May Newsletter 2


A. *FUTURE MEETING DATES :* MAY 11, TUESDAY . . .11:30 Luncheon, Salt Grass MAY 27, THURSDAY . . .Doubletree Special Session, Hotel	TABLE OF CONTENTS : GUIDE A. Future Meeting Dates B. Chairman's Thoughts C. Minutes of last meeting D. Cap-Of-The-Month Story E. Local news...Frank Secor F. CGC Communicator News Reprints
**************************************************************** B Chairman's Thoughts George Schank One of the official markers in the year has come and gone. NAB 99, which marks the beginning of Spring, has closed out with an impressive showing of all the hottest new toys; guaranteed to heat up Summertime even more for many of us. Even if you didn't get to attend, there's been plenty of talk about them; as well as the technology that those pieces of gear will embrace. Were I not a SBE member, I might never have heard about most of it. So much is changing in the worlds of radio and television engineering. How could one be expected to keep up with it all? Technology is supposed to make life easier on all of us -- or so I'm told. But, when you work in a technology driven profession, it somehow seems to work the other way. In the broadcasting business, it's all to easy to let the technology drive YOU! This can often have tragic results; especially during a hot, busy Summer, with many outdoor events taking place at our individual stations. This all seemed to hit close to home for me last week, when our buddy John Ritter had a terrible auto accident while on his way back from doing transmitter maintenance for KSBJ. John's okay, but there was a fatality -- a poignant reminder of fagility of life. As I learned of this and other incidents involving the safety and well being of broadcast engineering professionals, I thought it might be well for us to begin the Summer with some emphasis on SAFETY. If you've ever been in the military, you probably got more than your share of safety lectures. Very often, it was a repetition of things you had heard before. But, we all know that repetition of a task, or restudy of lessons already learned produces proficiency in that subject area. So, expect me to be a preacher of safety in coming programs that we present at chapter meetings; beginning with a specially produced video on operation of pnuematic antenna masts, which we'll be watching at a special event planned for May 27. Keep that date open on your agenda and come prepared to add your comments and horror stories to the discussion. Look for more information on that event in this same newsletter. HAVE A HAPPY AND SAFE SUMMER ! George Schank _________________________________________________ D CAP-OF-THE-MONTH WINNER WAS GEORGE SCHANK: George began his broadcasting career in Conroe, TX in 1965, at the tenderage of 13. After passing Third Class Operator test at FCC office in Houston...George passed Second Class Operator test on second try, at age 16, and took First Class Operator test the same day, at the examiner's suggestion, and passed it too! Joining SBE in 1982, became certified at the Professional level in 1993. George has worked in both radio and television engineering positions. He has just wrapped up a 15 year association with KXYZ-AM in Houston as their Chief Engineer since 1983. George begins a new job this month as the Chief Engineer for KSBJ-FM in Humble,TX...saying " don't know, yet, when I'll be ordained!" George has actively served in the Air Force Reserve since 1970... enjoys flying as an Air Force Reservist and a private pilot. His philosophy on life... "You haven't taken everything until you've taken inventory". Congratulations George on winning the Cap-Of-The-Month. On behalf of the Chapter, I would like to say "Thank You!" You will not be replaced easily. You have set an example for others to follow. You have made a difference to our chapter. Your Friends & Fellow SBE Members ------------------------------------------------------------------ HAVE YOU SENT IN YOUR RENEWAL FOR SBE YET?**	*********************************** C MINUTES OF APRIL 13,1999 ... George Schank opened the meeting at 12:35 pm and welcomed those in attendance from GBS, KTRU, KHOU, KXYZ, KPRC, KTBU, KSBJ and HIS Marketing. George mentioned that he was aware that the nominating committee had met and had taken it to the next level so that we should have a ballot shortly. He also mentioned the possibility that it might be good for the chapter that the Chairman be elected for a two year term in the future. He has reached the two year term limitation placed upon Chairmanship and really feels that if the future Chairman could be elected for two years it would give more continuity for the chapter. He also is trying to have a night meeting for June. Details to be announced shortly. Danney Stanley addressed the Chapter in regards to renewing our SBE National Membership. He said that if we wanted our names to appear in the national listing hardcopy print of SBE we needed to send our renewal membership before the first week of May as it is printed between then and June. The fourth name on the signup sheet for the meeting was none other than George Schank and he was awarded the SBE Cap-Of-The-Month. This electronic newsletter was discussed at some length and it was agreed that a card should be sent out immediately to notify all members about this change. Danney has assumed the job of webmaster for our chapter and is also acting editor of the newsletter. Fred Morton our secretary was not able to make this meeting and John Ritter was recruited to take these notes. Good job John ! Danney Stanley ************************************ E. LOCAL NEWS . . . I see where the FCC and other law enforcement officials closed down and confiscated the broadcasting equipment of a "Montrose-area" unlicensed FM broadcast operation. Is that news? Also, the Bellaire High School Amateur Radio Club (BEL-ARC) members have built and are now using a rotating 10-meter beam antenna. They have talked to Spain, South America, South Atlantic, and about half the states of the US using it. Frank Secor Bellaire High School
F1. CGC Communicator News: RADIO STATION "WWW" Listen to radio stations around the world at: http://www.live-radio.net/european.shtml No antenna required. No radio required. Note: Several stations in Belgrade speak English; however, services from the Balkan countries are liable to interruption following NATO bombings. URL courtesy of Dennis, N6KI. ************************************************************ F2. Jamming Jewelry A chap in the UK has incorporated active electronics into a silver, brass and glass fibre "Radio Jamming Pendant." As if there weren't enough RF noise in the world already. ***************************************************************** SUPPORT OUR SUSTAINING MEMBERS** LET THEM KNOW THEY ARE IMPORTANT TO OUR SBE TELL & SUPPORT THEM !!	F3. DTV = VIDEO ON DEMAND "WETA, our noncommercial station in Washington, is transmitting its digital signal 24 hours a day -- and it knows every viewer on a first-name basis!" (From Opening Remarks, as prepared for delivery, of FCC Commissioner Susan Ness Before the NAB Convention "Operation Digital" Panel, April 18, 1999.) (One NAB broadcaster stated that a DTV viewer, who arrived home late and missed a particular program, called the station and asked them to rerun the show, which they did. At least for DTV, "Video on Demand" has arrived.)