Carolina DX Association W4DXA

We have the leading radio and equipment manufacturers setup in the lobby with the latest gear for you to twist the knobs. More importantly you can have a one on one to ask questions about the gear with the company representative in a relaxed environment. We have a fully operational Ham Shack setup where you can come learn and make QSO's in different modes. It is time to make your Hotel reservations for this years convention. You can NOT make Online reservations for this event! Call them on the phone at 865 428-8350 and be sure to tell them you are with W4DXCC to get the special rate. Convention Registration will open soon including Online Ticket Purchasing. Coming Soon. Check out the Website and learn about the W4DXCC DX and Contest Convention. Go Here W4DXCC Convention Best 73 See you soon, Dave Anderson, K4SV Convention leader Dave@w4dxcc.com

Secondly, chemical warfare munitions were destroyed on the atoll (agent Orange and others). A large facility was built to accomplish this and hundreds of workers were assigned to the atoll. Some of them have attempted to claim disability due to exposure but have been met with heavy pushback from the Government and their contractors. The only remaining structure is the JOC (Joint Operations Center) and that is in disrepair though quite usable. More recently, the atoll had been infested with "Crazy Yellow Ants"! Yes, that is the street name for anoplolepis gracilipes. (Look it up!) These ants are not indigenous on the atoll and USFWS was tasked to eradicate the CYAs. The CYAs excrete a very acidic substance which gets into the eyes of the sea birds causing them to lose their sight and therefore unable to forage. There have been multiple USFWS volunteer crews on the atoll. These crews live on the atoll, usually for 6 month intervals. They freely roam the atoll and have posted a few YouTube videos of the atoll. USFWS has done a remarkable job and the infestation seems to be at an end. That is some of the history...so now for the Amateur Radio part! In an attempt to obtain landing permission, multiple proposals have been submitted to the USAF. Initially, the process appeared to be fast tracked. The USAF was aware of the very positive feedback we received after the Wake Atoll operation. For Johnston, the USAF was given a very contained 'foot print' of our operations. Our set-up would be self contained and restricted to wherever area USAF deemed safe and of short duration (2 weeks). We would be self financed, have appropriate medical personnel with us, and follow the same protocols as the USFWS volunteers for ingress and egress to the atoll. Additionally, we offered the USAF compensation for any USAF supervision required on the atoll. The Amateur Team individually signed a Waiver of Responsibility, which effectively eliminated any chance of legal action for any reason. The Waiver was a Department Of Defense (DoD) authored document which assured the US Government of complete isolation. Progress moved ahead nicely until a single Colonel objected on the basis of potentially hazardous material being brought back to our point of embarkation(Hawaii) by personnel's clothing and/ or other material. Any assurances given, such as we would follow the exact protocol as the dozens of USFWS personnel and further, we would be under the supervision of the USAF, fell on deaf ears. Multiple resubmissions were sent to the good Colonel's chain of command, up to an including the Secretary of the USAF in the Pentagon. All were summarily dismissed or simply unanswered. Literally, hundred of hours have been invested in the multiple iterations of an Operations Plan, Logistics Plan, soliciting personnel for the operation, attempting to get support from US Senator and Representatives (tough going!), issuing Freedom of Information applications, and on and on. Quick side note. The FOIs, which were issued to obtain the true 'why was the operation nixed' were answered with mostly redacted information. The only information not blacked out was the title of the emails and some small chit chat! Further FOI requests asked for specific documents detailing the hazard potential expressed by the Colonel (There was dialog between the Colonel and other USAF departments). Again nothing of value was forwarded. Summarized: Using the guise that hazardous material would be transported off the atoll is simply another way of saying, it isn't in their mission. Stating the atoll is unsafe seems disingenuous as literally hundreds of USFWS personnel have lived on the atoll for extended periods, roamed the atoll, dove and fished in the lagoon and even farmed vegetables in the soil. The USAF has a mission and that mission does not include Amateur Radio. All hope is not lost. Sooner or later, the Johnston will be turned over from the USAF to the USFWS. The Pacific Region USFWS have been open to Amateur Radio operations as long as their terms are met. So if we live long enough, who knows! Don't ask me how I know the finite details....I would have to deny any and all knowledge! Best DX 73 Lou N2TU

Ken was one of our really active local DXers back in the 1980-90s with 333 DXCC countries to his credit. Ken was in the Textile business back in the 1980-90s and traveled to Africa often. He was active as TT8OBO and TY8OBO many years ago. His last DX QSO was with Navassa, KP1 in Feb. 2015. The QSO really proved he was a true DXer because he really worked this �All Time New One� on 10 Meter SSB using a coat hanger stuck in the back of his transceiver as his antenna. See the picture in the CDXA Newsletter in the March 2015 newsletter on page 6 I remember Ken being one of the club members that helped out replacing antennas in the 1990s shortly after Hurricane Hugo in late 1989. Ken was real friend and will be truly missed. Regards, Gary Dixon, K4MQG Ken was a big and proud NCSU grad, when my son Josh was going to NCSU, Ken was getting rid of a rig, a Yaesu FT990 that he took on many of his worldwide adventures. When he heard about that NCSU still had an active ham radio club, he donated the Yaesu to the NCSU club, through Josh. His donation certainly helped upgrade the HF station and was really appreciated. Ken was a great,outgoing friendly guy and will certainly be missed by his friends and family and his ham family. 73 de w4grw Bill

Effective May 15, 2019, the new rate structure will be: $2 for 10 or fewer cards in one envelope. $3 for 11-20 cards in one envelope, or 75 cents per ounce, for packages with 21 or more cards. [For example, a package containing 1.5 pounds of cards -- 24 ounces, or about 225 cards -- will cost $18.] Under the new fee structure, there are no transaction service fees. Any cards received before May 15 will be charged the current rate. There will be no adjustments for cards received before May 15. You should use an accurate scale to weigh your cards. Most post offices have scales that you may use. Please pay by check (or money order) and write your call sign on the check. Send cash at your own risk. DO NOT send postage stamps or IRCs. Please make checks payable to: �The ARRL Outgoing QSL Service.� Packages received with insufficient payment will not be processed until the balance is paid in full. The outgoing QSL bureau does not keep money on account.

Specifically, benefits of DXpedition support by the CDXF include the furtherance of scientific research exploring electromagnetic wave propagation in the high frequency domain, and education through public presentations by DXpeditions supported by the CDXF. Donations to the CDXF are accepted from individuals and organizations, and are tax deductible per IRS rules and regulations. The CDXF is a separate, and separately managed, entity from the CDXA. The Officers of the CDXF will be elected on a yearly basis, in December, by all those who have donated to the CDXF in the preceding twelve months. Initially the Officers are: President, Hal Bouton, N4QT; Vice President, Bill Fisher, W4GRW; and Secretary-Treasurer, Cliff Wagoner, W3ZL. The Officers will make all final decisions regarding distribution of DXpedition donations.

Specifically, benefits of DXpedition support by the CDXF include the furtherance of scientific research exploring electromagnetic wave propagation in the high frequency domain, and education through public presentations by DXpeditions supported by the CDXF. Donations to the CDXF are accepted from individuals and organizations, and are tax deductible per IRS rules and regulations. The CDXF is a separate, and separately managed, entity from the CDXA. The Officers of the CDXF will be elected on a yearly basis, in December, by all those who have donated to the CDXF in the preceding twelve months. Initially the Officers are: President, Hal Bouton, N4QT; Vice President, Bill Fisher, W4GRW; and Secretary-Treasurer, Cliff Wagoner, W3ZL. The Officers will make all final decisions regarding distribution of DXpedition donations.