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2021 JANUARY 10 VK NATIONAL NEWS BROADCAST ON VK1WIA
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THE BEST NEWS YOU'LL GET ALL WEEK
THIS LINK IS A VIDEO VERSION OF NEWS COMPILED BY VK5BD BEVAN
tinyurl.com/WIA-News-Videos
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NATIONAL NEWS FOR WEEK COMMENCING JANUARY 10 2021
IN OUR 26th YEAR OF NON STOP NEWS
( 1937 in a mention we've come across relating to weekly
broadcasts of information prepared by VK4 was a plea to
restart the weekly news service which was on air in the
late 1920's )
WIA AT WORK
WIA Club Public Liability Insurance
THIS & MORE IN THIS EDITION OF NEWS FROM THE
WIRELESS INSTITUTE OF AUSTRALIA
WIA AT WORK
Lee Moyle VK3GK, Vice President of the WIA, has been helping
secure 2 special amateur radio call signs from the ACMA.
VI 100 AF and VK 100 AF.
Many would be aware that this year, 2021 is the 100th
Anniversary of the Royal Australian Air Force hence these 2
calls to be used for the celebrations,
VI 100 AF and VK 100 AF.
VI100AF will be on air 1 March - 29 May, 100 days
(the Air Force's actual Birthday is March 31)
VK100AF will be on air 1 March - 31 August 2021.
The special event call signs will be issued to amateurs from
around Australia on a roster and the WIA have authorised
Stuart VK8NSB, to manage both calls.
VK8NSB is interested to hear from any amateurs, particularly
those who have an association with the ADF who would be
interested in using the event call signs at your home, club
or portable location on a SOTA or Park activity all to help
celebrate the 100th Anniversary of the RAAF
Please email Stuart on vk8nsb@hotmail.com
WORLD AMATEUR RADIO DAY THEME ANNOUNCED FOR 2021
The IARU Administrative Council has chosen
Amateur Radio: Home but Never Alone as the theme
for World Amateur Radio Day, Sunday 18 April 2021.
Faced with a pandemic that forced the adoption of extreme
physical isolation to reduce the spread of the virus,
the worldwide amateur radio community responded positively
to overcome the resulting social isolation.
In the days and weeks following the onset of the pandemic
radio amateurs reached out spontaneously to one another
via the airwaves at local, national and global levels.
Local wellness nets provided friendly voices and regular
status checks to those, especially the elderly, who are
confined to their homes.
Stay safe special event stations in dozens of countries
reminded us all of the importance of limiting the spread
of this nasty virus.
On-the-air activity was at an unprecedented level throughout
the rest of 2020, with record-breaking numbers of entries in
the major contests.
While the development of effective vaccines offers hope for a
return to some semblance of normality later in 2021, the
pandemic will still be with us when we mark World Amateur
Radio Day 2021 hence the theme:-
Amateur Radio: Home but Never Alone
(sarl)
WIA
JOIN THE WIA
tinyurl.com/yyj87b9y
WIA BOARD MINUTES
wia.org.au/joinwia/wia/minutes/
WIA BOARD NEWSLETTERS (older)
Giving members to have a better awareness of Board activities.
wia.org.au/joinwia/wia/newsletters/
WIA Club Public Liability Insurance
The current Amateur Radio Club Public liability Insurance
program is subscribed by well over 100 of our affiliated
clubs throughout Australia. The policy is sold by our
WIA insurance brokers and is significantly discounted to
member clubs because of the WIA group buying power.
The current policy is due for renewal at the end of the first
quarter in 2021.
The WIA are investigating alternatives and options for the
2021 offering and information will be available shortly.
This is WIA Secretary Peter VK8ZZ
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INTERNATIONAL NEWS With thanks to IARU, RSGB, SARL, Southgate
AR Club, ARRL, RAC, NZART AMATEUR RADIO NEWSLINE & the
World Wide sources of the WIA.
NEW ZEALAND
Power to the people.
New Zealand is putting wireless power transfer systems using
148.5 kHz to 30 MHz into the General User Radio Licence for
Short Range Devices category.
The notice has been updated to include several amendments.
These include new provisions to permit the use of the
frequency range 0.1485 30 MHz for WPT and induction loop
systems used to detect foreign objects; to permit the use of
the frequency range 1785 1805 MHz for wireless microphone,
in-ear monitors, or wireless audio transmitters; to implement
WRC-19 Resolution 229 regarding the 5150 5350 MHz band to
permit wireless local area network outdoor use and a power
level up to 0 dBW, and to permit the use of the frequency
range 13.553 13.567 MHz for radio frequency identification
transmitters.
