The WARFA Fall 2008 Retreat
SEPTEMBER 25TH - 28TH, 2008
Written by Bill, WØQNI with photos by Dave, WA6UHA

The retreat was Fantastic, as usual. It seems that the retreat is starting earlier and earlier. On Monday, three days before the retreat officially started, we had 5 R/Vs. Tuesday, another 4, Wednesday, a lot more. Thursday, we lost count of people and R/Vs.

Thanks to hams like AC6ZS, Andy and Moody, WQ6I putting up one antenna on Tuesday with a lot of help from Norma, N6MMF.

Billy, N6YW, and Greg, W6EZV put up another antenna on Wednesday. It was a blast to watch them. They were still trying to get it going at 11 PM with a spot light into the trees. Greg was using a bow and arrow to get the antenna up over watching Billy and Greg putting up 100 feet. The next day, they went back at it again with people on each end of the wires (at least 4 people) and Moody with the SWR meter, telling them which way to go to lower the SWR. "Move two feet to the left. No, move six feet to the right." By net time on Thursday night, the HL-2200 amp was pumping out over 1300 watts and loving it.

We took a roll call of those hams on hand and we had 31. That means we had at Thursday's night's pot luck we had to have had at least 62 people. We did not even count the kids, Anyway, Bill (WØQNI) started the net and then handed it off to Billy, N6YW, who did the whole net with the help of Michael W7HUT and Forrest, KJ7XP as relays. Boy, did we pump out the DB's with the set up, 5 over 9+ reported with most all contacts, What an antenna.

Food, did someone say food? Thursday night before the net, we had three picnic tables full of pot luck food. We went down both sides of the tables to pick up, salad, meat balls, rolls, pasta, some weird white stuff, buffalo wings, and three or four more dishes I have no idea what they were. And then there were two tubs of soda pop plus deserts.

How many attended? I would guess that on Friday Night's fish fry, we had close to 80. On Saturday close to 120. It was hard to get a good count as people and children picked up their food and went outside or back to their R/V.

Some who we did not want to know. It has been a long time and I felt funny when Murray, WA6USL had to introduce himself. (Blush).

The nice thing is that there were many new faces to meet and talk with. Kay, my XYL, tapped me on the shoulder as I was talking and I turned around to see Jim (WB6ZJA) and Luisa, KD6FQY. This was the first time we had seen Jim in about 3 years as he has had problems with his knees. He had just had an operation and then stood up from his wheelchair and said "I will walk again" Fantastic.

We took a quick look at W6KAT and KF6QCX cooking up the 50 pounds of Cat fish on Friday. Now it was hot outside, but they did have a little shade, plus the wine and beer. AMAZING how that fish tasted.

For dinner: Cat fish, fried, with a coat of crispy stuff, fried chicken, one table of deserts, the main Stainless Steel serving tables had salads of all types, rolls, and lots of lemons to go with the fish.

The debate on TV was a distraction for "Arla's Friday Night Bingo". Hats off to Bobbie Lockhart, wife of Earl (N6ECE) as she got all the bingo prizes on short notice. And then there was Kevin (KG6UGF) who really did not need a megaphone. It was funny to hear Arla say "No-No, that's not right! You had 30 seconds to chose a prize. All started to count "1, 2, 3, 4, 5", etc. Would you believe that some could not make up their minds in 30 seconds!

For those who helped on the BBQ starting about noon Saturday, my hat and a lot of other hats are off also. They slaved over that BBQ pit in the sun all afternoon while the temp WAS 102. Next time we are going to find those little spray bottles and fill them up with water, or put a mister system over the BBQ pit, or get one of those wheely things.

At 3:0 PM we had the business meeting where we all had a say as to WARFA doings, handing out certificates and one or two good arguments.

After the business meeting, there was a taping of those who remembered all that had become S.K. in the last year. Moody and Norma organized the taping and Dave, WA6UHA did the Camera work. To see this great video go to the WARFA web page at www.warfa.org.

Click on Silent Key Memorial from the Fall 2008 Retreat on line. It is in three parts.

Phil, W6WAG who is now a S.K. had a number of rigs. and equipment which Norm, Phil's brother, along with Chuck, NO6L brought all over to sell for the family. This was an unusual event as Phil had asked that it be brought over to WARFA when he became a S.K.

The Saturday nights BBQ menu, we had grilled Tri-tip, ribs, BBQ chicken, but no road kill. One table for deserts, and the main service tables had salads of all types, rolls, WE DID NOT RUN OUT OF GOODIES.

It's really hard to tell how people liked the BBQ, but we notice that a lot of people with BBQ faces. It also was noted that there were a number of stained shirts. Of course, there were some who had to go through the line twice, which was no big deal, just more stomach to show off.

What a Jam session on Saturday night! Billy, N6YW on lead guitar. Mel KA6HYK on drums and then followed by "Motorcycle Bob" (KD6YBT), Tommy Law on guitar, and Mike, KF6ZOL on harmonica, who did not stay as long as everyone wanted him to.

Mel told me that he looked over at the piano and saw someone playing it... It was entirely mind blowing, and way to short.

By the way, Kevin, KG6UGF, got the award for traveling the longest distance to the retreat. Willis won again for "Tall Tails and Twist Lies" contest. Some one needs to "replace" him.