SEA-PAC 2007

2007 was the 25th year for SeaPac, the ARRL Northwestern Division Convention at Seaside, Oregon. The annual convention held in the resort towns’ convention center is billed as “The Northwest’s Largest Ham Convention”.

The three day convention held on June 1, 2 and 3 began with a four hour Friday afternoon Antenna Workshop presented by Rudy Severns, N6LF, to a sold out audience. Severns workshop, “Practical Antennas for The Low Bands”, emphasized simple and economical antennas that the average ham could build. The workshop covered shortened antennas for restricted space as well as more high performance antennas for the low bands.

The SeaPac doors were opened Saturday morning to more than 2000 attendees to view and shop at more than 100 flea-market and commercial exhibits.

License exams were given for new and upgrade amateur licenses at a nearby church. Several candidates were successful in receiving their first time amateur radio license.

At noon, luncheons were offered by reservation for YLRL, QCWA and DX’ers at the Best Western Oceanview Resort Hotel. Each luncheon had a separate meeting area and a guest speaker.

All day Saturday SeaPac offered seminars on a wide variety of topics including DX and DXpeditions, Digital, Law, Antennas and more. SeaPac was excited to welcome Bob Heil, K9EID and Chip Margelli, K7JA to the seminar schedule. Their presentation about Audio Enhancement Technology was attended by an overflow crowd.

Saturday afternoon a transmitter hunt was taken on foot through the streets of Seaside. A morning seminar was presented on transmitter hunting basics for those new to “fox hunting”.

In celebration of the 25th Anniversary, SeaPac and ARRL joined forces for a Special event station set up in the convention center lobby. Using the callsign W1AW/7, the station was on the air Saturday and Sunday. Licensed operators present at the convention were offered the chance to operate the station on 40 and 20 meters. Those working the station will receive a special commemorative QSL card. SeaPac thanks Icom America for providing the radios for this event as well as the digital mode HT radios used by our security team. A special SeaPac 25th anniversary pin was made available to commemorate this event. A different pin is offered each year.

The Saturday night highlight is the annual banquet held in the convention center, beginning with a no-host social hour. Dinner music was provided by April and Paul VanDyck, K7VWH. After a delicious meal of northwest salmon or BBQ boneless pork, emcee Everett Curry, W6ABM, welcomed everyone including guests from ARRL. In addition to the various Section Managers and league appointees present, were Northwest Division Director Jim Fenstermaker, K9JF, Vice-Director William Sawders, K7ZM and special guest from ARRL Headquarters Mary Hobart, K1MMH. Hobart is the Chief Development Officer for ARRL and is responsible for all fund raising activities on behalf of ARRL including the Spectrum Defense fund, W1AW and Historic Preservation. She also manages the ARRL’s Diamond Club and the Maxim Society for annual and lifetime giving and other estate planning grants to support the League emergency communications and educational activities.

Each year the Chuck Mickley Memorial Scholarship is awarded to a deserving ham. This year’s recipient is Steve Johnson, N7VIC. Johnson has high interest in community service and mentors many people in ham radio including his father. They have all been involved in public service and events since.

SeaPac is known for its prize drawings. Both a dual-band HT and a 2m Mobile transceiver were awarded in a drawing of those attending the banquet. In addition to the many hourly door prizes, two special higher value prize drawings are awarded on Saturday afternoon and Sunday morning. These prizes included weekend stays at coastal resorts, helicopter rides and more. The convention closed at 1 pm on Sunday with a grand prize drawing of several HT, HF and mobile radios and a 1000 watt generator in addition to many, many other valuable prizes donated by area merchants. Over $12,000 in prizes were awarded.

Seaside is a great place to bring the family. The beach and hotels are within walking distance of the convention center. The community is ham friendly and you’ll find signs in most shops welcoming SeaPac attendees. There’s always a volley ball game on the beach and lots of younger age locals to meet up with. The restaurants are excellent and reasonably priced. You’ll find a lot of hams wherever you visit in Seaside, a very tourist friendly town on the beautiful Pacific Ocean coast dotted with lighthouses and state parks. A short drive and you can visit and sample at local area wineries or the Tillamook cheese and ice-cream factory.

SeaPac is sponsored by The Oregon Tualatin Amateur Radio Club, with support from The Clark County Washington, Hoodview and Sunset Empire Amateur Radio Clubs.

We hope you’ll attend next year on May 30, 31 and June 1, 2008. You can visit the website at www.seapac.org for more information and to view photos from this year’s convention.

Wayne Schuler, AI9Q
SeaPac Co-chairman/Secretary
ai9q@arrl.net