The local section of A.R.I. (the italian equivalent of ARRL) held yesterday night its annual Assembly. It was my first time, and everyone told me the participants number (around twenty hams), was in line with previous years. With its 114.000 inhabitants, Aosta Valley (IX1 land) doesn’t count more of 80 licensed operators. So, with such numbers, it can be said attendance was pretty good. We could discuss more on the reasons why an ham, nowadays, becomes member of a national association. Sometimes, I think that many people are in mainly for the QSL bureau, as well as for the insurance on aerials included in the yearly subscription. The monthly magazine, which in Italy is “Radio Rivista”, doesn’t seem so sought after by operators. What remains always untold, in such analysis, is that if single members switch on their radios three times a year, and maybe neither call once, the association will not have all the chances of this Earth to work. I feel this being the case with the club in Aosta, at times, with club station IQ1VD not being heard so often hitting the waves. I got my license last July, and scored, at present date, six hundred QSO. I know people, however, that doesn’t get on HF since years, altough holding a full privileges authorization! I’m still looking for the “secret ingredient” to make the deed of radio rise in these colleagues, but it’s not easy, given we’re not all the same. For sure, with more friends on, radio would be more fun, and association would be more fun and active. We’ll see if things will change. After approving the club Budget, the Assembly elected the new section President. Highest numbers of votes went to Rinaldo, IX1VKK. I’m personally happy for this choice, as he played a key role in bringing me to hamradio, and I know that he breathes radio (you can check that on the site that, with a group of friends, including yours truly, he promoted and set-up), and can make people feel really concerned. So, with a promising look to our A.R.I. section’s future, my best wishes, Mr. President!

73 de Chris