Central Oklahoma Radio Amateurs Ready for Annual Meeting

The Central Oklahoma Radio Amateur’s (CORA) are geared up and ready for the 2014 41st Annual Ham Holiday event that will take place July 25-26th in Oklahoma City. Hosted this year at the Bricktown Hotel/Conference Center, the CORA group is especially pleased to welcome Joel Harrison as the Special Guest Banquet Speaker. 

Amateur radio operators (hams) save lives in emergencies, often getting on the scene before “first responders”. The scenario is repeated hundreds of times a year throughout the U.S., often here in Tornado Alley.

Ever wonder where hams come from, how they train and where they get all their marvelous toys?

Wonder no more. Ham Holiday, the annual ham radio show and event is on tap for next weekend. 

Vendors, flea market sales of radio gear, seminars, license testing and much more!

This an opportunity for those who may be interested in amateur radio (ham radio) to find one of the clubs in central Oklahoma (and around the Section) and learn more about the hobby. 

In addition there is a flea market where many transceivers, receivers, transmitters, and parts for do it yourself enthusiasts can be found. 

Anyone interested in ham radio and do it yourself project are invited to attend. This is a great opportunity for people who are amateur radio operators to learn more about this fascinating hobby. There be plenty of  local “hams” in attendance who will be happy and thrilled to explain the hobby and introduce non-hams to the experience. 

Joel Harrison, the banquet speaker, is past president of the ARRL, the National Association of Amateur Radio.  He has a long resume and has been published in many papers and articles. He will speak on “The 2014 Challenge-Taking the Amateur Radio Experience to the Next Level” Friday at 7:30 p.m.

Friday Ham Holiday will open at 3 p.m. and close at 7 p.m. while Saturday Ham Holiday hours are 8 a.m. and close at 3 p.m. Saturday’s schedule will include a number of forums on various topics of interest to amateur radio operators. The hamfest will feature technical and non-technical programs, 

DXCC Card Checking, license testing and the ever popular flea market as well.

CORA is a not-for-profit corporation created by amateur radio clubs in the central Oklahoma  area. Four officers and a board of directors composed of up to three representatives from each of the member clubs conduct the corporate affairs. The member clubs include: Aeronautical Center Amateur Radio Club, Inc. (W5PAA), Choctaw Amateur Radio Club (CARC), Edmond Amateur Radio Club (EARC), Edmond Amateur Radio Society (EARS), Mid-Del Amateur Radio Club, Oklahoma City Autopatch Association (OCAPA), OU Amateur Radio Club (OUARC), QCWA Chapter 63, South Canadian Amateur Radio Society (SCARS), and Tecumseh Amateur Radio Club (TARC). 

For more information about Ham Holiday go to www.hamholiday.com 

Saturday Schedule:

	Room 191	Alexander Room	Tiffany Room
9:00	ARRL Forum Dr David Woolweaver K5RAV		VE Testing
10:00	Low Band Receiving Antennas Joel Harrison, W5ZN	Radio Merit Badge	VE Testing**
11:00	ARES Forum Mark Conklin, N7XYO	Radio Merit Badge	OKDXA Gene Lewis, W5LE
Noon – 2:00	Logbook Of The World Activation & Setup Bobby Duncan, KF5GTX	Radio Merit Badge*

2014 HAM HOLIDAY PROGRAM SCHEDULE

*Radio Merit Badge session ends at 2:30 PM     **VE testing ends 11:00

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Thanks to Michael Dean for this report