Moderator Bios 2020

Moderator bios for HRU 2020 as of December 29, 2019.

Time	Forum	Moderator	Biography
8:30am – 8:50am	Newcomer’s meeting – an overview of HRU	Diane Ortiz K2DO	Diane Ortiz K2DO is past president of the Long Island Mobile Amateur Radio Club, a member of QCWA, YLRL and Secretary and past president of the Order of Boiled Owls of New York. Diane was the ARRL Hudson Division Grand Ole Ham in 2009. Diane has operated from many countries including the Turks and Caicos Islands, Grenada, the United Nations HQ and recently from the Azores as part of the Azores Nine Island Hunt. Diane wrote the YL news column for the ARRL’s QST Magazine for 10 years and the YL Contesting column in CQ Contest Magazine. Join her as she provides an overview of Ham Radio University. She will talk about what HRU is, what to do and where to go. Diane’s insider “scoop” is certain to make you more comfortable and confident, both on and off the air.
9:00am – 9:50am	ARRL Forum	Jim_Mezey W2KFV	Jim Mezey W2KFV, is the Section Manager for NLI with over 50 years of experience in Emergency Communications, Jim has served as ARRL Section Emergency Coordinator for Nassau County. He holds an Extra Class license and is a member or officer of LIMARC, Nassau Amateur Radio Club, Nassau County Police Amateur Radio Club, QCWA, and IPARC. A VE Examiner, Field Instructor and Examiner, Jim is well versed in public service communications. He was a member of the ARRL Emergency Communications Advisory Committee and is also a certified ARRL instructor who is trained in ARRL Emergency Communication Courses as well as ICS and NIMS. He has been honored in receiving LIMARC’s N2MEI Award for Outstanding Public Service and the 2009 Hudson Division Amateur of The Year Award.
9:00am – 9:50am	ARRL Forum	Ria Jairam N2RJ	Ria Jairam, N2RJ is the ARRL Hudson Division Director. She has been licensed since 1997 in Trinidad and Tobago and in the US since 2001. She first became interested in radio at 5 years old from her dad, an avid SWL and learned about amateur radio from a teacher, Mr. Tony Lee-Mack, 9Y4AL. Ria is active in contesting, Dxing, DMR, DSTAR and digital modes. To her name are several DX and contest awards including 9 band DXCC (160 through 10 meters), Challenge at the 1800+ level, all 3 modes and 325 entities mixed. She has also won several contest plaques including regional, national and North American titles in various DX contests. Ria has won a “Top Elmer” award in 2016 for her mentoring on the Flex Radio forums and also helping users use their radios remotely. She subsequently was awarded two “Top Tester” awards in 2017. She is a volunteer QSL card sorter with the W2 QSL bureau, run by the North Jersey DX Association (NJDXA) and is the Northern NJ section manager for the Frankford Radio Club (FRC). She is also the District 2 chair of the Young Ladies Radio League (YLRL) and a member of the British Young Ladies Amateur Radio Association (BYLARA). Ria is an alumna of the NYU Tandon School of Engineering, where she studied Electrical Engineering. In the ARRL, Ria is currently the chair of the IT Modernization committee, a member of the Programs and Services Committee, as well as ARISS and Band Planning committees. Look for her in the DX pileups, often operating remotely, or operating WSJT digital modes to snag a new one.
9:00am – 9:50am	Building your first ham station	Phil Lewis N2MUN	Phil Lewis N2MUN is the founder of HRU and its first chairman. Phil is a member and current Vice President of the Order of Boiled Owls of New York contest and DX club. Phil is an avid operator and will walk you through the process of selecting, installing and operating your first ham station.
