[LCC] Some thoughts about LaQP 2015

[Mark, K5ER]

Hi Guys,
	This weekend for LaQP, Bobby, (WM5H) and I operated the club bonus 
station, N5LCC from my house. Below are a couple of thoughts and comments 
about the weekend.


	We operated ssb, cw and rtty, and made 944 contacts, an increase of 12% 
over last year. In 2014, spread out over a month, we received 88 logs. 
Today, we have already received 55, just 18 hours from the contest end. 
This is a very good sign! We had more rovers this year, including a new 
one, K5UQ, who has a very nice write-up. We will be posting a link once he 
finalizes it.


	Yes, I enjoy the competition - sometimes serious, sometimes casual, but 
always fun. I also like to see the station perform well and like to have 
guest ops come and have fun with amps and big aluminum.

	We invited a couple of local folks out to "play" at something besides 
field day in a park. It was awesome to see a motivated female  teenager 
operate. Gracie competed with her father for a few minutes, then it was all 
over. Though only on the air for a little over 2 1/2 hours, she made just 
under 200 Q's, and by the end, was telling her dad every one of the 
countries she worked, by telling him the prefix, then the country name. She 
even got into a mini JA run. Several asked her name and then each one 
thanked her personally. She was grinning from ear to ear. It was great! We 
now have a new contest op!

	Late in the day, Floyd worked us and mentioned he needed Louisiana for WAS 
on LoTW. I paused long enough to work him with my personal call, and 
uploaded a file immediately after the contest ended, to give him his match. 
Below is an email exchange.

	These are part of the reason I think we have the best hobby in the world. 
I am proud to be associated with the LCC, a group whose members also enjoy 
the camaraderie and passion for the hobby.

73,
Mark, K5ER

-----------------------------------------------------

Mark,

Thank you for the email. It was fun working the QSO party. I don't compete 
but I sure enjoy meeting the guys. And without getting to sappy, let me say 
that it is guys like you and Bob that make these things fun. Some get on 
and all they want to do is exchange reports.  While I understand that is 
the "intent' of the event, it is also the intent of HAM radio to have "fun" 
and is very pleasant to exchange some jovial chatter also.

I want to thank you and Bob (Bobby, WM5H) for helping me get the 10 and 15 
meter contacts for WAS.  I tried the young lady (Gracie, KF5MTI) on 40 but 
my station ((6BTV vertical and barefoot power) wasn't enough to get through 
from CA.

Again, thanks and continue to operate like you do and our hobby will be 
enjoyable for both ends of a QSO.

Floyd  W5DXR
------------------------------------------------------------------
-----Original Message----- From: Mark Ketchell
Sent: Saturday, March 14, 2015 8:58 PM
To: FSwanger at Comcast.net
Subject: Tnx for qso with N5LCC and K5ER

Hi Floyd,
      Thank you for taking time to work the Louisiana Qso Party this 
weekend. Since Bobby, WM5H and I are on the committee, and do the log 
checking, we run the club bonus station, which keeps us out of competition 
with all other entrants. I opened my shack to a couple of "newbie" 
operators, who had previously only done Field Day. "Gracie", a teenager who 
is "only" a Tech class made almost 200 contacts and is now hooked on HF. We 
had a great time and hope all participants did, too.

      I knew it could be a couple of days before we get the log to our club 
trustee. Then, because of work, etc., it may actually be several more days 
before he could get the club's log signed and uploaded to LoTW, so that is 
why I wanted to work you with my personal call. As promised, the K5ER log 
has been u/p to Lotw, and I see you already u/l yours as well. I am happy 
we were able to give you Louisiana, the last one you needed for your WAS on 
LoTW.

      Thanks again for stopping by - it was our pleasure to work you and 
provide you with the confirmation. We wish you the very best.

73,
Mark, K5ER