A General User Radio Licence permits transmitting WITHOUT the
need to get a license or paying licensing fees.
LAPLAND
OH 8 X Node Active
As part of the Yasme Foundation project to provide additional
Reverse Beacon Network nodes in under-served areas, equipment
has been provided to a team in northern Finland.
The latest node to become active is currently hosted by
Radio Arcala, OH8X, very close to the Lapland (OH9) Region.
The OH8X RBN node will further help the study of the
Polar Path in which Radio Arcala will be cooperating with
the northern scientific community.
Polar Path is the name given to a mysterious propagation mode
existing in Northern Europe during the winter season. At and
above the Arctic Circle in the middle of the night this
propagation offers a footprint covering the entire
North American continent for many hours.
USA
You win some, you lose some.
The FCC has agreed that its proposed $50 fee for certain
amateur radio applications was too high to account for the
minimal staff involvement in these applications.
Now the FCC is to scaled back to $35 the fee for a new
license application, a special temporary authority request,
a rule waiver request, a license renewal application, and a
vanity call sign application.
All fees are per application.
CROATIA
After their devastating Earthquake, and Col VK3GTV will have
more on that event during Special Interest Group News, Croatia
has joined the small number of countries to allow operation
on the 40 MHz (8-meter) band. Dragan Mojsilovic, 9A6W,
reports that national telecom authorities there have granted
him a 1-year experimental license to operate from 40.66 MHz
to 40.7 MHz.
Croatia becomes the fifth country to offer at least some
operating authority in the band. Ireland, Slovenia, and
South Africa already have 40 MHz allocations, while Lithuania
has allocated spot frequencies for experimental purposes.
JAPAN
The Japan International DX Meeting (JIDXM) committee, in
cooperation with CQ magazine, has announced awards to
DXpedition teams and individuals who made outstanding
contributions to the worlds DX community.
The 2020 JIDXM award program will recognize the
VP8PJ South Orkney DXpedition Team (February 2020),
the VP2VB Yasme Memorial Expedition Team (March 2020),
and the TO0Z St. Barthelemy Expedition Team (September 2020)
as DXpeditions of the year.
Despite the situation caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, these
teams overcame all the difficulties and organized DXpeditions
successfully with fine teamwork.
The 2021 running of the AM Rally will take place from 0000 UTC
Saturday, February 6 to 0700 UTC Monday, February 8. This
annual AM Rally operating event encourages all operators around
the world to explore amateur radios original voice mode by
showcasing the various types of amplitude modulation equipment
in use today, ranging from early vacuum-tube radios to the
latest SDR-based transceivers.
And as the "cat man" Felix in his operational news segment says
it's a great way to dust off the tubes, beat the Covid blues
AND to prepare for our very own AM on ANZAC Day event.
Participation in the AM Rally has continued to grow over the
past 5 years and is of course open to all radio amateurs
capable of operating on AM using any type of radio equipment
on our standard HF bands.
Now I mentioned Felix, well, he's next right here on Australias
news leader . VK1WIA.
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HAM RADIO OPERATIONAL NEWS - IT'S A CONTACT SPORT
Almost every weekend the bands burst into life as thousands
of fellow Radio Amateurs try talking to as many people as
possible whilst saying as little as possible.
This is the sport of Radio Contesting, and while many are
baffled by all the noise, and many others are annoyed by the
spectrum it takes, to the participants it is as exciting as
any Olympic event, with the added bonus that Norms, or
Couch Potatoes can come first !
Whether you spend a lot or a little money on your hobby,
whether you devote the whole weekend or just a couple of hours
contesting welcomes you to its ranks, and hopes you take part,
have a lot of fun, learn a little more about yourself and your
station, and above all hopes that you send in your log.
As you are aware we only publicise the main contests in our
area, those deemed WIA official 'tests' and tier one contests
world-wide.
New Zealands amateur radio society the NZART has released its
new for 21 Contest Calendar.. the link naturally on the
WIA News Page.
nzart.org.nz/activities/contests/nzart-contest-calendar
( ei8ic / nzart / vk4bb )
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Ross Hull Memorial VHF/UHF Contest is taking place
ALL of January
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VHF-UHF SUMMER FIELD DAY - Saturday 16 and Sunday 17 January.
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CQWW 160M CW CONTEST January 29 - 31.
CQWW 160M SSB CONTEST February 26 - 28.