9:00am – 9:50am	Tips, Tricks and Techniques of the best operators	George Tranos N2GA	George Tranos N2GA is past president of the Long Island Mobile Amateur Radio Club, a member of the Yankee Clipper Contest Club and president of the Order of Boiled Owls of New York. George was past section manager of the ARRL NYC/LI section from 1998 to 2006. He was HRU Chairman from 2003 to 2006, and has served on the HRU planning committee since its inception. N2GA was winner of the ARRL Herb S. Brier instructor of the year award in 2000 and ARRL Hudson Division Amateur of the Year in 2011. George has operated from many countries including St. Lucia, the Turks and Caicos Islands, Grenada, the United Nations HQ and recently from the Azores as part of the Azores Nine Island Hunt. George won first place world single operator low power operating as VP5GA in the 1999 CQ WPX CW contest. George was second place world single operator low power operating as VP5GA in the 2001 and 2002 ARRL DX CW contest. He has participated as a referee in four World Radiosport Team Championships in 2000 from Slovenia, 2006 from Brazil, 2010 from Russia and 2018 from Germany. George wrote the contesting column for CQ Amateur Radio Magazine from March 2011 through July 2015. He was the ARRL Hudson Division Contest Advisory Representative in 2017 and 2018. He is the ARRL NYC/LI State Government Liaison. Join him for an informative—and sometimes humorous—journey through the best of his many “Tips, Tricks and Techniques” monthly columns. George’s insider “scoop” is certain to make you more comfortable and confident, both on and off the air.
9:00am – 9:50am	Scanning	Phil Lichtenberger W2LIE	Phil Lichtenberger W2LIE was granted his Technician license as a teenager in 1994 as N2XUT, and is a harmonic of WB2PIV and N2UZI. After being licensed, Phil was active with the LIMARC Junior Operator’s group, and attended a few ARES and SKYWARN activites. His main interest was Packet Radio and 2m voice. As with any teenager, Ham Radio took a back seat to college life, followed by years of radios in storage. After being issued a new call (KC2LPE) when updating his ticket, Phil decided to go for the vanity call of W2LIE. Nothing says Long Island like the L.I.E.! Since receiving the new call, he is active again in SKYWARN and ARES, is the Trustee for W2ATT, and upgraded to General in February 2009. In addition to Ham Radio, Phil enjoys collecting and working with reptiles, and runs his own website – w2lie.net.
9:00am – 9:50am	Transmitter Hunting	Larry Berger WA2SUH	Larry Berger WA2SUH was first licensed in 1961 and has been involved with transmitter hunting for many years, first on 10 meters and later on 2 meters. He is a member of LIMARC and the Plaza Repeater Group and for many years participated in Nassau County RACES activities. He has served as a Director and Vice-President of the 10-10 International Net and is their Scholarship Manager. His sons are Matt K2MSB and Michael KC2YPO and his dad Abe was W2BLH. Larry retired from the Nassau County Planning Commission where he worked for 42 years. The presentation will focus on what is transmitter hunting, why hams hunt, different types of hunts, hunting strategies, types of hunting equipment and how to get involved. A demonstration of some of the equipment used on local hunts will be part of the presentation.
9:00am – 9:50am	Transmitter Hunting	Andy Kirschenbaum WA2CDL	Andy Kirschenbaum, WA2CDL, will co-moderate the Hidden Transmitter Hunting forum with Larry Berger, WA2SUH. Andy has been licensed since 1970 and holds an Extra class license. His involvement in amateur radio has included everything from public service thru RACES, to building and experimenting. Many people know Andy from his radio repair activities. He has conducted “tune up clinics” at various hamfests in the NYC area since 1985. Andy is a member of LIMARC and the Plaza Repeater Group. Andy works in the field of radio communications systems.
9:00am – 9:50am	DXing	Long Island DX Association	Join members of the LIDXA discuss the why and how of DXing. This forum is for you whether you are new to DXing or a seasoned pro. Discussed will be DXing techniques, QSLing, HF propagation and upcoming DXpeditions.
9:00am – 9:50am	DXing (propagation, history, techniques)	John Reiser W2GW	John Reiser, W2GW, was first licensed in 1958 and upgraded to Amateur Extra twenty years later. His primary ham radio activity is HF Dxing, and his preferred modes are CW and RTTY. He also enjoys building electronic gear, restoring vintage equipment, and operating QRP portable outdoors. John serves as the official ARRL DXCC field checker of QSL cards for the New York – Long Island Section. He makes himself available in that capacity at several hamfests in the area. You can also contact John for an appointment to have your QSL cards checked at his home in West Hempstead or another agreeable venue [w2gw@arrl.net]. John is currently President of the Long Island DX Association which meets at the Town of Oyster Bay-Ice Skating Center in Bethpage, Community Room 1, on the third Tuesday of the month at 8:00 PM (all are welcome). John is also active in LIMARC and QCWA Chapter 81, where he serves as Secretary.
