ARRL Southwestern Division Convention
to feature Barry Goldwater theme
The ARRL Southwestern Division Convention this year will invoke the spirit
of Arizona native son and US Senator Barry Goldwater, K7UGA. The convention
takes place Friday through Sunday, August 27-29, at the Wild Horse Pass
Resort near Phoenix.
"One of Amateur Radio's most successful periods of congressional
action was during the term of the late Sen Barry Goldwater, K7UGA,"
says ARRL Southwestern Division Director Art Goddard, W6XD. "Because
all hams have
benefited from Goldwater's legislative support, Convention Chairman Bob
Davies, K7BHM, has scheduled a series of events to recapture the spirit
of K7UGA."
Goldwater, who was the 1964 Republican Party presidential candidate,
died in 1998. He was a life member of the convention's host, the Central
Arizona DX Association (CADXA), which has held his well-known K7UGA call
sign since late 2000. Those attending will have the opportunity to operate
a K7UGA special event station equipped with Goldwater's personal Collins
S-Line station.
Not only that, but convention visitors may have the chance to shake Goldwater's
hand and have their pictures taken with him - in a manner of speaking,
that is. Playwright, actor and Goldwater family friend Ben Tyler will
be on the convention floor as Barry Goldwater to greet convention
attendees. "And perhaps 'Barry' will have some advice for us on how
to deal with the challenges of Broadband over Power Line," Goddard
quipped. During the convention, ARRL CEO David Sumner, K1ZZ, will present
a BPL update.
Conventioneers also will be invited to share Goldwater memories or anecdotes
as part of a K7UGA oral history project.
ARRL Emergency Communications Course Manager Dan Miller, K3UFG, will
present a four-hour Amateur Radio Emergency Communications course seminar
during the convention. The seminar will not include the Amateur Radio
Emergency Communications course itself. Convention registrants should
contact Miller k3ufg@arrl.org, (860-594-0340)
to register for the free seminar and for more information.
In addition to dozens of programs covering nearly every aspect of ham
radio, door prizes, a banquet and a Sunday breakfast, convention highlights
include:
* Presentation of the ARRL Hiram Percy Maxim Memorial Award to Jay Thompson,
W6JAY, by ARRL CEO Sumner.
* Discussion of Amateur Radio license restructuring by ARRL International
Affairs Vice President Rod Stafford, W6ROD.
* An ARRL Forum.
* A free swapmeet (Saturday, 6 AM until noon).
* A Wouff Hong ceremony.
Complete convention information is on the Southwestern Division Convention
Web site.
Source: ARRL Letter - courtesy of The
American Radio Relay League
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