Director Candidate Ernie Swenson - WB6VVA 299 Wattaquadock Hill Rd Bolton, MA 01740-1236 (401) 294-0486

When asked to accept the nomination for QCWA Director, I didn't have to think twice. I saw this as another opportunity to "give back" to an organization and hobby that I have very strong ties to. Being a licensed ham for over 40 years probably puts me in the "new blood" category of our esteemed organization. I hold life memberships in QCWA, the Yankee chapter (Central/Eastern Massachusetts) and Twin State chapter (Vermont/New Hampshire). Other memberships include ARRL and FISTS. As my call sign implies, I am not a native of the New England area.

My profession is Electrical Engineering and I have spent over 30 years in Defense Electronics. My work has taken me from my beginnings in Southern California to the great Northwest and finally to New England where I am currently a Director of Systems Engineering at Raytheon's Integrated Defense Systems.

As a Director of QCWA, besides working to increase our organization's presence at national and regional ham conventions and hamfests, I would focus on two areas that I think are important for the longevity and health of our hobby and organization. First, I would work to enable QCWA chapters to provide Elmers to new hams. Second, if elected, I would help as many chapters as possible to establish goals that each can "call their own". An excellent example of this is Boulder Amateur Radio Club's youth program presented at this year's national convention in Denver - an excellent program that could be jointly sponsored and supported by a local radio club and QCWA chapter.