SM: Susan Swiderski, AF4FO; ASM/South GA: Marshall Thigpen, W4IS; ASM/Legal: Jim Altman, W4UCK;
ASM/Webmaster: Bob Smith, K4PHE; ASM/Youth: Andrea Hartlage, KG4IUM; ASM/ Scouting: David Pearce,ABØNG;
SEC: Jim Cote, N4PJR; STM: Charles Pennington, K4GK; OOC: Mike Swiderski, K4HBI; TC: Ed Tanton, N4XY;
PIC: Norm Schklar,WA4ZXV; SGL: Bill Cherepy, WB4WTN; ACC: Robin Cutshaw, AA4RC

Greetings.

Here we are, halfway through another month. It's the ides of March, it is, it is, and soon, the pollen will be as high as an elephant's eye. You know, if Julius Caesar had spent his last fateful ides of March in Georgia instead of in Rome, his last words would have probably been, "Ah-CHOO, Brute!" (groan, groan) (Blame Cooper Morris, WA4PZD, for sending me a pun along those lines)

First up: Help wanted. URGENTLY. CHARLES DELONEY, KI4RZU, has stepped up to take on the job of coordinating the communications for a brand new marathon, which will be taking place in and around the Atlanta area, on Sunday, March 25. The ING Marathon will kick off early in the morning with the wheelchair division, and the day's events will include both a half-marathon and a full marathon. There's a great need for MORE volunteers to cover the entire area adequately. If you can help, please contact Charles at ki4rzu@arrl.net For more info on the marathon itself, please see www.ki4rzu.com/

The Gwinnett ARS held elections recently, and the following people were unanimously railroaded... oops! I mean "elected"... for another term:
President: NORM SCHKLAR, WZ4ZXV; VP- EARL WHATLEY, AF4FG; Treasurer- AMY WOODRICK, KE4IFK; Secretary- RANDY COLLINS, N4COR; and Program Director- DAVE BRUCE, W4DTR. They've all done an outstanding job; that's why they're back for another year. Best wishes to all of them for another successful year.

A couple of changes in ARES-- A new EC: Congratulations, and many thanks to JONATHAN STRAUB, N0JMS, who has accepted the appointment as the new EC for Lowndes county. And a new DEC: BOB SMITH, K4PHE, has stepped down as DEC for SW GA, a job he has held and performed beautifully for the past several years, and he is passing the reins into the capable hands of GENE CLARK, W4AYK. Many thanks to Bob for a job well done, and for continuing to serve as our esteemed Section Webmaster. And many thanks to Gene for adding this new hat to his hat rack. He is already an active and valued ARES-MAT member.

Talking about ARES-MAT, from all initial reports, the team, under the fine leadership of DEC SCOTT ROYLE, KK4Z, executed another great HURREX on March 10, in support of the National Guard. And so did all of you who participated in the concurrent ARES nets that day. Details to follow in the April newsletter.

The exercise was for a hurricane, but the real challenge came earlier in the month, when March came on like a lion, with a multitude of tornadoes causing problems around the state. As always, GA hams rose to the challenge. For those who ran and participated in the many VHF SkyWarn nets, for those operating from NWS offices, for those running the HF net for hours on end, and for those providing communications, damage assessment, and disaster relief assistance in those areas hardest hit, our sincere and heartfelt gratitude. (There is a special letter of recognition posted on our www.arrl-ga.org website, written by our ASEC for Operation GREG TILLMAN, N4VAD, in honor of the hard-working, dedicated hams in Americus.)

Coming up this weekend: March 17 is the Kennehoochee ARC Hamfest, at Jim Miller Park in Marietta. Hope to see you there. You can celebrate St. Paddy's Day by "spreading around some green" with the vendors, and then stop by the ARRL booth to say howdy to SANDY O'DONAHUE, W4RU, and.... O'me.

NEXT MONTH: GA QSO Party, April 14-15. This contest is sponsored by the South East Contest Club and the Southeastern DX Club, and they could probably use some more sponsors to cover the cost of plaques that are awarded to high-scorers in a multitude of different categories. Becoming a sponsor would be a great way for your club (or you) to show your support and pride in the state's QSO party. See http://gqp.contesting.com for more info. ALSO, the SE VHF Conference will be held at the Marriott Atlanta Century Center on April 27-28. And good news! You can save a little bit of money by registering for this conference before the end of March. See www.svhfs.org for more info.

That same weekend, on the 28, is the Calhoun Hamfest, at the Sugar Valley Community Center, always a fun time. Looks like the better half and I will be moving and shaking that weekend.

SILENT KEYS: CARL HAYES, K4QVZ; BOBBY JARRELL, KE4KXQ; RAY JONES, K4CXS; JEFF KENNEDY, KE4SLO; and ZEBULON VANCE "PETE" SCARBOROUGH, JR, AI4E. Sincere condolences to the families and friends of all of these fine men.

Well folks, that's about it for now. Until next time, this is AF4FO, signing clear. Take care of yourselves. And each other.

73, Susan

QTC: WB4GGS-507; K8GA-153; K4GK-99; WB4BIK-45; K4WKT-40; WA4UJC-28; N4VAD-24; K4BEH-23;
K4BAI-22; K4EV-5.

No trees were killed in the sending of this message. However, a large number of electrons were terribly inconvenienced.