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CQ World Wide RTTY WPX Contest February 13-14
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International DX CW Contest February 20-21
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International DX Phone Contest March 6 - 7
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WIA John Moyle Field Day 2021
March from UTC 0100 on Saturday 20 to 0059 Sunday 21nd.
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the CQ World Wide SSB WPX Contest March 27-28
the CQ World Wide CW WPX Contest May 29-30
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April 25 AM / CW ANZAC Day, Mon 25th from 9am on 7125kHz AM.
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Harry Angel Sprint will be May First 2021. 10:00 - 11:46 UTC.
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The VK SHIRES the June long weekend, which is the weekend
prior to the second Monday of June each year.. making it
June 12-13 in 2021
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WINTER VHF-UHF Field Days - June 26 - 27
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DX WINDOW
THE RAAF is flying high to celebrate it's 100 years on
March 31..
The Royal Australian Airforce call signs to 'target' are
VI 100 AF March 1 - 29 May
VK 100 AF March 1 - 31 August
(vk8nsb)
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To celebrate the 40th anniversary of the International Police
Association Radio Club of Switzerland, look for HB 40 POLICE
to be active all year til December 31st.
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A QSO with HB 40 POLICE counts as a club callsign for the
IPARC Switzerland and is valid for the Matterhorn Award.
QSL via the Bureau or eQSL.
(sourced to SouthGate)
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POLAND.
Members of the SEDINA Contest Club are QRV with SQ 0 MORSE
until the end of April commemorating the 230th birthday of
Samuel F. B. Morse. QSL via SP1EG.
(arrl)
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KENYA, 5Z.
Cato, LA9PF will be QRV as 5Z4/LA9PF from Malindi now until
May on 80 to 10 meters using SSB and various digital modes.
(arrl)
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FINLAND, OH.
Special event station OH 100 SRAL is QRV during all of 2021
to celebrate the centennial of the Finnish Amateur Radio League.
QSL via bureau.
(arrl)
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Special event station HF 2021 HNY Poland goes QRT today
January 10. It has been celebrating the New Year, hence
the suffix HNY. Members of the "Enigma" club SP 2 PBM
are operating the station HF 2021 HNY
Send QSLs to SP2PBM by the bureau.
(sourced to ARNewsLine)
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ROTUMA, 3D2.
Tony QRV as 3D2AG/p until mid-January on 160 to 6 meters,
including 60 meters, using CW, SSB, RTTY and FT8.
QSL direct to 3D2AG.
(arrl)
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BELGIUM
Special call signs in Belgium during the second lockdown
period i.e. until January 31, 2021
B.I.P.T. has decided to once again grant permission to apply
for customised special call signs. The exceptional conditions
only apply to special call signs with an encouraging meaning.
Listen and work these
OS 2HOPE, OT 5 ALIVE, OQ 5 BECLEVER and OT 2CARE.
(SouthGate)
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SLOVENIA, S5.
Members of the Radio Club Elektron Brezice are QRV with
special event station S 520 SAFE until January 31, 2021
supports the STAY SAFE campaign and expresses their gratitude
to medical staff and care workers.
QSL direct to S 56 IPS.
(arrl)
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WORLD WIDE SPECIAL INTEREST GROUP NEWS
BALLOONING
3 TIMES ROUND THE WORLD
Pella Amateur Radio Club APRS balloon spans globe 3 times.
KNIA-KRLS reports the Clubs 144.39 MHz APRS balloon project,
callsign WB 0 URW - 8, has completed 3 trips around the earth
and is STILL flying
The balloon was launched on November 5 in collaboration with
students at Jefferson Intermediate School.
kniakrls.com/2020/12/28/440787/
Track the balloon online at
aprs.fi/#!call=a%2FWB0URW-8&timerange=604800&tail=6
(SouthGate)
WORLD WIDE SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- DIGITAL
vkdmr.info/
brandmeister.network/?page=repeaters
WSJT-X version 2.4.0 has introduced a new digital protocol
called Q65 designed for minimal two-way QSOs over especially
difficult propagation paths.
Q65 will enable stations with a modest Yagi and 100 W or more
to work one another on 6 meters at distances up to ~1600 kms
at most times even in dead band conditions.
(arrl)
WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS - FINAL FRONTIER
AMSAT-VK Secretary - secretary@amsat-vk.org
HOWS THIS FOR INGENUITY
The first helicopter designed to fly on another planet is now
just weeks away from Mars.
