All,

Just a reminder that tomorrow, Nov. 27, is giving Tuesday. I hope some of you get out there and give to your favorite cause. I also hope AMSAT and ARISS are at the top of your lists.

The following is on the top page of the ARISS web site. Take a look at: www.ariss.org http://www.ariss.org The donate button is there too. So please consider a donation to ARISS.

It should also be noted that while folks are giving to their favorite causes tomorrow, the ARISS hardware team will be presenting to NASA the thermal modifications made to the power supply of the ARISS next-generation radio system If we get through this hurdle, our next step is flight hardware fabrication, flight testing and launch! Please wish the ARISS hardware team the best!

Thanks for all your interest and support to ARISS! Ad Astra!

73, Frank Bauer, KA3HDO

ARISS International Chair

AMSAT V.P. for Human Spaceflight Programs

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Tuesday, Nov. 27 is http://www.givingtuesday.org/ #Giving Tuesday, when many people donate to a favorite cause. Gifts to ARISS on Tuesday or at any time of the year are a wonderful way make a difference to our youth, to our communities and to the amateur radio hobby. All ARISS donations via AMSAT (including Fundrazr) are tax deductible to the extent allowed by law. If donating directly to AMSAT, be sure to designate "ARISS" on your check, in the PayPal notes or in your letter. Our readers can consider doing the same thing John Carobine, WB8RFB, did -- here is his letter.

I'm not one who considers myself influenced much by advertisements but I recently made a donation to AMSAT-NA to support the ARISS mission of bringing technology awareness to a whole new generation of young people because of one; namely, the Kenwood advertisement on the back page of the July 2018 edition of QST Magazine. I "connected" with it and it made me want to support this program in whatever capacity I can.

In part, the ad stated "The ARISS mission is to provide and operate Amateur radio systems in space aboard the International Space Station, helping inspire, educate and engage youth and communities worldwide in science, technology, engineering and mathematics."

The last 11 years of my working life were spent as an adjunct instructor of adult education in my local college's GED program. I taught some of those subjects. As I told my students "knowledge is power and power enables one to have many options." The mission statement struck a cord with me having worked in various capacities in each of those areas over the span of my entire working career. I spent twenty years in the U.S. Navy working in various meteorological, oceanographic, electronic and computer maintenance and management capacities. Those activities plus additional formal education opened future employment doors for me in the civilian sector for 30 additional years.

Exposing school students via ARISS to the possibilities of careers in STEM is nothing short of positive. As stated so many times before, we never know what lesson, activity, or casual statement will open a person's mind and inspire them to greatness.

As I celebrate 47 years in amateur radio, I encourage others to reflect upon what amateur radio has meant and done for them. I hope that you too will be inspired to "pay it forward" and help preserve and promote an avocation that has meant so much to all of us.

John Carobine, WB8RFB Life Member

Permission to post this letter, originally printed in December 2018 QST, was received from John Carobine, WB8RFB, and ARRL.