Annual President's Report to the Colorado QRP Club May 12, 2007

[Ed note: Pete made this presentation during a full house
  for our regular meeting at Milestone Technologies.]

My annual report will touch on activities and accomplishments during this past year. I will also point to some activities and objectives which I hope we can consider in the coming year.

First, I want to take a minute to remind everyone of the untimely passing this past December of Rich High, WØHEP. Rich held CQC #1, and was the Club's first President. I did not have the pleasure of knowing him well, but I know that many of you did. He has been, and will continue to be, missed by all of us. His influence over, and direction of the Club, will be felt for a long time to come. I'd like to thank the many Club members who attended his memorial service. I know that meant a lot to his family.

Let me turn now to accomplishments and activities over the past year. I don't want to put the list in any order of significance. So I'll just list things as they have come to mind.

In 2006, the CQC continued a tradition of excellence in its Field Day operations. I have not seen the official results yet, but I understand that we more than likely were at the top of the list in the QRP two station battery operated category. Remember, Field Day is not a contest! RIGHT! Tell that to the gang that participated in Field Day. Field Day is always a group effort, so it is tough to single out any individuals. However, Al Dawkins, KØFRP, is a prime mover in our competitive site Field Day operation. Vince Kumagai, KIØRB, was instrumental in getting the tower trailer refurbished, with new tires. Thanks to both of you, and to the operators, and to all who helped in that effort.

Part of the glue that holds the CQC together between meetings is our Monday night nets. They can be interesting, sometimes even a bit exciting, but always an opportunity to talk radio and Club news between meetings and Chat & Chew sessions. Nets can't exist without net control stations, so I would like to recognize and thank Vince, KIØRB, Marshall Emm, N1FN, and Jim Pope, KGØPP, for their tireless efforts as net control stations.

Whenever someone wants to know more about the Club, or about QRP in general, we like to say, “Just go to our website, www.cqc.org. You will find it there.” We have an informative and comprehensive web site of which the Club can be proud. We owe that excellence to our webmaster and treasurer, Roger Wendell, WBØJNR. Roger manages to keep the site up to date, and to add material in a very timely fashion. Roger, thanks for a great website.

Another activity which puts the CQC squarely in the middle of the QRP map, is the Annual Fox Hunt Program. Marshall, N1FN, who is also our Club Call trustee and meeting host, is the prime mover behind the Foxhunts. Marshall should take credit for expanding the hunt to 80 meters this past Winter. Eighty Meters was a popular addition. Marshall, thanks for keeping the Foxes in line and the Hounds at bay.

Marshall is also well known for providing a meeting home for the CQC Club. Marshall even purchased more chairs so that we can be more comfortable during meetings. Marshall's daughter, Nancy, has also contributed to our comfort by providing us with drinks, and, more recently, she has volunteered to pick up donuts for each Club meeting. Marshall is also Trustee of the Club Call Sign. Thanks to Marshall for being the guardian of our Club station call, WØCQC. Thanks to both Nancy and Marshall for making our meeting experiences more enjoyable.

We all look forward to reading each new issue of "The Low Down" as it comes out. I wonder if we have any real appreciation of how much work goes into publishing each issue? Vince, KIØRB, who is also our Club secretary, is our “Low Down” editor. Vince has to drag stories out of reluctant authors, find material of interest, and otherwise come up with stuff to put in “The Low Down.” Roger puts “The Low Down” up on the CQC web site for all dues paying members to read. Thanks, guys, for a great newsletter.

The CQC home page indicates that we recently issued member number 829, to Louis, KCØCMO. I congratulate not only Louis, but all new members who have joined the club in the past year. We have added 51 new members since I joined a few years ago. Our growth has occurred at a time when many other clubs are losing members, and losing interest. As well, let me congratulate everyone who has either passed their first ham license exam, or upgraded, in the past year.

Here are some other notable activities from this past year. We have sponsored a club table at a number of hamfests. Some of our members participated in Hamcom at Estes Park. We have sponsored on-the-air contests, such as The Great Colorado Gold Rush and The Great Colorado Snowshoe Run. We became an affiliated Club with the ARRL. We sponsored two plaques in the 2006 ARRL Sweepstakes. These included the Rocky Mountain Division Single Operator QRP CW and Phone plaques. A new computer video projector was recently purchased, which enhances our presentation capabilities. Our web site now includes video snippets. We have had a variety of interesting speakers and presentations during the past year. I thank all who have participated in any of the above activities.

In recognition of the elections to be held shortly, I would especially like to thank our Club Officers who have served for this past year. Steve Finch, AIØW, as Vice President, Vince, KIØRB, as Secretary, and Roger, WBØJNR, as Treasurer. If these roles were all fun and glory, we would have a long list of nominees each year for every office. That is hardly ever the case. These are difficult, time consuming jobs. Steve, as Vice President, also held the job of CQC Program Chairman. I've already mentioned the other hats that Vince and Roger wear. Thanks to all of you for your willingness to serve.

With apologies for the many people and activities that I have left out, let me take just a moment to look forward to the coming year.

We are on track for solid Field Day performances in June for both the Competitive and Aloha sites. Participation in Field Day is one of my most enjoyable ham radio activities. It is the kind of activity in which every Club member, and friends and family, can participate in some way.

We have thus far two contests to sponsor this coming year. These are the Great Colorado Gold Rush in July, and the Great Colorado Snowshoe Run, most likely in December. We will take a look at sponsoring additional contests, as well, and do so if it makes sense.

Under the watchful eye of Marshall, N1FN, we will continue to sponsor the Fox Hunts. The Fox Hunt logo appears near the bottom of the CQC web home page. If the sunspot cycle cooperates, the Fox Hunts will become even more exciting than they were last year.

Dropping the Morse code requirement has not diminished interest in CW. Just the opposite seems to be happening. Many Club members and friends have been upgrading. As they upgrade and the HF bands become available to them, they realize the potential that operating QRP CW provides. They are going out and learning Morse Code without being required to do so. Using any mode, the popularity of operating QRP seems to be on the increase.

I would like to see the club become involved in a construction project. Many clubs have them. It does not have to be fancy, or expensive. A good project can generate enthusiasm, and helps us learn more about ham radio. Finding the right kind of project for us is key.

Members attend meetings more, I think, for the presentations, than for the business part of a meeting. We need everyone's help in finding or creating interesting presentations for our meetings. Coming up with good presentations is one of the most difficult tasks we have. There are at most, six opportunities for presentations during a Club year. We should make the best of those opportunities.

We had a standing room only crowd at our last meeting, and the luncheon that followed. It seemed to be the largest crowd at any CQC Club meeting that I have attended. More active participation in meetings helps to build momentum. Momentum serves to increase the breadth of ideas, interest, and activities in the Club. Ham Radio is not only fun on the air. It is also fun to meet and talk and share with other hams, face to face. Our Club provides these face to face opportunities, as well as promoting on-the-air activities. I think we should continue to stress this valuable aspect of our Club.

In summary, it has been a lot of fun to be your Club president this past year. I am not sure I was always up to the task, but I always enjoyed it. It also added greatly to my own appreciation of the hobby of ham radio. But, the president only sits up front and tries to keep order. It is all the other officers, committee chairs, and Club members, who help to make the Colorado QRP Club what it is. I thank all of you for being so helpful, and for providing strong guidance to me during this past year.

Pete, no2d.

Click Here for some history of CQC's officers...

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