NASA's Mars helicopter, called Ingenuity, is hitching a ride
to the Red Planet with the agency's Mars 2020 Perseverance
rover, which lifted off July 30 last year and the six month
route to Mars has a scheduled landing on Mars on Feb. 18, 2021.
The rotorcraft will attempt the first-ever flight through
another planet's atmosphere.
space.com/nasa-mars-helicopter-ingenuity-launched.html
The Dianetics of a movie star.
Continuing to be a Hollywood superstar seems wasnt enough
for Tom Cruise, the actor is gearing up to leave an especially
unique mark on the filmmaking industry.
Earlier this year, you'll recall we announced that Tom Cruise
teamed up with Space X and NASA for a movie that will actually
be shot in outer space. However, TC and his collaborators will
need to hurry if they want to be the first to deliver such a
project to the public as apparently Russia is getting in on
this 'space race.'
Russians "Channel One TV" channel is partnering with space
agency Roscosmos to find an actress to lead a movie,
tentatively titled Challenge, that will shoot in outer space.
The plan is for Challenge to begin rolling cameras at the
International Space Station in October this year.
Whats interesting is that with Tom Cruise and his filmmaking
team also heading to the ISS next October it would seem
unless one of these productions 'blinks,' theyll have to
contend with filming their separate stories in the same space
(pun intended) at the same time.
tinyurl.com/ybtuwjbw
(cinemablend.com)
WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- RESCUE RADIO
IARU REGION 3
Emergency Centre of Activity (CoA) frequencies
3.600, 7.110, 14.300, 18.160 and 21.360 MHz
Region 1 3760 7110 14300 18160 21360 kHz
Region 2 3750 3985 7060 7240 7275 14300 18160 21360 kHz
IARU Region 1 reports on that 6.4 magnitude earthquake in
Croatia December 29 that caused severe damage about 50 kms
from the capital Zagreb.
The neighbouring country Slovenia shut down their nuclear
power plant as a precaution.
The earthquake reached a magnitude of 6.4.
All services engaged in the earthquake-affected area are
reported to be organised and have their own communications
but the national society H.R.S. is asking members to be close
to their radios and a net is formed on 3.675MHz as well as
DMR and repeaters in case any assistance is needed.
iaru-r1.org/
SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS - VHF AND ABOVE (The Plumbers Delight)
Colin Butler writing in the icq-podcast tells of a pretty
remarkable 3200 km opening on 144 MHz here in VK.
With the Summer Sporadic-E season now in full swing DOWN UNDER
many have been making contacts on the VHF bands. During one
such opening there was one very unusual, though be it WSPR,
report on 144 MHz which spanned VK6 to VK2, right across our
continent.
The normal maximum distance for one-hop Sporadic-E is usually
in the region of 2300 kms. It is thought that on this occasion
two Sporadic-E hops may have been responsible. While this is
pretty common on say the 50 MHz / 6-metre band, it's very
unusual for it to happen at 144 MHz.
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DISCUSSION POINT
Hello, Im Geoff Emery, VK4ZPP, and Ive been thinking.
I have noted a trend in newly minted hams and some that are a
bit crusty to rush to the groups that they have joined and
ask questions or make criticisms of things they missed
learning during their study. Some of the traditions of this
pursuit are encompassed in that slightly strange expression
of lifelong learning. Having a copy of the bible, either
the RSGB or ARRL Handbook was almost as important as having
the ticket itself. This gave amateurs access to a high
standard of knowledge in answering technical questions in the
days before a wiki was thought to be better than a book.
Being able to nut out problems and find answers were ways of
making knowledge stick in the memory and at times you could
prove a book was wrong. Before lot of learning was done via
internet sources, when radio clubs were running training
classes and individual amateurs took newcomers under their
wing, there was time to talk about the history of radio and
how the amateur radio traditions came about. People could be
encouraged to ask questions and in return they would get a
respectful answer. Recently I have noticed group
administrators putting posts up for people to display courtesy
in their replies. It may be that some people only find their
sense of adequacy in trying to belittle others but these
keyboard warriors are just alienating others from enjoying
this small part of the hobby.
Let us try and be the best mentor to our fellow radio hobbyists
that we can and in turn they will repay our efforts by helping
others.
Im VK4ZPP Geoff Emery and thats what I think.how about you?
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Social Scene
KEEP ONE WAVELENGTH AWAY AT 144 Megacycles
#2MetersMatters
Due to the COVID-19 situation, please check these events'
direct for up-to-date status information and even without
Covid dates have an uncanny knack of being changed at last
moment.
