Wow! What a Convention--and What a Special Event Station!

Greetings:

Well, the 129th New Jersey State Convention is history. There was an election--the first time that has happened in at least the 10 years that I have been attending the convention. Our Special Events Station (SES) at the convention itself was a bust, the weather brought a tornado to South Jersey, and because of the election, which caused the convention to run late, the closing Mass, and dinner, both ran late.

However....we made over 350 contacts operating the SES from our homes (thank you, Jim, W2UM, and Scott, N0VYU!) I met Bob, K2OFC, and his lovely wife, Annette, at the convention. I had photos taken of Bob and I, as well as with Vince, K2VPL, and with our State Deputy-elect, Jim Sweeney (no callsign). I met hundreds of great people, ate some good foot, and sat in a chair most of the time selling raffle tickets!

I sold enough raffle tickets to cover the winning prize. How, we need to work together to sell enough tickets to pay for the expenses, as well as make a profit we can apply towards the purchase of our communications vehicle/classroom on the air.

PLUS, Bob and I provided the link to the Technician Class training that Bob will provide beginning next month.

PLUS, we had a dozen new hits on our website.

PLUS, I received a new application AND dues for a new member, Christopher P. Brillantes, KD2EQC, who need to renew his ticket NOW!

(Photo shows Tom, N2JIE, Vince, K2VPL and Bob, K2)FC, in front of our club banner.).

So, although the bands were dead (again) while at the convention, the weather was bad (again) at the convention, our contacts for eight days was respectable, for only three operators. Everything else was a home run!

Thank you to those of you who helped out with our Special Event Station.

Vivat Jesus and 73,

Tom

N2JIE