9:00am – 9:50am	DXing	Bill Hudzik W2UDT	Bill Hudzik W2UDT has been continuously licensed since 1961. He has operated from KP2, KR6, C6A and V2 over the years. Bill has served as NNJ SM for 4 terms, NNJ Assistant Director for 3 years and is on his third elected term as Vice Director for the Hudson Division. He has been active with the North Jersey DX Association (NJDXA) for over 28 years serving as Secretary, Vice President and President of the organization and continues to serve as a volunteer letter manager, he is also a member of the New Providence Radio Club, the Raritan Valley Radio Club and the Frankfort Radio Club. Bill is an ARRL Life Member as well as a Diamond Club Member. He is an active contester and DXer.
10:00am – 10:50am	EMCOMM in NLI	Jim_Mezey W2KFV	Jim Mezey W2KFV, is the Section Manager for NLI with over 50 years of experience in Emergency Communications, Jim has served as ARRL Section Emergency Coordinator for Nassau County. He holds an Extra Class license and is a member or officer of LIMARC, Nassau Amateur Radio Club, Nassau County Police Amateur Radio Club, QCWA, and IPARC. A VE Examiner, Field Instructor and Examiner, Jim is well versed in public service communications. He was a member of the ARRL Emergency Communications Advisory Committee and is also a certified ARRL instructor who is trained in ARRL Emergency Communication Courses as well as ICS and NIMS. He has been honored in receiving LIMARC’s N2MEI Award for Outstanding Public Service and the 2009 Hudson Division Amateur of The Year Award.
10:00am – 10:50am	Support Structures for Antennas or anything else you may want to elevate	Peter Portanova W2JV	Peter was licensed in 1964 as WB2OQQ, his first station, in Whitestone, NY that year consisted of a Rohn 25g top section mounted on the roof of his parents house with six and two meter beams. The house he owned in Massapequa had three sections of aluminum tubing at 35’ attached to the house with a C3SSjr. Yagi. Peter is always experimenting with different antenna support systems that will accommodate a given location. The goal is to transmit the best signal you can given your location, and that will be the intent of this presentation.
10:00am – 10:50am	All things Digital VHF and above including DMR and D-Star	Preston Waterman W2PW	Pres Waterman W2PW has been licensed since 1977. Interested in many phases of Ham Radio and has been building and operating repeaters since the ’80′s in Patchogue, Manorville and Hauppauge. Early on his first repeaters had HF remote bases on them. With the popularity of cell phones, normal local repeater traffic has been dwindling but the advent of Internet linking has seen a resurgence of activity lately. Any one repeater may be very quiet, but 30 quiet repeaters makes a very nice mix. An open IRLP node 4700 on WR2UHF 444.700 (Hauppauge) begat a portable node 7373 in a briefcase, which spawned a home node … well, the addiction spreads. 4 or 5 nodes is not enough! Currently, the portable node in a briefcase features BOTH analog IRLP and also Digital D-Star, and will be demonstrated at the various talks being presented. Pres is “in charge” of over 10 IRLP nodes and is considered a local expert on nodes and VOIP linking.
