[NLRS] Highlights of NLRS business meeting at Au16

[Jon Platt]

Hello NLRS Land -

It was great to see everyone at Aurora yesterday.  For once we had nice weather to boot.  I'll let Paul comment on the registration numbers, but I believe that we had about 65 or so attendees from VE3, VE4, ND, SD, IA, WI as well as Minnesota.  Here are the highlights from our NLRS business meeting.

2015NLRS Limited Rover Award:  Thepurpose of the NorthernLights Radio Society Limited Rover Awardis to stimulate UHF activity, promote roving, and to recognize thoselimited rovers who are not equipped with DC to light. This Award,open to anyone located in North America, is presented to the top twoARRL UHF Contest rover scores who are running with three bands orless. Thisyears second place winner is NL7CO/R, Don Ross of Lawton, OK.   Donhad 17 Q's and 6 grids on 222 and 31 Q's by  6 grids on 432 for ascore of 2,448 points.  Ourfirst place winner is Ron Grossman, AF5Q/R also of Lawton, OK.   Ronhad 17Q's by 5 grids on 222 and 32 Q's by 8 grids on 432 for a scoreof 2,793 points.   

2016Wesslund Award:  TheWesslund Award honors Robert (Bob) Wesslund, W0AUS, for his manyyears of significant contributions to the Northern Lights RadioSociety and for his continuous work with mentoring others in theWorld Above 50 MHz.  This award is presented annually to recognizethose NLRS members who have assisted others in gaining knowledge andaccess to the bands above 50 MHz.  Thisyear’s winner exemplifies the Wesslund Awards focus on mentoringothers in the World Above 50 MHz.  Within the NLRS our award winnerhas been a consistent presenter at our Aurora conferences.  Inaddition, our award winner has been a very active rover providingmany NLRS members with contacts from 6m through 10 GHz.   Within hislocal club, our award winner has provided AMSAT demonstrations toschools and has been a constant resource for both ham radio as wellas for The World Above 50 MHz providing such things as microwaveequipment, antenna theory, antenna construction and feed lineknowledge to his local club.   During Field Day, you can find ouraward winner's rover parked on the perimeter of his local clubs setup making contacts on 6m through 10 GHz and demonstrating andeducating others on The World Above 50 MHz.  In short, our awardwinner exemplifies what an ideal amateur radio operator is and is agreat example of an Elmer.  If youhave not guessed by now who our award winner is, here is one moreclue.   When he is out roving, you can usually work our award winneras a two-fer under the family rule.  This years Wesslund Award winneris Mel Larson, KC0P. 

NLRS donated plaques were awarded by the ARRL for the 2015 June VHF contest as follows.  Top score in the nation for SO3B to Roy Crownover, AB5EB, high score Dakota Division SOLP to Ray Gustafson, WB0HHM, and Canada SOLP winner to Don Farrar, VA3ZV.   The 2015 CQWW VHF top rover score in the World went to Darryl Holman, WW7D/R.

Donations will be made as follows.  $50 to QTH.NET for hosting our reflector, $100 to CSVHFS to help host this years hospitality suite, $100 to the ARRL Education and Technology Fund, and $150 to the ARRL Spectrum Defense Fund.  

All club members were encourage to provide input to the League on the recently proposed UHF contest rules.  See the ARRL webpage for the proposal and link for providing your comments.

A proposed date of April 22, 2017 for Aurora 2017 was approved.   

Elections were held with the following results.  W0ZQ President, N0KP Vice-President, and KA9VVQ as Sectary/Treasurer.  The club wishes to thank KC0IYT for his many years of service to the club.  

73, Jon
W0ZQ