Well, I had a medical exam and they told me that I have at least 6 months to live. So I am now a Life member of ARRL, QCWA, and the Connecticut Valley FM Association. That will take care of me if my dementia progresses to the point where I cannot remember to renew these memberships.

After being relocated here in 2003 under the US Department of Justice Witness Protection Program, it took a little while to "blend in".

Actually, the local amateur radio community is terrific, and I have gotten involved. I am President of QCWA Chapter 146 (VT-NH) and the President of Connecticut Valley FM Association (CVFMA). If you are up this way, check out our repeater on Ascutney Mountain, 146.76, PL 110.9

And to combine both my CVFMA and QCWA, get on our QCWA net Thursday nights at 7 PM local time on the 146.76 repeater. We call this net "The Dementia Net" because many of its most enthusiastic supporters forget that it is on at that time and miss it.  We are presently taking the summer off.

I was recently appointed ARRL State Government Liason for the Vermont Section.  I hope I do not disappoint you, Paul.

I can also be found most Sunday mornings at 8:30am local time on the QCWA Chapter 146 net, 3913 khz.

And, many days of the week, I am found on the Mt. Equinox (VT) repeater on 145.39, pl 100. from 8 am to 9 am or so, and I listen on and off throughout the day.

If you want to see what the station is like, you will have to come here in person. We like to be heard, not seen.

I fancy myself as a bit of a DXer. I presently have 331 DXCC entities confirmed and DXCC checked (329 on the current list), and have achieved 5 band DXCC with 17 and 12 meters thrown in for good measure. Have around 1237 on DXCC Challenge. I give out points in major contests, but rarely submit a log.    I have finally achieved DXCC Honor Roll.  with 329 current entities.  I started working on DXCC in 1997, but really only had a big gun station operational for about 5 years altogether.

I want to give special mention to my very best local new ham radio friends up here, John, W1AKV, Bruce, KB1IIX, Walt, KK1CW, Dave, K1ZS, the 145.39 gang, and others too numerous to mention.

And special recognition to "Milliwatt Rob", KB1DOF, who keeps me in stitches.

73, Ray K1XV