HAGAL ýINTERNATIONAL November 1997, Vol. 11 No. 11

The 50^th Ham Radio, took place, as usual, in Friedrichshafen in the most South Western part of Germany at the Lake Constance. On the western side of that beautiful lake is Switzerland and at the southern tip there is a narrow strip of land belonging to Austria. The great floods, results of heavy rains and snow in the area, could be seen clearly. The lake was full to its brim and in Bregenz the entire promenade was under water you couldn’t just drive through this Austrian town on the lake, without taking alternative routes.

The Israeli delegation was the biggest ever. At the official Hotel, the ‘See-Hotel’ was fully booked for that period of time, the Israeli delegation occupying 8 rooms! For your scribe, not a member of the official delegation, and other Israelis found refuge in other, cheaper, hotels in nearby towns and villages.

But there is one story from the fair which has to be told. Most of the Israelis do speak a number of languages including Hebrew and English, many speaking languages of their native countries and some additional tongues as well. But you would take it for granted that at a big, modern, hotel, English would be spoken and also understood. But it seems that at this particular hotel this was not the case!

As all the years in the past, the Israeli delegation, at their stand, would be handing out little goblets of wine for the visitors to get a ‘taste’ of Israel together with some Israeli dried dates. But this year our visitors had to do without the excellent taste of Israeli wines – and just there starts our story! Why?

The Golan wineries donated to our society, as in the past, three crates of wine, to be delivered from their wine cellars in Israel. The honorary president of our club, Joseph Obstfeld 4X6KJ had arranged everything well in advance. Joseph sent a fax to the See Hotel, asking them politely, that the three crates of wine from the ‘Golan Wineries’ would be delivered to the hotel, asking them to accept the crates and pay, if necessary, the costs of delivery. He himself, upon arrival, as one of the team who would occupy one of the eight booked rooms, would then pay any expenses. So far so good. A few days ahead of his departure from Israel to Germany Joseph received a fax stating: ‘We are very sorry to tell you that the hotel is fully booked and we are not able to book a room for Mr. Glolan Wineries’!!!!!!!!!

At this point I would like to stress that Joseph 4X6KJ, who lived for many years in the States, does speak excellent English,. His message to the Hotel was unmistakable. Still he got this reply.

Are there only unilingual people as employees at the hotel ? (As heard from 4X6KJ-4X1AT)

But then, we did have a very beautiful stand. At the stand visitors could see the prototype of the planned memorial, the creation of artist Baruch Silbershatz 4Z4RB of Mitzpe Ramon, for the late King Hussein of Jordan JY1. It is a symbolic ‘Straight Key’, standing upright, with its knob extending into a dove of peace. It will be, when installed at the ‘Silent Keys Forest’ near Tel Aviv, measure 2.5 meters in height with a base of another 1.5 meters Members of the Jordanian delegation visited our stand and expressed their gratitude and admiration for the project in memory of their departed king.

One of the projects of the Israel Amateur Radio Club is the establishment of amateur radio courses for school children. This has been demonstrated in the most convincing way at the Mikve Israel School, just south of Tel-Aviv. Lately all but two of the youngsters of that school have past the theoretical part of that and earned the a ‘technical licence’ – VHF-UHF code-free class. This gives these youngsters the opportunity to taste a little bit of the pleasures of amateur radio in the meantime above 30 MHz with their own 4Z7 call.

The Club-Station at Mikve Israel, 4X4MIS, has complete transmitting facilities on all HF bands, the equipment donated by the family of our late friend Felix 4Z4OX . There is also 2 meter and 70 cm equipment. All this equipment can be used by all members of that club, even when they are not fully licensed but under strict supervision of ‘B’ or ‘A’ license holders. This station is active. It is a pleasure how these youngsters aged,10 to 14, operate the station speaking quite good English. As in any modern Ham Shack, the computers are there too. All of the theory and computers are taught by Moshe Inger 4X1PF. One senses the joy of the students participating in all the activities this club has to offer.

Now the kids have started to learn the Morse Code. As it looks, after spending a few hours with them, they have no difficulty in mastering this operating mode. One must not forget that normally they speak and write Hebrew which has absolutely no resemblance to English letters. They’re doing this absolutely fine!

Within a few weeks I, as their instructor, will watch and see how soon we will be able to get them to the examinations, but even more important, how many of the group will have the strength to remain until the very end. Hopefully all of them. (4X1AT)

As I have just learned from ‘Official Sources’ our representation at the IARU Region I conference that will take place in Lillehammer Norway is down to one person only! It will be Joseph Obstfeld 4X6KJ who will go there, together with his XYL 4X4CM Ruth.

After seeing the huge success brought about by 4X6KJ in 1996. at the previous conference, at the Dan Panorama Hotel in Tel-Aviv, I must admit, that we seem to be ‘underrepresented’ at this most important international conference, by far.

It is a pity that the IARC, with its many most qualified hams, is not able to get a team together that could represent us in a dignified way. As so many times before, our delegates have to pay there own way and only their bills for accommodation will be covered by our society. One man alone can not represent us at all the forums and our club should have its say in decision making and taking. It is our future in amateur radio too.

As the Open University amateur radio course was undersubscribed (it was not cheap), it has been discontinued. The IARC has jumped in to fill the gap, with a new course taking place at our headquarters in the Motorola building. After the first “free sample” lesson and those who saw it wasn’t for them dropping out, 14 students aged 24 to 60 have remained. The course is being taught subject by subject: Ziv 4X1UK is responsible for the “hands-on” instruction of operating a sataion, Yair 4X4GI for satellites, Sarit 4Z4PF for electronics theory, Joe 4X6KJ for operating rules and Ahron 4X1AT for Morse instruction. At first, the students will go for the “Technical Class” exams, and only afterwards will continue for the full-privelege Grade B General Class.

Joe 4X6KJ, amongst his many hats, is IARC liason officer to the Ministry of Communications. He reports an excellent working relationship with the Ministry who is very interested in the furthering of amateur radio. The examinations are now administered by the IARC who sets the dates, and Ministry of Communications representatives show up to supervise the exams.

There are also four new Grade B licence holders, with spanking new 4Z5 calls, graduates of the course given at the Amishav Centre for the Visually Impaired. More are expected to pass the next tests.

So – as it is said in Russian, “Fret nyet, pet!” There are new licencees carrying on the ham radio torch! We shall prevail.