10:00am – 10:50am	Antenna Modeling	Edward Newman W2EMN	Ed Newman, W2EMN, was an avid radio experimenter in high school, but didn’t become a licensed ham until 1977. After a year as a novice, he quickly upgraded to extra, and later switched to his current vanity call. His primary interests have been HF operation and DXing, as well as building and restoring equipment. Ed worked as an antenna engineer and engineering manager for Hazeltine (now BAE Systems). He headed Hazeltine’s Advanced Development Center for 15 years, and was awarded 6 patents. In 2003 he retired to devote full time to his hobbies. In amateur radio, he started collecting and restoring “boatanchor” radios, as well as renewing a pursuit of DX contacts. He also became an active member of the Radio Central Radio Club. He will provide an overview of the antenna design software called EZNEC and show that you don’t need to be a pro to design antennas on the computer. Ed will cover: -how does the computer model an antenna -available programs, emphasizing EZNEC -description of inputs and outputs in EZNEC -an example of model results vs measurements -how to get help on using the program
10:00am – 10:50am	Zooming into CW online – NEW	Howard Bernstein WB2UZE	Howard Bernstein WB2UZE has been an active ham since 1965 and holds an Extra class license. He graduated from SUNY Albany in 1974 with a BS in Business Administration and shortly thereafter started a company in the import and export of industrial chemicals. Being partially retired at this time gave him the opportunity along with Rich K2UPS, to co-found the Long Island CW Club in 2018. The club currently has 260 members in 37 states and 7 countries and teaches 21 CW classes weekly via internet video conference, in addition to having many local activities. Besides having a passion for CW, Howard has a vintage gear (boat anchor) station made up of the gear he wanted to have as a young ham in the 1960s but could not afford back then. Outside of ham radio Howard enjoys travel, antiques and his 1956 Oldsmobile. Howard has also written a book: Fire Island Lighthouse Maritime Communications: A History Spanning 1859-1973 which centers around post WW2 Coast Guard transmitters still miraculously remaining at the Fire Island Lighthouse.
10:00am – 10:50am	Zooming into CW online – NEW	Rich Collins K2UPS	Rich Collins, K2UPS got his Novice license in 1981 as KA2WWU and took an immediate liking to Morse Code and CW. After upgrading to Advanced and changing to KE2EC he continued to enjoy CW exclusively. Finally upgrading to Extra and changing call to K2UPS in 2005 he has been enjoying CW while operating mostly QRP and also while mobile. He likes collecting CW keys of all types and has about 40 that all get rotated in and used regularly. He has served as a board member and as president of the Nassau Amateur Radio Club. He is also a Volunteer Examiner and attends most of LIMARC’s VE sessions. In January of 2018 he and Howard WB2UZE started the Long Island CW Club with the intent to share our passion for CW and offer classes to teach others Morse Code. He resides in Hicksville NY with his wife, N2JYP, 3 children and 3 basset hounds. He has worked at UPS for 31 years and currently drives between NYC, Chicago and Louisville KY every week.
10:00am – 11:50am	WORKSHOP – Connectors	Richie Cetron K2KNB	Richie Cetron K2KNB was president of the Long Island Mobile Amateur Radio Club from 2008-2013, and again in 2017 and 2018. Richie is an Official Observer, a Volunteer Examiner, The Affiliated Club Coordinator for New York-Long Island, and an Assistant Director for the Hudson Division. He was the Hudson Division Amateur of the Year for 2012. The workshop will consist of some basic information about the selection of cable and connectors for the best possible results in transmitting RF signals. This hands-on workshop will last up to 2 hours and will include learning to solder and to crimp various connectors. In addition to RF connections, there will also be the opportunity to work with Cat 5 cable and connectors. Material will be supplied to the participants at no charge having been donated from the LIMARC Norm Wesler, K2YEW Memorial Education Fund. Preregistration is required at the gate during the event but prior to the workshop.
10:00am – 11:50am	WORKSHOP – Connectors	Craig Ross KD2CXK	Craig Ross, KD2CXK, has spent more than 30 years in data communications, information technology and security systems. Craig got his start as a computer engineer in 1986 and has been involved in IT ever since. He has designed large corporate data and voice networks, has designed and built data centers upwards of 50,000 square ft. He holds certifications in over 40 companies. Craig is a New York State licensed security systems installer and currently consults on corporate security systems for many of New York City’s largest property management firms. He has a strong interest in astronomy, and is the moderator of a twice monthly astronomy net on the LIMARC repeater.
