HamJam 2018

HamJam 2018

HamJam 2018 took place on Saturday, November 10th at Mill Springs Academy in Alpharetta GA. Approximately 200 hams attended the event. This year's speakers included Rick Boulis, N4HU and Tom Harrell, N4XP who spoke on their roles in the 2018 Baker Island DXpedition; Dale Parfitt, W4OP who spoke on Microwave Earth-Moon-Earth Communications; and Jeri Ellsworth, AI6TK who talked on "My Life in a High Tech World".

Thanks to our speakers and sponsors for supporting HamJam and our Youth programs.

More information about our speakers, our many sponsors and the event is available at www.hamjam.info.

We hope to see you at HamJam 2019!!

HamJam day was crisp and clear - great weather for a HamJam. Thanks to North Fulton ARES members for helping keep traffic and guests organized. Here Grant, KK4PCR greets guests and points out our hot coffee location.

Greg, KM4APC; Neil, N4FN and others help set up the prize tables.

Warren, KD4Z and Daryl, K4RGK set up our video camera.

Our moneychangers: Fred N4CLA, Mark KJ4YM, and John N4IHV.

Ouch!

ARRL Georgia Section Manager David Benoist, AG4ZR; MSA Headmaster Robert Moore; and Martha, W4MSA. In addition to being a NFARL member, Martha is the Georgia Section Youth Coordinator, a STEM teacher at MSA and played a key role in enabling HamJam to be held at MSA.

ARRL Georgia Section Manager David Benoist, AG4ZR and MSA Headmaster Robert Moore.

Jeff, N1KDO and Warren, K4DZ.

HamJam Chairman John, K4SQC opens this year's program.

Mill Springs Academy Headmaster Robert Moore welcomes HamJam to Mill Springs Academy.

Wes, W3WL introduces our first set of speakers: Tom Harrell, N4XP and Rick Boulis, N4HU. Tom and Rick spoke on the 2018 Baker Island DXPedition.

Tom Harrell, N4XP

Rick Boulis, N4HU was our second Baker Island speaker. He and Tom provided a good inside view of the DXPedition.

Wes presents our "thank you" plaques to Tom and Rick.

Jim, W4QO overviews our drawing for the Special HamJam 10th Anniversary Signature Edition Professional Key provided by the Begali family.

John "Vanna" K4SQC parades the Begali key for the audience.

Potential winners of the Begali key.

Garrett, KU4SD, winner of the Begali key.

Our second speaker, Dale Parfitt, W4OP of Glenville, NC. Dale is the owner of PAR Electronics, Inc and designer of the original end fed dipole series – End Fedz – and the Omniangle line of horizontal omni VHF / UHF antennas. Dale spoke on Microwave Earth-Moon-Earth Communications.

Jim, W4QO and Dale, W4OP with Dale's "thank you" plaque.

Bob, N4RFC, winner of the FlexRadio Systems Control Knob.

Jeri Ellsworth, AI6TK of Palo Alto, CA gave an enjoyable presentation on "My Life in a High Tech World". Her presentation was built around a chronology of her career, and included a good many "lessons learned the hard way" aimed at youth in the audience.

One member of the audience was interested in the story of the pinball machines behind her. Jeri told him that these are part of her collection of over 70 machines. Love Silicone Valley!

Jim, W4QO remotely presents our "thank you" plaque to Jeri.

Jeri took a few questions for the floor. Here Audrey, KM4BUN asks a challenging question. Audrey is a 15 year old Extra Class operator who has been active in ham radio since she was 8.

Tim, WK4U kicks off the raffle drawings.

Do we have a winner?

Tim, WK4U: "Here we have the winning ticket for the Icom 7300"

Icom representative Will Jourdain, AA4WJ announces that Joseph, N3NNU won the Icom 7300. Thanks to everyone for helping make this year's HamJam a success!