2018 YLRL Convention
2018 YLRL Convention
Sheraton Oklahoma City (OKC) OKC, OK Aug-2-5,
The 2018 YLRL Convention was held in downtown Oklahoma City, Oklahoma Aug 2-5 at the Sheraton Hotel. There were 43 YLs and 22 OMs from 21 different states and Canada. We also had 5 OMs from the local SCARS club as volunteers. Some attendees were picked up at the airport curiosity of Patriot Limo owned by Don Franklin, for some this was their first limo ride.
The event started with a meet and greet in the Aria Lounge at the hotel Thursday evening. Friday morning the convention opened with a speech from the current YLRL president Marilyn Melhorn, AF7BI.
On Friday there sessions on Digital modes by Ria Jairam N2RJ, Rovering by Andrea Slack K2EZ, Mission Kosovo by Jim Fenstermaker K9JF.
Friday afternoon was a trip to the OKC Bombing Memorial. The group walked through the OKC Underground tunnel to the Memorial grounds were they were met by a park ranger who spoke about what happened and explained each memorial piece outside. Afterwards everyone proceeded inside to visit the very touching human side of what happened that day.
Friday evening everyone enjoyed a banquet with Keynote speaker Nancy Hall KC4IYD. Nancy is a research scientist with NASA.
Saturday the day started with a YLRL general meeting, followed up with Margie Spangenberg KK4AGN and the WAS quilt. Carol Milazzo KP4MD taught us how to go on a DXpedition Holiday style.
The prize table was filled with prizes donated by ICOM, Arty for Shacks K1NSS, Raddioddity, DX Engineering, The RF Adapter Guy, Elecraft, Diamond Antenna, Universal Radio, The ARRL, The W5NOR Club, The W5MWC Club and many YLs and OMs. No YL went home empty handed.
Saturday afternoon, there were elmira roundtable sessions where you could get expert help on DMR, FT8, Antennas, CW, logging, setting up your rig, and programming your radio. There even was a craft table where you could make morse code bracelets. Everyone was enjoying themselves so much, the hotel staff had to break the tables down around them.
During the afternoon VE session Pamela Saalbach KC3LCX became a General Class and Aria Cunningham became a new Technician.
Saturday afternoon there were two group tours, one went to the OKC Museum of Arts, where they enjoyed the collections of Isabelle de Borchgrace’s Fashioning Art from Paper and Dale Chihuly’s Magic and Light. The second group took a tour of the OKC Myriad Gardens. They even set up an HF rig on the grounds and made some contacts.
Saturday evening the attendees broke up into 3 groups for dinner at restaurants along the OKC Bricktown Canal. Wow what an evening of dining, walking along the river and enjoying the music.
Sunday morning breakfast brought goodbyes as everyone started heading home.
The local arrangements committee included, Judi Voller N5KUO, Leah Ohse W3LEO and Michelle Carey W5MQC.
