of Ike, I took everything down except for a dual-band (20M & 40M) inverted V and put a 2M ground plane in place of the 2M, 70cm, 23cm, 13cm and 10M satellite antennas. It's not pretty, but it survived the winds. That's a lot more than I can say for a short section of yard fence and about half of an 80 ft tree in the front yard. I have spent a lot of time playing with generators, inverters and electric chain saws. It's back to work as usual, but there are still a lot of lose ends on the home front. At least I have intermittant water and electricity most of the time. The phone and internet connections come and go, but they are mostly good. Out on the streets, the gas lines are not bad, but they exist. About 20% of the traffic lights work, another 20% are blinking red. The rest are dark. There are lots of dark areas at night, exploding transformers and sirens. It's amazing stuff! I now get credit for being in Houston for Carla (1961), Alicia (1983) and Ike (2008). Perhaps I should move to Minnesota...

Now we need to hear from Marty. I hope his twisted pair works...

I will see you on the Houston AMSAT Net! http://www.amsatnet.com

73 de Andy W5ACM http://www.w5acm.net

----- Original Message ----- From: "Bruce" [email protected] To: [email protected] Sent: Monday, September 15, 2008 9:55 PM Subject: [amsat-bb] BOD and President

The new president could wind up being a lame duck ... here is why.

the board elects the president at the first board meeting of the new board. typically it is someone on the board. typically you are elected to the board and over your years of service on the board are groomed (so to speak) to be president. you learn the workings of the organization etc.

there are 7 board members with voting capabilites. there is one alternate (cannot vote). if all board members are present for a vote, there should never be a tie unless one member abstains.

now, let's say that someone not on the board (with voting rights) is elected president. he will only have a vote in order to decide a tie, thus never being able to offer a measure for vote, never being able to second a measure and never being able to vote on it.

wouldn't that make the president ineffective and a lame duck?

btw things are fun here in Houston/Harris county. my house is fine except no electricity or water so stating at my sons apt which has everything ( a benefit to living near the medical center ). I have worked a weeks worth of time in 3 days. the next 4 days will be for mucho overtime. hope andy and marty are okay have not heard from them.

73...bruce

Sent from my iPhone

Like the other Houston area AMSAT folks I made it through Hurricane Ike OK. I still do not have electricity, cell phone coverage, or internet coverage (I am sending this from work). Water pressure is low but toilets still flush. Minor damage to my house - fences blown down and skylight damaged with minor water leaking into house. Amateur radio antennas appear to have made it through the storm but I have not gone up on roof for detailed inspection.

I have been working the FM birds usingf my W32A and AL800 making about 50 ctx so far post-hurricane. Have not heard AO-27 the last two days. SO-50 downlink was very weak on Wedneday (Sept 18).

Wife came down with stomach pains on Tuesday we thought were from food poisoning but turned out be appendicitis. Appendicectomy performed Wednesday evening and wife is in hospital recovering.

Just a few bumps in the road of life.

Allen N5AFV