SB SPCL @ ARL $ARLX015   
   ARLX015 Ethiopian Amateur Radio Society Chairman Sid T. May, ET3SID   
   (SK)   
      
   ZCZC AX15   
   QST de W1AW     
   Special Bulletin 15  ARLX015   
   From ARRL Headquarters     
   Newington CT  September 26, 2012   
   To all radio amateurs    
      
   SB SPCL ARL ARLX015   
   ARLX015 Ethiopian Amateur Radio Society Chairman Sid T. May, ET3SID   
   (SK)   
      
   Ethiopian Amateur Radio Society (EARS) Chairman Sid T. May,   
   ET3SID/G4CTQ/AB3OZ, passed away September 25. In 1993, May   
   established ET3AA, the first Amateur Radio club in Ethiopia.   
   According to Hailemelekot Negussie, AB3OX, of EARS, May has taught   
   Amateur Radio licensing classes in Ethiopia for more than 15 years.   
   EARS is Ethiopia's IARU Member-Society.   
      
   An accredited ARRL Volunteer Examiner (VE), May administered the FCC   
   license exam to prospective Ethiopian hams. He took part in   
   administering an FCC exam session in December 2011 where more than   
   50 Ethiopians received US call signs; May gave his last exam session   
   on September 10, with 18 sitting for the exam. Due to Ethiopian law,   
   it is nearly impossible for Ethiopians to get an Ethiopian Amateur   
   Radio license. "Unfortunately, Ethiopian Security still controls the   
   licensing system," said IARU Region 1 President Hans Blondeel   
   Timmerman, PB2T. "I am afraid that more work has to be done to   
   convince the authorities that today's students are tomorrow's   
   leaders and that in principle, they are good Ethiopians who deserve   
   their government's confidence. Another hurdle to overcome is the   
   examination fee of 25 British pounds, a one month's salary in   
   Ethiopia."   
      
   According to May's QSL card, May was primarily a RTTY operator. He   
   held call signs in Zambia (9J2ED), St Kitts (VP2KH), Montserrat   
   (VP2MKH), Oman (AX4JB), Nigeria (5N0SID), Gibraltar (ZB2HL) and   
   Sudan (G4CTQ/ST2). He is a member of the Radio Society of Great   
   Britain (RSGB) and in 1973, helped found the St Kitts Nevis and   
   Anguilla Radio Society (SNARS). He founded EARS in the 1990s.   
      
   "Sid was a teacher, a mentor and a father to all of us at ET3AA,"   
   Negussie explained. "We feel very saddened about the news, and   
   extend our condolences to his family and wish for his soul to rest   
   in peace. Sid is survived by hundreds of ambitious radio hams and   
   engineers who will forever be inspired by his humbleness and   
   vision."   
   NNNN   
   /EX   
      
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