[KCDXC] A DX Club

[Alan KI7WO]

I have the unique position of NOT having worked every Country / Band /
Mode.  I have less than 200 confirmed.

I know that there is a lot of experience and expertise within the Group. 
Many may remember the thrill and excitement the last time they worked a
"New One".  I don't work a "new one" every contest, and I have missed
working more DXpeditions in the past ten years than I perhaps should
have.

There is certainly nothing wrong with having worked'em all, there are
many varying levels of operator skill and station setups amongst us. 
There are those that have chosen to "Specialize" - Those who have a main
interest in 160 for example. There is nothing wrong with this, just teach
what you know. 

I am not the newest of the "new kids" in the Club, and even perhaps not
the newest one to Ham Radio, just remember that those of us who haven't
been doing this hobby as long or with as "nice" equipment as the rest are
looking to the Group to futher our learning process.  

I know that there is something that I can learn from every member of this
group.  I did not have an Elmer when I started.  I bought a book and
learned most of what I know the "Hard Way".  Sometimes it is the simplest
things that become the hardest to understand, like working split on 40
Meters and why some bands are Upper Side Band and others are Lower Side
Band.  

I credit Bill, AK0A for teaching me everything that I know about RTTY.  I
thank the Kansas City DX Club for my first opportunity to experience
DXing from the DX side.  Belize in 1999 as V31GC.  I thank Bill for
allowing me to tag along to Costa Rica for the 2000 RTTY Contest.  I
learned a great deal during our One-On-One training sessions. This
education-in-process all lead towards the opportunity to participate as
one of the TI9M RTTY operators.

I have had the opportunity to share some of my hard learned education
with a Ham Friend, KA0HAE.  Duane was a Tech Plus under the old program. 
Over the past couple of years it has been my privilege to spend Contest
time and Non Contest time with Duane and "Elmer" him through his General
exam and teach him how to work towards his first 100 Countries.  No, he
didn't pass his Extra exam the first time but he is still studying the
books.

My education is far from over and each of these learning experiences has
been taken as a step building upon the previous step.  I challenge each
member of this group to find within themselves an area of expertise, then
seek out an existing Ham, or a new "not-yet-Ham" and teach that person
something that you know.  There are a lot of VHF / UHF people that might
benefit from your hard earned education.  They need to understand that HF
is "Real Radio".

I am learning, slowly perhaps, but I am learning to do what most of you
have already done.  Before it is over, I will have learned from you, how
to work number 300 and beyond.  I hope that each of you will feel the
need to share your vast accumulated wealth of information.

This is what I want.  This is why I belong to this Club.  Learn from the
Best, then learn from my own experiences and mistakes.  Anything you
teach me will be passed on to future DXers.

Alan  KI7WO@JUNO.COM