THIS YEAR’S OUTSTANDING AMATEUR OF THE YEAR HAS SO MANY CREDITS TO HIS NAME, IT TOOK A FOUR PAGE LETTER TO LIST THEM ALL.
IN BRIEF,  OUR OUTSTANDING AMATEUR OF THE YEAR IS AN EXTRA CLASS OPERATOR.  AS A RESULT OF HIS LEADERSHIP, OVER HALF THE MEMBERS OF HIS GROWING AMATEUR RADIO CLUB ARE NOW EXTRA CLASS OPERATORS. 
 HE LEADS BY EXAMPLE IN TEACHING NEW HAMS, WORKING ON SPECIAL PROJECTS, BUILDING UP CLUB MEMBERSHIP AND ACTIVELY PARTICIPATING IN COMMUNITY AND SKYWARN ACTIVITIES. 

HE SITS ON THE BOARD OF HIS COUNTY R.A.C.E.S ORGANIZATION.  HIS EFFORTS LEAD TO THE PLACEMENT OF A NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OFFICE IN NORTHERN INDIANA. 

OUR IRCC 2002 OUTSTANDING AMATEUR OF THE YEAR IS A VETERAN OF LOCAL AND INTERNATIONAL DIASTERS.  HE IS THE NATIONAL COMMUNICATIONS COORDINATOR FOR MDS, THE MENNONITE DISASTER SERVICE AND HAS BEEN ONE OF THE FIRST PEOPLE ON SITE AT EVENTS LIKE HURRICANES, FLOODS, TORNADOS AND OTHER DISASTERS IN ORDER TO SET UP  EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS.

ONE PARAGRAPH IN HIS NOMINATION PRETTY WELL SIZES UP OUR WINNER.  QUOTE:  “IF THERE’S A JOB TO BE DONE THAT NOBODY ELSE WILL DO, IF THERE’S A HARD TASK TO ACCOMPLISH HE’LL GET IT DONE.  IF HE SAYS HE WILL DO A JOB, IT WILL BE FINISHED ON TIME. “

THE INDIANA RADIO CLUB COUNCIL IS PLEASED TO PRESENT THE 2002 “OUTSTANDING AMATEUR OF THE YEAR AWARD” TO ELKHART COUNTIES SANDY SWARTZENDRUBER, W9JOE. 

Text by W8ISH