Spokane DX Association

The combination of CQ Communication’s WAZ system with the ARRL’s LOTW system is now complete. CQ Communications publishes the magazine called CQ. If you are working on the ARRL’s DXCC awards, you probably know about the WAZ Awards for working all 40 zones on single bands or modes. Many years ago, CQ Communications defined the surface of the earth into 40 zones. It has been one of the more popular awards with many variations. Anyway, now your LOTW credits can be applied solely or with QSL cards to satisfy the requirements. LOTW credits are obtained via the LOTW system where you pay the ARRL for accepting the matched submittals from a particular QSO.

You still have to submit for your WAZ award, not through the ARRL, but the CQ system, and can combine LOTW credits with your QSL cards. There are several WAZ card checkers (checkpoints) throughout the USA and Canada that can check your cards. Unfortunately, there are none in the Spokane area unless someone wants to step up and apply to be a local WAZ checker through the CQ system.

Here are a link for further information. It is a little sketchy right now on how the system works, but it just started this week. hi hi

CQ Communications sponsors the following awards:

• CQ DX Awards
• CQ DX Marathon
• CQ WAZ Awards
• CQ Diamond Jubilee WAZ Award
• CQ WPX Awards
• CQ Halls of Fame
• CQ USA-CA Award

LINK to the WAZ official rules.

Any WAZ questions you have on the award can be addressed to:

John Bergman, KC5LK
WAZ Award Manager
125 Deer Trail
Brandon MS 39042-9409
e-mail: [email protected]

John clarified some issues with me:

1) you have made a LOTW submission and you want to know what to do next: Nothing. I will let you know when I work my way to your application.
2) you make a 40 card paper application and want to know what to do next; mail everything to either my address listed on the CQ website or in CQ magazine or a CQ checkpoint that is listed on the CQ website.
3) you have some cards and you have some LOTW credits that cover all 40 zones and you want to know what to do next. Same as number 2.
4) The ARRL does not check paper cards for any CQ Award unless the ARRL DXCC Card Checker is also a CQ Checkpoint. There is a current list of CQ Checkpoints on the CQ Website.

may 2018 minutes rev b

DAN IN THE EARLY DAYS

AT THE BASE OF HIS MONSTER TOWER

DAN AT HIS 80TH BIRTHDAY PARTY IN OCTOBER, 2005

Dan was one of the original founders of the SDXA. During the many years in the SDXA, he presented us with programs on antennas, his favorite subject. He had the tallest amateur radio tower in the county and was a member of the Number One DXCC Honor Roll CLub where he communicated with every country in the world. He attended the 2017 Awards Banquet with his son Mike so we got to see him then. He was a great contributor to the organization and he will be missed.

His Obituary in the May 6 Spokesman Review:

A moment of silence, known as “the silent key” was heard by the amateur radio community on April 27, 2018. Daniel Hearn, N5AR, an amateur radio operator for over 75 years, passed away in his home, surrounded by his loving family. Dan was baptized and accepted Our Lord as his savior shortly before his passing. Dan was born on October 15, 1925 in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He worked alongside his father, a small business owner, where a strong work ethic was established from a young age.

He was only sixteen when his love for HAM radio was found. His incredibly patient mother offered up her pantry as a “HAM shack” and would check with Dan before hanging clothes out on the clothesline to ensure it wasn’t “live” with electricity. Dan was on the air on December 7, 1941 and heard the announcement that amateur bands were closing and the United States was at war.

After high school, Dan started college at Oklahoma State University, but it wasn’t long before he was drafted into the Army and accepted into a pilot training program. Right away, he ended up in the flight line radio shack where his aptitude for electronics was quickly identified, and his skills were put to good use servicing airplanes. Before he was trained for flight, the war ended and Dan quickly jumped back into his pursuit of higher education and earned his undergraduate degree in Electrical Engineering, followed later by a Master’s Degree in Antenna Theory and Design, both from OSU. Dan had a rewarding career as a Down Hole Analytical Oil Production Engineer. There are 22 patents held to his name.

Dan loved passing his knowledge on to others and was a mentor to many, especially in the amateur radio and DXing field. He co-founded the Spokane DX Association (SDXA) and took great effort to train others in disaster radio communication. Dan is preceded in death by his parents, Dempse and Irene, and his loving wife and golf partner, Virginia. He is survived by his son, Mike (Barbara) Hearn; daughter, Susan (Dirk) Paseman; sister, Dana Davis; brother, Jim (Geneva) Hearn; grandchildren: Carley (Matt) Sanchez, Luke (Catherine) Paseman, Silas Hearn, Nancy Hearn, Cody Paseman, and many nieces, nephews and great-grandchildren.

BOB W7SX

STILL RUNNING STRONG AT $29.95; BOB’S ANTENNA BOOK AVAILABLE FROM THE ARRL OR AMAZON

Gary Bytnar AD7XG

I am excited to announce our new SDXA club President to fullfil the unexpired current term.

Our process:
1. We asked each of the club officers if they would like to take the role of President. Each of the current officers felt they were currently in the role that they were best suited for and that will help the club the most. I think we have an excellent team (Mel N7GCO – VP and Program, Jay WA0WWW – Sec, Bob N7AU – Treas, Chris WX7B – Past President, plus a number of Committee Chairpersons).

2. We also had a very gracious offer from one of our club members to serve in one of the support roles, if any of the present officers took the Presidency. They were not interested in the Presidency. Since all the current officers chose to stay in their current positions, we have asked this club leader to consider one of the committee chairperson roles and hope they will do this. The committee chairpersons role is becoming much more significant in our club leadership.

Present Committee leaders are:
Awards and card checker, Gary AD7XG
Club Log, Chuck KI7DG
Contest, Jay WA0WWW
DX, Gary K7GS
Programs, Mel N7GCO
Spokane Hamfest, Jay WA0WWW
Technical, Bob W7SX
Web and Google Group, Steve K7AWB

We hope to add chairpersons for 1) Field day and 2) the Summer Picnic. These would be a great addition to our club. If you are interested, please let one of our officers know.

3. We established a list of potential SDXA Presidents and I am pleased to say we had a number on this list. The future looks great. I think we were all encouraged.
After deliberation, the current officer’s unanimously ask Gary Bytnar AD7XG, to serve as President. Gary has agreed. Gary has been our card checker, awards committee chairperson and one of the most active club members. He is a gracious leader and the current officers are all looking forward to serving with him. We will formally introduce Gary as President at the club meeting on Thursday.
Congratulations Gary!

Sincerely,

Mel N7GCO
SDXA Vice President.