10:00am – 11:50am	WORKSHOP – Connectors	Robert Batchelor W2OSR	Robert Batchelor W2OSR attended RCA institutes 1959 – 1961 graduated from the V-7 course. Nassau Community College AS in Business Management. Empire State College 1986 BPS in Business Economics. Worked for Republic Aviation as a Radar Mechanic, General Microwave as Bench Technicial, US ARMY 1963 -1965, Grumman Aerospace worked on the LEM and F14 as a Cognizant Support Engineer also trained as an Air Traffic Controller, General Electric Healthcare as a Senior Field Service Engineer specializing in Protein Separations. Earned a Radio Telephone Operators License in 1960 and the Amateur Radio Extra Class License in 2004. Is involved with ARES, Sky Warn, LIMARC, NARC and Boy Scouts. Gordon West Certified Instructor. Numerous business, Boy Scout, and amateur radio awards.
11:00am – 11:50am	Satellite Operations for Beginners	Frank Garofalo WA2NDV	Frank Garofalo WA2NDV had his first QSO on Feb 28th 1970. In the early 90’s, before the internet, he was known, along with N2MH, as the creator of LONNY the AX.25 packet link (wormhole) between NY NBC 30 Rock and NBC News London. NBC Burbank and NBC Moscow were added a short time later. Frank left NBC after 18 years of live TV studio management in 1999 and shut down the links. Frank also had what may have been Long Island’s first Echolink node that was linked to the K2ATT repeater. Frank is a proud member of the Great South Bay ARC and operates a modest 100W and Vertical/dipole HF station. He was bitten by the bug of the new digital modes of JT-65, JT-9 and now FT-8 for which he has received WAS on each mode. He recently retired from Cablevision after 15 years as a Sr. VoIP Systems Engineer and has become interested in Amateur Radio satellite operations. Frank enjoys operating new modes and looks forward to the next shiny thing to come along.
11:00am – 11:50am	Basics of HF operating	Phil Lewis N2MUN	Phil Lewis N2MUN is the founder of HRU and its first chairman. Phil is a member and current Vice President of the Order of Boiled Owls of New York contest and DX club. Phil, along with Mel KS2G, are two seasoned DX and contest operators and will guide you through the HF bands, modes, propagation, on-air procedures, and using rig controls to get the most out of your HF transceiver.
11:00am – 11:50am	Basics of HF operating	Mel_Granick KS2G	First licensed in 1977 as a Novice, Mel Granick upgraded to Technician, General and Advanced class licenses within six months and has been an Amateur Extra since 1981. He’s been active in numerous aspects of Amateur Radio ranging from traffic handling to the early use of packet radio. With a modest station consisting of a 100 watt transceiver, 3-element tribander and 40/80 dipole up just 35 feet, he’s been successful as a DX’er (DXCC-250+), awards chaser (5BWAS) and one of the leading contesters in the 2nd Call Area, repeatedly placing in the top ten among U.S. low-power single operators in the CQ World Wide DX, CQ World Wide WPX and ARRL 10-Meter contests. Mel, along with Phil N2MUN, are two seasoned DX and contest operators and will guide you through the HF bands, modes, propagation, on-air procedures, and using rig controls to get the most out of your HF transceiver.
11:00am – 11:50am	Remote Station Operation	Rick Bressler K2RB	Rick Bressler K2RB has been licensed since 1957 and is very active in various clubs. He is past president and a current life member of LIMARC and a member of the order of Boiled Owls of New York Contest Club. With his current QTH in Glen Cove, New York, Rick is very active on the low bands. His current operating conditions are an Elecraft K-3 and the Flex Radio 6500 with SPE 1.3 amplifier. He uses antennas ranging from Steppir 3 element up 35 feet to various dipoles covering the other bands. When he had his business a few years ago, Rick always wanted to see what was going on the ham bands. He started with the OMNI VII which had a very early way to connect over the internet to the radio at home. Then when a company called remote rig developed a pair of interfaces that allowed many radios to be used remotely, a whole new part of ham radio was developed to operate a station from a remote location. In his forum, Rick will explore the history of remote operating and how very recent developments have changed so much in this area of our hobby. This will include operating superstations from our deed restricted QTH’s and how to have a 100 foot tower and high end antennas to compete for DX or contesting. He will review the use of an ipad, iphone or laptop to operate when not in front of your station. Rick intends to review how one can control various station activities such as antenna switching, turning of a beam and turning the station on and off for safety reasons. All of this can now be done with advances of technology which has taken place.
