2009 Skyview Swap N Shop!
The 49th annual Skyview Swap N Shop was a fantastic success! Everything came together well this year including the biggest factor, the weather. Our little hamfest is often considered a favorite by many area hams because of the country atmosphere, the clubhouse, good deals and the great food.
We were once again the ARRL WPA Section Convention and many ARRL representatives were on hand to do presentations. We again had our mini car show where many local hams bring their hot rods or classic cars to the hamfest to display. Our after hamfest event was the best ever this year. The Skyview Ham Jam! A lot of fine music was coming out of the clubhouse. If you left early, you missed it!
The ARRL section convention was well attended and lots of good info was discussed. Lots of great things in the works!
The food was hot again this year! We served breakfast and lunch. We were selling Skyview Burgers and Skyview Dipole hotdogs as fast as we could make them! Breakfast was eggs any way you like them, sausage and/or bacon, fresh Italian toast with honey butter. LOTS of coffee!
We very much want to thank all that sponsored prizes this year including:
Begali Key www.i2rtf.com Thank you Piero and Bruna!
DX Engineering http://www.dxengineering.com/ Thank you Al!
Elecraft http://www.elecraft.com/
LDG http://www.ldgelectronics.com/
Ham Radio Outlet http://www.hamradio.com/
Monitoring Times http://www.monitoringtimes.com/
ARRL www.arrl.org
Computer Girl
Thank you for your very generous contributions! We surly appreciate it.
2009 Skyview Swap N Shop winners
Congratulations to all!
Visiting the USS Requin SS-481 Tench Class World War II submarine in Pittsburgh
On July 25th 2009 we visited the USS Requin at the Carnegie Science Center in downtown Pittsburgh, PA. There is a permanent amateur radio station on board with the callsign NY3EC
http://www.carnegiesciencecenter.org/default.aspx?pageId=38
This was a multi-club event and all were welcome. Many of us met for breakfast at a local eatery. After a great breakfast we made the short trip over to the Carnegie Science Center and around back to the Requin. There we were met by our guide Art, WA3BKD. For years Art has been doing tours of the Requin, volunteering many hours manning the radio room and answering thousands questions from visitors. It is not uncommon for the Requin to see over 1000 visitors in a single day!
There was a lot of technology stuffed into a very small area back in 1945. It was very interesting to hear some of the stories about life on a sub and what it took to keep everything going. We also had the extreme pleasure of meeting William M. Rodgers. Bill served on a sister sub, the USS Razorback, SS-394. Bill also shared stories of his time out a sea in a sub. Also on the tour was Kristen, KZ3Y. She was also in familiar territory. Kristen was a Nave Torpedoman and served on a sub tender. Many thanks Bill and Kristen for your service.
After the tour Art brought us up to the science center cafeteria for some cool drinks. It was a very interesting and informative morning. Many thanks to Art, WA3BKD and Bill Rodgers. We will return and hopefully have more time to operate NY3EC!
More information on the USS Requin can be found at
http://www.navsource.org/archives/08/08481.htm