SETI League Press Release
Little Ferry, NJ.., February, 2000 -- The SETI League, Inc., leaders in the privatized Search for Extra-Terrestrial Intelligence, is proud to have built up a worldwide membership base during its short lifetime. Amateur radio astronomers in 58 countries, and 49 of the United States, joined the grass-roots science organization during its first five years of existence. But that fiftieth state, the sparsely populated South Dakota, long eluded SETI League membership recruiters. We are proud to announce that we now have members in all fifty states, having just received our first membership application from South Dakota.
Helping The SETI League to achieve this important membership milestone is John R. Waltner, 61, of Freeman SD. Waltner holds an Extra-class (highest grade) amateur radio license, under the most appropriate callsign of N0SD (November Zero South Dakota).
"This completes our WAS award," notes SETI League executive director Dr. H. Paul Shuch, referring to Worked All States, a much sought after Ham Radio certificate requiring confirmed radio contact with stations in all fifty of the United States. "It is most appropriate that our lucky Number Fifty is in fact a licensed radio amateur." Shuch is a radio ham himself, holding the callsign N6TX. "Many of our members do indeed come from the ranks of amateur radio," he states, "although I must emphasize that no license is required to participate in our global effort to receive messages from our cosmic companions."
SETI scientists seek to determine through microwave and optical measurements whether humankind is alone in the universe. Since Congress terminated NASA's SETI funding in 1993, The SETI League and other scientific groups have been attempting to privatize the research. Experimenters interested in participating in the search for intelligent alien life, or citizens wishing to help support it, should email to join_at_setileague_dot_org, check the SETI League Web site at http://www.setileague.org/, send a fax to +1 (201) 641-1771, or contact The SETI League, Inc. membership hotline at +1 (800) TAU-SETI. Be sure to provide us with a postal address to which we will mail further information. The SETI League, Inc. is a membership-supported, non-profit [501(c)(3)], educational and scientific corporation dedicated to the electromagnetic Search for Extra-Terrestrial Intelligence.
P.S. Tearsheets are always appreciated. Thank you.
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