Hi Folks-

Thought I'd let you know of some of the recent goings-on here at the Contest Branch.

1) We just received the 2008 DX Contest Participation Pins today! Carol KB1QAW, the Contest Branch's newly-licensed and able-bodied Assistant, will be packing those up this week. If you ordered a participation pin for the 2008 Dx Contest, you should have it in your hands quite soon indeed.

2) Log-Checking Reports are now available for the 2007 ARRL 10 Meter Contest, 160 Meter Contest, the 2008 RTTY Roundup and the 2008 January VHF Sweepstakes. If you've never looked at one of your LCR's before, they are a valuable source of information and statistics that can show you areas to improve your copying skill in contests. In the words of Brad Hamilton from Fast Times At Ridgemont High: "Learn It. Live It. Know It."

3) The ARRL June VHF QSO Party is this weekend! If you've never operated a VHF contest before, you're missing out on a lot of fun. 6 meters has been on fire this past week, with lots of great sporadic-E propagation all across the United States...there's even been some DX worked, too. See my June QST column for a beginner's guide to the June VHF Contest. Try it, you'll like it. I promise. Really.

I'll be on from the ARRL Employees Club Station W1HQ this weekend for the June VHF QSO Party...hope to work you.

73 for now,

Sean