CO6CBF Receives Visa for Travel to AMSAT Symposium

[K9JKM]

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]

[KC0W]

Gracias Raul & Fidel.




Tom KCØW

[W7ASA]

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 ..._ ._

[W8ZNX]

Gracias Raul & Fidel.




Tom KCØW

what does Raul and Fidel have to do with it

[AC4BB]

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

[K5CO]

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

[K8BL]

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.

[AC4BB]

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?

[K8BL]

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

[KJ4VTH]

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.