Charley Stanley, Silent Key
WCARC club member Charles Stanley passed away on Saturday, April 1, 2000 at Meadowvale in Bluffton. Charlie died of Parkinson's disease at the age of 57. His wife Beverly survives. Children are son Brian of Orlando, daughters Chris (Randy) Thacker and Deborah (Duane) Adams of Bluffton, a sister, Judith Gee of Kokomo and nine grandchildren.
The Bluffton News-Banner noted that Charlie was "an avid ham (amateur) radio operator." He was born in Hartford City, graduated from Petroleum High School, served ten years in the US Navy during the Viet Nam era and worked at Corning Glass until it closed. He then worked at the VA hospital for 13 years.
At calling hours at Thoma/Rich, Hewitt and Chaney there was a beautiful video made with family pictures interspersed with beautiful scenic shots. A copy of the video will go to each member of the family. Memorials are suggested for Bi-County Services, 425 East Harrison Road, Bluffton IN 46714.
We will all miss Charley's great smile, his red hair and his love of life.
Rueful Disclaimer
Well, it seems that it got too much to keep up the newsletter in a timely manner. For now I will have to give you a sample newsletter here, and keep the membership form on-line too. I will keep the links working on this page, and perhaps someday I can get back to posting the current newsletter for you. Thanks for understanding, from Sandra Weinhardt, N9PXK.
BAND
PLAN
Published
Quarterly for the members of the Wells County Amateur Radio Club
Sample Newsletter
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Notice: member Harold Shaft (Hal) K9WWJ has become a silent key.
Member John Valentine Weinhardt WA9IAL has become a silent key.
Hello All:
I recently called "CQ" on 75 meters after a long absence on that band. I was answered by a station near Chicago who mentioned in the conversation that this was the first CQ he had heard on "75" in a long time. This brings to mind the many changes that have happened on the ham bands in recent years - some not for the better.
In tuning across the bands it is not uncommon now to hear profanity mixed into conversation on a regular basis. Although much of this is now condoned by the FCC it is still a poor representation of ham radio to others who may be listening. A few years ago if something "slipped out" on the air during a conversation you lived in fear for some time that an FCC engineer would be knocking at your door to collect your license.
Also noticed now is more intentional interference, unidentified carriers, etc. Common courtesy, although still present at times, is not as prevalent as it was a few years ago.
Now most of the FCC field engineering and monitoring stations are closed. For instance in all of Texas only one engineering office remains open and the amateur service is low on their priority list. I had occasion to work with the Dallas Field Engineer last winter on a non-amateur problem. He explained that they do no amateur monitoring and, because of manpower shortages, can do little to enforce amateur violations. The amateur service is left to police their own but this is not too successful.
This means we all need to strive on our own to put some sanity back on the amateur frequencies.
Co-Pres. Dick Stroud, W9SR
W9PPG, Bill Weinhardt's column is on a separate page. In this issue he is writing about old time radio shows.
