1957 YLRL Convention
1957 The 2nd YLRL International Convention
Aug 30, 31 Sept 1, 1957 Palmer House Chicago, IL
“Firsts” are frequently being claimed in amateur radio. Two more such firsts can be claimed by the highly successful 2nd International YLRL Convention. Held at Chicago’s Palmer House Aug. 30, 31 and Sept. 1, in conjunction with the 9th National ARRL convention, it not only drew the largest licensed YL attendance ever recorded, but it also was the first time that every call area has been represented in one YL gathering. The nearly
100 feminine Hams came from 24 different states, with DX represented by XEIMM.
Headquarters for the YLRL activities was the Crystal Room with registration, bulletin boards for QSL’s and -club certificates, and YLRL album and scrapbook on display. Here we gathered Friday evening for a spaghetti supper, courtesy of the LARKS who held a raffle to finance it. A game of “LARK-O” followed and helped the YLs get acquainted. Similar to bingo, we each had a card divided into squares which we exchanged With one another until we had a YL signature in each square. Then YL calls were drawn until a full row resulted in “LARK-O”, and a prize.
Saturday morning brought many more YLs and at noon we gathered in the Crystal Room for the YLRL luncheon and forum, Places at the tables were set with ceramic nut cups bearing YLRL insignia and small pink camellias from Sacramento brought to the convention by K6ENK, Wanda, president of the “3c’s” club. MC’d by convention chairman Cris Bowlin, W9LOY, first speaker was W3CUL, Mae Burke, who has brought fame to the YLs by
being the first YL to win the Edison Award for outstanding work in amateur radio. Mae estimates that she has handled some 325,000 messages. She holds 98 consecutive BPL awards and by the time you read this she will have hit her aim of 100 consecutive BPLs.
Betty Frederick, W3PVH, YLRL’s current president, presented W9LOY with a handsome scroll which reads:
“For unselfish service and conscientious duty, this tribute is presented to Cris Bowlin, W9LOY, president 1956. High ethical standards and sympathetic interest in Young Ladies Radio League has earned for you a host of friends and the esteem of all its members,”
Betty reported on her term as president and told of some changes she feels will help the organization.
Five YLRL members look over the club photograph album which was on display at YL headquarters in the Crystal Room.
Left to right; Dolly Maher, K9BUS; Naomi Spence, W4TDK; Liz Zandonini, W3CDQ; Ethel Smith, K4LMB; and Laura Stegner, KOJAS.
W9LOY wields the gavel at the YL lunchon and forum, Head table speakers were, I. to r., WIQON, Eleanor Wilson, YL Editor of QST; W3CUL, Mae Burke, 1956 Edison Award winner; W9LOY, Cris Bowlin, YLRL convention chairman; W3PVH, Betty Frederick, YLRL president for 1957; and W5RZJ, Louisa Sando, YL Editor of
CQ. W3CUL’s Edison cup can be seen in the center of the table.
*Information and photos provided by book CQ YL The story of Women in Amateur Radio by Louisa B Sando W5RZJ
