This is from last year but it still warms my heart to see in print a politician's praise of our hobby! http://www.michigan.gov/snyder/0,4668,7-277-57577_59874-386220--,00.html June 20-26, 2016: Amateur Radio Week WHEREAS, amateur radio operators are celebrating over a century of the miracle of the human voice broadcast over the airwaves; and, WHEREAS, amateur radio has continued to provide a bridge between peoples, societies and countries by creating friendships and the sharing of ideas; and, WHEREAS, amateur radio operators have also provided countless hours of community services both in emergencies and to other local organizations throughout these decades; and, WHEREAS, these amateur radio services are provided wholly uncompensated; and, WHEREAS, the state also recognizes the services amateur radio’s people provide to our many emergency response organizations, including the American Red Cross, the Salvation Army, the Civil Air Patrol and others; and, WHEREAS, these same individuals have further demonstrated their value in public assistance by providing free radio communications for local parades, bike-a-thons, walk-a-thons, fairs and other charitable public events; and, WHEREAS, the American Radio Relay League is the leading organization for Amateur Radio in the USA; NOW, THEREFORE, I, Rick Snyder, governor of Michigan, do hereby proclaim June 20-26, 2016 as Amateur Radio Week in Michigan.