VK4 - TARC Australia Day Long Week Family Radio Camp
Thursday afternoon 21st to Tuesday afternoon 26th
January at Girl Guides Association of Queensland
Campsite and Training Centre Bluewater. (vk4zz)
VK4 - A WICEN event at the Ipswich and District Radio
Clubhouse. Operators will setup and demonstrate
portable and base stations with portable masts,
antennas and more. February 13 between 1000 and 1400
hours (vk4hit)
VK2 - WYONG FIELD DAY February 28 ( vk4zz)
Preparations are "ramping up" with many traders already booked
in. If you are a trader interested in attending or you are
looking to sell goods at the car boot sale, you can obtain all
needed information by emailing fieldday@ccarc.org.au
Remember to lock the date into your calendars, Sunday 28th
of February. There are also whispers of fox hunts on the
Saturday too, both Mobile and Pedestrian, so keep your eyes
and ears peeled.
Confirmed presentations so far are:
Ray Robinson from tube Radio
Brian Clarke talking about op amps
And of course the annual Weak Signals Group meeting led by
Roger Harrison where all are welcome to attend.
Please keep in mind that this event is subject to Government
health advice which the team are monitoring closely. Updates
will be provided as progress continues. For the latest
information, please check out the clubs website
ccarc.org.au
For the Wyong Field Day and the Central Coast Amateur Radio
Club, this was Ed VK2JI.
VK3 - EMDRC HamFest - March 28th 10am (vk3bq)
VK4 - REDFEST 2021 April Ten (vk4tfn)
VK - ALARAMEET 2021 Bendigo VK3 October 1 - 4 (vk5yl)
VK3 - ROSEBUD RadioFest by SPARC 9:30am Nov 14 (vk3pdg)
Reception Reports
WIA News rebroadcasters often give Short Wave Listeners a
welcome to the broadcast as they commence call-backs
straight after the Local News. Local news follows National
news in all states. It would be great if those SWL's would
email their reception reports and location to
callbacks@wia.org.au
Submitting news items
If you would like to submit news items for possible inclusion
in the VK1WIA broadcasts, please email your item in text to
nationalnews@wia.org.au and don't JUST send url's links or
posters, but take the time to pen YOUR contribution.
To submit audio email nationalnews@wia.org.au and ask for the
current password then read "how to submit items" in the
weekly news page on
wia.org.au/members/broadcast/contribute/
We would appreciate items certainly no longer than 1.5 mts in
length as we only have a half hour.
Remember the sooner you submit material the more the likelihood
of it being broadcast in the very next edition of WIA
National News.
Each item will only be broadcast once, if you want a couple
of mentions, please submit different slants to keep your event
'fresh' and always if the news room is to read your item ---
write it in the 3rd person. (First if YOU are reading your
own item)
A reminder when supplying HamFest info we obviously can't
plug DEALS from commercial traders "on air", but we at the
WIA will put your supporters 'goods' in this text edition
"no worries."
We cannot give blatant 'plugs' to raffles.
vk1wia-broadcasters@lists.wia.org.au
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Oh... and to contact us with your news because
If It Matters To You It Matters To Us!
Click the links below to download the most recent edition of
National News, BUT this is ONLY the backup site!
WIANEWS backup thanks to Brendan VK4BLP can be found on
wiaq.org.au
BACKUPS OF THE BACKUP!! thanks to Tony VK7AX
www.vk7ax.id.au/wianews/
wia.org.au/members/broadcast/wianews/ (This is the link
to the original text version and original audio on wia site)
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WIANews - we've reported...YOU decide.
TWITTER twitter.com/VK1WIA
Societies and Club News Letter Editors can EXCHANGE a feed
prior to the actual broadcast date, e-mail
nationalnews@wia.org.au
Call-backs follow the RF editions, but also for text readers
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knows, you might even get a "cheerio call".
Thanks to our dedicated band of broadcast volunteers who
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broadcast.
Who and where are they?
wia.org.au/members/broadcast/where/
The purpose of "WIANews" is to rapidly provide news of
interest to WIA affiliated clubs and active amateurs residing
in Australia and the globe.
We strongly encourage membership in the Wireless Institute of
Australia and participation in the activities of local clubs.
Opinions expressed in "WIANews" are those of the writers who
submit material and do not necessarily reflect those of the
rebroadcasters, nor the National WIA, but IF broadcast, are
done so in the spirit in which they were submitted."
Material may be reproduced in whole or in part, in any form,
a credit to WIANews wouldn't go astray...
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