[SFDXA] Miami Hamboree 2014

[WILLIAM MARX]

The Miami Hamboree was a complete success for the South Florida DX Association:

While attendance seemed to be about the same last year, and Vendors were down it did not appear to me to be as solemn an event as 2013. Friday was not busy but Saturday was. An Icom booth and the the ARRL's presence gave more credibility to this years event. The addition of Maker Faire was terrific and provided a nice excitement with the activity the families brought, and seeing the Robotics and other presentations on Saturday. I thought it blended well with Ham Radio. Vendors were down but I still managed to spend a bunch of money on things I needed, or know I own but can't find.


We were right in the Center for those not attending...Across from the ARRL and we combined the booth with the QCWA making a large three booth presence. And we filled it...boy did we, the booth and chairs were busy and filled most of the time. Donuts and coffee were plentiful(Thanks QCWA) as well as the conversations.


Don N4TZH updated the SFDXA Member Presentation Norm W4QN made last year. He brough a large screen monitor that showed Members shacks and pictures of the Club That played large for two days. 


Don W3AZD brought his vast collection of QSL Cards as he always does and manned(& womanned?) the 4th Area QSL Burea with Hope WB3ANE.Don also Checked cards for DXCC. 


Mark K2AU brought all the clip board and paperwork with information on the SFDXA and sign up sheets for new members and Dinner sign up sheet.(last count I saw 8 names of those who want more information on Membership). Ill subscribe them to the Reflector and Mark K2AU will follow up. Mark signed some new Associate Members and collected some dues.

W4AS Sebastiian volunteered and was to provide transportation for our ARRL guest but that turned out not needed. But it was Thanks to Serbastian who set up the Dinner at Las Vegas Restaurant.


Pete N8PR provided the Audio for all the Hamboree Forums and the SFDXA Provided the Projector and Screen for the Forums as well.

So a HUGE round of Applause and Thank you to those who stepped up to help make this a good time for our Club.


The DX Forum had 36 in attendance, I kept count as some left and others came in.

Dan Henderson N1ND from the ARRL was unable to get a timely connection because of the cold snap in Atlanta and the flight cancellations. Jeff said Mike Lee AA6ML, the ARRL Southeastern Division Vice Director was here. So Mike said he would fill in for N1ND and since his Forum on the ARRL Centennial was after The SFDXA Forum it was perfect.


I had also asked Rick Ruhl W4PC, if he could give us 5 to 10 minutes to fill in the time and he did. He did a fast moving description of Ham Radio Deluxe logging software and it's features.

Dan Street K1TO did a wonderful and interesting presentation of his experience in Qatar recently. He finished the hour with a complete History of the WRTC. So much to see and learn. Great Job Dan!

After Dan finished it was running over the hour allotted and we still had Door Prizes to give away, so we decided Mike Lee he would combine the ARRL update with his, and so we ran the Door Prize fun.

The following were Door Prize Winners for the SFDXA Forum 2014 and list of The Generous Donors.


YV5AM - Ham Radio Deluxe + 1 yr service and Support - Rick Ruhl Ham W4PC Ham Radio Deluxe


N4MB - ARRL Handbook - Mike's Electronics Ft Lauderdale


Grandson of W1RG, Christian CQ 15 MonthCalendar - Anonymous Donor


KE4PT - ARRL HF Digital Handbook -  ARRL through N4TZH


AD4Z/HI3A - AC Power Handbook - ARRL through N4TZH


W3AZD - RFI Handbook - ARRL through N4TZH

The Dinner Saturday night after the Hamboree was a big success, and we sure had fun. We went back to the Las Vegas Restaturant, where we held it last year, and the food and service was even better. 21 members and guests ate, drank Presidente's and Corona's, and had a good time.


I have been a ham for 55 plus years now But I still get a great deal of enjoyment going to a Ham Radio Event. Whether it is a Local Flea Market, a Regional Convention of Hams, or the Grand Daddy of them all Dayton. ...As you get closer and see the Antennas on cars, Ham Call Signs on license plates, and walking into an event seeing HT's in pockets or in hands of those looking for friends, and as you pass others that have already been inside and rushing home with bags and goodies they just found, to try them out...I Never get tired of that.


While it didn't grow as we would have liked it to, I think it showed there is a market for the larger event here in South Florida and I look forward to The Miami Hamboree 2015...

73,

Bill Marx W2CQ