11:00am – 11:50am	Antenna Power Flow and SWR – NEW	Mike Kozma WY2U	Mike Kozma WY2U has been an amateur radio operator for over 28 years. He has a Master’s Degree in Electronic Engineering from Polytechnic Institute of New York, and has worked as a Design Engineer, and Engineering Manager in the electronics industry for over 45 years. During his engineering career, he was responsible for the design of Communications and Radar Systems, including Transmitters, Receivers, Antennas, and Signal Processing components, as well as Signal and Communication Components to support the Commuter Railroad Industry. Presently, he is semi-retired, and works as an Adjunct Professor at Queensborough Community College, teaching courses in the Electronic Engineering Technology curriculum. His primary ham radio interests are HF CW operation, and mentoring other ham radio enthusiasts, by teaching seminars and workshops at the local ham radio clubs. He is also a Volunteer Examiner for both the ARRL and W5YI VEC organizations. In addition, he holds an FCC General Radio Telephone Operator License with Radar Endorsement, and has had an Extra Class Ham license since 1990. Other interests include Optical and Radio Astronomy, and experimentation of electronic circuits and antenna systems, using both computer aided design techniques, and construction and testing. He currently lives on Long Island, is married, and has three children and three grandchildren.
11:00am – 11:50am	QRP low power fun	John Meade W2XS	John Meade W2XS started ham radio in the mid sixties as WB2SLI. The QRP bug hit him when Heathkit came out with the HW-8. Since that time, he has used many of the QRP rigs out there including Ten Tec, Small Wonders Labs, MFJ, OHR, NorCal, and Elecraft. There have been many successful outings with the Long Island QRP club with QSOs far and wide with simple (but effective) equipment and antennas. His career has been in the Electronics Management industry as well as teaching Electrical Technology at Nassau Community College.
11:00am – 11:50am	Operating 6 meters – using sporadic-E propagation	Ken Neubeck WB2AMU	Ken Neubeck, WB2AMU, has an extra class license and has been a ham since 1971. He writes regularly on VHF propagation for CQ VHF and Worldradio. He has written the book, SIX METERS, A GUIDE TO THE MAGIC BAND put out by Worldradio books and it is now in its fourth edition. He is co-author with Gordon West of the book, VHF PROPAGATION, A PRACTICAL GUIDE FOR RADIO AMATEURS, put out by CQ Magazine.
12 noon – 1:00pm	Keynote Speaker	Kris Bickell K1BIC	Kris Bickell, K1BIC, is the Lifelong Learning Manager at ARRL. He is coordinating the development of the new ARRL Learning Center, which will offer online training to new, current and prospective amateur radio operators. The Lifelong Learning department also manages existing ARRL online courses and materials for license instruction, and oversees the Education & Technology Program, including the Teacher’s Institute and several grants that can be used for educational purposes. For more information: www.arrl.org/lifelong-learning. He is also a member of ARRL’s ARISS Committee, which is tasked with developing the framework under which ARRL will support ARISS. Prior to arriving at ARRL, Kris spent more than 20 years working in higher education as an online learning director and educational technology administrator. He has presented at several academic conferences, most recently at CanvasCon at Worcester Polytechnic Institute (MA). When not working he enjoys the outdoors, running, hiking, and coaching youth sports.
1:30pm – 2:20pm	Contesting: Everything you need to know	Mel_Granick KS2G	First licensed in 1977 as a Novice, Mel Granick upgraded to Technician, General and Advanced class licenses within six months and has been an Amateur Extra since 1981. He’s been active in numerous aspects of Amateur Radio ranging from traffic handling to the early use of packet radio. With a modest station consisting of a 100 watt transceiver, 3-element tribander and 40/80 dipole up just 35 feet, he’s been successful as a DX’er (DXCC-250+), awards chaser (5BWAS) and one of the leading contesters in the 2nd Call Area, repeatedly placing in the top ten among U.S. low-power single operators in the CQ World Wide DX, CQ World Wide WPX and ARRL 10-Meter contests.
