We wrapped up another successful run during the October 2011 School Club Round-up to coat-tail a great 2010-2011 school year in which we earned our DXCC!  We set a new school record for QSO's by making 205 during the week.  This fall we had 23 different ops at the radio working with our licensed staff and students.  We took advantage of nice conditions on 10 and 15 meters to work some DX and picked up a few new ones to add to our DXCC total.  20-meters acted more like 40 as we were able to work a Kentucky school for the first time and made QSO's with fellow "9-landers" K9SOU in Bloomington South H.S., IN and NQ9P Pana H.S., IL just down the road from us a bit.  It made for yet another teachable moment as these stations in the past are just the right distance for our 20m signal to skip over them.  We talked about what might have changed for us to make the contacts during this go around. 

Two 8th graders (Drew and Lucas) took the reins of the microphone in the afternoons and worked the pile-ups coming in.  After a few times using the script, they got the feel for it and looked liked seasoned vets.  We also had several 7th graders take a liking to PSK-31, which seems to be a popular, less intimidating way to make contacts for them.

It is always great to chat with friends from around the country and it has been neat to see students see some of the QSL cards on the wall and then be able to work those stations on air year after year. 

There is already talk of the February and we're looking forward to chatting with old friends and making new ones as well!

73's from the Flatlands of Illinois!

-Troy and W9GRS Crew