Any radio amateur who has been licensed at least 25 years may join the QCWA. The Pelican chapter meets monthly at Stacey's Buffet (Tyrone) at 11:30 a.m. Call (814) 822-9107 for info. Pelican Chapter, St. Petersburg, Fl. - Q.C.W.A. ON THE AIR:

CW Wednesday 0100Z 7035Khz

SSB Sunday 2000Z 14347Khz

Fl. Net Saturday 0800 Local 3955Khz

Pelican Net Saturday 1000 Local 145.29

Pelican Round Mon. Wed. Fr. 1600 Local 145.29

The new officers for 1998 will be President, Ken Johnson, WA4TOP; Vice-President, Marshall Ellis, WA0FRP; Secretary, Jay Strom, K9BSL; Treasurer, Don Bice, WA4PCO; and 5 Year Trustee Buddy Morgan, WB4OMG.

The ARRL Board of Directors presented the 1997 International Humanitarian Award to Al Burke, W3VR and Mae Burke, W3CUL (SK) for their lifetime of traffic handling public service. Both are well known members of the Gator Chaptor of the QCWA.

Dr. Alan Pickerington KJ9N has consented to be nominated for a QCWA National Director. He has been a vice-president and president fo the Pelican chapter. Of the 20 QCWA chapters in Florida none has a members on the corp of officers or the board of the National office. The Pelican chapter urges your consideration when you receive your ballot in May of 1998. Phil Stern Award Winners:

1997 - Wes Randles, W4COW

1996 - David Stocky, K4KE

1995 - Blanche Randles, W4GXZ

1994 - Eli Nanis, K4JMH

1993 - Bill Bell, K4AVH

1992 - Don Bice, W4PCO

1991 - J. Frederick Strom, K9BSL

1990 - Harry Bloechle, W4WP

75 Year Certificates

Cress Donbar, K4YL and A.H. Spaulding, S4PUZ

More News!

Blanche Randles, W4GXZ was awarded the Member of the Year award at the International convention at Ottawa, Canada. Jay Strom had the pleasure of presenting the plaque at the Pelican Picnic..

Wes Randles, W4COW was presented the Honor Award at the QCWA convention for more than 15 years as National Treasurer. Blanche Randles, W4GXZ was honored as the Member of the Year for her work as Director of Taping for the Blind and Chapter work.

Jay, K9BSL has put a phone patch on the QCWA repeater (145.29) in St. Pete. An anonymous donor is paying for the phone bill for the first 12 months. The controller is a Micro Computer RC-1000V. Dave Stockey, K4KE has been helping with the cabinet. Dwight N4POA will be also helping with the technical end of completing the upgrade. Your autodial number is your home phone number. Press #6 then your autodial code. Key the repeater and unkey and the repeater will dial. When complete press #4 to shut down the patch. Press ## to hear the Voice ID or recorded announcement. Press #9 to hear the CW ID. Press #0 for the touch tone test. (Editor's note: Jay is now a silent key) The donor of the autopatch has asked that the gift be a memorial to Past President and silenet key, Irwin Meyers, WA2YQU.

Ralph Leudke K9MOR will be locating a program for each monthly meeting. If you know of a program source that would be interesting to the members let Ralph know.

The QCWA Memorial Scholarship Fund is at $148,140 an increase of $16,218 over last October due to a large gift from one member, the sponsors of the Manchester Convention, the estate of a Silent Key and from chapter and individual gifts.

The scholarship range from $600 to $1,000 and are available to licensed amateurs pursuing courses at an accredited university. Applications must be requested prior to April 30 from 6903 Rhode Island Ave., College Park, MD. 20740.

One $1,100 grant and thirteen $700 grants are being administered by the Foundation for Amateur Radio. 285 requests for application have been made for the 58 scholarships being funded.

Pelican Report by Jay Strom K9BSL, Secretary Pelican Chap.,St. Petersburg, Fl.

Ft. Myers - Edison Chapter #196 of the QCWA

Any radio amateur who has been licensed at least 25 years can join the QCWA. All amateurs are welcome to the meetings and events. Meetings of the Edison Chapter are held at a Ft. Myers restaurant.

Meetings are held the 4th Wednesday of the odd months. Two meter frequency for directions are on 146.390 (pl tone 136.5) which is the Lehigh Acres repeater. For information about the Edison chapter you may contact Tad Burik, WA8PXL at (941) 694-5599 (Ft. Myers)