[ADXA] ADXA in 2016 - Happy New Year

[Joel Harrison]

Happy New Year to ADXA !

I want to take this opportunity to thank you for your support of ADXA over
the years and especially to Frank, K7FF for his service as ADXA President.
Having Frank continue to serve as an ADXA Board member will be a great
help moving forward.

At our Annual Meeting in December we reviewed a number of things planned
for 2016 to promote ADXA.

First, Pat, W5VY, and I will be working to update and improve the ADXA web
site. Our web site is a vital tool to have for new, prospective and
existing members to use for information on various ADXA topics. I realize
there are multiple sources for DX information available on the internet
today but there is only one source for information on ADXA - OUR
WEBSITE!!!!

Next, we want to revive our presence at a few select hamfests in Arkansas
beginning with Russellville on March 5. I made contact with the hamfest
Chair and they have provided us with a 10:00 AM time slot to conduct a DX
forum. With the excitement generated the past two years beginning with the
W1AW Centennial operation a number of new and old hams experienced HF
operation for the first time. As a result many now have an interest in HF
DX'ing. It is imperative that ADXA, THE DX CLUB in Arkansas, promote and
mentor this new group of DX'ers. We do not plan to have a presence at
every hamfest in Arkansas simply because there are way too many and most
are just simple "swap meets" or social gatherings. There are, however, a
very few, key fests in the state that deserve our
attention to promote ADXA.

I requested and received from ARRL a list of current DXCC members in
Arkansas. There were 92 on the list, many I know and several I do not. I
began to wonder if they have ever heard of ADXA! Obviously if there are
active DX'ers in Arkansas we want to ensure they know about ADXA. In the
coming weeks I am interested in hearing your thoughts on reaching out to
these DXCC members in Arkansas.

We had a good discussion about meeting dates and location at our last two
meetings. ADXA meets in-person quarterly at a site and time determined by
the membership. A long time ago it was voted to have meetings on the 3rd
Saturday of the 3rd month of each quarter with the Annual Meeting being
held on the 1st Saturday of December. Having a firm, recurring meeting
date is important for planning and these dates have worked well for many
years. Recently there has been some conflict with the meeting date that
impacts a majority of those currently attending the meetings. You can
never find a date, especially in today's social
environment, that will accommodate all members all the time although we
should be open to considering an adjustment if a regularly scheduled
meeting date falls on a date that will prevent good attendance or there is
benefit in holding a meeting during a time when another amateur radio
event occurs in the state. There has been no proposal to change the
current meeting times, just a good discussion at the last two meetings
that suggests it may be time to review the current date arrangement. The
requirement in the Articles of Association is to meet quarterly at a site
and time to be determined by the membership.

Let's continue to remember Ollie, W5GO, as he struggles with health
issues. I appreciate Dave keeping us posted on his status. Jack, N5KG is
recovering well from his surgery and is able to get out and about on a
limited basis. He was at Church Sunday and looked very good!

Some ideas I want ADXA to discuss further are a "Rookie Challenge" for new
DXCC members, a challenge to achieve DXCC on a new band and to start a
technical series to assist our members in getting on a new band, resolving
a station interference or noise issue, antennas and many other areas that
we all, regardless of experience level, work on continuously.

Again, Happy New Year to all and I look forward to an exciting year for
ADXA !

73 Joel W5ZN
2016 ADXA President




www.w5zn.org