From the left, standing on the dock next to the motor vessel FERAL, are Adrianus Schrauwen, W6AJS:  Shad Owens, K6CZ:  Mike Gavin, W6WZ:  Stan Towle, WA6ZGI:  Terry Finn, AA6T:  Dave Johnson, K7DAJ and of course standing on the deck in the background is Captain Al Montoya, WB6IMX. They all look a little weathered & tired, but none of them look under fed.

Those happy hams in the above photo represent some of the participants from TEARS who worked the Field Day exercise in June from on board the motor vessel FERAL. Missing from this photograph are other charter members of TEARS like Ron Carmichael, NC6U; & Rick Line, KG6TMD. This photo was taken in the late afternoon on field day Saturday, June 2009, as many of the TEARS members were having dinner and relaxing after spending a full day on the water playing with radios. It should be noted that many of the TEARS members are also active in the QCWA-Chapter 11 of northern California. That radio club call sign is K6QCW.

2009 Field Day Information: TEARS members operated from on board the motor vessel FERAL at anchor in the Port of Redwood City, near Pete's Harbor, on the west shore of the San Francisco Bay. Although they expected to operate 2a (with two active radio positions) using a Yaseu 897d and an Icom 706 with two vertical antennas. The 2a operation did not materialize due to the technical problems experienced with the Yaseu ATAS 120 automatic antenna. However, the club members were active in the Santa Clara ARRL district and expect to QSL in a timely fashion. TEARS members had a really good time and ate well due to the efforts of several members and their significant others. TEARS thanks Captain Al and First Mate Wendy for their hospitality and the use of their private yacht during the last few years of Field Day.

TEARS. The Elmer Amateur Radio Society is a group of Extra class operators and VE's (volunteer examiners) who joined together in 2007 to offer training and assistance to the new or inexperienced ham radio operator. TEARS is currently putting together a repeater for use by all that can be used for on the air CW training among other activities.  TEARS will gladly accept donations toward that cause. Although TEARS has not yet established the curriculum or class dates for the spring 2010, training, this information will be announced on this site, at the Candy Store (HRO) in Sunnyvale, California and in the PAARAgraphs newsletter of the Palo Alto Amateur Radio Association. We anticipate offering another CW training class for a group of hams.   TEARS is accepting new members who are either qualified VE's or Extra class licensees. If you have a genuine interest in teaching a radio skill or knowledge for an FCC exam, please do not hesitate in contacting any of the well known TEARS Board of Directors listed below.

Terry Finn, AA6T.  Al Montoya, WB6IMX.  Stan Towle, WA6ZGI.  Mike Gavin, W6WZ.  Rick Line, KG6TMD.  Shad Owens, K6CZ. Ron Carmichael, NC6U. Adrianus Schrauwen, W6AJS.  Dave Johnson, K7DAJ.