[MRCA] MRCA Meet 2007

[Richard Arland, W3OSS]

Hi Gang:

It was a pleasure to meet and renew friendships this year. This was my 6th 
meet (missed the monsoon in 2005).

This year I brought my 10 year old grand son, Llyam with me. He built a 
Tuna-Tin II for the 3rd edition of the QRP book I recently completed for the 
ARRL, due out at the end of this month. He was bitten by the "Radio Bug" and 
has been bugging me (sorry about the pun) about doing more radio things. I 
figured that the MRCA meet at Gilbert would be a fun weekend for both of us.

Boy, what an understatement!!!!!

I wish to thank each and every one of you who took the time out and talked 
with Llyam, encouraged him, and basically treated him like one of the guys. 
He is still stoked about this weekend!!! My special thanks to Warren, K1BOX, 
for his kind gift to Llyam of a PRC-10. Llyam procured a headset with boom 
mic that will work on this unit, again thanks to Warren. The PRC-10 even 
came with the TM which shows all the accessories. Warren really encouraged 
Llyam to find as many of the accessories as possible and bring them to the 
meet in 2008 along with a copy of his ham license, which Llyam promised to 
get.

Dale, KW1I, also went "above and beyond" printing up a name badge with MRCA 
logo on it for him. This was AFTER he got through printing and laminating 
the badges for the rest of the MRCA gang. Thanks again, Dale.

Beck Smith, K4CHE, (my ACE Tomato Company buddy) and Al Klase, N3FRP 
(Fearless Leader) spent time with Llyam helping him understand the basics of 
radio communication, how to assemble a whip antenna for a GRC-9, how to lay 
out and re-coil the RF counterpoise wires and, best of all, how to properly 
work the hand-cranked generator for the GRC-9!! I actually don't know who 
had more fun; Llyam, or Al and Breck!

Upon returning home, Llyam had a visit from "The Radio Fairy" (AKA, Ed 
Purvis, WA4NJY). Ed provided Llyam with his first real boatanchor receiver 
restoration project: a Halli S-120 with an A.G. Tannebaum manual!

So now Llyam is working on his essay for presentation to his class. Believe 
me when I say that the response from the MRCA members to Llyam's presence at 
the meet was impressive. He basically stole the show and thanks to you guys 
he had a really great time and that has reinforced his desire to obtain his 
ham ticket and play more radio with Pop-Pop.

Thanks guys. You are the greatest!!

vy 73

Rich W3OSS