1:30pm – 2:20pm	Software Defined Radios for HF	Ria Jairam N2RJ	Ria Jairam, N2RJ is the ARRL Hudson Division Director. She has been licensed since 1997 in Trinidad and Tobago and in the US since 2001. She first became interested in radio at 5 years old from her dad, an avid SWL and learned about amateur radio from a teacher, Mr. Tony Lee-Mack, 9Y4AL. Ria is active in contesting, Dxing, DMR, DSTAR and digital modes. To her name are several DX and contest awards including 9 band DXCC (160 through 10 meters), Challenge at the 1800+ level, all 3 modes and 325 entities mixed. She has also won several contest plaques including regional, national and North American titles in various DX contests. Ria has won a “Top Elmer” award in 2016 for her mentoring on the Flex Radio forums and also helping users use their radios remotely. She subsequently was awarded two “Top Tester” awards in 2017. She is a volunteer QSL card sorter with the W2 QSL bureau, run by the North Jersey DX Association (NJDXA) and is the Northern NJ section manager for the Frankford Radio Club (FRC). She is also the District 2 chair of the Young Ladies Radio League (YLRL) and a member of the British Young Ladies Amateur Radio Association (BYLARA). Ria is an alumna of the NYU Tandon School of Engineering, where she studied Electrical Engineering. In the ARRL, Ria is currently the chair of the IT Modernization committee, a member of the Programs and Services Committee, as well as ARISS and Band Planning committees. Look for her in the DX pileups, often operating remotely, or operating WSJT digital modes to snag a new one.
1:30pm – 2:20pm	Grounding for the Amateur Radio Station	Donald Kane WB2BEZ	Donald W. Kane, WB2BEZ, has been a licensed HAM for over 45 years (ARRL Life Member) and is a Registered Professional Engineer in the State of New York with over 40 years of engineering experience including: Product Safety Evaluation; Electric Utility Substation and Plant engineering; Design and Manufacture of Diesel powered generators, including controls and switchgear; rail transit rolling stock and infrastructure engineering and electrical construction and HVAC. This seminar will present an overview of grounding and bonding, as applied to the typical amateur radio installation, with regard to power, lightning protection and RF (antenna) grounding.
1:30pm – 2:20pm	VE Session	Bob Myers K2TV	Bob Myers K2TV has been licensed since January 1960. His interest in Amateur Radio led to a 42 year career in radio and Television Broadcasting, of which almost 40 years had been with the CBS Television Network. Operating modes include PSK, Pactor, RTTY, CW and SSB all bands 160 through 6 meters and 10, 6, 2, 1.25 and 70 CM FM voice and packet. Over the years Bob has been involved in all facets of Ham Radio including DX’ing, contesting, ragchewing, homebrewing, satellite, packet, digital, public service, television and traffic handling. He never stopped finding new and interesting things to do which kept my interest in Ham Radio through the years. His wife, Marge is licensed as KA2NIE and while not very active on the air, she enjoys watching him operate and is his logger when operating from his HF mobile station. He a life member of the ARRL and belongs to the following Ham Radio Organizations: Great South Bay Amateur Radio Club (Vice President), Broadcast Center Amateur Radio Society, Metropolitan Coordination Association, Inc (Director), The Villages Amateur Radio Club (Florida); Fists CW Club and AMSAT. He is an assistant ARRL Section Manager (digital) for the New York City – Long Island ARRL section. He is also active on the various FM Satellites. You might find him on SO50 or one of the other FM satellites. You can also find him on Dstar reflector 20A most times. DXCC Honor Roll- 8 Band DXCC – 5 Band Worked all States – WAZ
1:30pm – 2:20pm	The National Traffic System in NYC/LI	Gerard Pilate N2WGF	Gerard Pilate N2WGF will speak on Introduction to the National Traffic System. Gerard (Jerry) A. Pilate N2WGF is the Section Traffic Manager for NLI. Jerry has been active in the NTS since he became licensed in 1993. He holds an Extra class license and is a member of WECA, LIMARC and HOSARC. Jerry also serves as a Digital Relay Station and Official Relay station for NLI as well as net manager for the Nassau County VHF Traffic net and acting net manager for the Big Apple NTS Traffic Net.
