West Gulf Division Newsletter Special June 2014
— West Gulf Division Convention HamCom this week end
— Dave Sumner to Speak at ARRL Forum
— Grassroots Lobbying Course
— DX Card checking at LSDXA booth
— Hiram Percy Maxim will attend
— Planned Events for K5RAV and N5AUS
— Upcoming Hamfests and Conventions
— West Gulf Division Newsletter April 2015
—West Gulf Division Convention HamCom 2015
This is the 37th anniversary year for HamCom. Starting in 1978 at the
Red Coach Inn, HamCom has continually expanded and, as a consequence,
has had to move from time to time. There were a series of hotel venues
in the 1980’s until HamCom found the Arlington Convention Center where
the amateur radio event was the first official meeting at the center.
At the Arlington Center, the growth of HamCom made the convention one
of the major events on the national calendar for the vendors on the
second weekend of June. Unfortunately as the City of Arlington grew
they had priority to use the Arlington Convention Center for High
School graduation, which preempted Ham-Com on the second weekend of
June. This caused problems with the vendors trying to juggle a national
calendar. After looking at many venues, logistics at those venues and
costs HamCom moved to the Plano Centre.
The Plano Centre was a great venue with the room and features HamCom
always wanted. Smaller than the Arlington Center but comfortable and
affordable. Eventually, HamCom’s continued growth caused the
organizers to seek a larger facility.
After visiting many venues and talking with their staffs and many
Convention and Visitor Bureau groups, it was decided that the time had
come, so the Ham-Com Directors announced the 2015 Ham-Com would be
moving to the Irving Convention Center to help accommodate its
continual attendance growth and to provide 1st class facilities to
exhibitors and visitors.
With the move to the new facility, the indoor flea market increased
from 60 tables to more than 140 indoor, air conditioned tables.
We are all looking forward to a new and much larger facility. There is
a significant expansion of vendor space and an all indoor flea market
will sure make browsing for that “special” item a lot more
comfortable.
Irving Convention Center, 500 W Las Colinas Blvd, Irving, TX 75039.
—Dave Sumner, K1ZZ to Speak at ARRL Forum
The ARRL Forum at HamCom is scheduled for Saturday, June 13 at 11:00 AM
in Room 3. Members will be briefed about the latest news and events in
the West Gulf Division by Division Director Woolweaver. In addition,
the annual West Gulf Division Awards will be presented. Did your
nominee win? Who will be the Division Ham of the Year? Who will be
recognized for their efforts in support of amateur radio? You will
have to be there to find out.
A short description of the 2015 state legislative activities of the
Division will be delivered. Learn what happened at this year’s state
legislative sessions in both Oklahoma and Texas.
The principal speaker at the Forum this year is Dave Sumner, K1ZZ.
Dave, better known as “Mr. Amateur Radio”, is the Chief Executive
Officer and Secretary of the American Radio Relay League (ARRL), the
national association for Amateur Radio. Sumner is responsible to the
ARRL Board of Directors for managing the affairs of the league
including its headquarters staff and official journal, QST. His
presentation is entitled, “ARRL Today and Tomorrow”.
First licensed as KN1ZND in 1962 at age 13, Dave has been active in
most phases of Amateur Radio operating with special emphasis on CW
contesting. Active from the first as an ARRL volunteer, he joined the
Headquarters staff in 1968 for the summer, became a part of the
permanent staff in 1972, and was named Assistant General Manager four
years later. He was named Secretary and General Manager in 1982, with a
change in title to Executive Vice President in 1985 and the additional
title of Chief Executive Officer in 2001.
—Grassroots Lobbying Course
Immediately following the ARRL Forum in Room 3, a course on Grassroots
Lobbying will be presented by a representative of the Keelen Group,
Frank McCarthy. Frank has had extensive experience in Grassroots
organization and training. The Keelen Group is the political action
firm assisting the ARRL in Washington, DC.
Preregistration ended June 3rd; however, the course is an open course.
Anyone can attend. If you ever wanted to be involved in political
action to the assist the ARRL or to influence your legislators on other
matters, this is your chance to learn what to do and what not to do from
a professional.
—DX Card Checking at the LSDXA booth
The Lone Start DX Association will be providing DXCC card checking at
HamCom. The ARRL Card Checkers will be handling the demand for DXCC,
WAS, and VUCC applications. To save time, sort your cards before
arrival according to online instructions, which are available on the
ARRL web site. www.arrl.org
—Hiram Percy Maxim
In response to a special request, Hiram Percy Maxim has agreed to
attend HamCom again this year. Don’t miss a chance to meet and greet
the founder of the ARRL and the savior of amateur radio. Hiram will
stand for photos for those who desire a keepsake of the occasion.
—Planned events for K5RAV and N5AUS
Director Woolweaver, K5RAV and Vice Director Stratton, N5AUS plan to
attend the following upcoming events:
K5RAV
—West Gulf Division Convention, HamCom, June 12-13
—Field Day sites in the Houston area, June 27-28
—ARRL Board Meeting, Newington, CT, July 15-18
—South Texas Section Convention, Austin Summerfest, Aug 7-8
N5AUS
—West Gulf Division Convention, HamCom, June 12-13
—Field Day sites in the Dallas/Ft Worth area, June 27-28
—ARRL Board Meeting, Newington, CT, July 15-18
—Oklahoma Section Convention, Ham Holiday 2015, July 24-25
—South Texas Section Convention, Austin Summerfest, Aug 7-8
ARRL Convention and Hamfest events are a great place to visit with the
Division and Section Leadership! Each event will also include an ARRL
forum where you can receive additional insight into Division and
Section matters.
At any time that you have a concern or just want to say hello, contact
Director Woolweaver at K5RAV.
—Upcoming Hamfests and Conventions
06/12/2015 | West Gulf Division Convention (Ham-Com)
Location: Irving, TX
Type: ARRL Convention
Sponsor: Plano ARC, Dallas ARC, & Irving ARC
Website: http://www.hamcom.org
07/18/2015 | Tidelands Hamfest
Location: Texas City, TX
Type: ARRL Hamfest
Sponsor: Tidelands Amateur Radio Society
Website: http://tidelands.org
07/24/2015 | Oklahoma Section Convention (Ham Holiday 2015)
Location: Oklahoma City, OK
Type: ARRL Convention
Sponsor: Central Oklahoma Radio Amateurs
Website: http://hamholiday.org
08/07/2015 | South Texas Section Convention (Austin Summerfest 2015)
Location: Austin, TX
Type: ARRL Convention
Sponsor: Austin ARC and Texas VHF-FM Society
Website: http://www.austinsummerfest.org