07/14/2009 | N9OQT This year we decided to combine our annual "Ham Jam" (family campout of ham friends from college days) with the IARU weekend.

We are appreciative of the Champaign County Forest Preserve District that allowed us to use the Activity Center facilities overnight, while we operated the radios from a screened tent nearby.

N9OQT and N9OQU operated separate, single operator stations (from the same location). Due to the group activities of the Ham Jam gathering, and several hours of torrential rain and winds, we did not get on the air as much as we wanted during the contest, but it was still a nice event to participate in. We were able to demonstrate HF to a few of the hams that are Technicians. Unfortunately, our contest operations ended about 1:30 a.m. when I had a bad fall and had to go to the emergency room (nothing broken, thank goodness!). Didn't get out of the hospital until 5 a.m., and that ruined our chance to get back on the air in the early morning. Oh well, there's always next year!

It was a real "upper" to receive a Certificate for Operating Achievement today in the mail from the IARU. We placed first in the multioperator category, Illinois Section for 2008. It was only our second time operating an IARU contest. The award was a complete surpise and made our day.

Enjoy the pictures, and we hope to make contact with all of you next year.

Mary (W9MAP) and Patrick Twigg (N9OQT) -- W9MAP