From the Gratitude Campaign Website:

http://www.gratitudecampaign.org/index.php

A quote from the website author:

"For the past several years as I've been traveling around the country, I've been approaching soldiers in the airports and thanking them for serving for us. On several occasions I have noticed that it felt a little awkward for both of us. There are several reasons, some of which I am even just now learning as I produce this film and talk to more soldiers. But they have always appreciated being thanked, and I have always felt better having expressed my gratitude.
I started to think that it would be nice if civilians had a gesture or sign that they could use to say "thank you" quickly and easily without even having to approach. I did some research and found the sign that we are now using.
Is this limited to the military? Not at all. If you look around you I'm sure that you'll find lots of people who are serving their communities, from local to global. If you appreciate their service, give them a sign. Say "thank you.""

HAMFEST PAST AND HAMFEST AHEAD

One of our favorite travel destinations is attending "Hamfests". As amateur radio enthusiasts, we enjoy both the "bone yards" and the fantastic new equipment being displayed and sold at these weekend festivities.

Just a few weeks ago, an annual "fest" was held at the Lawrenceville Fairgrounds, Lawrenceville, Ga., sponsored by the Alford Memorial Radio Club. This hamfest is probably the biggest fest in the State of Georgia and maybe one of the biggest in the Southeast. We had a good time at this event and look forward to attending again next year.

And, coming up very soon is another big annual hamfest--in Orlando, FL. This event is the HamCation, sponsored by the Orlando Amateur Radio Club, and held at the Central Florida Fairgrounds in Orlando, February 8, 9, and 10,2008. HamCation is a great show; and we are anxious to enjoy the warm Orlando sunshine again, as well as the 62nd anniversary of this annual festivity.

Amateur radio, often called ham radio, is both a hobby and a service that uses various types of radio communications equipment to communicate with other radio amateurs for public service, recreation and self-training. A participant is called an amateur radio operator, or a ham.[1]
Amateur radio operators enjoy personal wireless communications with each other and often support their communities with emergency and disaster communications while increasing their personal knowledge of electronics and radio theory. An estimated six million people throughout the world are regularly involved with amateur radio.[2]
The term "amateur" is not a reflection on the skills of the participants, which are often quite advanced; rather, "amateur" indicates that amateur radio communications are not allowed to be made for commercial or money-making purposes.

For further amateur radio information, go to:
http://www.arrl.org.

SUPPORT THE ORGANIZATIONS THAT SUPPORT OUR TROOPS

Many patriotic Americans have sent holiday greetings to "Any Wounded Soldier" at Walter Reed Hospital. PLEASE be advised that, due to security concerns, these holiday greetings will not be delivered. However, you can send your cards for wounded soldiers at Walter Reed c/o of the American Red Cross at Walter Reed Hospital. Here is the address:

We Support You During Your Recovery!
c/o American Red Cross
P.O. Box 419
Savage, MD 20763-0419

DO NOT send “care packages” as they cannot be accepted. Send only holiday cards.

In addition, please consider making a donation to one of the more than 300 nonprofit organizations dedicated to helping our troops and their families listed on the “America Supports You” website, http://www.americasupportsyou.mil.

Please show your support through the organizations that support our troops!

ABSOLUTELY FANTASTIC -- Another Pavarotti?

This day was just another ordinary Saturday--until my good friend, Wally, sent us this:

http://www.maniacworld.com/Phone-Salesman-Amazes-Crowd.html

Watch the faces of the judges as this guy walks out on the stage. You can almost see what their thinking as they pre-judge him based on his looks and the fact that he's a cell phone salesman. Pay attention to the audience as well. Maybe this guy stopped believing in what people told him for so many years and ultimately started listening to his passion. If one takes but one thing away from his appearance, it should be to never judge a book by its cover. Absolutely fantastic.

After you have seen "Act One", scroll down to see "Act Two". And the best thing is that you can get his CD album, "One Chance", at www.amazon.com. It will knock your socks off!