Re-entered ham radio June 2004 after leaving it in 1984. My interest in electronics started during elementary school, when I got my ham license (as KL7GFP). 

I went on to get a commercial FCC license.  I was told by the FCC examiner at the time that I was the youngest person (16 yrs old) in USA in 1968 to earn a First Class Commercial FCC General Radiotelephone license (with Radar Endorsement), and using that was able to work summer jobs in high school and university repairing & installing commercial transceivers & marine radar. After getting my EE degree and doing a 10 yr stint designing computer and broadcast video hardware and software, I switched careers to hi-tech marketing and general management. I am still enjoying the computer industry, but have expanded my work interest into the growing new "green" energy industries.

My son has taken an interest in electronics, which prompted me to become active in ham radio again in order to better expose him to the hobby. He recently gained his KE7TUS Tech license and is studying for his General. We are both members of the Mike&Key ARC.

I have become active in ARES, and am currently Emergency Coordinator and Public Information Officer for the North Bend ARES Team, as well as PIO for the Western Washington Medical Emergency Communications Service (ARES) where I am assigned to Snoqualmie Valley Hospital.

I am particularly interested in getting young people involved into amateur radio by hosting ARRL Kids Day, School Club Roundup events, helping my friends out with JOTA, and volunteer teaching classes in our school district. I hope to see a kids' ARC formed some day in our community.

I enjoy building antennas, restoring antique radios, and working with computers. I also enjoy collaborating with a fine group of local hams "We Don't Need No Stinking Club Hams"; look for us on-air during Field Day, Salmon Run, and other special events as K7S from beautiful Valley Camp (www.valleycamp.org). 

I enjoy skiing with my family and friends during the winter, a few of us hucking the double-diamond steeps & trees alpine-style, and camping/hiking in the summer. You can always talk to me about high-end audio and music, particularly field recording.

Look for me on 75m, 40m, 20m, 2m, & 70cm, phone & digital & satellite (waiting for my kids to push me back into CW."I'll do it if you do").

Stephen Kangas W9SK CN97cl

• EC & PIO, North Bend ARES Team (NBAT northbendares.org, NB7AT)
• PIO, "We Don't Need No Stinking Club Hams"
• Division Legislative Action Coordinator, Northwest Division, ARRL (arrl.org)
  
• PIO, Western Washington Medical Emergency Communications Service  (ARES) (ww7mst.org)
• AMSAT(amsat.org)
• Mike & Key Amateur Radio Club (mikeandkey.org, K7LED)