This is a reminder that the AMSAT Symposium is quickly approaching. It takes place next weekend (9-11 OCT) at the BWI Sheraton and you're invited!

This Symposium marks the 40th Anniversary of AMSAT and we'll be celebrating this significant milestone along with looking forward to the next 40 years. AMSAT members who are registered for the Symposium are invited to a 'birthday party' for AMSAT Friday evening (including a birthday cake). In addition, Symposium attendees will also receive a 40th Anniversary History of AMSAT written/edited by Bill Tynan, W3XO in their registration packets. Many of us don't know the 'story of AMSAT', and thanks to the work of Bill Tynan, Dick Daniels, Keith Baker and others, we've focused this year on telling AMSAT's story through their articles in the AMSAT Journal. Bill's new book provides significantly more detail as well as brings the reader right up to the current year. It makes for fun reading and gives recognition to the significant achievements over the past 40 years!

This year's "AMSAT Proceedings" has a wide assortment of papers and this year's presentations will be both interesting and informative. Dan Schultz, N8FGV is finalizing the "Proceedings" as this is written and attendees will be in position to hear the presentations, discuss the papers with the authors, and gain some insight into the future direction of AMSAT's satellite program.

The Saturday evening Banquet will feature Martin Collins, a curator at the Smithsonian Air & Space Museum. The title of his talk is "Making the Space Age: The First Fifty Years".

A reminder that that the AMSAT BOD meeting takes place Thursday, 8 OCT and Friday morning, 9 OCT. This is an open meeting, though the BOD does go into closed session briefly on Friday morning. In addition the AMSAT Annual Meeting takes place Saturday afternoon 1530-1700 EDT. We expect to have the Annual Meeting 'online' via Echolink. I anticipate that both the Symposium and the Annual Meeting will be an opportunity to highlight some of the significant accomplishments that have taken place over the last 12 months plus give some perspective on the future direction of AMSAT.

Please consider joining us to celebrate a significant milestone for AMSAT and build the foundation for the next 40 years! You may register online at the AMSAT Store: http://www.amsat-na.com/store2/SymposiumReg2009.php .

73,

Barry A. Baines, WD4ASW President-AMSAT