[NCARC] CO QSO Party Announcment

[Mike Bates]

Please pass this to all your local clubs and to everyone you know both
in-state and out-of-state.  This is the point we really need to knotch
up the excitement.  We still need everyone's help with county
coverage.  See below for more information.

The excitement is beginning to build. Clear your calendar for July
15^th and get ready for the new Colorado QSO Party (COQP). There are
over 50 plaques to be given away. (Yes, that’s over fifty!!) There
will be multi-colored certificates for 2^nd and 3^rd place winners in
selected categories. Many rare counties and grids will be covered.
There is little other contest activity for the weekend so you should
be able to devote considerable time to the COQP. Be sure to visit the
other website pages for rules, results, and everything else you need
to know about the COQP.

There will be the usual power levels and four mode categories. The
modes are Digital (RTTY, PSK, etc.), CW, SSB and Mixed. Frequency
coverage includes all HF, VHF and UHF bands except 60 meters and WARC
bands. Sorry, no repeater or satellite QSO's this year. The full 16
hours may be operated. Operating mobile or from your QTH is fine. Each
Colorado county is a multiplier for in-state operators. Operate from
more than one Colorado county and receive an additional 50 bonus
points. Be sure you read the rules before starting. Final scoring will
be done by the judging team.

If you plan to operate from one or more Colorado counties and have
not sent in your plans please email us at coqp-counties at ppraa.org
<mailto:coqp-counties at ppraa.org>. This includes counties with major
cities (Denver, Boulder, Pueblo, Grand Junction & etc.).

For Colorado traffic information on contest day see
http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/trafficinfo/co.htm.

The COQP would not be possible without the advice and encouragement of
the organizers of the Florida, California, Wisconsin and Minnesota QSO
Parties. Too numerous to mention are the many other individuals and
clubs who have contributed their talent, time and money. We thank
them, for without their efforts, the COQP would not be successful. We
also thank Jeff Ryan, K0RM, Colorado ARRL Section Manager and the ARRL
for their direction and timely support.

Good luck in the contest and 73.

Jim, AB0UK