[OKDXA] OKDXA Fall Banquet Cancellation

[Kim Elmore]

For many years, our club, the OKDXA, has had a Fall banquet and meeting, 
almost always in October between contests. There we recognize the 
accomplishments of our members, handle whatever business needs 
attention, solicit membership from visitors, and almost always have an 
interesting program from some pretty serious DXers. Historically, it's 
moved around over the years with the latest few years held at the Cattle 
Country Inn in Stroud. After the last time, we collectively decided that 
it should be located closer to the middle of the state in the OKC area 
since there's good access to OKC form almost anywhere and so that there 
is less driving for our members from the SW part of the state (Stroud is 
quite a hike for them). So, we wanted to try OKC and see if it was more 
convenient for more members.

Then came the pandemic and with it far more serious concerns. Many of 
our members are over 60, which places them in a high-risk category for 
serious complications from COVID19. As a result, we have struggled with 
how to safely meet this Fall: perhaps outdoors, during the day, with 
appropriate social distancing. The weather in October is often glorious, 
which is why it's a good month for antenna work. But, as a meteorologist 
I know that October weather can also be very unpleasant, with cold 
rains, strong, blustery cold fronts, and occasionally severe weather. If 
any of these happened in an outdoor venue, there would be no place to 
go. There's also the entire issue of how to present a program in an 
open-air venue. While there are ways, doing so is beyond our modest 
resources.

COVID19 can be a deadly serious disease and, even if it isn't fatal, it 
can leave us disabled for life. The SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes COVID19 
isn't going anywhere soon and has, in fact, become globally endemic. We 
will certainly not have access to an effective vaccine by October. We 
cannot know where the COVID19 hot spots will be in October any more than 
a specific propagation prediction can be made. We only know that just as 
there is always some of propagation somewhere, the virus will still be 
with us.

Thus, we cannot in good conscience hold a meeting that puts our 
membership at risk of COVID19. The officers have decided to suspend the 
October Fall banquet and meeting for the safety OKDXA members. As a dear 
friend and fabulous mentor used to tell me: It's not the odds that worry 
me: it's the size of the bet. This bet is not one we're willing to make.

We will share materials on-line and keep doing so. One thing is certain: 
things will not remain as they currently are -- this is not permanent. 
We all need to keep in touch with each other and share our interest in 
ham radio, DX, and DXing. DX Is, and always will be, just like the OKDXA.

Be well and feel free to contact us at any time.

73,

Kim Elmore N5OP
OKDXA President

-- 

Kim Elmore, Ph.D. (Adj. Assoc. Prof., OU School of Meteorology, CCM, PP 
SEL/MEL/Glider, N5OP, 2nd Class Radiotelegraph, GROL)

/"A great second violinist plays second fiddle to no one." //– Robert C. 
Marsh, Chicago Sun-Times./