Hello, fellow Contesters -

Thanks for the emails and phone calls concerning the blog. I hope it helps keep everybody informed as to the goings-on here at the Contest Branch.

There are a couple newsworthy items lately:

1) The certificates for the 2007 June VHF QSO Party went out the door a couple weeks ago. Unfortunately, it looks like they went out the door without the year posted on the certificate! D'oh! I've ordered new certificate stock and we'll send out new certificates as soon as we can. I'm taking the blame for this one, folks.

2) Results for the 2007 ARRL 10 Meter Contest and the 2007 ARRL 160 Meter Contest are now online at http://www.arrl.org/contests

3) Six meters is finally catching some wind in her sails. I've been active a lot on 6 meters over the past few days from the ARRL Employees Club Station, W1HQ. The 2008 ARRL June VHF QSO Party is less than a month away on June 14-16, so hopefully the recent activity will continue for the contest weekend. If you've never been on 6 meters, check out this week's edition of the ARRL Letter for a primer on the ARRL June VHF QSO Party, and 6 meters in general.

4) Lastly, I want to extend congratulations to Carol Michaud, KB1QAW. She wears several hats here at ARRL, including as an assistant here in the Contest Branch. Carol just got her Technician about two months ago, and made her very first QSOs yesterday! 6 meters was open and she worked a couple gents near St Louis. It was exciting to be a part of her first QSOs; she was thrilled afterwards. Remember how excited you were for YOUR first QSO? She is very interested in contesting and is looking forward to working a pileup or two in the near future. Look for Carol to be on the air more here from ARRL HQ.

That's about it for now. More news as it happens.

73,

Sean KX9X