The SETI League, Inc. Press Release No. 07-04

SETI League Press Release

SETI League Presents Annual Awards
For more information contact: Dr. H. Paul Shuch, Executive Director Emeritus
(201) 641-1770, or email info_at_setileague_dot_org

Little Ferry NJ.., 29 April 2007 -- At its Annual Meeting this afternoon at its New Jersey headquarters, the nonprofit SETI League, leaders in a global search for extra-terrestrial intelligence, recognized two individuals for major contributions to the art and science of SETI. Honored this year were Dr. Robert Melville of New Jersey (for work performed while a science technician in Antarctica), and David Ocame, a neursurgery research associate at Yale University (for SETI efforts conducted from his Connecticut home).

The SETI League recognized Bob Melville, an active amateur radio operator (callsign WB3EFT) and SETI League member, with its annual Giordano Bruno Memorial Award, for his significant technical contributions to SETI science. During a yearlong deployment to the Amundsen-Scott South Pole Research Station, Melville braved the elements to construct a fully operational Project Argus radio telescope, and performed the first-ever SETI observations from the Bottom of the World. When he rotated back to the US after thirteen months on the ice, Melville left his South Pole SETI Station intact for use by future researchers.

David Ocame, amateur radio callsign WS1ETI, was selected to receive The SETI League's annual Orville Greene Service Award, for exemplary volunteer service to the nonprofit organization. Ocame chairs The SETI League Awards Committee, operates a Project Argus station from his Connecticut home, is listed on the ETCC (Extra-Terrestrial Century Club) Honor Roll for having documented reception of ten identified extra-terrestrial radio sources, and has contributed numerous articles to The SETI League website, the organization's quarterly newsletter SearchLites, and various Conference Proceedings. The Trustees of The SETI League bypasseed their Awards Committee's recommendations in making this surprise presentation to Ocame.

Photo editors may download a picture of the SETI League award winners from The SETI League website, at www.setileague.org/photos/awards/brunog07.jpg. Seen in that image (left to right) are David Ocame, SETI League Executive Director Emeritus H. Paul Shuch, and Robert Melville. SETI League photo by Pat Santoro.

In other actions at today's meeting, the Trustees of The SETI League, Inc. accepted the Executive Director's and Secretary/Treasurer's annual reports, adopted a 2007 budget, re-elected its officers (Richard Factor, WA2IKL, President; A. Heather Wood, Secretary/Treasurer; H. Paul Shuch, N6TX, Chief Operating Officer) to serve on a volunteer basis for an additional one-year term, and agreed to resume cost sharing of the Executive Director Emeritus' health insurance premiums.

Largely using radio telescopes and optical telescopes, SETI scientists seek to determine whether humankind is alone in the universe. Since Congress terminated NASA's SETI funding in 1993, The SETI League and other scientific groups have privatized the research. Amateur and professional scientists interested in participating in the search for intelligent alien life, and citizens wishing to help support it, should email 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 scientific Search for Extra-Terrestrial Intelligence.

P.S. Tearsheets are always appreciated. Thank you.

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