2010 Annual Meeting News

MARCO's annual meeting took place in Dayton, Ohio from May 13th to May 15th 2010 in conjunction with Hamvention.

Members filtered into Dayton throughout Thursday, May 13. Those with flights connecting through Chicago experienced weather-related delays and a difficult, tiring trip. Our headquarters hotel, formerly a Holiday Inn, was sold to Ramada in December, 2009. It appears to some of us that maintenance and housekeeping have slipped a bit.

Due to a tornado watch in southern Ohio, many of us decided to dine at the hotel on Thursday evening. Jeff K6JW and Bruce KM2L staked out a place in the bar. We were joined by John WD8NMV and then by Linda KE5BQK and Bernie KD5QHV. We adjourned to the dining room and the party soon grew to include Chip N5RTF, Keith N3IM, Joe WB2MXJ and Paul N6DMV. Danny W4DAN and Caroline, Arnold WB6OJB and Joan, and Warren KD4GUA decided to brave the weather and ventured out for dinner.

The annual MARCO Membership Meeting was held at the hotel on Friday morning (see minutes of that meeting, below). After adjournment, we all headed for HARA Arena and Hamvention. Miraculously the sun came out and remained for the entire weekend. Attendance at Hamvention appeared to be fairly good, and the vendors I spoke to reported having a good year. There were no blockbuster new products. Ten Tec is bringing out a snappy new QRP rig, and Flexradio showed off their Flex-1500, an HF and 6 meter QRP rig small enough to almost fit in your pocket. Clothing was the new fad, as Begali Keys offered T-shirts and belts bearing their logo and Tokyo Hi-Power Labs was selling the attractive Japanese jackets that their sales staff wear. The best flea market artifact: a stainless steel cadaver storage unit on casters, slightly used and yours for $500!

As usual, MARCO's booth had a steady stream of traffic and we signed up several new and current members. Thanks to KM2L, N5RTF, AE4TM, W4MEA, KY4MD, W4DAN, NR3C, KB3LSK, N1PA, KE5WDZ, W4HKG, WB6MLC, W8RDR, KD8BIT, KD8EFM, N8RUS, W8CRK, WD8NMV, AA4FL, W4TX, KJ4DYZ, WB5YFX, WD4ALL, W3FUO, WD8ING, N3XG, KJ4EDE, AA0PO, WB2MXJ, KA9GRY, KI4UDT, N8QVK, AE3A, KC9LBZ, JH3BXO, KB9QXN, K4JWA, KA8KWO, WA3IHV and K7SYS for signing our guest book.

On Saturday WB9EDP, KC9ARN and KD4GUA split off to visit the Air Force Museum, well worth a visit if you are in the Dayton area.

Saturday evening saw the MARCO banquet, held at the Ramada Inn. Jay AA4FL described his satellite operations and liberally illustrated the talk with pictures from the University of Florida amateur radio club, which he serves as advisor. Life doesn't get better than two desserts, but in addition to the hotel's cheesecake were treated to a cake ordered by Linda KE5BQK. This delicious, chocolate bonus featured the MARCO logo rendered in icing. Almost too pretty to eat!

We look forward to gathering next year in El Paso - stay tuned for details.