Hi all...its starting to be time to count down to the GQP....Mike NE4S and his workers have been busy this winter getting ready for the GQP....Kinda like Santa Claus I guess...he has worked all winter for one weekend...and I don't mean Mike looks like Santa...but enough of that...what is really important here is the GQP is chance for the club to shine....we have one of the best QSO parties in the country..we have some of the best prizes...and we have had some of the best possible participation by members of the SECC...both from home station and as mobile rovers....

I want to share what I have been doing on a personal level in my area...I am a life member of the Charles E Newton Amateur Radio Club CENARC since 1961...I grew up in the Griffin club and have always had a soft spot for its well being..lately our club like many others has just barely gotten by...apathy, not enough time, busy, not interested, and lots of other excuses were the things I heard from the membership over the past few years.... I started talking up the GQP a few weeks ago, and its been amazing the interest that has occurred...maybe some new life has been breathed back into our almost defunct club!! I mention this because the same thing is happening at a lot of local clubs all across Ga....

I have commitments from 9 of the members to come and operate with me in the GQP.....one of the 9 has a little contest experience...the other 8 know that I am a contestor, and they have seen my station....and some have even seen it it in action...and now they are coming to be a part of the GQP.....I will have OJT for these guys ...but most of all they will have fun....they will put the CENARC club callsign K4HYB on the air for the first contest operation since 1965....and they will come together as a group of club members and make a difference......

I want to encourage each member of the SECC to take some time at your local club level and see what you can do to help the SECC make this the best ever GQP!!! I look forward to hearing from as many of you who care to share their experiences also on this topic...I know that many of you are members of local clubs..some even have access to more than one club...like in Savannah and Valdosta, and the Atlanta area....it's rapidly approaching the time to start the planning of your Rover operation too...This year again Jeff KU8E will be handling the Rover Wrangling job...let Jeff know where you plan to travel and what your initial plans are...I found two locals here in my club who will be going out to a few neighboring counties during the test and making a few q's for the GQP....

So members of the SECC......Start your engines!! Load the antennas!!....Fire up the computers!!! and lets get the clubs across Ga humming with info about the GQP.......The date is April 12 and 13...there are details at GQP web site and also on the SECC there is a link to GQP....I look forward to hearing others talk about your personal experiences with your local clubs..lets make it the best ever GQP!!!