“Introduction to Parks on the Air”
Speaker: Mark Anderson WB2SMK, Senior Project Engineer for the Design Lab at Rensselaer
Abstract: Parks on the Air – what is this? I remember something called National Parks on the Air – is this the same thing? Who does this? What do you need to participate? Is it hard to do? How do I get started? What special gear is needed? Can anyone get involved? What does it cost? Mark will answer these questions and more.
Mark Anderson developed an interest in electricity in grade school, experimenting with the Three B’s – batteries, bulbs and buzzers! As this interest developed, Mark eventually built a classic All American 5 tube radio, a combination AM/Shortwave unit, when he was in 6th grade. He was hooked. Mark’s father did some digging and discovered that Lafayette Radio and Electronics in Syosset, Long Island, would be holding Novice classes at their store. While driving to and from the sessions, Mark and his dad would listen to Jean Shepherd, aka W2ORS, on WOR. Mark was awarded WN2BIJ at the ripe old age of 13 in 1970. Once his Novice ran out after 2 years, Mark became a general, then many years later upgraded to advanced and ultimately upgraded to extra, holding the WB2SMK call throughout. Mark is a member of the Straight Key Century Club (# 14139T) and is a member of Parks on the Air. Mark was a member and officer of W4NC in Winston Salem, NC during the 4 years he lived there and after moving back to NY in 1985, became a member of SARA where he has also held officer positions. Mark received his BS and MS degrees in Electrical Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. He began his career at RPI as a Project Engineer for the Center for Manufacturing Productivity and Technology Transfer. He then moved to Westinghouse Power Generation and General Electric, working for multiple business groups. He has held various positions in several electrical and computer related fields including: manufacturing, robotics, vision systems, instrumentation, software development, factory automation, HMI, engineering, numerical control/CNC, machine tools/ machining, and business process analysis.
Mark is currently a Senior Project Engineer for the Design Lab at Rensselaer and the Course Coordinator for the Introduction to Engineering Design (IED) class. For the Design Lab, he has supervised over 100 project teams working with several hundred students for various sponsoring companies and individuals. In his role as IED Course Coordinator, Mark leads a team of 15-20 instructors who teach a dozen course sections serving over 300 students each semester.
Meeting Location
Fellowship Hall of the First United Methodist Church
603 State Street, Schenectady
Directions to First United Methodist Church:
Parking lot address is 610 (Google shows it as 650) Chapel Street Schenectady NY 12305.
Chapel St is a One Way street from Nott Terrace to Lafayette Street. If this lot is full, park across the street. Enter the building through double doors, take an immediate right, go through another set of double doors, turn right then left and the Fellowship Hall is on your right (follow signs).
From the East (Colonie, State St Rt 5):
Turn Right onto Nott Terrace then take your first Left onto Chapel Street. Parking lot is on Left.
From the West (Scotia, Glenville, Eire Blvd):
*THERE IS NO LEFT TURN FROM STATE STREET TO NOTT TERRACE*
Take State St (Rt 5) to Lafayette St and turn right then immediately turn Left to continue up State St. At Veeder Ave (Traffic Light) turn Left. Cross over State St (Rt 5) then take the first Left onto Chapel St. Parking lot is on Left.
From the South (I-890 Exit 5, Broadway, Rotterdam):
Take Broadway North to Millard St and turn Right, First Traffic Light. Millard St becomes Veeder Ave at Hamilton St (Schenectady FD on Left). Continue over Veeder take first left after State St onto Chapel St. Parking is on left.
From the North (Union Collage, Niskayuna, Union St):
From Union St, take Nott Terrace South and turn Right onto Chapel St. Parking lot is on Left.
