AR Newsline 2000 Young Ham of the Year

Christopher Arthur, KT4XA, Amateur Radio Newsline™ Young Ham Of The Year for 2000

(Los Angeles, CA) Christopher Arthur (KT4XA), a 17 year old from Russellville, Alabama, involved in every aspect of Amateur Radio, has been named "Newsline Young Ham of the Year" for 2000, according to Amateur Radio operator and Award Administrator Bill Pasternak (WA6ITF). The award is jointly sponsored by Pasternak's Los Angeles-based Amateur Radio Newsline, Yaesu USA Corporation of Cerritos, California, and CQ Magazine of Hicksville, NY.

As "Young Ham of the Year," Christopher Arthur will receive -- courtesy of Yaesu USA -- an expense-paid trip to the 2000 Huntsville Hamfest, and a gift of Yaesu Ham Radio equipment. CQ Magazine will treat Christopher to an expense paid week in Spacecamp Huntsville, and will present him with a variety of CQ products. Newsline will provide Christopher with a commemorative plaque at the award ceremony. This year's plaque was underwritten by Dave Bell (W6AQ), President of DBA Entertainment Inc., Hollywood, California.

Christopher Arthur is the son of Amanda Turnock and Wallace Arthur and is about to enter his senior year in Russellville High School. He holds an Amateur Extra Class license (the highest offered by the Federal Communications Commission), and has been a Ham Operator for the past four years. He is a member of Future Business Leaders of America and Future Farmers of America. He also participates in his high school's Scholars Bowl Team competing in local, regional, state and national academic events.

Christopher Arthur's numerous Ham Radio achievements include founding the League of Young Radio Amateurs and the International Youth Communications Council. Both of these organizations are coordinated using both the Internet and actual on the air communications. Both are dedicated to the advancement of youth in Amateur Radio. He also created the Young Amateur Radio Operators Webring so that young hams can share their web sites with others. He also serves as the webmaster for the Franklin County Amateur Radio Club and previously served as its secretary. (See http://www.qsl.net/kt4xa)

Christopher is an member of the Franklin County Amateur Radio Emergency Service and served as Network Controller of the county's network hundreds of times, in both training exercises and in actual emergency situations. A strong believer in emergency preparedness, Christopher is active in other aspects of emergency communications, particularly SKYWARN, where he is a National Weather Service certified Basic Storm Spotter. Christopher coordinated the Field Day efforts of the Franklin County Amateur Radio Club in 1997 and 1999, and the Tri-State Radio Group in 1998 and 2000.

Christopher Arthur is a member of the American Radio Relay League, was Assistant Section Manager of Youth Services from 1998 to 1999, is a member of the Ten-Ten International Net (#68980), the 10-X Chesapeake Bay Chapter #677, the Six Club #272, and the Southeastern Liaison for the Six Club. He also served as network control operator of the Alabama Traffic Net M, which is the state's the largest on-air net. He also started the Franklin County Ten Meter Net. In 1999 and 2000 Christopher managed the annual Alabama Heart of Dixie QSO Party, which is Alabama's only statewide on-air ham radio contest.