[NLRS] 2005 - NLRS Year in Review

[W0ZQ at aol.com]

Seasons greetings to all in NLRS  land.   As we enjoy the holiday season and 
look forward to 2006 this  is also an opportunity to reflect back on 2005 and 
to consider the things we  have learned, the fun that we have had, the friends 
we have made, and the events  that have occurred that make the NLRS was it 
is.   Take a look at the  2005 summary that follows and see if you don't agree 
with me that 2005 was a  very good year for the NLRS.

*  January VHF  Contest.    NLRS submitted 24 logs and placed 7th out of  
nine-teen Medium Category clubs.   Our ongoing "regional" success as  an active 
club helped result in the spin off of our sister club, the Chippewa  Valley VHF 
Contesters, based in western Wisconsin.  Will this make it  harder for the 
NLRS to win the Medium Category, or place in the Unlimited  Category, yup, but i
ts pretty cool to see that this area can not only support  one very active 
club, but two !!   Hats off to both the NLRS and CVVC  groups.

*  Minnesota QSO Party:  This year the NLRS moved up  one notch and into 
second place out of thirty clubs.  We also had the  highest number of logs with 
eight entries.   What is interesting is  that seven of the eight entries were in 
the HF class. 

*  San  Bernardino Microwave Contest:  Ten NLRS members braved the snow, 
wind, and  cold of late March and venture forth on the bands above 2304.    
Despite the cold, we managed to place fourth of five clubs and have a very nice  
plaque to show for it.   

*  Aurora 2005:  A large  contingency of VHFers showed up for this years 
gathering.   After the  antenna range and flea market, presentations ranged from 
47 GHz EME to 10 GHz  snow scatter to Rovermania and Youth in VHFing.   

*  June  VHF Contest:  NLRS submitted 19 logs to finish 5th out of 
twenty-three  Medium Category clubs.  Nationally, club members finished in 9th and 10th  
place in SOLP, 8th place in SOHP, and 6th place in the Rover class.

*  CSVHF Society:   The annual meeting took place in Colorado Springs  with 
many NLRS members attending.   For the States Above Operating  Event,   eleven 
of the twenty-three entries were from NLRS members  with W0GHZ finishing the 
highest and in third place.

* August UHF  Contest:  Rovermania II baby !    In 2003, there were 140  
logs, 2004 and the birth of Rovermania there were 169 logs, and in 2005 it was  
183 logs.   Nationally, NLRS members took home 2nd place in the SOLP  class, 
first and fourth in the SOHP class (including a new record high score  
nationally), second place in the Multi-op class, and 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 5th, 6th in  the 
Rover class.    Exceptional !     

*  September VHF Contest:   The ARRL has not completed  their contest 
write-up & report, but the NLRS was active and did participate  as an affiliated club.

*  10 GHz and Up Contest:  The contest  write-up is pending.   This year the 
NLRS flexed its organizational  muscle and coordinate a rove through west 
central Minnesota that worked a second  group of operators located at Sisseton 
(SD).  A third group was located  near Lonsdale and Vasa (MN).   I can tell you 
that several op's made  over 500 Q's making the need for dupe sheets a first 
time reality  !    

Outside of contesting, the NLRS was very active as  well.   While we focus a 
lot on contesting, we are more than a  contesting club.

*  The 6, 2, 222, 432, and 1296 nets continue to  meet on Sunday night.   
*  We continued with our monthly  breakfast alternating sites between the 
north and south side of town.
*   NLRS members manned the NLRS table in the club corral area during the 
March  MidWinter Maddness hamfest.   
*  During Aurora 2005, the  Wesslund Award was presented to Donn Baker, 
WA2VOI.      Also, the club voted to donate $100 to the ARRLs Education & 
Technology  Program.   
*  John, W0JT, continues to maintain and update  our EXCELLENT NLRS website 
at www.nlrs.org .   Make sure you check it  out for recent updates.   Also a 
thanks to Lenny, K0SHF, for his  leadership with our reflector, and Chris, N0UK 
for his leadership with the 10gig  reflector.
*  Dave, N0KP, activated a 10368.300 beacon that is directed  at downtown 
Mpls.   Along with the 222.061 W0ZQ beacon, we have two of  the most active bands 
now covered !    John, K0JO, EN26oo,  provides a beacon from time-to-time on 
that other active band, 902.    
*  Our monthly breakfast continue to pull together about 20 to 25  VHFers 
with lots and lots of show & tell going on.   
*   W0AUS, with help from others, organized yet another Sping picnic tune-up  
gathering at Mounds Park.
*  New DX records were generated on 902 and up  rain scatter.   Check out the 
VHF DX records at  http://www.remote.arrl.org/qst/worldabove/dxrecords.html . 
 
*  The  NLRS provided input to the League on the recent K1KI VHF contest 
change  proposal.   As a direct result of this input, the ARRL is now moving  to 
establishing a VHF contest advisory committee that will mimic the roles and  
responsibilities of the current ARRL Contest Advisory Committee that is active  
on HF.    

Busy, busy, busy.   So what is ahead  for us in 2006 ?
*  As usual, the big three contests; January, June, and  September.   Any 
plans for a local multi-op this year ?
*  The  Minnesota QSO Party.   Bruce, W9FZ, has the current VHF record from  
two years ago.   How about we bump him ?    
*   The SBMS 2304 and Up Contest.   Held sometime around the end of March,  
the NLRS will be looking to improve its club score.   Scoring is  distance 
based and the contest is club versus club only.
*  Aurora  2006.   Always a fun day with lots and lots of eyeball QSOs and 
things  to see and learn.   Think about making a presentation.
*   Central States VHF Society Conference.   The NLRS is hosting this  
exciting event with leadership provided by Bruce, W9FZ.    Do not  miss this event 
as it plans to be a GREAT one.   Rovers, bring your  rovermobile as we will be 
having a dog pound area running in parallel with the  antenna range activities 
on the first day.   The location will be the  Thunderbird Hotel just north of 
the Mall of America.
*  Rovermania III,  the ARRL UHF contest.   Our focus will be on growth and 
fun.   
*  The NLRS will continue to have a table at major  hamfests.   
*  10 GHz and Up Contest, what new plans can we  conceive of ?


In closing I want to say Thank You, the members of the  NLRS, for a very 
exciting year.   As always, and without a doubt, the  key to our success is due to 
the ability of each club member to contribute,  support each other, promote 
activates in whatever form they take, share ideas,  share equipment, and to try 
new bands and new modes.   I'm already  looking forward to 2006.   

73, Jon
W0ZQ


Come and  join us here in Bloomington, Minnesota, home of the Mall of 
America, July 27  & 28, 2006 for the 40th annual Central States VHF Society 
Conference hosted  once again by the NLRS.