1:30pm – 3:20pm	Test Equipment workshop	Roy Laufer AC2GS	Roy Laufer, AC2GS, will be assisting Andy WA2CDL with his Test Equipment forum. A relative newcomer to the hobby, Roy has held an Extra Class license since 2011, although he was an SWL and an associate member of the ARRL back in the late 1960s. Roy is the Secretary of the Kings County Radio Club, for which he is the Host for their biweekly Technical Net, as well as Net Control Operator for their weekly 10 Meter Club Net. He also edits and writes the KCRC Newsletter, writes for the LIMARC Newsletter, which he is also a member of, and is involved in KCRC’s bi-monthly VE licensing exam sessions. Roy also runs the ScienceTalk segment of the weekly LIMARC TechNet.
2:30pm – 3:20pm	HF Digital Modes including FT8	Neil Goldstein W2NDG	Neil Goldstein W2NDG has been tinkering with radios since the early seventies when he used to hang out in his uncle’s ham shack in CT (W1PVC sk). These days he can be found in the Hudson Valley and Catskill Mountains with a QRP radio, or sitting at his workbench amidst a cloud of solder smoke. After first getting licensed in 2011 as KD2APZ, he started looking for all of the ways to merge his two hobbies: computers and radio. Now, a holder of an Extra Class license, he experiments with SDR, rig control, digital modes, and has a well-used soldering iron. Neil is active in the OMARC, and QSY Society clubs, has written for AmateurRadio.com as well as The Spectrum Monitor, and frequently presents at various club meetings on computer-related subjects. Neil maintains radiokitguide.com, the complete list of radio kit sources on the Internet.
2:30pm – 3:20pm	Introductory guide to VHF/UHF operating	Bill Fastenau WB2QGZ	Bill Fastenau, WB2QGZ, was first licensed in the late 1970s with patient guidance and encouragement from Chuck Laufman, K2JLD and Dr. Bruce P. Hellmann, K5FY (SK). A member of the ARRL and Great South Bay ARC, Bill also serves the NLI section as an ARRL Technical Specialist for RFI and is an ARRL and W5YI VE, participating in VE sessions with GSBARC and the Grumman ARC. With more than 35 years in RF Bill has worked around the world in two-way radio, paging, TV broadcast, terrestrial microwave, satellite, and cellular. Bill is currently employed by a cellular carrier where he maintains the Radio Access Network and Outdoor DAS, and mitigates interference and PIM throughout the NY/metro market. Bill will talk about VHF/UHF operating.
2:30pm – 3:20pm	Overview of Ham Radio Logging programs – NEW	Tom Carrubba KA2D	Tom Carrubba KA2D was first licensed in 1978 as KA2DFO. He is an active DXer and Contester. Over the course of his on air activity he has earned DXCC in CW, RTTY and SSB along with 5BDXCC with 30, 17 and 12 meter endorsements and DXCC Challenge. He made DXCC Honor Roll via LoTW. Tom operates all modes/bands. His favorite modes are RTTY and CW and is also active on Digital modes. KA2D has helped coordinate and participated in various Special Event Stations from the Long Island area such as Montauk Point and Fire Island Lighthouses, The Long Island Air Show, National Weather Service/ARRL SKYWARN Recognition Day and ARRL Field Day. In 2016, Tom was active in National Parks on the Air and was part of the group that activated the White House. Field Day and Lighthouse weekend are his favorites. Tom become active in computer logging in 1988 and has logged on a computer since then. In his forum, we will review logging method history and demonstrate the advantages of computer logging. The presentation will cover the many logging program features such as award and QSL tracking at your fingertips. Tom hopes you will enjoy his presentation.