Huh, an intro thread... cool... didn't see that this was around.
"The name here" is Kevin. I've been at this game relatively shortly... since 2008. Not much to say. I am president of the local ham club, in my second year, but will probably be giving it up when my term is up in the spring. I currently hold a general class license, but I plan on getting my extra this winter (I have been saying that for a while now though).
I dropped out of college in 2006ish to work full-time (and then some) on the campaign trail as a contract photojournalist for the news wires and magazines/newspapers. It was fun and the money was good during the election, but after the election season ended and the recession was in full-swing in the midwest, there wasn't much work to be had, and the Register had laid off a bunch of its staff photographers, so it was getting rough. In 2010, I started working for one of the major Fortune 100 property/casualty insurance companies, where I now work in administration for the claims contact centers (we have 4 centers around the nation, about 450 employees in the department total). I am sure I will probably move to a different position within the company later on down the road. It was really a drastic change for me, working for myself out in the field seeing cool things, to being a 7:30-4 cubicle dweller 5 days a week, but I'm happy with the company that I work for so it evens out for me.
After I covered the aftermath of the 2008 Parkersburg EF-5 tornado (first reports of damage came via ham radio) and the 2008 midwest floods, among other disasters, I thought it would be a good idea to get my license. I already had a scanner in the car and at home -- I've been into scanners since a little kid, since my dad had been on the fire department for 35 years (retired as assistant chief when I was in high school). I remember spending a big chunk of my change buying scanner crystals and other gizmos at Rat Shack. Oh, the decisions I had to face with what to put in an 8-channel Bearcat!
Even though natural disasters somewhat prompted me to get my ticket, I'm not big into ARES/emcomm. I've taken some heat about it from the community for various aspects, but I'd rather give back to the community and further amateur radio by promoting educational programs and public events to increase our hobby's exposure. There's just so much to do in ham radio other than doing emcomm, imho. I don't think anyone should focus on just one aspect of the hobby.
I have a blog and twitter where I post about anything that interests me.
I don't remember how I found the site, I think I was probably reading something about the Island being the anti-Phred. I'm glad I found it, because a good lot of you guys are pretty messed-up. I lurk primarily because it's hard for me to keep up with all of the topics here since it is so active.
Crazy. My high school debate teacher/coach that I hadn't seen since my freshman year showed up at the local hamfest this year. I could barely recognize him. I had no idea he was a ham, not only that, but he was an extra. I really wish he'd come to one of our meetings.Originally Posted by KC9ECI
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