Welcome: Richard M. Hambly, W2GPS President

摘要

Instead of the normal salutation, this year it is my duty to report that the 23rd AMSAT SpaceSymposium and Annual Meeting that was to be held in Lafayette, LA was cancelled at the last minutedue to the effects of Hurricane Katrina. The devastation that this storm brought to the Gulf Coast wasextensive and not only touched those who were in the storm’s path, but the rest of the United States aswell. While Lafayette was spared the brunt of the storm’s fury, it became a hub for relief efforts andserved as a refuge for thousands that were forced to flee their homes. Every hotel in Lafayettebecame the home of evacuees. Consequently, AMSAT was not able to hold the Symposium inLafayette.