Howdy, Pink here, formerly California-based KG6ILA, now K7ILA (Kay-7-I-Love-America). I moved to Tucson in November 2008 to be closer to my family... a big deal... geez, I'm still getting settled (despite help from my sister, the "organizing tornado"). The surprise for me was that my brother-in-law, John, K7JWB, became a ham. It is now a family affair and what fun! We are both members of Pima County RACES, Radio Society of Tucson, SKYWARN, and of course, the American Radio Relay League (ARRL).

My radio interest started while growing up in the San Francisco Bay Area. My parents gave us those little AM transistor radios for Christmas. Remember those? There was something very special about being able to take that human connection anywhere to enjoy. My Uncle John later built and gave me a Heathkit SW Receiver. A tiny rooftop wire antenna connected us to the world!

After graduating from the University of Kentucky in 1977, I bought my first car, a Ford Pinto station wagon... and a radio transmitter. I was a licensed CB'er (original call KAYG8925) with a 23-channel Sears mobile radio and twin-trucker CB antennas. Hot stuff!

I returned home to California, worked in the security field, then as a technical writer in aerospace. At night I attended graduate school, completing my MBA from Golden Gate University in December 1985. I worked in the software industry before joining LifeScan, a Johnson & Johnson Company, as a contract analyst in 1993. I became an employee in 1994, and enjoyed my time there until September 2001, when increasing physical difficulties brought my career to a halt. After the tragedies of 9/11, I felt compelled to assist our country as best I could. Emergency communications had always interested me. I joined Blackberry REACT, a volunteer, public-service radio communication group. Within a month, I passed the Technician test and became KG6ILA. A whole new world opened-up...

I became involved with Amateur Radio Emergency Services (ARES) and served as an Assistant Emergency Coordinator in Mountain View, California. While taking the ARRL Level 1 Communications Course, the National Traffic System (NTS) of radio messaging caught my attention. I went to great effort to set up a VHF antenna anywhere I could to reach the NTS net over the mountain in Tracy. I rekindled interest in NTS in Silicon Valley, and was appointed ARRL Santa Clara Valley Section Traffic Manager.

Though physical difficulties prevented me from joining the military in younger years, a ham friend said the US Coast Guard Auxiliary (volunteers) needed good radio people and put me in contact. I got my feet wet serving a few hours a week with the former Sea Marshalls at Coast Guard Island in Alameda. My skills were put to the test several times a year at lighthouses and mountain tops, to set-up radio gear and relay information to Coast Guard stations. Those assignments remain a highlight of my life. I look forward to helping with communications here at Arizona lakes.

Underlying my radio experience is one net that continues to mean so much to me personally. Back in 2002, I first tuned-in the weekday "9 A.M. Talk Net" on the N6NFI repeater out of Palo Alto. Through that net I've made some very special friends, learned much about ham radio, and gained invaluable experience as a net control operator. I participate from Tucson via EchoLink, thanks to Andy, KR6DD. I occassionally make it into Gordo's net on 40m at 0830, then into the 9 A.M. Talk Net. Now that is a good morning!

Special thanks to John, WD7F, of the BART (Border Amateur Radio Team), for introducing me to the Tucson ham community and making me feel very welcome.

73!