I must add some comments. I too believe the committee did an outstanding job. I know that the members were quite impressed but there were a lot of side benefits. What struck me most was that staff, board members and other volunteers were just one big happy family! :-) Money can't buy that.... Thanks for a wonderful experience. It was a blast. Coy -- ARRL West Gulf Division Director Coy Day, N5OK 20685 SW 29th St Union City, OK 73090 n5ok@arrl.org 405-483-5632 -------------- Original message from "Sumner, Dave, K1ZZ" <dsumner@arrl.org>: -------------- Before I get too wrapped up in the new week I want to take a moment to thank everyone who pitched in to make the 2005 ARRL National Convention one to remember. When the idea of holding the National in Dayton in 2005 first surfaced, a bit later than usual, I remember thinking that it would be a challenge to pull everything together in time. It was, after all, just ten months ago that the Board approved the convention and the ad hoc committee was appointed to plan the event. The result is a wonderful example of an effective partnership between Board and staff. In just seven weeks, Tom Frenaye's committee of Jay Bellows, Wade Walstrom, Jim Weaver, and Dennis Motschenbacher created the vision for the event. As I reread their September 9, 2004 report this morning it is striking how many of their recommendations were effectively implemented. Once the budget was nailed down in January, detailed planning by staff could be completed. So many staff and volunteers were involved that it would be unfair to try to name everyone right now -- I would be certain to leave people out -- but it also seems unfair not to mention Bob Inderbitzen, who was key to "making it happen." We'll be doing a detailed "post mortem" once the dust settles enough for us to know the key stats. For now, suffice it to say that this was far and away the most successful ARRL National Convention of the modern era. I know there are things that can be improved -- and we'll have to, because we've now "raised the bar" for all time -- but it seems unlikely to me that we will ever be able to exceed members' expectations as startlingly as we did with ARRL EXPO. Thanks again! 73, Dave Sumner, K1ZZ