[SJDXA] Amsterdam Island DXpedition request for support

[Bob Schenck N2OO]

 <mailto:n2oo at comcast.net> P.O. Box 345
Tuckerton, NJ 08087
October 2, 2013
n2oo at comcast.net


South Jersey DX Association

P O Box 345

Tuckerton, NJ 08087-0345

 

Dear members of the South Jersey DX Association,

In January of 2014, I have the privilege of traveling to Amsterdam Island in
the central Indian Ocean with an international team of 14 amateur radio
operators.  We will conduct a DXpedition from Amsterdam Island using the
call sign FT5ZM.  We have obtained a license to conduct this activity and
have been issued landing permission by the Terres Australes et Antarctiques
Francaises, the governing body of the French Antarctic Islands. I have been
on numerous DXpeditions over the years including places like The Spratly
Islands, Navassa Island, Desecheo Island, Wake Island, Pratas Island,
Brunei, East Malaysia and many others. I have also been a QSL Manager for
several major DXpeditions, such as 3Y0X Peter I, VU7RG/VU7MY Lakshadweep
Islands, K5D Desecheo Island, HK0NA Malpelo Island and many more. I also
organized the QSL Managers Society back in 2001 in an effort to "save older
DX and DXpedition" logs. Through those efforts, members have been able to
save numerous logs in order to continue to provide QSL cards as needed. I
have also been selected to be the QSL Manager for FT5ZM with the assistance
of my fellow "South Jersey DX Association" members.

As you might imagine, these trips are logistically complicated and costly.
We must first fly to Perth in Western Australia and then embark on a nine
day sail to Amsterdam Island.  It will cost each team member a minimum of
$10,000 plus travel expenses to and from Australia.  Our budget, less team
member travel expenses, is just under $450,000.  The fees for the charter
vessel alone exceed $300,000.

Fortunately, we have received generous sponsorship from amateur radio
equipment suppliers, foundations, clubs and organizations, and individual
amateur radio operators.  To date we have raised approximately $290,000.

I was moved when my local club, The Old Barney Amateur Radio Club, presented
our DXpedition with an unsolicited contribution of $250.  It made me think
that perhaps other New Jersey clubs would have an interest in helping our
team financially so that we can reach our goal.  If you would bring this
topic up for discussion at your next club meeting, I would be very
appreciative. Every little bit will help!

For more information about Amsterdam Island, our team, and our plans please
visit our website at:  www.amsterdamdx.org.   It will even tell you how to
contribute!  Also on our website, you can view a video about the past
experience of our team; our pedigree so to speak.  You can also find it on
YouTube at:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0qHkdADyxuA
<http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0qHkdADyxuA&fmt=37> &fmt=37.  We would very
much like to have a QSO with each of you from Amsterdam, currently the 4th
rarest country on the air.

Any financial support you can give us as a club, or individually, would be
most welcome.  One method used at a recent local club meeting was a "pass
the hat" collection. Contributions are acknowledged on our website under the
"Sponsors" tab.  Feel free to contact me with any questions.

 

Thank you and 73!

 

Bob Schenck, N2OO
n2oo at comcast.net

 

 

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