CO6CBF Receives Visa for Travel to AMSAT Symposium

2012 AMSAT Space Symposium Begins Next Week in Orlando

AMSAT's 2012 Space Symposium in Orlando will have a special visitor this year. The Symposium will be held on
Friday, October 26th through Sunday, October 28th in Orlando, Florida at the Holiday Inn at Orlando-International Airport.


Special Symposium Visitor Hector Martinez, CO6CBF

Hector Martinez, CO6CBF will travel from Cuba to the Symposium in Orlando at the invitation of AMSAT for Hector to
attend and to make a presentation. Thanks to the work done by Patrick Stoddard, WD9EWK/VA7EWK, Hector has been able to obtain a visa to come to the United States for the Symposium.

Once the invitation was extended, Hector had to approach both governments and file applications to get a Cuban passport and travel permit and a US visa. All expenses for his trip must be guaranteed by someone outside Cuba. Patrick took on that task personally on behalf of AMSAT, even signing legally-binding documents for the Cuban government to that end. Patrick has covered expenses out of his personal funds since no AMSAT funds are available. Patrick would appreciate donations to cover the expenses via his callbook address.

AMSAT looks forward to welcoming Hector, CO6CBF at the Symposium!

Additionally, the Symposium weekend will feature:

• Space Symposium with Amateur Satellite Presentations
• Operating Techniques, News, & Plans from the Amateur Satellite World
• Board of Directors Meeting open to AMSAT members
• Meet Board Members and Officers
• Annual General Membership Meeting
• Annual Banquet-Keynote Speaker and Door Prizes

Visit the AMSAT Web Store to complete your on-line registration. Downloadable paper registration forms in MS-Word format and PDF format are available on the 2012 Symposium page for those preferring this method.


Dr. Samuel T. Durrance, NASA Astronaut at the Saturday Evening Banquet

The featured speaker for the AMSAT 2012 Saturday Evening Banquet on October 27 will be Dr. Samuel T. Durrance, NASA Astronaut/Payload Specialist and Professor of Physics and Space Sciences at the Florida Institute of Technology.


2012 AMSAT Symposium Schedule

To help you plan your trip to Orlando the 2012 Symposium Committee has posted a high-level schedule of the weekend's events.

[ANS thanks the 2012 Symposium Committee for the above information]

 

Gracias Raul & Fidel.




Tom KCØW

 

Tom,

Remember that WE as U.S. citizens can be criminally prosecuted if we tried to participate in a radio amateur convention in Cuba, because of the U.S. politician's federal travel & financial ban. How about we just say 'Welcome' to a fellow ham and be glad that he's able to visit us?

73 de Ray
W7ASA ..._ ._

 

what does Raul and Fidel have to do with it

 

This is important amateur radio news? Back page news at best.

 

I think it's what they call a "slow news day."

 

Obviously, you guys aren't very active on Ham Satellites. Otherwise, you'd KNOW who Hector is and what a GREAT operator he is. He is a TRUE Ham and builds much of his own equipment since parts are so difficult to obtain in his country. He has nothing to do with politics and it should have nothing to do with how we treat this fine young Ham. Let's be Ham Ambassadors and Gentlemen and, most of all, adults.

 

So,We're supposed to create a great fanfair when someone visits the US?

 

Bryan,
We're supposed to restrain ourselves from making negative comments on things we don't know fully about.
Most Hams would be extremely happy that a fellow Ham could attend an event that they feel passionately about
in spite of two Governments placing huge hurdles to overcome and without any money of their own availble
for the trip.
73, Bob K8BL

 

Jeepers! I thought one of the tenets of Amateur Radio was fostering international goodwill. Couldn't tell it from some folks responses on this forum.

 

If, he doesn't have any money of his own then someone paid for his trip? Just not a WOW story.

 

CO6CBF

I have been friends with Hector for a few years and I can say that he is one of the best VHF ops of the young ones.....he still builds his own radio stuff and has worked more satellite than anyone in the Carrib. He has been a ham since age 12 (like me... I got my novice at age12). I don't give a damn about the embargo of Cuba ....a great mistake on our part....I'm going to support him anyhow! What the #### are you guys about that parrot the govt. line on Cubans. Ham Radio is and international thing .....no religion, no politics...its about the magic of radio.
Peace ,
Bill W3XS Hi/W3XS at the moment

 

Thanks for your defense of Hector's invite to the AMSAT gathering.....I really don't understand where some of these folks come from!

I have had long conversations about ham radio with Hector over the last 4 yrs.....and have sent him stuff to build with....and what a pleasure its been. We will visit him sometime in the next couple of years and fully support him always.
73 Bill HI/W3XS weak signal VHF and moonbounce always!

 

Welcome to the USA Hector, hope you have a great time at the AMSAT Symposium. Wish I could be there to chat with you in person.

 

I struggled with whether or not to even respond to the garbage on this thread, but I can't hold back.

Setting aside all politics --

Hector is a fine young ham, the kind we should be nurturing and supporting, not dragging into the slums of foreign relations. I have been fortunate to work him on many of my grid expeditions. Hector has returned the favor by confirming several Cuban grids for me. He asks nothing from us but our friendship and QSL's. Why get ugly?

Welcome to the U.S.A. Hector!

And to the kind, generous ham who has orchestrated this effort - you're top notch in my book, for what it's worth.

73
Clayton
W5PFG