Local HAMs went to Church

St. Kitts Nevis Anguilla Amateur Radio Society (SKNAARS)

Members of the St. Kitts Nevis Anguilla Amateur Radio Society (SKNAARS) worshiped at the Phipps Memorial Methodist Church in Half Way Tree on Sunday, April 14, 2013 to launch the 40th anniversary of the Radio Society.

The Phipps Memorial Methodist Church was specifically selected as one of our members was preaching at the church at that time. Rev. Alberic Rohan is a member of the HAM/Amateur Radio Society with the call sign V44ALR.

The Members of SKNAARS were well received by the Congregation and the service and sermon were fitting to our needs. We walked away with renewed energies and faith believing that as a group we can become fishers of men to further our worthy cause.

President Selwyn Liburd (Rusty), V44RL, in his message stated two simple points. What is amateur radio and why we are called HAMs. Amateur Radio, also called ham radio is the use of designed radio frequency spectrum for the purpose of private recreation, non-commercial exchange of messages, wireless experimentation, self-training, and emergency communication.

Two of our Members also participated in the service by reading of the lessons, Mr. Trevor Seaton, V44KBT and Mrs. Natalie Fough, V44NF.

The term “amateur” is used to specify persons interested in radio technique solely with a personal aim and without the direct pecuniary or business (money) interest, and to differentiate it from commercial broadcasting, public safety, such as police and fire, or professional two-way radio services such as maritime, aviation, taxis, so on.

The term HAM Radio started as a pejorative, mocking amateur radio operators with a 19th century term for being bad at something. E.g. “ham-handed or “Ham actor”. However, the term has been with us and we have accepted it ever since.

The President closed his message by saying, “However, while we have accepted the term ‘Ham Radio’, some of us, like me, wouldn’t allow you to call our ham radios “Walkie Talkie”. It is a Ham Radio or an Amateur Radio.”

In all some ten Amateur Operators attended the Service. The members are Selwyn Liburd (Rusty) V44RL (President), Mr. Cedric Jeffers, V44KBJ (Treasurer), Mr. Trevor Seaton, V44KBT (Assistant Secretary), Mr. Lawson Adams, V44KO, Mr. Edward Halliday, V44HE, Mr. Myron Liburd, V44ML, Mr. Oliver Liburd, V44KAO, Mrs. Natalie Fough, V44NF, Mr. Emerson Nisbett, V44KAS, Mr. Basil Woods, V44KBW, Rev. Alberic Rohan, V44ALR.