With just over a month to go, the final details for the ARRL EXPO at the 2008 Dayton Hamvention® are wrapping up and the secrets are being let out! This year's EXPO is meant to not only share in, but to embrace the Dayton Amateur Radio Association's (DARA) -- host of Hamvention -- theme of Amateur Radio + People = Fellowship. With more open-air areas and interactive booths within the ARRL EXPO, we hope to not only convey this message but provide easier opportunities for fellowship within the EXPO, offering more opportunities for interaction with the ARRL family. The Dayton Hamvention will be held May 16-18 at Hara Arena.

ARRL Membership Manager Katie Breen, W1KRB, is overseeing the ARRL EXPO at Hamvention. "A new area within the EXPO this year is the ARRL Movie Room," she said. "We decided to try something a little different this year and create a cozy area to sit back and relax and watch a movie on the 10-foot screen. We are very pleased that Bob Allphin, K4UEE, Peter I participant and producer of the DXpedition video, will be a featured guest on Saturday in the movie room. This will be a unique opportunity to come and meet Bob, listen to additional commentary on the many DXpeditions he has been on and have some personal time to ask your questions about going on a DXpedition." Allphin has visited 93 DXCC entities, operated from 50 and been on 33 DXpeditions, of which 6 set world records. He took 5th place at the 1996 WRTC with teammate James Pratt, N6IG.

Breen said that the Youth Lounge, organized by 2007 Goldfarb Memorial Scholarship recipient Andrea Hartlage, KG4IUM, will be up and running again this year. "With a bevy of activity for our young hams, the youth lounge is a full scale version of what every club and group can do to entice young hams to their events. This is a perfect opportunity to visit Andrea and the other volunteers in the areas and bring back ideas to your home clubs."

The 2008 Youth Dinner will also be on Saturday night, but with one change: Instead of being at a local restaurant, it will take place at the DARA clubhouse. Breen said, "We're very excited by the generosity the DARA Board of Directors has shown to us. They let me know that the restaurant we've used the past couple of years for the youth dinner had gone out of business. So while I was searching for a new location, the DARA Board was meeting and decided to offer their clubhouse to the kids." Hartlage said she was thrilled with this option this year. "Not only can we enjoy a great pizza party at the clubhouse, but we can even have time to get on the air together! I'm so thankful to DARA for stepping up and helping us out in such a generous way."

Breen followed up, saying, "DARA's theme of fellowship extends into the EXPO area with their partnership with us, including a new area within EXPO that will be dedicated to the newer operators and future hams."