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Amateur Radio Club Next year the Amateur Radio Relay League will mark its 100th anniversary. It is the sole organization that presides over 600,0000 Licensed Amateur Radio Operators in the United States. Their website said, "Founded in 1914 by Hiram Percy Maxim, the American Radio Relay League (ARRL) is the national association for Amateur Radio in the US. Today, with more than 160,000 members. ARRL's mission is based on five pillars: Public Service, Advocacy, Education, Technology, and Membership." 100 years ago radio communication was in its infancy; it was not possible to communicate large distances as we can today, thus radio stations were relays, passing information to the next radio station. The Internet started in the same manner. In its desire to facilitate information exchange from various experiments in Cern, Switzerland, to researchers around the world, contact was made to a wired station to pass information. This was the original concept of e-mail. Next came ARPANET which transformed the information into packets of information, utilizing a new protocol called TCP/IP. This simple concept was rapidly transformed into the robust e-mail system we have today. While the ARRL is not a regulatory entity, it has positioned itself to lobbying the FCC to insure the integrity of the airwaves, assist in providing its expertise in radio technology for congressional action, and provides vital information to augment military radio. The ARRL now has 15 major divisions and 71 Administrative sections. It is a vast, efficiently run organization. The ARRL is the mainstay in publishing several magazines for Amateur Radio operators and developers of radio technology: QST, QEX magazines publish information of interest; anyone can submit an article for publication. The ARRL initiated and supports several Emergency organizations, ARES and R.A.C.E.S. ARES – Amateur Radio Emergency Service, and R.A.C.E.S – Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service. These organizations actively participate in Emergency preparedness and respond to emergencies. In addition, R.A.C.E.S is associated with FEMA. Recently, the ARRL was instrumental in activating the ARES and R.A.C.E.S amateur radio organizations to provide assisted voluntary aid in the large Rim Fire in Yosemite Park. Take a few minutes and browse their website: arrl.org. Much is available to the public and be careful, it may stimulate your interests in getting involved. Our website is w6fsb.com and our meetings are on the last Friday of the month at 10 am in the Lodge Ballroom. See you there. ~ Dick Van Bree, W6RVB Bereavement Group The first 12 week Bereavement Group has just concluded. We found it amazingly healing. But we were surprised at our laughter (a lot, as the weeks passed). We found that we became stronger as we became more open, we found amazing similarities in our feelings and actions, we found that our differences were not weird or strange, and we found out now much we could help each other. We're surprised that there were not more people joining us. The participants shared that even though they talked about what we were doing, there were several common concerns that kept people from coming. First, this is NOT a therapy group. It is just people getting together to share and heal and possibly find a new path 34 through life. Second, it is not a huge group of people sitting in a circle and crying. This recent group was comprised of one facilitator and three participants. There will never be a group larger than six. If necessary, a second group might form. Third, coming to a bereavement group does NOT mean that you are weak. It takes courage to explore your process, and it takes personal strength to share with other group members and to help them heal. Fourth, you do not have to "air family laundry in public". Some comments that the group wanted to share were "Come join our small, intimate, caring and confidential group where by sharing we help each other in the healing process. We would FOUR SEASONS BREEZE | OCTOBER 2013 | clubs & Groups love you to join us on our journey," and "had it not been for this group I really don't know how I would be. Today I am not completely 'healed' but I am have the tools I need to go on with a much happier and healthier life," and "it breaks my heart of hear how much some people need this group. We have to get the word out." The next group is scheduled to begin Oct. 7, from 1 to 3 pm in the Crafts Room at the Lodge. Please sign the interest sheet at the Lodge and/or contact Laurie at (951) 922-0934 or at lauriemlarson425@gmail.com.~ Laurie Larson

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