[ADXA] Wishing ADXA Happy New Year and a Great 2022

[w5zn at w5zn.org]

Greetings ADXA Folks and HAPPY NEW YEAR!,

One year ago today I sent a "Happy New Year" message to you with an 
excited outlook for 2021. Those hopes did not fully materialize as the 
first half of the year was met with continued cancellation of big events 
like Orlando and Dayton. 2021 did improve, though, with Huntsville and a 
very enjoyable North Alabama DX Club dinner with speaker Adrian, KO8SCA. 
That was followed by the W9DXCC Convention and the W4DXCC Convention. 
All of these events were well attended. I was able to attend Huntsville 
and the W4DXCC event and I know K5UR was able to also hit the W9DXCC 
gathering. It was great to be able to once again attend an amateur radio 
event that was not conducted on-line. The technology that affords online 
meetings these days is amazing and is an outstanding tool however it 
just simply does not replace the enjoyment and quality of meeting in 
person!

To continue that trend and make 2021 even more special ADXA was able to 
hold its first in person meeting since March 2020 in Russellville on 
November 13 with an outstanding group of 30 who traveled from around the 
state to attend.

With that said, all I can say now is "here we go again!". Those amazing 
tools that afford online participation in meetings also provides a 
platform that makes it very difficult to sort out fact from fiction, 
science from politics and reality from fairy tales. The result is frayed 
nerves, negative attitudes and contentious relationships.

I don't make new year's resolutions. Absolutely nothing requires you to 
resolve to change something only once a year at the end of that year. If 
you don't like your situation, resolve to change it now, whenever "now" 
is. That is my segue into how this applies to amateur radio.

Once upon a time we came home from work or school, turned on our radio 
and forgot about all of the world or personal struggles we were 
experiencing. A few moments or hours ragchewing on the bands, checking 
in to a traffic net or, as is our passion, working some DX provided an 
escape from it all. Oh sure, we have our own internal debate and 
disagreements about certain aspects within amateur radio but those are 
driven by our passion about something that means a great deal to us 
outside of our family and work responsibilities. Do NOT, repeat NOT let 
the troubles of the world impact your ability to escape that madness for 
a few enjoyable hours in amateur radio, on a station you built or 
assembled yourself right in your own home! Think about that for a 
moment......YOUR own federally licensed station in YOUR home! And you 
earned that privilege by successfully passing a written examination, not 
just simply buying a radio and turning it on.

If you are a CW person and are concerned about the migration of activity 
to the newer digital modes focus your operating effort toward contests. 
There are still CW contests, many DX oriented, with a ton of activity. 
The same applies to SSB if you don't like CW (or digital!). Do you yearn 
for the "old days"? Pick up some vintage equipment, or pull that old rig 
out of the attic, fire it up and enjoy it. Hey! The Novice Rig Roudup is 
just around the corner beginning March 5!

Its winter time, even though the unusual 70 to 80 degree temperatures 
we're experiencing don't feel like but that is about to change. There 
isn't much you can do outside right now and the daylight time is very 
short however this is an excellent time to take care of those inside 
projects in the shack. Make a list. Does that list seem too daunting? 
Then pick one item for the day or week and focus on it, nothing else and 
start working that list down. Do you really want to spend your time 
watching an Oprah rerun instead?

In 2022 we plan to begin our in person quarterly meetings once again and 
to also have an annual conference sometime in the fourth quarter. I 
continue to be very encouraged by the activity of our ADXA folks. You 
are really great in posting what you are hearing and working on the 
bands, submitting your standings update to ADXA VP Pat, W5VY, and 
especially in supporting ADXA's mission and goals. THANK YOU.

So, for now you know what to do:

"GET IN THERE AND WORK 'EM !"

73 Joel W5ZN
ADXA President
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