[OKDXA] Navassa, Centennial and etc.

[W5LE]

As you probably all saw the other day via some posts on the reflector, 
Bob Allphin,
K4UEE, and the KP1-KP5 project team, through many meetings with the Fish 
and Wildlife
Service, has gotten the green light for a DXpedition to take place from 
Navassa Island.
This entity is either at the top of the most-needed list or #2 on the 
most-needed list, according
to whose list you look at.  At any rate, it's super rare and very much 
needed by just about everyone.  So rejoice those of you who have been 
waiting for this one to happen.  It will be
taking place within the next 2 years.  Bob and the team of his choosing 
has not been officially
told they're the team that will activate it.  Everyone who has applied 
in the past and been turned down is allowed to submit a new proposal,  
but, to me, it seems like a no-brainer that Bob and company should be 
the ones who activate it.  I got a request from Bob for a "Letter of 
Recommendation" from the OKDXA to support their proposal.  I was hoping 
that I might have a shot at being one of the operators on this 
particular DXpedition but was told by Bob that he has to give preference 
to the KP1-KP5 team.   And, apparently, they have people lining up to be 
operators on this one.

On an unrelated matter, I attempted to find us a featured speaker for a 
banquet and was unable to do so.  Even though the founder of eQSL read 
my email, he didn't respond.  The founder of QRZ.com said he's going to 
be out of the country the whole month of October and then will be 
playing catch up the rest of the year.  I didn't find any fairly 
close-in hams who have recently returned from a DXpedition who would be 
candidates as a speaker.  San, K5YY, was in 7P8, Lesotho, earlier this 
year but didn't figure the OKDXA bunch would want to hear from the same 
guy 2 years in a row.  I mentioned this at the OKDXA meeting at Ham 
Holiday in Oklahoma City,
but I realize a lot of you didn't make it to that meeting.  I solicited 
input from the gathering but didn't get any input.  I guess, as it 
stands, we won't have a banquet.  I am, however, open to suggestions.

I want to give a huge verbal pat-on-the-back to our club members who 
acted as organizers of the Oklahoma portion of the W1AW/5, ARRL 
Centennial, operation.  Connie, K5CM, handled our first week in January 
and Sam, W5CU, handled the August operation.  Between the two 
operations, we gave around 55,000 people Oklahoma on Phone, CW, and 
digital.  I truly feel like Oklahoma brought its "A Game" and I'm proud 
of not only the organizers but also the many OK hams who jumped in with 
both feet.  Thanks to you all!

73 and see you in the pileups.
Gene W5LE