[CQ-Contest] WRTC News #23 - WRTC2014 Names Final Team, Alternate Referees, Grand Marshal

[Randy Thompson K5ZD]

WRTC2014 NEWS RELEASE #23
http://www.wrtc2014.org/wrtc2014-names-final-team-alternate-referees-grand-m
arshal/

Windham, NH
March 25, 2014

WRTC2014 Names Final Team, Alternate Referees, Grand Marshal

WRTC2014, Inc., host of the 2014 World Radiosport Team Championship (WRTC)
is pleased to announce the final team, alternate referees, and the Grand
Marshal that will participate in the WRTC2014 event.

"Team 59" team took their name from not only being the 59th team named, but
also due to it being the highest signal strength possible. The sponsor has
named George Demontrond, NR5M, and John Crovelli, W2GD, as the operating
team. George is a well-known and very active contester from Houston, TX.
Active since the 1970s, George has built a very capable contest station
which is often operated in the Multi-Multi category in most major contests.
John is a veteran contester and has been a competitor in three WRTCs. He had
held numerous records in many different contests, often set from his
contesting home-away-from-home, Aruba, where he uses the callsign P40W.

To insure that we have sufficient resources on hand to cover all 59 teams,
the WRTC2014 organizers have invited six alternate referees to be part of
the event. The alternates will be available to replace any referees that are
unable to attend. The alternate referees named are DL1NX/PY2SEX, G5LP,
K3EST, LZ5VK, OM6NM, and W6RGG.

WRTC2014 Chairman, Doug Grant, K1DG, explained the additions; "The referees
play a critical role in confirming a fair competition. We want to make sure
that we will have qualified referees available even if someone is unable to
attend at the last minute." 

Rich DiDonna, NN3W, Team Leader for selection area NA4E has withdrawn from
the competition due to family reasons. Under the published guidelines, the
Team Leader spot has been offered to the next qualifier in the selection
region, Nathan Moreschi, N4YDU. Nathan has elected to retain Kam Sirageldin,
N3KS, as the Team Mate for the NA4E team. More information on the policy for
replacing team members is available at
http://www.wrtc2014.org/qualifying/team-selection-policies/ 

Edmund Giambastiani, N4OC, has been named as the Grand Marshal for WRTC2014.
Ed is retired from 37 years of service in the United States Navy. He reached
the rank of admiral and served as the seventh Vice Chairman of the Joint
Chiefs of Staff for three years. As Grand Marshal, Ed will preside over the
Opening Ceremonies and administer the Oath of Sportsmanship to all
competitors.

There are less than 4 months remaining until WRTC2014. For information about
WRTC2014, contact WRTC Chairman, Doug Grant, K1DG, via e-mail at
k1dg at wrtc2014.org. 


About WRTC2014

The World Radiosport Team Championship (WRTC) is held every four years and
consists of 50+ two-person teams of amateur radio operators from around the
world competing in a test of operating skill.  Unlike most on-the-air
competitions, all stations are required to use identical antennas from the
same geographic region, eliminating all variables except operating ability.
Previous WRTCs have been held in Seattle (1990), San Francisco (1996),
Slovenia (2000), Finland (2002), Brazil (2006), and Russia (2010).  More
information is available at www.wrtc2014.org or contact WRTC Chairman Doug
Grant, K1DG, via e-mail at k1dg at wrtc2014.org.