We are starting the New Year with a new U.S. President and a few new award recipients. A couple of these awards were issued at the end of 2008.

We would like to welcome the following to the satellite community. They have made their first satellite contact and are now members of the AMSAT Satellite Communicators Club.

Gail McDaniel, KB0RZD Thomas Lepley, KX3TL

The following have earned the AMSAT Satellite Communications Achievement Award.

Ivo Brungera, I6IBE, #476 Clayton Freund, WB5TOI, #477 Gail McDaniel, KB0RZD, #478 Joe Seibert, AL1F, #479

The following have earned the AMSAT South Africa Satellite Communications Achievement Award.

Ivo Brugnera, I6IBE, #US128 Gail McDaniel, KB0RZD, #US129

To see all the awards visit http://www.amsat.org or http://www.amsatnet.com

Bruce Paige, KK5DO AMSAT Director Contests and Awards

ARRL Awards Manager (WAS, 5BWAS, VUCC), VE Houston AMSAT Net - Wed 0200z on SkyScanner Satellite Radio Network on Galaxy-25 @97° West, Transponder 23 (12115 Vert), Symbol Rate: 22425, APID: 1794 (DVB Free To Air) Also streaming MP3 at http://www.amsatnet.com Podcast at http://www.amsatnet.com/podcast.xml or iTunes

Latest satellite news on the ARRL Audio News http://www.arrl.org