I first got my licenses (Commercial with a radar endorsement and Technician with code) back in 1976. Prior experience in the Air Force as a Ground Controlled Approach (GCA) radar repairman (or, in a bit of dark humor, we might also say - "Gunna' Crash Anyways") was my pathway into the communications industry and the best career I ever had with the old AT&T Long Lines.

Over the years my activity in amateur radio has had the normal ebb and flow but activities have peaked in recent years with ongoing involvements in:

- Development of an emergency preparation plan for my church

- Development of an associated web site: www.MEGAN-site.net that's loaded with all sorts of preparedness resources

- Continuedteaching ofamateur radio licensing classes since 2005

- Advancing to Extra class (If they tested, I figured I should too)

- Serving as a Cherokee County, Georgia ARES AEC

- Formulating and conducting the Marietta -East GA Net (MEGAN)VHF net(on the K4UFO repeater in Jasper, GA) and Echolink net (Node 266674) each Tuesday evening at 20:00 Eastern time. We alternate this with a simplex net at least every other week.

- Operations on varied HF, VHF & UHF modes including fiddling with APRS as well as utilizing D-STAR and some digital operations.

- Publication of "Hammin' It Up", the newsletter for amateur operators in the Marietta - East GA Stake and other interested parties.

- Even working part time at Atlanta's fortress of Amateur Radio, HRO

Whoda thunk it? I never thought the path would lead here.

73 and enjoy the hobby.